Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival (Sept. 27-Nov. 11) starts this week, but you can find equally great tastes from countries in their world showcase all over Orlando, so if you’re the DIY type, why not save the price of admission and instead skip around the city for these options that are available year-round? But if you are one of those who looks forward to Epcot’s big festival each year (and we do not blame you one bite!), check out these Epcot Food & Wine Fest menu picks for this year’s event and get other exciting news about Disney’s new food trucks in this week’s Tip Jar.

Mexico: Border Grill Read our review “Chris mentioned that all the recipes are courtesy of his wife and mother-in-law, both of whom hail from Mexico City, so you’ll find tortas, gorditas, bistek a la Mexicana, shrimp a la diabla and, of course, dishes served ‘al pastor.’” – Faiyaz Kara Photo by Rob Bartlett
Scandinavia: SwedeDish Read our review “Despite the critic’s credo of sampling, not scarfing, we were powerless in the face of SwedeDish’s Scandinavian savories and inhaled every crumb.” via
China: Chuan Lu Garden Read our review “Once we were seated, our delightful Beijing-born waitress presented us with menus that listed Chuan Lu’s signature Sichuan dishes on the front pages and Americanized Chinese standards on the back pages. Sichuan cuisine, in case you’re unaware, is known for its use of brazen Sichuan peppercorns, wee buggers that produce a sensation akin to rubbing Tiger Balm on your tongue – aromatic, invigorating, tingly.”– Faiyaz Kara Photo by Rob Bartlett
Germany: Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café Read our review “All sorts of meaty German fare is offered in a family-style, long-bench setting as the lederhosen, yodeling and folk instruments come out periodically to send the assembled masses – the place gets packed – into a ‘schunkeling’ mess of arm-locked, swaying (so as not to fall over) audience participation.” via
Italy: Wolfies Pizzamia Read our review “As much as we enjoyed chef Schofield’s rustic Italian fare, the decor made its own impression: With its patchwork of rugs, butcher-block tables, stained glass windows and antique mahogany furnishings, Wolfies is startlingly reminiscent of a quaint restaurant in Bologna we dined in last year. Wolfies feels as though it’s steeped in history – a place where generations of culinarians have honed their craft before bequeathing perfected recipes to their current keepers.” – Faiyaz Kara Photo by Rob Bartlett
American: Bananas Diner Read our review “Photographs of icons Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and local drag-queen diva Danielle Hunter play into the diner’s “modern American” appellation, and their classic diner fare offers enough twists to keep things interesting.” – Faiyaz Kara via
Japan: Kabooki Sushi Read our review “Now, if you’re the sort who’s been to Japan a hundred times and only seeks out sushi joints run by Japanese chef-owners, you might want to set the ethnic bias aside and give Kabooki a chance. It may not take you back to the superlative sushi you had in the Ginza, but Moso, who is Laotian, fuses creativity and fresh ingredients in a balancing act that’s worth an encore.” – Faiyaz Kara Photo by Rob Bartlett
Morocco: Pasha Taverna and Lounge Read our review “ … in an area resembling a Bedouin bayt, a beautiful photomural of the Agdal Gardens and Atlas Mountains. The latter was a real focus-grabber until I was served a piping hot bowl of peppery harira soup ($3.99). The nourishing broth of tomatoes, chickpeas and lentils was highlighted by morsels of fatty beef (an ingredient noticeably absent in the version served at Kabbab House).” – Faiyaz Kara via
France: Benjamin French Bakery Read our review “Then came the pièce de résistance, or rather, pièces de résistance: a chocolate croissant ($2.69), which I have no reservations in calling my favorite chocolate croissant in this city; an apple turnover ($3.45), so light in texture but hardly light on flavor; and cannelés, a rich specialty of Coquillou’s native Bordeaux region.” – Faiyaz Kara Photo by Rob Bartlett
United Kingdom: The Pub Read our review “The decor is worthy of mention – imported fixtures and furnishings and whatnot – but without proper food and drink, a pub is as insufferable as a Scotsman’s runner-up speech at Wimbledon. Some of my mental observations: Pint of Guinness: not too cold, not too warm – check. A ‘Pour Your Own Beer’ wall? Cool. Bacon-wrapped Medjool dates? Wonderful. Kilts? Still loving them.” – Faiyaz Kara via
Canada: The Smiling Bison Read our review “Many years later, after dining at chef Josh Oakley’s Smiling Bison Restaurant & Bar, the full belly is mine, and indeed it made me smile. However, the Canadian in me had no choice but to take a hard look at this fine gentleman’s stab at poutine ($8). First off, kudos for serving it at all (Epcot’s Le Cellier is the only other place I know that has poutine on the menu) and kudos for making the cheese curds in-house.” – Faiyaz Kara via