Besides the beautiful topiaries, the one aspect we were most looking forward to at this year’s Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival was the Outdoor Kitchens. Making their debut at last year’s festival, these kiosks offer freshly made dishes from local destinations and around the world.
Armed with empty bellies and the best intentions, we tried to make our way to every Outdoor Kitchen the festival had to offer. Sadly, we fell short of out goal, but we had a great time sampling some fun and delicious food. Here’s a round up of our favorite eats from the kiosks.
1. Pineapple Promenade
We started our journey here. At this kitchen, you can find delicious pineapple treats. The big draw is the Dole Whip with either Dark or Coconut rum. Since this was our first stop, we didn’t want to fill up too fast, so we opted for something different
What we ate:
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What we thought:
Yum! Our first selection was a hit! The waffle was warm, moist and full of flavor. This is a dish I would want to replicate at home. Also, it would also be a dish that our kids would enjoy!
2. Buttercup Cottage
This is the United Kingdom’s contribution to the festival. Originally, James was going to be the only one to eat here. But, as soon as we crossed the border from Canada, a wonderful smell drifted our way.
What we ate:
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What we thought:
The wonderful smell was the Lemon Scones. Each scone is topped with sugar crystals that help bring out the tart lemony taste. Crisp edges lead the way into the soft, cakey middle. They were nothing short of heavenly!
James tried the Pork and Apple Sausage. The sausage was good. The apples were an interesting addition, giving it some texture and sweetness, and the sausage was not very spicy. He thought the flavor of the “piccalilli” was a bit overpowering. He likened it to a vinaigrette dressing, which he usually doesn’t care for.
The iced tea was very good. Upon checking out the Tea Caddy nearby, we found they sell the same tea there. If you like it as much as we did, you can get some to take home with you!
3. The Smokehouse Barbecue and Brews
Complete with outdoor smokers and barbecue pits, this is the place to go for the best barbecue in town.
What we ate:
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What we thought:
Nothing on the menu appealed to me, so James stepped up to the plate and ordered the Smoked Turkey “Rib”, and you know we both just HAD to try the Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake! Every time someone ordered one, the Cast Member would yell out, “Piggylicious!” and the other Cast Members in the kiosk would respond “They’re Delicious!”
James really enjoyed the “rib”, and thought the portion size was perfect. They were tender, juicy, and flavorful. I did actually try a bit of the cupcake before James could get to it. I didn’t care for it, but I remarked that James would probably like it. He liked it. He didn’t love it, but I did like it. It was a very interesting combination of flavors.
4. Florida Fresh
This kiosk specializes in fresh local Florida flavors. You’ll enjoy local produce along with fresh seafood.
What we ate:
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What we thought:I loved this salad. It was so refreshing after all of the food we had eaten that day. The combination of the sweet watermelon, spicy arugula and tart feta really hit the spot. I can’t wait to make this one at home.
James enjoyed the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were very spicy with a heat that lingered well after he had finished the dish.
5. Lotus House
A surprising favorite was this kiosk in China. After eating here, we weren’t able to continue, but it was a delicious last meal.
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What we thought:
I had the Vegetable Spring Roll. I loved it! It was crunchy on the outside while the inside was bursting with crisp vegetables. It was served with a spicy dipping sauce that went with it perfectly.
James had the Spring Pancake. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The tart apple was an interesting surprise. We both commented that this would be a dish our kids would love too.
But the biggest treat was the popping bubble tea! I wish I could make this at home because I would drink it daily! It’s a cold glass of creamy tea with a twist! Inside are two types of bubbles, orange popping bubbles (filled with passion fruit) and dark tapioca. It was fun to drink and so tasty!
Overall we had a great experience sampling the Outdoor Kitchens at the Epcot International Flower “Food” and Garden Festival. We left with a list of dishes that we would love to try again and also to try to make at home.
Have you been to the Outdoor Kitchens? Which ones were your favorites?
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Green | Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival Loop:
- 1st Stop – Adventures in Familyhood | The Best Outdoor Kitchens
- 2nd Stop – Disney Mamas | Culinary Overview of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
- 3rd Stop – Adventured of a Disney Princess | Epcot Flower and Garden Topiary
- 4th Stop – A Disney Mom’s Thoughts | Epcot Flower and Garden Events & Activities
- 5th Stop – Disney Living | Day Dreaming of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
Lindsey Leffel
Saturday 11th of April 2015
I really missed the Buttercup Cottage this year. It was my favorite back in 2013.
I'm really started to think I got a bad CM to make my Popping Bubble Tea, because mine was awful and every other review I've read has loved theres! Makes me sad because I was so looking forward to it! LOL.
Lorelei Ketcherside
Sunday 27th of April 2014
I'm really looking forward to dole whip topped waffle!
Mike Ellis
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
I think the spring rolls would be really good! Thanks for sharing your great pictures and thoughts!
Rosanne
Tuesday 15th of April 2014
Your post makes me realize that I seriously need to reconsider Flower & Garden next year! These look amazing!
Heidi Strawser
Tuesday 15th of April 2014
What a fun round-up of treats! I hope to get there and try some of them one of these days!