The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival kicked off today as rain soaked much of Southern California. Since rain is just about the only thing that keeps people away from Disneyland these days (heaven knows that price increases don't), the next two days of forecast showers might offer a good opportunity to chow down while enjoying short waits on rides throughout the parks.
According to Disney's published menus, here are the new items available at this year's festival, including Epcot's Frushi making its way to Anaheim. (New booths are marked with an asterisk*.)
Avocado Time*: Avocado & Pepper Jack Petite Guacamole Burger ($7.75), Spiced Oumph Pita with Avocado Hummus and Garlic Sauce ($6), Avocado Ice Cream Bar ($4.50)
Citrus Grove*: Citrus-Brined Pork Roast with Tangy Barbecue Sauce and Lemon Pepper Slaw ($7), Crispy Orange Chicken & Rice with Garlic Cracker ($7.50)
Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo*: Salt & Beer Vinegar Parmesan Chicken Wings ($7.50), Yogurt Panna Cotta with Red Raspberry Compote ($4.75)
Eat Your Greens*: Grilled Asparagus Caesar Salad ($5.50); Compressed Asian Cucumbers with Green Sauce, Toasted Almonds and Sea Beans ($6)
Strawberry Patch*: Strawberry & Coconut Rice "Frushi" with Yogurt Wasabi Sauce ($4.50), Strawberry Pie ($5)
I Heart Artichokes: Bourbon Chocolate Whoopie Pie ($4.50)
LA Style: Mexican Chocolate Custard ($4.50)
Off the Cob: Shrimp Boil Tacos with Andouille Sausage and Fresh Corn ($7)
Peppers Cali-Ente: Jalapeno Popper Mac & Cheese with Bacon ($7.50), Salmon Peruvian Poke with a Cucumber-Lime Salad and Aju Verde Salsa ($7.50)
Paradise Garden Grill: Vegetarian "Meatball" Sandwich
Going away this year are the Bacon Twist, Lemon Grove, Olive Us, The Onion Lair, Seafood Sustained, and Sweet & Sourdough marketplaces.
I tried the BBQ pork, the chicken wings, the whoopie pie and the jalapeno mac and cheese this afternoon for lunch. My take? A solid yes to the pork and mac & cheese, and a pass on the chicken wings. The flavors were on point for the wings, but I prefer crispier skin. The pork was amazing, though — great flavor without too much sweet or heat, balanced nicely by the slaw and onion spring toppers. The mac and cheese packed some nice spicy heat, though, and bacon's always a welcomed plus to a mac and cheese. I also loved the fist bite of the whoopie pie, but after that it was meh. Split it with someone else (or two).
Anyone else at this year's festival? Check in with your thoughts, in the comments.
TweetThe rain held off at Disneyland while I was there in the mid-afternoon, and the crowds were moderate - not as empty as the park gets when the rain's falling, but not as crowded as it would have been had the forecast been the normal clear skies.
Is there a sampler card you can purchase this time around?
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Forecast has rain next Friday and Saturday as well. What fun in the rain. Should be shorter lines.