Becky Gandillon, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, shares with us the best bites from the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is back! And while I wouldn’t call it better than ever (bring back the cooking demos, Disney), the food this year is as good as it’s been since the pandemic. If you’re visiting EPCOT before the end of 2024, here are six standout dishes that you won’t want to miss.
Chocolate Amarula Mousse ($6.25) – Refreshment Outpost
This dessert is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. The smooth-and-creamy mousse is infused with Amarula, a South African cream liqueur, giving it a rich flavor. If you love the Zebra Domes from Animal Kingdom Lodge, you will adore this dish. It’s a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth!
Curried Chicken with Sausage Stew ($5.75) – Refreshment Outpost
For those craving something savory and a bit spicy, the Curried Chicken with Sausage Stew is the perfect dish. The curry was one of my favorite flavors of the entire festival. I wish this was served over rice instead of a soggy roll (don’t let the bread bowl name fool you), but this is a perfect little powerful punch of flavor.
Paella Negra ($8) – Spain
The Paella Negra is a traditional paella made with squid ink, which gives the rice its signature black color. It’s loaded with fresh seafood, including shrimp and mussels, and the garlic aioli is the ideal finishing touch. It’s not much to look at, but the tender seafood is a hit.
Braised Beef Poutine ($10) – Refreshment Port
Poutine gets an upgrade at the Refreshment Port with the Braised Beef Poutine. Thick-cut fries are smothered in gravy, topped with tender braised beef, and finished with cheese curds. This Canadian-inspired dish is both comforting and indulgent, and it almost certainly boasts the biggest portion size of the festival. This is a great option for filling up on a budget.
Grilled Bison ($8.75) – Bramblewood Bites
This is what Artist Point would serve if they had a Food & Wine booth. Cooked to perfection, the bison is juicy and flavorful, paired with a huckleberry sauce that enhances its natural richness. I had a good laugh at the giant leaf, but nothing about the bison bites is funny. I’d order a full portion of this in a heartbeat.
Cast Iron Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($5) – Bramblewood Bites
If you’re looking for a healthy, plant-based option—or the perfect side dish for the bison—don’t miss the Cast Iron Roasted Brussels Sprouts. These perfectly caramelized sprouts are tender, with a slight smoky flavor that pairs well with the other autumn vegetables in the dish. It’s a simple-yet-delicious way to enjoy your greens during the festival!
About the author: Becky Gandillon is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. From St. Louis, Missouri, Becky has been a Disney fan since she was 18 months old! She combines her love for data and Disney by analyzing crowd and touring patterns at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Becky and her husband love traveling both to the World and around the real world with their two daughters. You might run into their redheaded family in some of their favorite places—in Orlando, at sea on a Disney cruise ship, at a ski resort in the Rockies, or at a national park!
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