Pumpkin and Spice

Okay, let's try this one more time! (This is a long one! It was a busy day...)

Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early... Haha! That was a little joke. I don't wake up "bright and early" unless its absolutely necessary. And it wasn't necessary on Saturday. We woke up about 8:45, which was early enough, got dressed and smeared ourselves with copious amounts of SPF 55. (Yeah, we're pasty.) Before we left, we stopped at the cafe to get breakfast. I tried to get something healthy and filling (I didn't want to be too hungry before lunchtime rolled around.) I wound up having a cup of coffee, scrambled eggs with yummy salsa, most of a biscuit and a cup of fresh pineapple. Kyle had the "breakfast skillet"- eggs, potatoes, cheese, veggies, sausage and more cheese. After our breakfasts, we hopped on the bus to Epcot.

Once at Epcot, we rode Spaceship Earth (Spaceship Earth is the name of the giant sphere at Epcot.) As a kid, there was a commercial on TV for Epcot/Walt Disney World. It featured Mickey standing on top of Spaceship Earth and waving as the camera panned around him. It scared the crap out of me- I was so worried for Mickey! How did he get up there? How's he gonna get down?! Anyway, I digress...

After Spaceship Earth, we popped over to Club Cool (hosted by Coca-Cola). Club Cool features a selection of sodas from around the world- you grab a little cup and sample away. My favorites are Kinley (a lemon soda from Israel), Krest (a zippy ginger soda from Mozambique) and Lift (apple soda from Mexico).

We then headed over to the Festival Center for the Whiskeys of the World Spirit Tasting. I was really interested for this, because while I enjoy scotch, I'm not otherwise very familiar with whiskeys. The tasting was very similar to a wine tasting; we had a mat with the whiskey names on them, and six wine glasses with about a tablespoon of whiskey in each. We also had a straw and a cup of water- when we tasted, we took one sip neat (full strength) and our next sip we diluted with water. It was really amazing the difference between the two sips. When you drink it neat, you taste the alcohol and the dominant flavors, but when you dilute it a little, it softens the alcohol and allows you to taste some of the more subtle nuances of the whiskey. We also learned about how whiskey is made, and the differences between Irish whiskey, Scotch whisky, American whiskeys and bourbons, and Canadian whisky. The whiskeys we tasted (along with the notes I took on my paper) were:

• Bushmills (Blended Irish whiskey)- "Fruity, light, a little 'green' tasting, lightly sweet."
• Oban (Single malt scotch- Western Highlands)- "Slightly yeasty, fruity, mellow, light spice. Smells like cookies (butter, caramel, vanilla)."
• Lagavulin (Scotch whisky)- "Very peety! Smoky, mossy, slight vanilla. Smoky tasting, long finish."
• Johnnie Walker Gold Label (18yr blended whiskey)- "Sweet, honey, vanilla, toasty, thick and creamy. Very light smoke."
• Bulliet (American bourbon)- "Very vanilla, sweet, spicy, smooth, oaky."
• Crown Royal Special Reserve (Canadian whisky)- "Caramel, light floral, vanilla. Very smooth."

My favorites were the Oban, Johnnie Walker and the Crown Royal. Kyle liked the Crown Royal best.

After the tasting, we meandered around the World Showcase, scoping out the food options. It was really hot and sunny (which was sad, because earlier in the week, it had been down in the low 80s and beautiful!), so by the time we got to the American Adventure pavillion, we were ready to sit in the shade and have a drink. We stopped at the Hops and Barley booth, where I got a Samuel Adams 13th Annual Festival Lager (they brew a beer just for Epcot's Food and Wine Festival- it's good!) and a crab cake with corn and barley salad. Kyle got a Sam Adams Black Lager and a lobster roll. I inhaled my crab cake and forgot to take a picture, so you'll just have to imagine it. I also snuck a bite of Kyle's lobster roll before he pried it away from me to take a picture. (You guys are lucky Kyle was there- I kept forgetting to take pictures of my food...) While we ate, we sat in the shade and watched one of my chefs from work do a pear cooking demo (poached pears) at the Pearville Fair pavillion (hosted by USA Pears). I had teased him all week at work that I was going to come and ask him weird questions about pears, but I was good and just asked him what his favorite variety of pear was. After the pear demo, I was craving a pear, so I bought a Bosc pear to snack on. (I also bought a wheel that helps you pair wines, cheeses and pear varities together.)

After my pear, we went to the Sam Adams Beer Tasting. (This is Kyle's favorite every year. Of course, I also enjoy it.) Again, just like a wine tasting, we got 2-3oz samples of four different beer varieties. We learned about the history and philosophy of the Boston Brewing Company, and sniffed, examined and tasted our beers. (We also got free keychains!) The four varieties we tried (along with the Brewmaster notes) were:

• Samuel Adams Boston Lager- "... malty sweetness balanced with distinct citrus, pine and spicy notes. A strong, smooth finish and mouthfeel."
• Sam Adams Light- "A smooth, rich and complex malt character that ranges from roasty to sweet. A subtle hop not reminiscent of mango and apricot." (I'd like to note that this is the only light beer I will drink.)
• Samuel Adams Octoberfest- "...rich amber hue... Primarily malty, slightly fruity, with a hint of bitterness."
• Samuel Adams 13th Annual Festival Lager- "Brewed with seasonal spices such as orange zest, cinnamon and fresh ginger... Robust, malty, spicy, crisp finish from wheat malt..." (Seriously. This beer is good stuff. I wish they sold it in stores!)

After our beer tasting, I got a call from my friend Sissy and her husband, Bud that they had just arrived at Epcot. We hurried back around the World Showcase to meet them at the Festival Center. As we rushed past Mexico, there was no line at the food booth, and Kyle insisted on stopping for a chorizo quesadilla. Yum! Really, the quesadilla was quite appropriate because the four of us were going to the Festival Center for The Best of Mexico- The History of Tequila Spirit Tasting! (I know it seems like we've drank a lot, but really, this has been a span of about 4 hours- also the tastings are just tiny amounts... I promise I don't have a drinking problem!)

As with the whiskey tasting, we got four wine glasses with about a tablespoon of tequila each. (There is tequila in the glasses in the picture, it's just very light.) The woman hosting (who is the Florida Tequila Ambassador for Jose Cuervo- how do I get that job?) showed us a film and explained the process of making tequila. She also explained the difference between "silver" or "blanco" tequila, which is not aged, and is much sharper than "reposado" or "anejo" tequilas, which are aged in oak, and are much mellower.  The tequilas we tried (along with my notes) were:

• Don Julio Blanco (unaged)- "Clear color, peppery, spicy, floral. Slight tingle on the lips, warm burn in the throat, but not harsh."
• Jose Cuervo Platino (Un-aged, 100% aguave, ultra-premium)- "Clear color, sweet, peppery, very little burn." (I also wrote the note, "The secret ingredient is love"- I think the ambassador made the comment that there is a lot of time, care and attention in making this tequila.)
• Don Julio Reposado (aged & rested in old Crown Royal barrels)- "Sweet, gold, light, smooth, toasty. Slight smokiness."
• Don Julio Anejo (aged)- "Golden color, vanilla, caramel. Sweet, smooth."

My favorite was the Don Julio Anejo, and Kyle's was the Don Julio Reposado.

After the tasting, we all agreed that we were hungry, so we headed back to the World Showcase for eats! Kyle and I stopped at the Canadian booth and got maple glazed salmon with arugula and roasted corn and a cup of cheddar cheese soup. Sissy and Bud went to the Greek booth and got Greek salads and spanikopita. (I didn't take pictures of their food because this was my first time meeting Bud and I didn't want him to think I was a weirdo.)

Working our way around the world, we next stopped in the United Kingdom at the Brewer's Collection booth, where we all got huge beers! (This is me doing my best impression of the St. Pauli Girl- I'm not quite blonde enough!) Kyle and Sissy got Hoegaarden (a Belgian White Ale), I got Tennant's Lager (a Scottish lager), and Bud got a Stella Artois (a Belgian lager). It was finally starting to cool down a little (by which I mean we were no longer sweating so much we were sticking to our clothes), and a breeze had picked up, so the cold beer and the breeze were quite refreshing.

We headed onwards to France, where Sissy and I both got the Escargot Persillade en Brioche, which was snails in an herb butter tucked in teeny little brioche bread balls. So cute! Kyle and Bud got the goat cheese and leek quiche, and Kyle got a chocolate creme brulee. He looooves creme brulee. They had the escargot last year, and they were so delish that I was estatic to see them again this year. I really like escargot, and if you've never had them, they're quite good- they taste a little like a cooked oyster or a mushroom. (I don't cook them at home though, they're strictly a dining out treat!)

(Those are the same beers from before- it took a while to finish them.) After we enjoyed our little French feast, we realized it was almost time for the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert! Sissy and I went to the America Gardens Theatre and got us seats, and the boys went to get food. Kyle got us crayfish etouffee and seafood gumbo from the Louisiana booth, and I think Bud stopped at Morocco, but I can't be positive... When the boys got to the theatre, we ate our food while we waited for the concert to start. We had pretty good seats, and they played a set of about 5 or 6 songs. It was a lot of fun- I'm a pretty big fan of 90s neo-swing, and within that genre, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is definately my favorite band.

After the concert, we went to Mexico and rode the boat ride, then watched IllumiNations, the fireworks show. Since the park was closing, Sissy and Bud headed home, but Kyle and I went to Magic Kingdom. Remarkably, I was still kind of hungry, so we went to Liberty Square and got one of my favorite Magic Kingdom treats- an ice cream sandwich! The cookies are warm and soft, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream inside- it's sooo good. I always think I'll be able to eat the whole thing, but I never do. I got about 2/3 of the way through it, and then had to give up. After our snack, we rode the Haunted Mansion, watched the SpectroMagic parade and headed back to the hotel, where we almost immediately collapsed into bed.

The next day, we slept late then packed up and checked out. We went to Downtown Disney for lunch at Earl of Sandwich (which is actually owned by the real Earl of Sandwich). I had a Hawaiian BBQ sandwich- chicken, ham and pineapple with sweet barbeque sauce. They have wicked good sandwiches.

As our last stop for the weekend, we went to Goofy's Candy Kitchen for a final sweet treat. We got chocolate covered marshmallows and a square of pumpkin pie fudge to share. Then we headed home...

It was a fun, busy weekend. I do know, however, that I'm going to have to go back at least once before the festival's over though, because there is still waaaaay more food I want to eat! (We had gone through the map in advance to plan the food we wanted, and we only managed about half!) I guess it gives me something to look forward to!