2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
It is that wonderful time of year when you cannot walk anywhere in Epcot without getting a whiff of some amazing smells. From the fragrant, blossoming flowers everywhere you look to the delectable culinary delights, the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival does not disappoint.
The topiaries alone are reason enough to schedule a yearly visit. After looking at the photos I took, I was surprised to find this “hidden Mickey” picture of Figment – everyone’s favorite dragon. Had I planned this photo, I would have moved left a tad, and lowered my camera a bit. This is just one of those unexpected magical moments you can always count on from Disney.
Of course, I could not resist Pooh and his friends over in the England Pavilion. Seriously, I could devote a whole blog to the topiaries, but we are here to discuss food.
However, before we get started, I just want to share the new display “Penguins” that highlights what you can make out of plastic trash – and just how much of it is discarded every day.
2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Gluten-Friendly Options
As we begin our journey through the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Passport, I will tell you that I did speak with one of the festival chefs. Unfortunately, his lack of information makes it extremely difficult to recommend some dishes. A simple inquiry about what is in the gluten-free flour blend used in a few of the items came up with no answer. I find that extremely disheartening and unacceptable. For that reason, I caution you to speak with a chef if you have allergy concerns. Perhaps you can get a clear answer – if not, do not risk it.
That being said, there are many wonderful gluten-friendly options if all you are concerned about is avoiding gluten. For those with allergies, please remember that cross-contamination is a possibility. Proceed with caution. Everything described here is gluten-friendly unless otherwise specified.
Arbor at the Gardeners Terrace
The first stop in the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Passport is Arbor at the Gardeners Terrace. There you will find the Mixed Berry Buttermilk Cake. The cake’s texture is a tiny bit gritty, but you will only notice this if you eat it plain. Enjoy all the flavors together, and you will have one of my favorite desserts of the festival. The Apple Cider Sorbet is especially refreshing on a hot day. Do not eat this dish if you have an egg allergy.
Flavor Full Kitchen
At Flavor Full Kitchen, we have two excellent options. The first is the Citrus-poached Salmon served with ancient grain salad, roasted vegetables, and citrus greens. The ancient grain salad contains buckwheat, rice, and quinoa. The roasted tomatoes were sweet and juicy; the baby squash was delightful. The dish contains no added sugar (supposedly). I will say that the salmon was a bit bland but cooked to perfection.
Also at this booth, we have one of the best dishes of the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – From the Garden: Roasted Beets, Cashew Cheese, and Micro Herbs with Lemon-oil Dressing. The beets are salt-roasted, the cashew cheese contains nutritional yeast, and there is no sugar added to this dish. The edible flowers tasted like sweet, lettuce petals.
The Honey Bee-stro
Many, many years ago, you could get honey sticks at the Flower & Garden Festival. Although the free honey sticks are long gone, the good food is here to stay. One of the yearly favorite gluten-free items is back again – Roasted Cauliflower. We reported on this dish last year, and it is still just as good. The roasted cauliflower is served on a bed of buckwheat honey carrot puree, wild rice pilaf, asparagus, honey-blistered grapes, sunflower brittle, and coriander flowers. The dish does contain heavy cream so avoid it if you cannot have dairy.
The Citrus Blossom
A new booth at the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is The Citrus Blossom. Again, this is another location where you can find two wonderful gluten-friendly options. You will know you are getting close when you breathe in and smell that incredible scent of lobster. The Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion was the first item I tried this year. It is served with a grilled lemon wedge and is purely out of this world.
The other item is the Crispy Citrus Chicken with Orange Aïoli and Baby Greens. The chicken is brined in spiced buttermilk and coated in eggs and corn panko crumbs. While it is gluten-friendly, there are numerous allergens involved in the preparation. Taste-wise, my dining companion said it seemed like an orange-chicken wannabe. This dish was a pass for both of us – there are many other better options.
La Isla Fresca
Our next stop featured an item that is not gluten-friendly, but definitely on my cheat-worthy list if you are avoiding gluten for non-allergy-related purposes. As much as I should not cheat, sometimes, I just cannot help myself. This was one of those times. That is also why I like having one of my daughter’s friends along. As long as it is not seafood – she eats everything I buy, so I only take a small taste. The Tropical Mousse Cake, complete with layers of passion fruit cake, along with coconut mousse and a tropical fruit glaze was heavenly. Fresh pineapple chunks round out the plate.
We also tried the Tropical Freeze, a non-alcoholic beverage topped with mango and pineapple pieces. Talk about refreshing. We say yes to this – you may even want to opt for the alcoholic version served with Cruzan mango rum.
Trowel & Trellis
At the new Trowel & Trellis booth, you will find options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dieters from “Impossible Foods.” The first option listed in the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden FestivalPassport for this booth is Grilled Street Corn on the Cob. I do not eat corn, but it did look good. Next is the Farmhouse Meatball served in a lentil bread. I wish they had made the bread gluten-friendly. The dish is served with spinach, marinated vegetables, and a creamy herb dressing. Another one of my favorite options, this was also the messiest to eat – take extra napkins.
The last option here was the most surprising find of the festival – the Chocolate Pudding Terrarium. Along with being the prettiest to look at, this dessert was an unexpected delight. The pudding also features avocado cream, matcha crumb, pomegranate seeds, and baby herbs. I was very wary of trying this strange sounding dessert, but – wow! Get it!
Fleur de Lys
There are very few gluten-friendly options around the world – only the pavilions in France and Canada have offerings this year. I will tell you not to skip a visit to Fleur de Lys in the French Pavilion. This was one of the booths where I had to try everything on the menu, even the two items not gluten-free. Before I go any further, I have to tell you that the best drink of the festival, in my humble opinion, is the amazing La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy. The drink features Grey Goose Vodka Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice, and is high on flavor. In the middle of a hot afternoon, it was a welcome and refreshing drink.
On to the food – we began with the GF Vichyssoise aux Concombres: Chilled Cucumber Soup. How I wish my daughter was with us, as I do not eat cucumber and she loves it. I did take a tiny taste, and it seemed to be very refreshing.
I cannot seem to resist the words goat cheese and caramelized onions – so here comes another cheat. The Tarte au Chévre: Goat Cheese Tart with Caramelized Onions of a flaky Pastry Crust was amazing. If I was not trying to stick to a paleo diet at home, I would have bought a few servings to bring back with me.
I also cannot resist duck, making the Canard Confit à la Provençal a must try. This dish features braised duck confit with tomatoes and olives on polenta. Oh, my goodness, it was delicious.
Finally, on to dessert – the Macaron au Chocolate en Sucette. Here, you will find a large, chocolate macaron lollipop dipped in chopped nuts. If you are like me and want deep, rich chocolate, this is the dessert treat for you. Why on earth did I not bring some of these macarons home? I must have lost my mind. I think the Frozen Slushy went to my brain.
Northern Bloom
The final listing in the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Passport that features a gluten-friendly option is Northern Bloom in Canada. Here, you will find Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon. The green beans were cooked to perfection – crispy yet tender. The bacon pieces were both chewy and crunchy at the same time. The scallops have a wonderful lemon-butter tang, and the potatoes pop in your mouth.
All in all, the 2019 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is an amazing hit. I will say that I miss the Cider House in the United Kingdom, where they had the amazing Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef last year. Hopefully, it will be back again next year.