Anticipation… 2 Events at the Italy Pavilion – Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2013

We have two events planned this year that take place in the Italy Pavilion…

1. The Via Napoli Beer & Pizza Pairing (well, that’s how it was billed in 2011 when we last attended this event)
2. An Italian Regional Lunch (we did this last year with Lisa & Andy, doing it again this year with Lisa & Andy)

I want to just talk with you for a few minutes…

We’ve been to eat at various places in the Italy Pavilion –

once we had lunch there with Big Al, Judy, and B~ at Tutto Italia (we weren’t massively impressed, we felt like the food was overpriced; I’m not sure but this may have been our first eating experience in Italy),

we’ve eaten at Tutto Gusto “wine bar” too many times to remember off-hand (food is quite good, well, it was better before they started offering MEALS!, well we think so, although it’s pretty pricey),

Caponatta

Two wine flights

Robiola (similar to brie), Fontina, and La Tur (texture like cheesecake)

and we’ve eaten at Via Napoli with the whole gang (Harry, Sandy, Big Al, and Judy)…

Rigatoni Frutti di Mare

This is in addition to the two Food & Wine Events we’ve participated in.

I guess you’re wondering why we keep going back… Well, we’ve had great service a time or two – at the special events the service is quite nice. The food is quite good in general. And, we have friends who are Italian or who just love good authentic Italian food… so we keep going back.

We wanted to do the Via Napoli Beer & Pizza Pairing again (Tuesday afternoons). The first year that we went, it was the first year that it was offered… Maybe they’ve ironed out some of the kinks (the event in Japan has progressed and improved over the years while still offering some unique surprises)… Anywho, we’re going and we’re taking Calvin with us 🙂

Here are some photos from our visit in 2011, as you can see, it’s way more than just “pizza”…

Calamari Ripieni 2011

Three-way pizza – classic margarita, artichoke & truffle oil, proscuitto & melon & arugula

Veal Roast & Vegetables

Torta Caprese al Cioccolata

The four beers paired with our four courses

We’ll see how the Italian Regional Lunch is this year – last year was the first time it was offered (and then it came about because the France Pavilion restaurants were closed for rehab & traditionally at Epcot International Food & Wine Festivals, there are French Regional Wine Lunches)… hopefully, they’ve also worked out some of the kinks…

Here are some photos from last year to whet your appetite…

Carpaccio di Manzo

The “gnocchi” were more like small creamy rounds of polenta (although polenta is corn and these were wheat)

Filetto di Pesce al Forno (baked fish fillet)

Sad little grapes with the cheese

Mocha Tiramisu