Pumpkin and Spice

Today is the last day of my super-boring Hospitality Management class. I just have to take my final, and I'm free for a glorious three-day weekend! My next (and final) class is Cost Control and Wine, which Jenn really enjoyed, and I am very much looking forward to. Kyle and I are already members of a wine club, which has really taught me a lot about different wines and a bit about tasting, so it'll be fun to enhance that with some more formal schooling.

Tomorrow, Kyle and I are "leaving" to go on a mini stay-cation at Disney World! We booked a room at one of the hotels and are going to go enjoy the first weekend of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival!!! I'm sooooo excited! The Food and Wine Festival is my favorite time of year at Disney World- it's like a foodie's dream. They set up booths all around the World Showcase, each representing a different country, each offering tapas-sized portions of food, wines and beers from that country. There are also wine tastings, beer tastings, cooking demos by notable chefs from around the country, and concerts! In fact, a band that I love, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (a swing band from the 90s) is going to be performing this weekend!

It's going to be such a fun, relaxing mini-vacation. I promise to take lots of pictures and to share my eating-around-the-world adventures! Until then, here are some pictures from last year to give you a taste of what the festival's like...

Last year, we got to meet Chef Robert Irvine. He was very nice, and autographed a copy of the recipe he demonstrated for us.

This is me, next to a weird pear topiary at the Pear Grower's pavillion- I'm not sure why I wanted my picture next to it?

We also met Remy and Emile from Ratatouille- they're so cute, and their ears are very soft. Yes, I touched them. (As you can see, we're pretending to be rats...)

Have a good weekend! I'll see you when we get back!