The best of the Flower and Garden food booths

Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Red Loop. Today we are sharing some of the magic you can expect at the 2017 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival.

Epcot is beautiful at Flower and Garden, no doubt about that.  But for me, one of my favorite parts of the festival is the food booths!  I actually like them as much as Food and Wine.  Flower and Garden Festival tends to focus on fresh ingredients that involve more fruits and vegetables.  As a result they feel healthier, lighter, and I can make the excuse to eat a lot more of them!  Sadly, I won’t be attending Flower and Garden this year, but I wanted to take a look back and share some of my favorite food items at the booths in years past.  I also mention for each one if it will be available this year!

Watermelon salad – Urban Farm Eats
(available in 2017)

(salad is on the left)

This was one of my favorites in 2016. I wasn’t sure about ordering it because it had pickled onions and I’m not an onion fan, but they were just two big pieces that were easily removed.  The rest of the salad was arugula topped with watermelon, feta, and a balsamic reduction.  The sweet of the watermelon was complemented really well by the balsamic and it was the perfect light snack on a hot day in a theme park.

Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade – Pineapple Promenade
(available in 2017)  

I don’t know what the flavor was but it was definitely more sweet and flowery.  I really loved it.  It was sweet but also tart thanks to the lemonade, and being frozen it was super refreshing.  And it’s so pretty too.

Beijing Candied Strawberries – Lotus House
(available in 2017)

These are big, juicy strawberries full of flavor that have been coated in hardened sugarand dipped in sesame seeds, so you have a bit of that sesame flavor too.  I love everything about them, but they’re definitely a particular taste so if you don’t like sesame I’d pass on them.  Otherwise try it!

Shrimp and Grits – Florida Fresh
(available in 2017)

Last year I had the shrimp and stone-ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes and cilantro.  I love shrimp but am not the biggest fan of grits, but I thought this dish was great.  The shrimp were large and tasty and the flavors all blended together really well.

Cider and Beer Flight – Cider House
(flight not available, but some individual ciders available in 2017)

There was only 1 beer and 3 ciders included.  The beer was the Cigar City Brewing Tampa-style lager, and I was not impressed personally.  I loved the ciders though – they inclueed the Sonoma “The Pitchfork” Organic Pear Hard Cider, McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, and the Keel and Curley Mad Man Blueberry Hard Cider.  I kept going back and forth on which one was my favorite, but I think it was the pear.  Or maybe the blueberry!  They were all good if you’re a fan of ciders.  I’m bummed they didn’t offer the flight again this year because it’s a great way to try a little of each.

Lemon Blueberry Tart – Florida Fresh
(not available in 2017)

This year the booth features a key lime tart instead.  The lemon blueberry one was SO GOOD.  I mean,sweet with a hint of tang, and just pure deliciousness in every bite.  Definitely a contender for my favorite item from the booths in 2015.

Coconut Tres Leches – Jardin de Fiestas
(available in 2017)

This cake is an absolute must if you are a fan of coconut desserts.  It was super moist, sweet, and just delicious.

I’m happy to see so many of my favorites returning to the festival this year!  Though I little bummed I won’t be able to sample them.

What would you be most interested in trying at the Flower and Garden food booths?

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Red | 2017 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Loop:

• 1st Stop – The Disney Chef | Recipe from Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival
• 2nd Stop – My Dreams of Disney | Exploring the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
• 3rd Stop – Disney in Your Day | Best of the Flower and Garden Food Booths
• 4th Stop – Rolling with the Magic | Grown-Ups Guide to the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
• 5th Stop – Magical Memories with the Mouse | Garden Rocks – What Music Has to Do with the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival