The World Showcase Culinary Tour
In this week's blog, we are going to travel around World Showcase at EPCOT, highlighting why it is our favorite park for snacking, getting drinks, and exploring unique dishes.
World Showcase consists of 11 countries and 3 "outposts' for lack of a better term. The countries feature the architecture, entertainment, and food of that country and are often staffed by Cast Members who normally live in those countries in real life and have traveled to Walt Disney World to work for one or more years representing their country to the world. We love World Showcase for the unique experiences, and, of course, the snacks.
Let's take a look at the treats waiting for you in each of these countries. We'll go in order clockwise.
Mexico
Favorite bite
San Angel Inn has a mole poblano on its menu that is just lovely. Whenever we try a Mexican restaurant, we almost always order mole. Mole is such a great Mexican sauce because wherever you go, it's a little bit different. The fact that this comes with plantains just puts it over the edge into "must have" for us.
Favorite sip
La Cava Avocado - It's an avocado and melon margarita with a hibiscus dusted rim and it tastes as good as it sounds! You can get this at La Hacienda de San Angel, San Angel Inn, and of course La Cava del Tequila.
Most unique treat
Horchata - Also a sip, but if you have not had horchata, you should. This traditional drink usually has cinnamon, milk, and honey. The one on the menu at San Angel Inn does also contain rum and mezcal, so this is definitely an adult treat.
Norway
Favorite bite
While the school bread isn't for me personally, I'm going to have to defer to the countless fans of this. It's a sweet roll filled with custard and dipped in coconut and it has quite the fan following. You can get it at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe.
Favorite sip
While here you can enjoy a Nordic draft beer at either of the eateries, Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe or Restaurant Akershus.
Most unique treat
If you've never had lefse, then you are missing out. It's like a rolled potato tortilla-like thing that is usually filled with something sweet. I like mine with butter and sugar. At Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, it is served with cinnamon butter. Yum.
China
Favorite bite
At Lotus Blossom Cafe, people say the Orange chicken is where it's at, but I'm a bigger fan of the caramel ginger ice cream. It's sooooo good.
Favorite sip
Joy of Tea is a great place to get several great sips, but my favorite here is an alcoholic beverage called Tipsy Ducks in Love. It has everything. Bourbon whiskey, coffee, black tea, cream, and chocolate syrup, and I don't know why it's so wonderful but last time I had one, I boasted about it all the way around World Showcase.
Most unique treat
Where I live, I'm very fortunate that I never have to choose between boba tea and bao since there's a shopping center that sells each of those things one door apart. But if you've never had boba or bao, you absolutely must. Boba tea is a tea with tapioca pearls, served cold. You can get one at Joy of Tea with peach flavored black tea, milk, and tapioca pearls. Bao is shaped like a dumpling but more bready - almost like a bread cake. If you've had the "pods" at Satu'li Canteen, then you have already had bao. Nine Dragons Restaurant has a pork belly bao, which I think is the best kind of bao.
Germany
Favorite bite
We're very disappointed the Sommerfest has a reduced menu right now because our favorite item is unavailable, and that is the black forest cherry cake (otherwise called schwartzwalderkirchetorte). This cake is a heavenly traditional German treat. Chocolate cake infused with cherry liquor is layered with cherry jam and fluffy white frosting. It's so good.
Favorite sip
Obviously when in Germany, you must have the beer flight. You can get this at Biergarten, and it includes a pilsner, a dunkel, a weissbier, and a hefewiesen. Nice little taste of Germany there. And if you like one, you can order beer by the 1/2 liter or liter!
Most unique treat
When in Germany, we strongly recommend trying a little of everything at Biergarten. Sausages and schnitzel are a treat, as is the red cabbage. But if I had to choose one that maybe not everyone has tried before, I recommend cheese spaetzle. Think tiny little potato dumplings in a cheesy sauce. Like mac and cheese, but even more dense. There is also plain spaetzle, but the cheese spaetzle is where it's at. Tip: spaetzle rhymes with pretzel. You're welcome.
Italy
Favorite bite
I might be too stuck in my ways, but every visit to Walt Disney World, I've had to have the prosciutto e melone signature pizza pie at Via Napoli. This isn't your ordinary pizza! This is Naples style pizza, with a fluffy, light, crispy crust made with water imported from Naples and wood fired in an oven named after one of the three volcanoes in Italy. It is topped with prosciutto (thin sliced cured ham), arugula, cheese, and... wait for it... cantaloupe. And it sounds crazy, but it's glorious.
Favorite sip
While a Limoncello is my "go to", if you really want a treat, then I recommend the six wine tasting flight at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. It will cost a pretty penny ($30), but it's Italy, and it's wine, and so I think if you are after the "just right" sip, this is worth it.
Most unique treat
It's time to get over your fear of squid and try calamari fritti (fried squid). You get nice little fluffy rings that are breaded. Good calamari should have a light fluffy breading and not to too chewy. My husband and I use calamari to judge new Italian restaurants because if the kitchen is doing the calamari right, then they are paying attention to details, and both Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto do it right.
America
Favorite bite
I'm going to be honest. As an American, I find most food at the American Adventure pavilion boring. But it does have one thing going for it, and that is funnel cakes. Specifically, the cookies and cream funnel cake. It is what you think it is. You can find it at the Funnel Cakes stand.
Favorite sip
At Block and Hans snack stand, you can get one of my favorite hard ciders. Ciderboys Strawberry Magic hard cider. Ciderboys makes wonderful, sweet, hard ciders and this one has strong strawberry notes. So good.
Most unique treat
Baked beans with burnt ends at Regal Eagle smokehouse. Here's why: If you know barbecue, then you know burnt ends are where it's at. Wonderful little crispy bits of meat that find a second life after all the prime cuts are taken, either served alone or in this case, in the baked beans. The American Adventure pavilion is all about barbecue, so I think if you've never had baked beans with burnt ends, now's the time.
Japan
Favorite bite
My go to treat, to split, at the Japan pavilion is the bento box from Tokyo Dining. I love it because you get a little bit of everything and it's shareable, so you feel like you are getting a taste of Japan. At $36 you definitely want to split this, but the bento box includes shrimp and veggie tempura, sirloin steak with wafu sauce, chicken teriyaki, salad with a sweet Asian dressing, tuna, salmon, and shrimp nigiri, and a vegetable roll.
Favorite sip
When in Japan, you must have sake. Thankfully, it is served prevalently, at garden stands, snack stands, and sit down restaurants, but the selection varies, and sake has many flavor profiles, just like wine from grapes does. My favorite is a cold yuzu flavored sake because sake tends to be a bit dry and the yuzu gives it a lovely sweetness (yuzu is a citrus plant). But I've also had quality sake served in a cedar cup before that was lovely and totally different. Ask the server about what you might like and give it a try.
Most unique treat
Japan is a little bit different in that a dining experience exists here that you can't find at the other pavilions: A chef's tasting. Specifically, it's called the Omakase Tasting and you can find it at Takumi Tei. A chef's tasting means the chef is serving you tidbits that they might have thought up earlier in the day or right at the moment, and you get to try truly unique food. Basically, the chef is allowed to practice their art rather than prepare the same meal all the time. Expect several small dishes and a high price tag, but an amazing experience.
Morocco
Favorite bite
We are suckers for the pistachio baklava at Oasis Sips & Sweets which is a hard to miss snack stand. It's simply the best baklava I've ever had. Baklava is traditionally made with layers of phyllo, filled with a crushed walnut and honey filling, and covered with honey. But this baklava substitutes pistachios for walnuts.
Favorite sip
At the same snack stand, Oasis Sips & Sweets, we enjoy the frozen mint tea. What? A non-alcoholic drink made our list? Yes, yes, it did. Because on a hot Florida day, that mint tea hits the spot and the mint flavor is just lovely.
Most unique treat
Restaurant Marrakesh may have an uncertain future, but while open, it was known for tagine dishes. There are chicken, beef, and fish variations. The one we think is most unique is the shrimp chermoula tagine because of the use of spices. It's served with a saffron anise broth. One thing I love about Middle Eastern and Northern African dishes is the creative use of spices. You will find cinnamon in beef (very good!), saffron or jasmine in rice, rose water in desserts, and now, anise in a broth. It may seem odd to Americans, but I have learned to trust the chef.
France
Favorite bite
I'm a sucker for the chocolate croissant, also known as the pain au chocolat at Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles. But I don't think I could ever make it through the checkout without grabbing one or two other things here. The treats range from sweet to savory. Also, it's one of the few respectable places to get a decent cappuccino at Walt Disney World.
Favorite sip
Another drink that has gained a cult following is the orange grand marnier slush at Les Vins de Chefs de France, a quick service drink stand. It consists of grand marnier, rum, grey goose orange, and orange juice, all frozen and made into a slush.
Most unique treat
There are quite a few unique things here, and while I would say eating snails is pretty unique (escargot), I've tried it and don't recommend it. So instead, I'm going to recommend the oxtail broth at Monsieur Paul's. It's an appetizer on the menu here, is is a broth made of beef (not sure if they are actual ox tails), and black truffles (which alone makes it worth a try), but then it's covered in a puff pastry (yum!).
United Kingdom
Favorite bite
Pretty much everything at the Rose and Crown is delicious, but I'm going to recommend the sticky toffee pudding. It's sweet, it's gooey, and it's delicious.
Favorite sip
Rose and Crown, being a pub, definitely spoils you for choices of what to drink. Personally, I'm a fan of the Cider and Fireball. It's irish whiskey, Fireball cinnamon whiskey, Strongbow cider, and ginger ale, and it tastes like Autumn. But if you're not in the mood for Autumn, then consider a flight of single malt scotch.
Most unique treat
Although there are a lot of funny names on the Rose and Crown menu (bangers and mash, bubble and squeak, mushy peas), I would say the most unique food itself is probably the scotch egg, which is a hard boiled egg, breaded, wrapped in sausage, and served with mustard. Pretty sure it's on the menu so you can earn respect by eating it.
Canada
Favorite bite
Although personally I'm a fan of the unique treat below, we must once again recognize the clammering masses who sing the praise of the cheddar cheese soup at Le Cellier. It's basically a beer and cheese soup with a bacon crumble. Once again, it has a cult following, and therefore makes our list as favorite.
Favorite sip
Maple Old Fashioned. If you're not from a handful of states, chances are you may not have had an Old Fashioned before. I know when I travel, I refrain from ordering them because it just confuses the bartenders. An Old Fashioned is a lovely strong drink made with either brandy or whiskey, bitters, and orange, and maybe some sugar. At Le Cellier, they make it with maple syrup. Beware, though, and Old Fashioned is a powerful drink. You don't want to wrap up your drinking around World Showcase with this one. Let it stand alone.
Most unique treat
Our dear friends in Canada have given us a great gift in the form of poutine. Poutine is basically french fries, covered in gravy or sauce, and cheese. There are many variations of poutine. Where I live (not Canada, but northern United States), the common interpretation is brown gravy and cheese curds. At Le Cellier in the Canada pavilion, the interpretation is truffles, red wine reduction, and cheddar. Yes, please.
Well, wasn't that just foodie heaven? Maybe you're excited now for your next trip to World Showcase. Or maybe you are daunted, knowing your stomach (and liver) can never handle trying all of these things in one trip. Whatever it is, pick a few, and try them next time you are at EPCOT. You won't be disappointed. What is your favorite treat at World Showcase? Let us know in the comments or over on our Facebook page where you can follow us to see when new blogs hit each week. Until next time....
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