Disneyland Resort Update: Food & Wine Festival 2017

Disney California Adventure, Anaheim, CA

On this Pi Day, 3/14, it is most appropriate that today's update centers around all things deliciousness. Yes, the Food & Wine Festival is back at Disney California Adventure for a second consecutive year after like five years off, which itself followed several years of happenings. And though the previous sentence may be extremely sloppily written, the event is a great, fantastic, delicious thing! This year is the biggest yet at California Adventure, with attractions spanning a new record three different areas--Hollywood Land, Pacific Wharf, and Paradise Pier. There are cooking demonstrations, food presentations, live entertainment, pop-up boutiques, and of course, food, booze, and more food!

This event runs now through Easter Sunday, April 16, which means you have five more weekends to savor all the delectable offerings. Still not swayed? Well, read on to check out nearly everything there is to experience!

Events

As has been the case in previous years, this year's Food & Wine Festival offers a plethora of premium upcharge signature events and celebrity chef workshops, free culinary demonstrations, and talks from various people connected to Disney foodstuffs. In fact, this past Saturday and Sunday, our friends from Disney Food Blog, AJ and Heather, were on hand to talk about secret menu items at the Disneyland Resort and share their insight on the meals only those in the know can order. This was their second year giving a talk, and it was fun and mouth-watering time.

There are multiple displays around the Festival areas with listings of the events happening for the run.

Over in Hollywood Land, I caught AJ and Heather talking about dishes around the Resort you can't find on any menu.

They passed out a pretty nifty checklist for those who want to take the challenge of trying these themselves!

Undoubtedly, Buzzfeed or some similar site will plagiarize this in a list post. ;)

AJ of Disney Food Blog.

Talking up some mouth-watering foods!

Great job to AJ and Heather on a wonderful presentation!

Culinary demonstrations were also taking place inside Stage 17 at the Festival Showplace.

This was where people could learn tips and tricks with cooking and stuff.

Festival Showplace & AP Corner

There are two welcome areas of sorts at this year's Food & Wine Festival. Over in Hollywood Land, at Stage 17 (to the left of Monsters Inc.), the Festival Showplace offers souvenir shopping, and chance to purhcase the Sip and Savor Pass (more on that below), and the aforementioned free culinary demonstrations. In Paradise Pier, beside the Garden Grill, an AP corner provides Annual Passholders with a chance to grab a collectible button and pose for a photo op.

The Showplace seems to move year to year, and this year, it's in the previous home of Frozen stuff.

Back this year is the Annual Passholder tasting pass, called the "Sip and Savor Pass" this year, which effectively provides a discounted way of purchasing food and non-alcoholic beverage items at the Festival Marketplace. It is $45 for 8 tabs, which means 8 dishes. This is more expensive than last year's $42 pass but a better value, because last year's pass was only good for 6 dishes. It also means that, doing the math, it's worth it to spend on food items $5.75 or more, if you divide the total cost of the pass by 8. There are plenty of dishes at that mark or higher, but I wouldn't use this on, say, desserts and drinks. In addition, the pass does not have to be used all in one day. It is valid through April 16, so guests who can't use up all the tabs on one visit can come again by that date and still take advantage.

The "Sip and Savor Pass" can be purchased at the cashier inside the Festival Showplace here or the AP Corner in Paradise Pier (keep scrolling down the update).

Also available for purchase, plenty of Food & Wine Festival merchandise.

These shot glasses and mini carafes were pretty cute.

Hats and shirts for wear.

I like the graphic aesthetics they have this year.

Wine fridges and wine on display (for wine sampling).

Over in Paradise Pier, beside the Garden Grill, an AP Corner has been set up for Annual Passholders to collect their button, which will be different each week, and get a photo op.

The Mickey button is this week's. Very creative and stylish. In addition, the smaller buttons are for Annual Passholders who use a "Sip and Savor Pass" tab at each stand. One button per tab. On Sunday, many stations were out, but AP holders were given a note on their receipt and the ability to reclaim later or on another day.

Entertainment

New for the Food & Wine Festival this year is an actual entertainment line-up. This follows the lead that the Festival of Holidays established by providing more than just a tasting experience. Various bands and musical acts perform at Paradise Gardens and Paradise Park, offering yet another diverse line-up of live entertainment for guests to enjoy. There are also a couple of cute shows that draw from the culinary nature of the Food & Wine Festival event that provide some interactive fun.

Here are some shots of the country rock band, Smith, as they gave an energetic performance Sunday afternoon.

I happened to stumble upon the Jr. Chef show as I passed by also. It was pretty cute, with kids volunteering to help Chef Goofy make some tasty treats, including a giant oatmeal raisin Mickey cookie that ended up being shared amongst said volunteers!

Goofy bringing out the giant Mickey-shaped cookie.

I mean, I'd prefer not oatmeal raisin, but I wouldn't complain if offered a free, fresh cookie. — I mean, I'd prefer *not* oatmeal raisin, but I wouldn't complain if offered a free, fresh cookie.

Festival Marketplace

Of course, the highlight of the Food & Wine Festival is the Festival Marketplace, which contains the dining and shopping features of the event. Once again, this year saw a medley of various boutiques and stands featuring many small business purveyors vending their wares. From soaps to vinegars to hot sauces, there was a nice mom-and-pop shop feel. Of course, there were also stands hawking Food & Wine Festival merchandise. And above everything else, there were the food and beverage stands--15 in all this year, topping last year's count--brimming with tasty samples of delectable treats.

Entering the Pacific Wharf / Paradise Pier portion of the Festival Marketplace, after passing by Carthay Circle.

There are vendors in Hollywood Land too, like this balsamic vinegar purveyor.

This olive item stand is over by the Radiator Springs Racers Fastpass distribution area.

Plenty of official merchandise here too.

Basically repeats of what I showed at the Festival Showplace in Hollywood Land earlier.

Want some soaps or lotions?

How about more Disney cooking merch?

To quote Chris D'Elia: s'cute!

Hot sauces sold here.

And though not specifically part of the Food & Wine Festival, I thought this stand in Hollywood Land across from the old Muppetvision 3D Theater had some really fun tumblerware perfect for summer.

I mean, I'm not sure I need all of these things, but something about the designs and Disney-ness makes me want them.

Of course, there were plenty of food and beverage stands.

Mmmmmmm... beer...

It certainly changes the complexion of this part of California Adventure!

Here are the menus of all 15 food and beverage stands. This year, rather than theming the foods geographically, the stands sorted things out by general ingredients. There are three stands in Hollywood Land, while the remaining dozen are strung along the main walkway of Pacific Wharf just past Carthay Circle all the way to Paradise Pier and the Golden Zephyr area. The stands also featured informational bits of the food themes, adding an EPCOT-esque educational aspect to the presentation.

Of course, it's one thing to talk about what's being offered. It's probably easier to just show you some of the many food, dessert, and beverage offerings. On this past Sunday's visit, I happened to run into Shaun and Jessica, who provided welcome company in a food binge all afternoon. The food overall was pretty delicious, and I was pleased to see that prices this year actually seemed to have stabilized and even gone down a bit on average. Although the prices listed are still probably $1-$2 more than they'd be at a regular restaurant (call it the theme park surcharge), it was still better than the $2-$3 overage that I felt many of last year's items were charged. It was also nice to see certain favorites and big hits from last year come back this year, some slightly modified but still retaining the essence of what made them popular last year.

Also refined from last year was the pricing scheme. For whatever reason, 2016's Food & Wine Festival had food prices that excluded tax, which meant that totals came out to odd, irregular numbers (and also required a bit more math to determine value for last year's version of the Sip and Savor Pass). This issue was rectified during the Festival of Holidays and Lunar New Year Marketplace offerings, and it continues here. In addition, though the lines could get pretty busy during peak meal times, I never encountered any food dish outages like last year. It might have just been chance, but overall supplies seemed to run more smoothly, although I still had a couple of instances where certain dishes weren't being offered with all their ingredients, due to temporary stock shortage.

For a full menu, click here. Based on the food I tried Sunday, I definitely highly recommend the following:

Fried Artichoke Carbonara from "I <3 Artichokes"
Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider with Garlic Chimichurri Sauce from "Garlic Kissed"
Black Garlic & Soy-Braised Pork Belly Bao from "Garlic Kissed"
Duck Confit on Potato Smash from "Lemon Grove"
French Onion Mac & Cheese from "The Onion Lair"
Sweet Corn Nuggets with Beef Chili from "Off the Cob"
Chicken Teriyaki Slider with Spicy DOLE® Pineapple Jam from "LA Style"
Korean Barbecue Beef Short Rib Tacos with Kimchi Slaw from "LA Style"

From Nuts About Cheese:
Brie Toast with Fig and Mint
with Roasted California Almond Crumble ($5.00)

From Nuts About Cheese:
Chèvre Fromage Blanc Tartine
infused with Rosemary and Honey, with Toasted Hazelnuts ($4.50)

From Uncork California:
Flight - Mimosa
Pear Mimosa, Apricot Mimosa, Mango Mimosa ($16.00)

From I <3 Artichokes:
Creamy Artichoke and Dark Chocolate Cake Pop
($4.25)

From I <3 Artichokes:
Fried Artichokes Carbonara
with Garlic Aïoli and Smoked Bacon ($6.00)

From I<3 Artichokes:
Grilled and Chilled Artichoke Hearts
with Romesco Sauce ($5.25)

From Garlic Kissed:
Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider
with Chimichurri Sauce ($7.75)

From Garlic Kissed:
Black Garlic and Soy-braised Pork Belly Bao
with Pickled Vegetables ($7.00)

(Photo Credit: Jessica S.)

From Olive Us:
Chilled Cioppino Soup
with Shrimp, Crab Claw, Grilled Olive Bread, and Olive Oil drizzle ($7.75)

From Olive Us:
Vanilla Bean Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta
with Amarena Cherry Jus and EVOO Madeleine ($4.25)

From Bacon Twist:
Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese
with Barbecue-seasoned Crispy Onions ($7.50)

From Bacon Twist:
Maple-Bacon Whoopie Pie
($4.25)

From Bacon Twist:
Baby Iceberg and Heirloom Tomato Wedge
with Peppered Bacon and Point Reyes Blue Cheese Dressing featuring Melissa's® Produce ($5.50)

From Lemon Grove:
Duck Confit on Potato Smash
with Meyer Lemon Preserves ($7.00)

and

Meyer Lemon Ginger Mule Cocktail
($11.75)

From Seafood...Sustained:
Cage-free Deviled Eggs with Farm-raised Smoked Trout
with Cream Cheese and Chives ($4.00)

From Seafood...Sustained:
Verlasso® Sustainable Salmon Tataki
with Avocado Wasabi Purée and Furikake Dust ($7.50)

From The Onion Lair:
Braised Wagyu Beef on Creamy Polenta
with Haricot Vert-Red Onion Salad and Roasted Cipollini Onion featuring Melissa's® Produce ($7.75)

From The Onion Lair:
French Onion Mac and Cheese
with Parmesan Crumble and Chives ($7.25)

From Off the Cob:
Jackfruit™ Carnitas Banh Mi Nachos
with Cilantro Crema and "Pickled" de Gallo featuring The Jackfruit Company™ ($6.00)

From Off the Cob:
Roasted Sweet Corn Custard Tart
with Honey Tuille and Smoked Chili-infused Chocolate Sauce ($4.50)

From Off the Cob:
Sweet Corn Nuggets
with Beef Chili, Spring Onions and Sour Cream ($6.75)

From Sweet and Sourdough:
White Cheddar Lager Soup
served in a Mini Boudin Sourdough™ Boule ($6.00)

I have to say that, disappointingly, this was not the legendary Choup. It didn't have the bacon or potato that comprises the full thing, and as a result, it actually turned out a little underwhelming. Perhaps the watered down version was because the Pacific Wharf Cafe had been serving a similar Loaded Baked Potato Soup, but I can't actually recommend this this year.

From Sweet and Sourdough:
Bay Shrimp Louie Salad
served in a Mini Boudin Sourdough™ Boule ($6.75)

From LA Style:
Chicken Teriyaki Slider
with Spicy Dole® Pineapple Jam ($6.50)

There are two in this photo, but note that the price is for one slider, hence the singular in the title. It's one of the best things at the Festival, though! I recommend it.

From LA Style:
Korean Barbecue Beef Short Rib Tacos
with Kimchi Slaw ($7.00)

From Wineology:
Flight - Sangria
White Sangria, Peach Sangria, Red Sangria ($9.50)

(Photo Credit: Jessica S.)

Aside from the 15 food and beverage stands, Paradise Pier's Garden Grill has a wholly different menu exclusively for the Food & Wine Festival. I didn't have a chance to try any of the dishes, but they certainly looked interesting! And new for this year was a Festival Beer Garden featuring beers from various local breweries! It's always great to see the smaller name but still high quality booze makers get some love and attention.

The Garden Grill once again features an alternate menu for a special event.

The dishes are diverse and very tasty looking!

In the same area, beside the gazebo and in the shadow of Goofy's Sky School, the Festival Beer Garden adds more beer options to DCA's already broad collection.

For those who may not necessarily like the taste of beer, try the Backstreet Brewery Spring Berry Sour, which has a very strong fruity taste to it (a decent comparison would be Knott's Berry Farm's Boysenberry Beer, for those who've had it). It's certainly a more "girly drink," but it's refreshing on a warm day!

That does it for today, after almost literally quite a mouthful of content. But you can see that the Food & Wine Festival has come a long way from its early days as a very pale imitation of EPCOT's long-beloved event. And while California's version still can't quite compete with Florida's, I think that the DCA event has nothing to be ashamed of. It's great to see California Adventure continue to step it up with great seasonal events and expand on past iterations of said events. This year's event seems to have corrected many of the issues that plagued last year's relaunch. While there's certainly further improvement to be done, and guests can still justifiably object to the price of the offerings on a value-per-filling basis, the event is moving in the right direction, which is a plus in my book.

So in conclusion, be sure to check this festival out! As spring rolls around, it's a great time to enjoy some great food and beverage at the parks. We'll be back tomorrow with a Disneyland Resort construction update--one with far less culinary inclinations.

Food bah!!