2014 EPCOT International Flower (FOOD!) and Garden Festival: Food Ingredients Rundown

Ah, I have yet to blog about the actual garden events at this year's Flower and Garden Festival, but, since this is a blog (mostly) about food, I thought I would do a quick summary all of the offerings at the Outdoor Kitchens- specifically, which items are gluten free, vegetarian, or vegan. It's your one-stop menu shop right here, gluten free ladies and gentlemen. I decided to put this together because it is the type of summary that I would find useful, and I thought others might feel the same way. I have not seen anything in quite this format out there. Each of the Outdoor Kitchen links below will take you to the original post with more information, food photos, and reviews of what we personally tasted.

So, in case you are thinking, "I'd like to go, but is there anything I could eat?", here is a run-down of this year's festival stats.

There are: 

11 Outdoor Kitchens, plus Intermissions Cafe in Festival Center

17 Gluten Free Food items

1 Gluten Free Beer

2 Vegan Wines

23 Vegetarian food items

11 Food items are gluten free AND vegetarian (maybe more, depending on some which I did not ask about)

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Gluten free offerings

Pineapple Promenade: Pineapple soft serve

Fleur de Lys: Confit de Canard; Macaron à la Fleur d'Oranger

Hanami: Frushi, Popped Rice Cakes

The Smokehouse: Smoked Beef Brisket with Collard Greens and Jalapeño Corn Bread; Smoked Turkey "Rib"

Primavera Kitchen: Caprese

Florida Fresh: Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, Local Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction; Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, and Cilantro

Lotus House: Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries

Jardin de Fiestas: Taco al Pastor; Flan(?)

Urban Farm Eats: Pickled Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Cream, Mizuna, and Pistachios; Land-Grown Eggplant Scallop with Romesco Sauce and Spaghetti Squash; Ghost Pepper dusted Tilapia with crisp Winter Melon Slaw and Mint Oil; Redbridge Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer

Intermissions Cafe: Grapes; Side Salad(?); Caprese; Fruit and Cheese plate

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Vegetarian offerings

Pineapple Promenade: Pineapple soft serve

Buttercup Cottage: Field Greens with Plant City Strawberries, Toasted Almonds, and Farmstead Stilton; Fresh Baked Lemon Scones with Berry Preserves and Crème Fraîche

Fleur de Lys: Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal

Taste of Marrakesh: Baghrir

Hanami: Frushi, Popped Rice Cakes

Primavera Kitchen: Caprese; Three Cheese Manicotti; Torta di Ricotta

Florida Fresh: Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, Local Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Reduction; Florida Kumquat Pie

Lotus House: Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries; Vegetable Spring Roll

Jardin de Fiestas: Quesadilla de Hongos con Queso; Flan de Chocolate Abuelita

Urban Farm Eats: Pickled Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Cream, Mizuna, and Pistachios; Land-Grown Eggplant Scallop with Romesco Sauce and Spaghetti Squash

Intermissions Cafe: Vegan Trio; Grapes; Side Salad; Caprese; Fruit and Cheese plate

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Potentially plant-based/vegan items (no meat, fish, eggs or dairy) 

Note: this is NOT designated in the Festival Guide; so the items listed below are based on my educated guess for those of you interested in a plant-based diet. Some of the vegetarian dishes might meet your needs with modifications- typically, omitting the dairy ingredient (of course, many of you know this already, but here's a starting point in case it helps).

If you follow a strict vegan diet (no honey, vegan sugar, etc), I really cannot vouch for any of these items, as I do not know about how they've processed certain foods, etc. But the Disney chefs are very helpful and accommodating, and can answer any questions you might have. Don't hesitate to ask. Each of the Outdoor Kitchens has a phone, with access to a Disney Chef.

Potentially plant-based/vegan items

Pineapple Promenade: Pineapple soft serve

Intermissions Cafe: Vegan Trio; Grapes; Side Salad(?) 

Urban Farm Eats: The Vegan Vine Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon; Eggplant Scallop(?)

Lotus House: Beijing Style Candied Strawberries(?)

Further suggestions for plant-based/vegan modifications are listed below.

I've created a handy dandy cheat sheet below. (I love spreadsheets… I put everything in a spreadsheet). Again, this is just a guide to get you started- you should inquire for yourself at each booth regarding any ingredients you wish to avoid. I couldn't figure out quite how to get a document into this blog post, so I took screen shots of the table and inserted them as photos. I hope it works well enough- clicking on each one should give you a larger image.

2014 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival Food Offerings (click for larger image)

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Primavera Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)

Buon pomeriggio! Good afternoon!

Today is the last installment of the food reviews for the 2014 Flower and Garden Festival. I have been dragging my feet on this one because Italian food has always- even before gluten and food allergies- been my least favorite food. Part of this may be because I dislike tomatoes. But I also find pasta generally very boring. If I ever do (did, past tense, before going gluten free) eat pasta, it merely served as a vehicle for butter and cheese. Heh.

However, all that said, I'm sure if you like Italian food, you would like Primavera Kitchen. For a gluten free option, you will find Caprese (mozzarella, roasted red peppers, olive oil). On the not gluten free menu, you will find Three Cheese Manicotti and Lemon Cheesecake. All of the offerings at Primavera Kitchen are vegetarian.

Primavera Outdoor Kitchen (Italy Pavilion)
It was a rainy day, which made for good photos without people in them,
 but did cast an overcast hue in the photo. 

Passport Page for Primavera Kitchen

Caprese (Gluten Free)

Three Cheese Manicotti (Vegetarian)

I do not have a lot to say about Primavera Kitchen, since I did not eat anything there and cannot really get too excited about Italian food. I will whisper in your ear that there is a gelato stand across the way- the Italian coffee and gelato stand is there all of the time, not just during the food festivals. You know, in case you like pasta and tomatoes as much as I do ;)

This concludes the food portion of the 2014 Flower and Garden festival from the Healing Kitchen. I hope to post some of the garden highlights as well- I particularly liked the Urban Garden and the Water Wise Herbs & Vegetables displays. Lots of good ideas!

Ciao!

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Hanami (Japan Pavilion)

Japan Pavilion at EPCOT

Japan's booth is named Hanami, which means "flower viewing". How cool is that? Quite appropriate for the Flower and Garden event (of course).

Honestly, I could skip the Japan booth. I love Japanese food, but it is easy enough to come by out in the real world, so I don't have a need to try it at EPCOT when there are so many other exotic cuisines to choose from. But, in the interest of hitting every booth, of course we stopped here.

Passport Page for Hanami

I ordered the Frushi which is gluten free, and although it is not marked as such, I believe it is also vegetarian/vegan. Frushi is fruit sushi- the pink wrapping is soy paper, and the filling is coconut rice, pineapple, strawberries and melon, topped with raspberry sauce and toasted coconut. The whipped cream is from a can (I didn't note the brand), so be careful about that if you have food sensitivities to milk, corn, soy, or artificial flavors.

I also ordered the popped rice cakes, which are not marked as gluten free in the passport, but the Chef happened to be there in the booth, and he assured me that the rice cake dish IS gluten free, even though it was not marked as such in the passport.

Each of these items is VERY sweet. I would classify the Frushi as a dessert item. I would classify the rice cakes -with raspberry sauce, sprinkles, red bean paste, and green tea whipped cream- as equivalent to an 8-year old's birthday cupcake on steroids. Seriously. That was just sugar on a plate. Wow. It was fun to try a few bites, but unless you need a sugar rush or have a burning desire to visit your dentist, I'd say don't bother. If you are looking for dessert, go get flan at the Mexico pavilion!

Frushi: Fruit sushi (gluten free)

Popped rice cakes with green tea whipped cream (gluten free)

In my opinion, the coolest thing about the Japan Pavilion during the Flower and Garden show is not the food, but the Bonsai. Do yourself a favor and walk back through the Japanese gardens to take a look at the bonsai on display. I admit, I do not know as much as I'd like about bonsai (I do have some bonsai books on my "to read" list at the library), but even knowing nothing about the art, I was blown away by the trees on display. Here are a few photos, although they really do not do the trees justice- they were much more stunning in person.

Koi pond at Japan Pavilion

Bonsai on display at Japan Pavilion

Cypress Bonsai on display at Japan Pavilion

Several Bonsai on display at Japan Pavilion

These are just a few of the trees- there were many more on display.

Just for fun, here are a few links to more information about Bonsai:
American Bonsai Society
Bonsai Experience: Types of Bonsai Trees
US National Arboretum: Bonsai Gallery

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco Pavilion)

None of the items at Marrakesh are gluten free, but the Moroccan pancake is vegetarian. This makes me sad, as I love Moroccan food. Hello… any country that makes baklava is gastronomical heaven in my book. I love just about anything wrapped in puff pastry. Sigh. Perhaps one day I will attempt gluten free phyllo dough. Don't hold your breath though. Phyllo is no easy task.

Taste of Marrakesh Outdoor Kitchen at EPCOT Morocco Pavilion

Marrakesh Passport Page

Morocco's garden display includes giant mosaic spice balls, which are quite stunning.

Garden display at Marrakesh Outdoor Kitchen

Baghrir (Moroccan Pancake with Honey, Almonds, and Argan Oil)

I was curious what exactly is in in Baghrir, so I looked up a recipe here. Definitely not gluten free :) And while many of us have heard about argan oil's benefits for skin and hair, I hadn't heard much about the possible health benefits of consumption. I found this WSJ article that is a good primer on argan oil, if you are interested in learning more.

Tim the Test Kitchen ordered the Lamb Brewat roll. I would have been more envious of this light, flaky deliciousness if it hadn't been lamb. Actually, if they could just wrap the fruit and nuts in the phyllo and leave out the meat entirely, that would make me happy. Oh, right, sweetness and nuts in phyllo dough... that would be pretty close to baklava. Ha.

Lamb Brewat Roll with Prunes and Sesame (wrapped in a phyllo type dough!)

Lamb Brewat Roll with Prunes and Sesame, inside view
(they were out of plastic knives at the time, I had to saw through with a plastic fork- this is the best I could do :)

If you would like to make your own Brewat rolls at home, or just know more about their ingredients, you can find a recipe similar to this one on the Disney discussion boards, here.

For more photos and descriptions of the food available year round in EPCOT's Moroccan Pavilion, check out their website, here. Tip: Restaurant Marrakesh at Moroccan Pavilion features belly dancers at dinner. Another tip: they offer a 10% discount to Annual Passholders during the week for lunch.

A third tip: Spice Road Table is a brand new Mediterranean restaurant at the Morocco pavilion. It is an open-air restaurant on the World Showcase Lagoon, and features tapas-like dishes. Spice Road does not accept any discounts at this time, not even Tables in Wonderland.

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Fleur de Lys (France Pavilion)

Lumiere and Cogsworth Topiaries (from Beauty and the Beast)

Passport page for Fleur de Lys

Gnocchi: Parisian Style Dumplings with Vegetables and Mushrooms (Vegetarian; NOT gluten-free)

Pulled Duck Confit on top of Parsley Potatoes (Gluten Free!) This was amazing. Just looking at this photo makes me want to drive back to Disney and order another one. It was that good. Get one. You will not be disappointed. This dish may qualify France as my favorite booth this year.

Orange Blossom Macaron with White Chocolate Ganache (Gluten Free!) Note: These are these type of macarons, not these type of macaroons :)  This was very delicious and very sweet.

Belle and the Beast Topiaries

As a side note, I just have to say I like/identify with Belle because of this:

and this

and this

and because the Beast's castle has THIS, and that is when Belle begins to change her mind, lol 

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Buttercup Cottage (UK Pavilion)

Buttercup Cottage at UK Pavilion

Passport page for Buttercup Cottage

There was nothing gluten-free at the UK Outdoor Kitchen, but the strawberry salad is vegetarian. I presume the salad is not gluten free because of the bleu cheese (the mold for bleu cheese is grown on bread, therefore bleu cheese is typically not gluten free).

Pork and Apple Sausage Roll with Homemade Piccalilli

Freshly Baked Potato & Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare Obviously I could not eat this biscuit, but I have to tell you, it smelled DELICIOUS!

Tim says if he had to pick a favorite from everything he ate at the festival, these two items would be #1 and #2- although he then noted the mushroom quesadilla and chocolate flan at the Mexico pavilion ranked pretty high too. Tough call- everything is so yummy! 

2014 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival: Pineapple Promenade

Day Two of the Flower & Garden festival was wet and rainy, so I did not bring the iPad with me. It was challenging enough to try to stay dry, hold on to an umbrella, balance tiny plates of food, keep the food dry, and take photos (with the phone) all at the same time. Oh yeah, this was the PERFECT time to try "live blogging" for the first time- ha! Always an adventure.

Mary Poppins Topiary at UK Pavilion

My friend Rebecca warned that it might get windy, and I could fly away :)

Winnie the Pooh Topiary at UK Pavilion

Tim says, "Tut, tut, it looks like rain."

After visiting flower & topiary displays, our first booth was Pineapple Promenade, which we informally dubbed "the Dole Whip booth". They are calling it "pineapple soft serve" during the festival, which made me uncertain if this was THE Dole Whip that has a devoted cult following at Disney. I asked a cast member, and he said yes, the "pineapple soft serve" at the booth IS Dole Whip, but Dole opted not to sponsor the name brand for the festival booth, so it has reverted to a generic description in EPCOT during the Flower and Garden Festival. Never fear, it is still known as Dole Whip over in the Magic Kingdom and at the Polynesian resort.

One advantage of rain: fewer people in the photos :)

Although the pineapple soft serve is not noted as gluten free or vegetarian in the event passport, from what I've read on other blogs, Dole whip is both vegan and gluten free.

Here is a link to the manufacturer's web page, which lists the ingredients in Dole Whip. As always, if you have severe allergies to a particular ingredient, you should double check with a chef on duty during your vacation. Ingredients in many prepackaged foods (whether at Disney or your local health food store) are known to change based on manufacturer's availability, etc.

Passport page for Pineapple Promenade (say that 5 times fast)

Tim ordered the Sweet Potato Cinnamon Waffle with Dole Whip- er, I mean pineapple soft serve. It was melting quickly on the hot waffle, and as I mentioned, I am also balancing an umbrella and taking a photo here, so bear with my less-than-perfect photo:

You know I love waffles. I have to say, this teeny tiny sweet potato waffle (smaller than the palm of your hand) was the cutest waffle I've ever seen. 

I tried a little of the soft serve/Dole Whip. I thought it was VERY sweet- much sweeter than I expected. Personally, I don't think I could eat an entire serving of Dole Whip. Tim also found it too sweet on its own, but said it balanced very well with the waffle. 

There were pineapples growing in several areas throughout the festival grounds. I think pineapple plants are SO cool. One of these days, I will plant pineapple tops in my yard and watch them grow. 

And just for fun, because this is, after all, the Healing Kitchen, here is a link to more information about the health benefits of pineapple.