Food...Part II...EPCOT

There is so much to say about the many food experiences one can explore at EPCOT. Of course, there is the obvious "experience the foods of the world" while going around the WORLD SHOWCASE. And this is not something for the faint-hearted!!!! I always say I will try something from every country in EPCOT...but I just can't There is too much. (One reason to return many times!).

No matter how I try, I will not be able to do the food at EPCOT justice. Besides some of the most amazing sit-down restaurants in the world, (LOL...no pun intended), there are specialty beverages and snacks in each country. I will tell you about our experiences and, when I remember, I will throw some information I have learned but have not experienced first hand.

ALWAYS OVERLOOKED

No matter how I try, I will not be able to do the food at EPCOT justice. Besides some of the most amazing sit-down restaurants in the world, (LOL...no pun "

OFTEN OVERLOOKED

Because The World Showcase is so well known for it's delicious food, visitors can easily bypass a couple of terrific experiences. After entering EPCOT and passing the big ball, (Planet Earth), there is an area to the right that can be accessed by a pathway. In this area, called Futureland West, you will find "The Land Pavilion," which is the home of Soarin', one of the DON'T MISS rides. You'll also find the slow-paced ride "Living with the Land." Much of the plant life you will see on this ride is used in the Quick service restaurant, Sunshine Seasons, and the Table-Service "Chip and Dale Harvest Feast at the Garden Grill." Both restaurants have quite tasty food. Pictured here are the

desserts we opted for at Sunshine Seasons when we were on the Ultimate Thrill Ride VIP tour. The color does not serve this picture justice as the cake "frosting" is a raspberry color..and to die for!!!

Upstairs is where you will find the Chip and Dale restaurant. This is one of the character experience dining opportunities and is really fun. The restaurant itself is round, with tables on two levels encompassing the area where servers enter and exit. The round floor actually rotates!!!! (Slowly, thankfully!). By the time you finish your meal, you will have seen the large group of people walking around in the pavilion, a mural where there is a hidden mickey and part of the ride you will see on the

"Living with the Land" ride. The food is served family style, which means you do not order. You are served what they provide. Rest assured, there is always something for the kids. In this case, besides the cast-iron skillet with food, we were also given macaroni and cheese, as well as french fries.

The characters you will encounter are Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. Like every character encounter dining, the manager will come to your table to make sure you have met all the characters! The food was good. My daughter's friend doesn't eat much meat, but she was thrilled with the "best mashed potatoes ever," (her words), and the succotash. Our server, who, like most of the cast members, was as magical as the characters. As soon as she noticed that one of us didn't eat much meat, boom...there was another pan with the non-meat items.

In The Seas with Nemo and Friends, besides Turtle Talk with Crush, (a must do if you have little ones!), you will find the Coral Reef Restaurant. This is NOT a cheap restaurant, but it is delicious and the ambiance is quite special. One side of the restaurant is a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling aquarium filled with some unique and interesting sea life. You can see it from any table. Honestly, my son felt strange eating seafood in front of these live animals, but he got over it! It was truly amazing!

Also in the Furtureland area you will find a Starbucks and Club Cool, with an interesting array of frozen slushy, (non-alcoholic), flavors. Please, please...take my advice. Stay away from the Beverly Flavor. I'm not sure why they have it. It is NASTY and NOT MAGICAL!!! **If it is your birthday, you can get a free slushy here!!!!!

THE WORLD SHOWCASE

Where does one begin? First...by apologizing that I will only scratch the surface, but also promising to go back and scratch deeper...in the name of educating myself and my friends!!! :)

Going Clockwise, beginning with MEXICO.

Be careful, you might not ever leave! There are two quick service places that are so good and serve some amazing margaritas! Inside the Mayan-temple, there is a whole new world. It looks like a small village in Mexico at night. There is a ride, "The Three Caballeros," a market and San Angel Inn. This restaurant is a table-service restaurant. Admittedly, it is very difficult to read the menu, because it is so dark. But, today, with flashlights on our cell phones, it isn't a problem and the food is worth it.

When you arrive, (reservations recommended), ask for a table by the water. You will have a nice view of the indoor Mayan temple, the volcano eruptions and the people passing by on the Three Caballeros ride. While it is tempting to hurry up, eat and get on with the rest of the park, like any other sit down place, RELAX and enjoy! Pictured here is my daughter's meal. My amazing AVOCADO margarita is pictured at the top of this blog. And it was delicious.

We planned on getting dessert, but were too full and had plans for an ice cream delight in France.

CHINA

We haven't eaten here, YET, but the quick service Chinese place SMELLS amazing. And, according to another blog that I follow, there is a specialty drink that shouldn't be missed. (I'll report on that next time!!! LOL).

MOROCCO

Another place I haven't eaten, but am very anxious to experience it. Members of the Disney Dining Blog say this is one of the best kept secrets in EPCOT. They think that, being from a culture that many of us aren't used to, people walk right on by on their way to Italy and France. However, according to these people, both the Quick Service and Table Service places serve some awesome meals and are rarely crowded. Like in any other country pavilion, there is a specialty drink to try. (I will add a blog about drinking around EPCOT soon.)

ITALY.......

I don't have enough time nor are there enough words to describe this taste-bud heaven!!! My family and I have eaten at every Table Service restaurant. Please note: Unlike in Morocco, all Table Service restaurants in Italy are very busy. If you want to eat there, your best bet is to make reservations. Via Napoli is probably the most popular. The atmosphere is one of an outdoor Italian market. As in every other country, the cast members in Italy are from Italy. (I always wonder what it is like to be from a country and work in that country's pavilion at EPCOT. Do they enjoy it? Is it authentic or is it a stereotypical environment? I always wonder...but I never ask. I guess I don't want to know!). I have a friend who was stationed in Italy with her Army husband. Via Napoli is her favorite restaurant. I think she would prefer to spend her entire day right there, just enjoying and reminiscing.

Aside from the Table-service places, there is a wine bar which, obviously, serves Italian wines. You can get one sample or experience a flight. I haven't done that, because I am always with kids of different ages and I am the driver!!! By the time I reach the age when I can do this, I think I still won't as I want to remember the rest of the park!! :)

FRANCE

First, there is a little restaurant in the back of France, I believe it is called Monsieur Paul. It is expensive, but, I've been told, is amazing. There are several quick service places that serve pastries, salads, etc. There is a yummy crepe place and the recommended crepe, (by repeat visitors), is the sugar crepe. But our personal favorite is the ice cream place, L'Artisan des Glaces. This place is also a little hidden, just to the left before entering the shop/quick service place at the end of the avenue. When you go, you must order "Croque Glace." O. M. G. Pictured here,

you choose your ice cream flavor and syrup, (this is vanilla with raspberry syrup). The ice cream is put in a brioche, (French for amazing french roll). The top of the brioche is put on and then it is put in a machine, (you can see it on the right side of the picture). It looks like a waffle maker, but it just warms it and seals the bread. Honestly, I was skeptical as I couldn't imagine ice cream in a roll. Well, it really is so much more!!!!! Truly, heaven on earth!!!

Additionally, there is kiosk right by the water that sells beers and wines from France AND this delectable orange slush FOR ADULTS. They have two flavors: orange and lime. And they are very refreshing.

NOT TO EXCLUDE GERMANY, JAPAN, ENGLAND AND CANADA

We have dined in Germany and Japan and thoroughly enjoyed it. I used to live in Japan, so I especially loved it...and the food was authentic. It's just that my family enjoys the other countries better, so I have better knowledge of them. However, don't miss these things:

Germany: BEER!!! and the Biergarten restaurant. My mom is German and would have loved this place with the delicious food, beer and, of course the Oom Pa Pa music!!!!

Japan: All of them, really. The Tepanyaki, (where they cook in front of you), is good, as are all the sushi dishes!!!

England: Fish and Chips!!! My daughter and I were in England and Scotland last year and have become Fish and Chip snobs, truly. Well, it is definitely the real deal here!!!!

Canada: I haven't eaten here ever. (Probably because I have been too full by the time I got there). However, they have several maple-themed offerings, if you're interested. :)

And that is my food review of EPCOT. Little did I realize the life one blog would take on its own!!! I think I am going to stray away from food for my next blog. There is so much!!! Do any of you have ideas? Is there anything you'd like to learn about? Please let me know!!!!!