Welcome to a marketplace review for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2017, taking place in the park from August 31st through November 13th, 2017. This review will cover the brand new booth “The Almond Orchard”, which is located in World Showcase Plaza, at the front of World Showcase.

The Almond Orchard

Food:

• Cauliflower Risotto with Pulled Chicken, Artichokes, Spinach and Parmesan Cheese and Aged Balsamic – $4.75
• Fire-roasted Tomato Hummus topped with Blue Diamond Salt & Vinegar Almonds and served with Blue Diamond Nut Thins – $5.25
• Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Crunchy Chocolate Oats – $4.50

Beverages:

• Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin “Yellow Label” Brut – $13.00
• Dom Pérignon Brut – $32.00
• Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé Imperial – $16.00
• Strawberry Smoothie made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk (non-alcoholic) – $4.50

Cauliflower Risotto with Pulled Chicken, Artichokes, Spinach and Parmesan Cheese and Aged Balsamic – $4.75

The risotto was a little vinegar heavy, but otherwise fine. I sometimes feel that booths themed to a single item are silly, mostly because you should probably come back around to it a few times so you don’t ingest 4-almond-based items at once and are tired of the flavor before you even get through everything you ordered.

Fire-roasted Tomato Hummus topped with Blue Diamond Salt & Vinegar Almonds and served with Blue Diamond Nut Thins – $5.25

The hummus was just fine as well, with almost nothing standing out about it. Sure, it’s nice if you like hummus, but there are hundreds of items you could have at the Festival, so why settle for this?

Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Crunchy Chocolate Oats – $4.50

Note: This item has since become much smaller, so your results may vary. Otherwise, it was a pretty delicious sundae filled with fresh berries and crunchy oats. I could do without the fruit overload myself, but the banana almond soft serve is pretty amazing and should become something they serve at Epcot on a regular basis. It could be the new Dole Whip.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin “Yellow Label” Brut – $13.00

~$55/bottle at home, $11 a glass at festival – Balanced, fruity, and slightly toasty making for a very drinkable champagne.

Dom Pérignon Brut – $32.00

~$150/bottle at home, $32 a glass at festival – The legendary champagne returns to Food & Wine, and while $32 sounds a little rough, take into consideration the high price of a full bottle. If you’ve never had Dom before, now is your proper chance to try a glass. Take note your Tasting Sampler tabs do *not* work on Dom, but it works on the other two champagnes here.

Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé Imperial – $16.00

~$65/bottle at home, $16 a glass at festival. Expect one of the best champagnes you’re going to find at Epcot, very fruity with good hints of raspberry and strawberry on the nose. Use your Tasting Sampler tabs on this if you have them, or pay out of pocket if not. It’s one of our festival favorites…. since the Moet & Chandon Imperial Nectar disappeared a few years ago at least.

Strawberry Smoothie made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk (non-alcoholic) – $4.50

For those who don’t like alcohol or for the kids, the Strawberry Smoothie is one of the best the festival has to offer. The mix of strawberry and almond milk flavors works well here, well, at least if you’re OK with almond milk.

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Jose Castillo