The first Epcot Festival of 2019 has officially begun! Today kicks off the third annual Epcot Festival of the Arts!

Today through February 25, 2019, three artistic disciplines — Visual, Performance, and Culinary — will be celebrated in special art exhibits, participatory activities and photo ops for guests, complimentary seminars and extra-ticketed interactive workshops, and performances including the Disney on Broadway Concert Series.

Today, we’re focusing — naturally! — on the Culinary Arts! You can find these at Food Studios around the World Showcase, which, like the Marketplace Booths for the Food and Wine Festival, bring new tapas sized dishes and unique drinks to the park. Additional items are also added to permanent locations in Epcot.

And we’re trying them ALL to bring YOU the items you’ve got to try at the Epcot Festival of the Arts! You can see pictures of every item by visiting our Food Studios page. But right now? Check out our…

BEST OF THE FEST!!

Here are our favorite food and drinks from the day!

Crème de Brie en Petit Pain at L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France

We found a top booth winner at L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France! This was the only booth from the festival that garnered a thumbs up for every menu item from our taste testers!

The presentation of this dish is adorable. And we were wowed by the delicious flavor as well!

Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats and Cheeses at The Masterpiece Kitchen

We always love a Charcuterie board and we found this palette featuring Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Beef at The Masterpiece Kitchen.

While the palette lacked crackers or bread, which made it awkward to eat, the items presented were still delicious.

Chocolate and Beer Pairing Flight at The Artist’s Table

The Artist’s Table

features a pairing of beer with chocolate!

The Framboise beer and chocolates were surprisingly good.

Callebaut Belgian Sipping Chocolate Flight at The Artist’s Table

It’s back! Don’t pass up the Callebaut Belgian Sipping Chocolate Flight at The Artist’s Table.

Thick. Decadent. Basically, take three chocolate bars — White, Milk, and Dark — and melt them down. Then drink them. Yeah — it’s like that.

Frosé at Cuisine Classique

At Cuisine Classique, we sampled the A Play on Rosé Flight.

It was the Frosé itself that was the real stand-out! The other flight offerings were a bit pedestrian.

Sopes de Chilorio at El Artista Hambriento (The Hungry Artist)

The Slow-braised Pork marinated in Ancho Chili Paste is served on Fried Corn Dough with Black Beans, Queso Oaxaca, Crema Mexicana, and Salsa Verde at El Artista Hambriento (The Hungry Artist).

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the fried corn dough here was really good!

Wild Mushroom Risotto at Masterpiece Kitchen

Guess what’s back at Masterpiece Kitchen? The Wild Mushroom Risotto with Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings, and Zinfandel Reduction!

This has been on the Best of the Fest list for a couple of years now. A vegetarian classic that’s SO rich and delicious…a little goes a long way.

Barbabietole Dolci, Caprino Fritto at L’Arte di Mangiare — Italy

Roasted Candied Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Fritters were served at L’Arte di Mangiare — Italy.

The salad part of this dish was fine but the Goat Cheese Fritters were amazing!

Lobster Bacon Macaroni & Cheese served in a Warm Bread Cone at Taste Track

Taste Track

keeps surprising us!

Although we preferred the cheeseburger handwich offered at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival two years ago, this Lobster Mac and Cheese cone was quite tasty. It’s Lobster Mac and Cheese. What could possibly go wrong?

Dragon and Phoenix at The Painted Panda — China

Beautifully presented, the Spicy Sautéed Shrimp with Spinach Noodles are served at The Painted Panda — China.

This dish was a little bit spicy and the shrimp was awesome with a super light “tempura” style batter. The noodles had a spicy rub that made them a star in the dish.

Sushi Donut at Takumi Table — Japan

What’s a Sushi Donut, you ask? Well of course it’s donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Avocado and Masago accented with Citrus-soy Gelée and Wasabi on the side at Takumi Table.

While the citrus soy gelee tasted smokey, it was interesting and delicious — definitely unexpected, but added a lot to the dish.. We really liked the variety of salmon, shrimp, and tuna.

Salted Caramel Funnel Cake at Funnel Cakes (American Adventure)

Salted Caramel Funnel Cake at the Funnel Cakes kiosk in American Adventure.

The salted caramel ice cream was the winner here. While there’s not TOO much unique happening on this funnel cake, we still couldn’t stop eating it. More than meets the eye?

Lemon and Blood Orange Tart at Decadent Delights

Decadent Delights

featured two of our favorites. First up, the Lemon and Blood Orange Tart!

With great flavors and good texture, this very tart/sour delight should be on your must try list.

Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port at Decadent Delights

Another winner at Decadent Delights, we think you should pair your tart with the Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port!

With a strong, tart raspberry flavor it had a lot of body and was an unexpected favorite of the taste-testers!

Best of the Fest that Wasn’t at a Booth

Seasonal Dessert at Sunshine Seasons

At Sunshine Seasons, the seasonal dessert features yellow cake with peanut butter buttercream filling.

This uses the same buttercream that we found on the flower pot cupcake and the snowman cupcake from this past holiday season — lightly peanut butter flavored and truly delicious!

A gorgeous concoction that was one of our favorites…even though it wasn’t on the menu at any booth!

Best of the Fest for Kids

Paintbrush Churro at Taste Track

Cinnamon Sugar Churros Dipped in Colorful White Chocolate are fun for all ages (especially kids!) at Taste Track.

We love these dressed up churros.

Best of the Fest for Instagram

Glitter Beer at Pop Eats

#RainbowSherbertGlitterDreamAle by Playalinda Brewing Co. wins for Instragram photos. You’ll find it at Pop Eats.

While we weren’t huge fans of the taste, this beverage is definitely insta-worthy.

Best of the Fest — Honorable Mentions

Costine di Maiale Aceto Balsamico at L’Arte di Mangiare — Italy

At L’Arte di Mangiare, the Sweet & Sour Balsamic-glazed Pork Ribs certainly had potential.

The glaze was awesome though the ribs could have been better. Maybe they’ll be running on all cylinders when you visit!

Weirdest of the Fest

Tomato Plum Cocktail at Booth

Plum Wine with Plum Infused Tomatoes?! Yep, it’s at The Painted Panda.

Peeled cherry tomatoes are soaked in plum wine and then more plum wine was poured over them. One taste tester noted that it tasted like a red jolly rancher! Let us know what you think!

The Festival of the Arts continues to be a terrific seasonal event at Epcot, and we’re so excited it’s back for 2019! Find information on all of the special events — from the Disney on Broadway Concert Series to complimentary seminars and interactive workshops and SO much more — by visiting our Festival of the Arts page!

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Are you attending the Epcot Festival of the Arts this year? Please let us know with a comment!