Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend a sneak peek of this year’s Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. I love this annual event so much! In fact, I actually planned a family vacation around the event’s dates so I would be sure not to miss it!
This year, the 14th annual, is shaping up to be the best one yet! Come along with me as I share a first look at some of the fabulous dishes you’ll be able to enjoy in just one short month!
The popular, annual festival, the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, returns Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 in 2023. Tickets are available at www.FoodandWineClassic.com. The menu lineup of more than 20 items includes delectable new dishes and beloved festival favorites from the hotel’s resident restaurants and lounges, and festival-exclusive pop-ups.
Over the course of the two-night event, guests will explore a wide range of cuisines with Mexican, Italian, sushi, steak, seafood and barbeque all available throughout the event’s food stations, with different menus each night.
The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic treats guests to a street party festival with unlimited tastings of culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants, including its newest restaurant, Rosa Mexicano. This food-filled event also includes bottomless wine, beer, and beverage samplings from around the world. In fact, I just learned that there are 85 different drink stands at this year’s event!
The event rounds out with live entertainment on the hotel’s causeway, fun-themed areas such as Chinatown, Beer Garden, Rose Room, and Carnival Corner as well as interactive food and beverage seminars led by the hotel’s expert team.
Also returning in 2023 will be the VIP Champagne & Dessert Party, offering spectacular fireworks views from the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve top floor event space, The Vue, paired with delicious desserts and sparkling wine pairings.
The menu lineup of more than 20 items includes delectable new dishes and beloved festival favorites from the hotel’s resident restaurants and lounges, and festival-exclusive pop-ups.
Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic All-New Dishes Include:
- Red chile chicken taco with avocado, tomatillo, pico de gallo and queso fresco on corn tortillas from Rosa Mexicano
- Smoked American Lamb: Hand crafted lamb, smoked cumin and harissa barbeque sauce, roasted black pepper and date puree and pickled mustard greens from Smokin’ D’s BBQ
- Gorgonzola cheese filled agnolotti with spiced pear, walnuts, nasturtium and ‘Nduja vinaigrette from Il Mulino
- Tonnarelli Pasta: House-made tonnarelli pasta, steamed baby clams, roasted tomato sauce, Calabrian chili and guanciale from Amare
- Congee: Slow-cooked rice porridge, shrimp dumpling, fried shallot, green onion, garlic, and crispy chili flakes from China Town pop-up
Returning Favorites Include:
- Roasted Linz heritage black angus beef tenderloin with potato puree, pearl onion, Dijon mustard and cognac sauce from Shula’s Steak House
- Signature classic guacamole en molcajete with fresh tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa from Rosa Mexicano
- Crispy cauliflower with sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce shoyu from the Beer Garden
- Dragon roll: Crispy shrimp, yellowfin tuna, Haas avocado and kewpie mayonnaise from Kimonos
- Baked ricotta cheese, carrottwo ways, radish, tomato, and pine nut “gremolata” from Il Mulino
While just reading all of this sounds amazing, I also need to show you some of the dishes that I had the chance to taste at the preview event.
For the Love of Florida
For the Love of Florida is an all-new booth at this year’s event. This booth celebrates the rich flavors and traditions of Florida, drawing on inspiration from the sea, the land, the people, and the history. I am really looking forward to trying these dishes again at this year’s event.
The Seminole Pumpkin Fry Bread is pure fall comfort food at its finest. While these may look like beignets, the texture is so much denser and richer. Paired with a pumpkin spice sauce, this dish is autumn on a plate.
As someone who LOVES scallops, I was shocked to discover that I had never eaten a bay scallop. Not only that, but I did also not know the difference between a bay scallop and a sea scallop. Now, I am happy to report that I have tasted, I have learned, and I am still in love. The Butter Poached Crystal River Bay Scallops were delicious! Seafood lovers are not going to want to miss this dish! While the scallops are poached in butter, the dish is still light and fresh.
Carnival Corner
Fan favorite, Carnival Corner, returns this year to delight Guests with upscale takes on traditional fare. The Italian Beef is juicy and flavorful, the roll is fresh and soft, and the Giardiniera gives the perfect amount of bite to the dish.
China Town
I know that many fans of Food & Wine Classic wait all year for these dumplings. These HAND MADE dumplings are phenomenal! As someone who is anything but Vegan, I can assure you that even without meat, the flavors in this dish are out of this world! If you’re a mushroom fan, make sure you don’t miss out!
Other Culinary Delights
Now, we head under the sea to check out the King Crab. If you’re a seafood fan, then this dish will be king in your heart! The citrus flavors pair perfectly with the crab for a dish that is light and flavorful.
For some heartier fare, don’t miss the Reuben Sandwich. While this dish is called a sandwich, it is definitely of the deconstructed variety. However, the house-made corned beef was perfection, and the sauerkraut was phenomenal.
Pastry
Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is about more than savory feasts. Guests can also enjoy sweet treats and perfect pastries! Each of these three desserts was brilliant, unique, and absolutely gorgeous! Honestly, they were almost too pretty to eat!
My personal favorite was the Blood Orange and Raspberry Tart!
Educational Seminars
Do you still want more?! There is actually more to this event than just eating and drinking to your heart’s content. During educational seminars prior to the causeway event, guests can expand their knowledge of wine, beer, spirits, or pasta-making through hands-on learning experiences led by the resort’s award-winning food and beverage team. All seminars require separate tickets and space is limited. Specific dates and times of each seminar are available at www.foodandwineclassic.com.
Clearly, this has been my love letter to Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. I truly love this event and I know that you will too! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.foodandwineclassic.com.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sneak Peek at the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. What are you most excited to try during the 14th annual event? Let us know in the comments below!
To hear more about this year’s event, head over to our YouTube channel!
Vistazo al festival Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Aunque todavía falta un mes para el festival, el hotel Swan and Dolphin dio un vistazo para prensa de lo que se viene para el Food & Wine Classic. Nuestra fashionista Monica asistió y no podemos dejar de hacer planes ahora para ir a probarlo todo ya que se ve que será maravilloso. Entre las opciones de restaurantes, el jardín de cerveza y hasta la fiesta de postres y champaña para acompañar los fuegos artificiales en Magic Kingdom, todo definidamente valdrá la pena para los asistentes.
Disclaimer - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.Thank you for visiting the Disney Fashionista website. Be sure to sign up for our Daily Newsletter where we deliver the best in Disney Fashion, Travel, Makeup and More to your inbox! You can find us all over the internet at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even Pinterest!
- Celebration Button Accessories for Every Occasion! - December 17, 2024
- First look at 2025 WDW Marathon Weekend Merchandise - December 17, 2024
- Three T-Shirts to Ring in a Disney New Year - December 16, 2024
Leave a Comment