Welcome to an Outdoor Kitchen review for the 2018 International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot. This review will focus on La Isla Fresca outdoor kitchen. La Isla Fresca is located on the World Showcase promenade, at the fork in the road heading towards Mexico.
La Isla Fresca
Food
- Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro $6.25
- Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce $6.75
- Caribbean Conch Salad with Mango, Papaya and Pickled Red Onions $5.25
- Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple $4.25
Beverages
- Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA $4.25
- Tropical Freeze with Cruzan Mango Rum $9.50
- Tropical Freeze (Non-alcoholic) $4.25
Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro – $6.25
This was a very solid dish with some tasty meat and island-inspired rice below. The beef was tender and the sauce accompanied it well, the rice was great to soak up the rest of the sauce. While it was good, we feel it’s about 75 cents overpriced for the portion received. Still one of the better options at the festival.
Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce – $6.75
The coconut lime sauce is more interesting than the shrimp which is unfortunate being they’re not marinated in it. We received five plump shrimp on a skewer, all evenly cooked, that worked well with the sauce. It’s not an overly exciting dish, but it feels like a lot for the price.
Caribbean Conch Salad with Mango, Papaya and Pickled Red Onions – $5.25
We expected more of a traditional salad, but received a dish that resembled a chicken salad but with large chunks of conch instead of chicken. While the conch was very tender and rather tasty, the plantains on the bottom were too hard for human teeth. The sauce had an abundance of spice to it making one of the spiciest items at the festival, unexpectedly. It’s flavorful and unique enough to warrant a try!
Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple – $4.25
The tropical fruits really show their stuff in this dessert. While not overly sweet, each layer provided flavor to the overall cake making for a very good way to finish off the booth. This is one of the better new items this year.
Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA – $4.25
We expected an artificial mango flavor to permeate this beer. Instead, we were greeted with a nice fruity flavor that felt authentic. It’s worth your time to try a glass.