Food, wine, and a swingin' good time! These are a few of my favorites from this year's Food & Wine lineup, and here's why:
Zesty Cheeseburger and Cheddar Cheese Macaroni Handwich
L'Orange Cotton Candy (Found at Craft Beers)
Both of these items were a fair price and I was pleasantly surprised how big the cotton candy bag was! The Handwich is perfect for one, but the cotton candy can easily be shared amongst 3-4 people.
Eastern Florida Flight (Also found at Craft Beers)
My favorite beer in this flight was the Triple Chocolate Milk Stout, which you can purchase individually in a 6-8 ounce glass!
New England Lobster Roll (Found at Hops & Barley)
If you're a big fan of lobster, then you will think this $8 bite is worth it! The buttered, toasted bun and the sauce are what make this roll amazing, along with the heaping pile of lobster on top-Y U M
Cheese Trio (Found at Cheese Studio)
If you're a fan of flavored cheese (specifically Boursin cheeses) you will definitely enjoy this! I loved the sweet and savory flavors in the profiterole (left) the smoked salmon pinwheel was good, but the crostini was a little hard (middle) and the strawberry macaron was delightful! The pepper cheese on top was a nice balance against the sweetness (right).
Seared Scallops (Found at The Wine & Dine Studio)
This was a delicious dish and is a great dish to get when you want a more savory option that's more on the filling side!
Crispy Pork Belly (Found at Brazil)
Not gonna lie, I thought the pork belly portion was way too small. The black beans were delicious, but I would probably go to the Canada pavilion and get the Filet instead.
Spicy Hummus Fries (Found at Morocco)
Even though the portion was really small, I would get these again. I could seriously eat 3 orders of these (in one sitting) they were SO good!
Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle (Found at The Chocolate Studio)
Chocolate mousse, dipped in Liquid Nitrogen.....Frozen outside and soft, silky center.....I promise you won't be able to resist. The salted almond powder and whiskey caramel balance the chocolate flavor perfectly, and if I were you, I wouldn't share!
BaiJoe Punch and Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun (Found at China)
BaiJoe punch sure has a "punch" to it.....That vodka floater will have you speaking Chinese soon after you consume this. Once the vodka was mixed it was very refreshing, but then I experienced the Chilled Coffee in Belgium, and I said "Bai Joe" to this baby. The Duck Bao Bun was delicious, and was the perfect portion for one.
Let's talk about my absolute favorites from the festival.......
I'm working on photos as we speak, but the Canada pavilion has my heart for two reasons:
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup served with a Pretzel Roll
"Le Cellier" Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce
Doesn't that sound amazing?! Both speak for themself with how delicious they are.And remember that Chilled Coffee drink I mentioned from Belgium? Well, this is what it's called:
Chilled Coffee featuring Godiva Chocolate Liquer
GODIVA. CHOCOLATE. LIQUER. I promise you will want to drink three more, it's that good! The only dangerous part is that it doesn't taste like alcohol, just coffee and Godiva-chocolate-y goodness.
Grab your passport, time to eat and drink around the world! Have fun, and enjoy!