After spending the last two days discussing the booths that are available as part of the Food and Wine Festival, I’m going to move on the special events that take place during the festival.

All of the culinary and special events are based on 2013 information.  Some events may not return for 2014 while new events may be added for 2014.  Whatever happens, you can come here for the information.

The first special event are the Eat to the Beat Concerts which take place three times per evening.  The artists change every two or three days.  A full list of the artists was listed in Part 1 of the series on Monday and can’t be found here: https://dadfordisney.com/2014/05/12/2014-food-and-wine-festival-week-part-1-general-information/

Moving up the cost ladder, the next “level” of special events are culinary demo and seminars.  These events take place every day and usually run two or three times per day.

Culinary Demostrations

This event, in 2013, took place at 1, 3, and 5 pm on Monday through Saturday and 1 pm and 5 pm on Sunday.

For $14 (tax included), guests can watch a chef create a dish in a the show kitchen located at Chef’s Showcase in the Festival Welcome Center.  After the dish has been made, guests can sample the dish with a wine pairing.  The seminar takes 45-minutes.

Mixology Seminars

At 6 pm, every day, guests learn about mixology and the art of making drinks.  Each seminar is sponsored by an alcohol brand and the drinks will include the sponsor’s brand.

This $15 event takes place on the Vineyard Stage at the Festival Welcome Center.  Guests will be able to sample the drinks at the end.

Wine and Beverage Seminars

Every day at noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm on the Vineyard Stage at the Festival Welcome Center, guests will have the opportunity to learn about manufacturing process of wine and other alcohols.  Like the mixology seminars, this event is sponsored and will include beverages produced by the sponsor.  For $12, guests will be sample beverages at the end of the seminar.

SPECIAL EVENTS

These events can be very expensive and require purchasing tickets in advance as some of the events sell out.  Pricing for this events vary in price from the $30-50 to as expensive as $275.

Disney’s Dessert Discovery

This event had two levels of pricing when it made its return in 2013.  There is the standard $55 (plus tax and tip) price and there is also a $90 (plus tax and tip) price.  The $90 price includes a seat to watch Illuminations at the end of the event.

This event took place at the World Showcase Events Pavilion on select Fridays.  Since, it includes a showing of Illuminations, the event takes place from 8:00 to 9:30 pm.

At the dessert discovery, there are tons of desserts and drinks for guests to sample on before, during, and after Illuminations.

Cheese Seminars

On Friday mornings from 10:30 to 11:45 am at the Chef’s Showcase, guests can learn about cheeses from different areas and talk with cheese making experts.  The types of cheeses at the seminar vary based on which expert is presenting.  Areas, in 2013, included Spain, France, Italy, and USA.

This event cost $80 plus tax, however, the tip is included.

Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining

This dinner event took place at various restaurants throughout the festival.  As a result, the price of the event varies depending on the restaurant and chef.

Chefs will explain the menu, how it was made, why it was made that way, and the wine pairing with the entrée.

Tax and tip are included in the cost of the special event and park admission is needed for events which takes place within a park.

Discovery of Chocolate

This event took place on three times in 2013 and costs $75 plus tax. Tip included.  The event took place at the Chef’s Showcase in the Festival Welcome Center from 2:45 to 4:15 pm.

Guests will learn from a chef how chocolate is made and turned into treats which can be sampled at the end.

Food and Beverage Pairings

The food and beverage pairing took place on Tuesdays and Thursday in 2013.  The Tuesday event took place at Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco while the Thursday event was at Tokyo Dining in Japan.

For $55 plus tax (tip included), guests will get authentic Moroccan or Japanese cuisine which is paired with wines local to the two countries.

French Regional Lunch

A highly popular event at the Monsieur Paul restaurant, this event was held on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 3 pm.  Chefs from throughout French come in a prepare a four-course lunch paired with regional wines.

This event is $99 plus tax (tip included).

Hibachi Experience

A new event for 2013 was a six course hibachi meal with sake pairings throughout each course.  It was held on Tuesday nights from 5 to 7 pm at the Teppan Edo restaurant.  It cost $120 plus tax (tip included).

Italian Food and Beer Pairings

A weekly $55 (plus tax; tip included) event held on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion.

This event showcased Italian food and beer pairings.

Italian Food and Wine Pairings

Held on Thursday from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at Via Napoli, this event paired food and wines from the southern part of Italy.

The event cost $65 (plus tax; tip included).

Italian Regional Food and Wine Luncheon

Held in the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday afternoons, this event had Italian chefs prepare a lunch which was paired with regional wines.

This event was $75 (plus tax; tip included).

Italian White Truffle Lunch

One of the more expensive meals at Food and Wine Festival.  This is a five-course lunch featuring white truffles from Italy.  Wine pairings are part of each course.

The lunch is $225 (plus tax; tip included).

Kitchen Memories

A celebrity chef would visit the Chef’s Showcase and create a three-course lunch menu with winery pairing wines to each course.  Some of the lunches were $110 plus tax (tip included) while other events were $170.

Mexican Tequila Lunch

The tequila lunch returned for 2013 at the La Hacenda de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion.  This lunch pairs tequila with traditional Mexican food.

The event was held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons from Noon to 1:30 pm and cost $75 (plus tax; tip included).

Mixology Series

This event held at the French Pavilion in Monsieur Paul cost $65 (plus tax; tip included).  It was held only on Saturday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.  Guests get mimosas and tastes from Grand Marnier including the 100th and 150th anniversary Grand Marnier.

Parisian Breakfast

The lowest cost special event at only $37 (plus tax; tip included).  The event was held at Chefs de France in the France Pavilion and features a traditional French breakfast with mimosas, French pastries, and unlimited coffees, teas, hot chocolate, and orange juice.

My wife attended this event last year and enjoyed it.  All the guests were given a bag with parting gifts when the event was over.  The breakfast starts at 9 am and is over at 10:30 am.

Party for the Senses

Going from one of the least expensive events to one of the most expensive.  However, you get a lot for your money.

This event was held only on Saturday nights.  The event starts with reserved seating one of the Eat to the Beat concerts.  After the concerts, guests were able to explore more than 50 tasting stations and then the evening closes with a Cirque de Soliel presentation.

There are three price tiers for this event: Party for the Senses $145 (plus tax; tip included); Reserved Seating $180 (plus tax; tip included); and Wine View Lounge $285 (plus tax; tip included).

Scotland, Land of Food and Drink

Another new event for 2013.  This was a one-time event at the World Showcase Events Pavilion.  For $95 (plus tax; tip included), guests got to a tour of Scotland through its cuisine at a variety of tasting stations.

Sweet Sundays

Held on Sunday mornings, this $99 (plus tax; tip included) events had pastry chefs come in an create three desserts with sparkling wines.  The event took place at the Chef’s Showcase at the Festival Welcome Center.

That’s it for the special events during the Food and Wine Festival.  Tomorrow, I’ll go over some tips to get the most out of the festival since it is quite a large event with lots of food, drink, and events.

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