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Friday, January 17, 2025

Treats at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts

Figment’s Liege Waffle
All images: Disney

Today's the day: it's the first day of the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. While I love all of the festivals at EPCOT, each one is special for a different reason. This particular festival is a fantastic chance to buy art from your favorite Disney artists and then meet them and get their autographs. I have collected quite a few signed postcards and prints at previous festivals. 

As with all festivals at EPCOT, there are tons of tasty treats throughout the park. And be sure to keep an eye out for dishes from the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine food stroll. With each dish, collect a stamp in your Festival Passport. Once you've collected five stamps, head to Deco Delights for a special prize.

World Discovery 
Connections Eatery
  • Figment’s Liege Waffle with ube filling 🖼
  • Imagination Lemonade: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade topped with butterfly pea tea and lavender 🧋
Fictional Victuals

Fictional Victuals
 - Near Refreshment Station  
  • Squid Ink Pasta with lump crab, truffle cream, and shaved truffle 🖼
  • Charred Octopus with crushed fingerling potatoes, kalamata olives, capers, and romesco sauce 🖼
  • Black Cocoa Brownie with ube ice cream, coral tuile, and sponge cake 🖼
  • Butterscotch Milk Shake with Chocolate Garnish 🖼
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Barrel Aged Cognac Porter 🖼
  • Boyd & Blair Outis Fathom: Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Juniper, and Boyd & Blair Vodka 🖼
The Deconstructed Dish

The Deconstructed Dish
- Near Refreshment Station
  • Deconstructed BLT: Pork belly, soft-poached egg, onion bread pudding, watercress espuma, and tomato jam  
  • Deconstructed Key Lime Pie: Flexible Key lime curd, “Key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake, and meringues  🎨
  • Deconstructed Strawberry Mint Julep: Frozen mint and simple syrup blend with strawberry purée 🧋
  • Wicked Weed Brewing Blank Canvas Belgian Blonde Witbier 
  • Deconstructed Strawberry Mint Julep with Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon 
Figment’s Inspiration Station

Figment’s Inspiration Station
- The Odyssey  
  • Raspberry Pastry Tart: Sugar cookie with raspberry and lemon cream cheese filling 🖼 🎨
  • Rainbow Cake topped with SKITTLES POP’d Freeze Dried Candy  
  • Figment Imagination Lemonade with choice of flavor 🧋 
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Black Cherry Hard Cider 
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Blood Orange Hard Cider 
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Pineapple Hard Cider 
  • Hard Cider Flight  
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Green with Envy Blonde Ale 
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Blue Butterfly Lager, Tampa 
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Make All Things Purple Ale 🖼
  • Beer Flight 
Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket
  • Figment Premium Popcorn Bucket with Rainbow Popcorn 🖼
The Craftsman’s Courtyard

The Craftsman’s Courtyard
- Near Refreshment Station  
  • Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme with creamed spinach croissant pinwheel, mushroom-gorgonzola ragout, mustard-grilled flank steak, red wine sauce, and pickled mustard seeds 🖼
  • Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels with sautéed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs  
  • Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, and petite lettuce
  • BrewDog Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout 
  • Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail: Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew, simple syrup, orange bitters, and Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon  
Opening Bites

World Celebration 
Opening Bites - CommuniCore Plaza 
  • Soft Shell Crab Slider: Green papaya slaw and mango ketchup on toasted brioche 🖼
  • Cheddar and Chive Scone with smoked salmon salad topped with crème fraîche and caviar 🖼
  • Enchanted Rose: Milk chocolate rose with raspberry and rose center 🖼 🎨
  • Parish Brewing Co. SIPS Candy Paint Berliner Weisse 🖼
  • von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner 🖼
  • Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA 🖼
  • Beer Flight  
  • Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne 
  • Piper-Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage Champagne 
  • Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon 
  • Martin Ray Chardonnay 
El Artista Hambriento

World Showcase
 
El Artista Hambriento - Mexico 
  • Carne Asada: Ancho-marinated beef sirloin with pasilla chile sauce, grilled queso fresco, nopales salad, and chicharron dust  
  • Croqueta: Chipotle chicken and chorizo croquette in chipotle salsa with chipotle aioli, avocado mousse, and truffle oil  
  • Natilla de Maiz: Creamy corn custard with caramelized sugar  
  • Mexican Craft Beer  
  • Floridita: Centinela Blanco Tequila, citrus juice, orange liqueur, and grapefruit soda with a hint of Aperol 🖼
  • Strawberry Fields Margarita: Tromba Blanco Tequila, Dos Hombres Mezcal, strawberry purée, and blackcurrant liqueur
The Painted Panda

The Painted Panda
 - China  
  • General Tso’s Chicken Shumai: Dumplings filled with chicken, potato, onion, and water chestnut topped with General Tso’s sauce  
  • Har Gow: Shrimp dumplings with pumpkin purée and drizzle of chili oil 🖼 
  • Egg Tart: Hong Kong-style egg custard tart 🖼 
  • Strawberry Bubble Milk Tea 🖼🧋
  • Dragon Fruit Lager  
  • Silk River Hard Lemonade with vodka, lavender-coconut syrup, and lemonade  
  • Butterfly Blue: Butterfly pea flower-infused cocktail with vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, and magic boba pearls 
Refreshment Outpost

Refreshment Outpost
 
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie  
  • Parish Brewing Co. Blueberry Mochi Berliner Weisse 
  • Brewlando Liquid Art Pilsner 🖼
  • Ology Brewing Co. Rainbow Colored Glasses Rainbow Sherbet Berliner 🖼 
Pastoral Palate

Pastoral Palate
- Germany  
  • Pork and White Bean Cassoulet with Regensburger Sausage and crispy pork rinds 🖼
  • Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with parsnip purée, broccolini, baby tomatoes, and balsamic glaze  
  • Black Forest Cake: Chocolate mousse with morello cherries and chantilly cream  
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Rosé Hard Cider 
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Rosé Blonde Ale 
  • Frozen Rosé  
  • A Play on Rosé Flight  
  • Marietta Old Vine Rosé 
L'Arte di Mangiare

L’Arte di Mangiare
 - Italy 
  • Tricolore: Cheese-filled ravioloni, pomodoro, cream, and pesto sauces 🖼  
  • Mozzarella Fritta: Flash-fried breaded fresh mozzarella with artist palette condiments  
  • Hazelnut S’more Cannoli: Cannoli shell dipped in chocolate and graham cracker, chocolate-hazelnut cannoli cream, and toasted marshmallows 🖼 
  • Peroni Pilsner  
  • Prosecco  
  • Moscato  
  • Chianti  
  • Italian Red Sangria 
  • Italian-inspired Margarita with tequila, Triple Sec, and Fabrizia Limoncello 
  • Mela Spritz: Apple Schnapps, prosecco, and sparkling water 🖼
The Artist’s Table

The Artist’s Table
 - The American Adventure 
  • Deviled Egg Trio: Pimento Cheese, Green Goddess, and BLT 🖼 
  • Chicken “Pot Pie” with smoked cheddar mornay sauce, roasted vegetables, pickled mushrooms, wasabi peas, and sherry-chicken jus served open-faced on flaky pie crust 🖼 
  • Hummingbird Cake: Banana and pecan cake dipped in cream cheese icing with caramel sauce and warm pineapple compote 
  • Wicked Weed Brewing Pineapple Daydream IPA 🖼  
  • Swamp Head Brewery Neon Palette Lager 🖼  
  • Lost Coast Brewery Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout 🖼  
  • J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Gris 🖼 
  • Beer Flight 
Funnel Cake

Funnel Cake
 - The American Adventure
  • Cotton Candy Funnel Cake topped with powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, pink and purple sugar dusting, and cotton candy crunch 🖼 
Goshiki

Goshiki
 - Japan  
  • Taiyaki: Crisp, flaky fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean served with whipped topping and blueberry popping boba 🖼  
  • Wagyu Bun: Steamed bun filled with American wagyu beef served with Japanese karashi mustard sauce and violet shiso sauce 🖼  
  • Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped sushi featuring salmon, tuna, shrimp, cucumber, and sesame seed over a decorated plate of wasabi aïoli, sriracha aïoli, and eel sauce  
  • Okinawa Lemonade: Lemonade mix with Shikuwasa Citrus 🖼🧋
  • Yuzu IPA 🖼 
  • Masu Sake in a traditional personalized wooden cup  
  • Junmai Daiginjyo Sake Flight: Plum, yuzu, hyuganatsu, and sakuranbo Cherry 🖼
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina

Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
-  Morocco  
  • Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli  
  • Chermoula Chicken  
  • Moroccan-spiced Lamb  
  • Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with assorted dips 🥕
  • Avocado-Coconut Custard Tart with pomegranate cream and henna-inspired gelée Veil 🖼 🎨🥕  
  • Chai Tea-Mint Fizz: Twinings Chai Tea with Sprite and Mint 🧋
  • Parish Brewing Co. Mango Mochi 🖼   
  • Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Hard Cider 
  • Keel Farms Blueberry Lavender Hard Cider, Plant City 
  • Chai Tea-Mint Mimosa: Twinings Chai Tea with Key Lime Sparkling Wine and mint 
  • Flight  
Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina

Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina
 - Between Morrocco and France 
  • Chorizo and Potato Empanada with turmeric aïoli and annatto aïoli 🎨
  • Spicy Ajiaco Soup with guajillo and árbol chili-spiced chicken, potato, avocado, corn, and crème fraîche  
  • Passion Fruit-filled Mango Cheesecake with coconut-pineapple cake, dragon fruit gelée, and dragon fruit-strawberry sauce  
  • Layered Tropical Berry Smoothie: Wild berry, piña colada, and strawberry 🖼🧋 
  • Collective Arts Guava Dream Blonde Ale 🖼 
  • Layered Tropical Berry Smoothie with Sailor Jerry Rum 🖼  
L'Art de la Cuisine Française

L’Art de la Cuisine Française
 - France 
  • Pithiviers de Canard et Volaille, Sauce Canard: Puff pastry with duck, chicken, onions, mushrooms, cranberries, and duck sauce 🖼 
  • Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm creamy brie in a house-made bread bowl  
  • Escargot en Chocolat: Chocolate mousse flourless cake, citrus coulis, almond-chocolate coating, and dark chocolate decoration 🖼 
  • Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose Vodka, vodka, Chambord liqueur, pineapple, orange, and grape juices with lemon-lime foam  
  • Elderflower Liqueur Spritz: St-Germain Liqueur, sparkling wine, and mint  
  • Charles Lafitte, Brut Rosé Prestige, Méthode Traditionnelle Champenoise French Rosé Sparkling Wine  
  • Patient Cottat Le Grand Caillou Pinot Noir  
Gourmet Landscapes

Gourmet Landscapes
 - Canada 
  • Citrus-braised Beet Tartare with golden beet “egg yolk,” mustard vinaigrette, pickled mustard seeds, pickled mushrooms, spiced pistachios, and “feta” snow  🖼 🎨🥕
  • Wild Mushroom Risotto with aged parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction 🥕  
  • Whole Hog Brewery Raspberry Chéret Double Radler 
  • Schlumberger Cuvée Klimt Brut 
  • Meeker Winemaker’s Handprint Merlot 
  • Frozen Scotch Cocktail: Scotch and herbal tea garnished with a chocolate nail  
Refreshment Port

Refreshment Port
 - Near Canada 
  • Caprese Poutine with Tuscan-spiced French fries, confit tomatoes, slivered garlic, mozzarella pearls, basil pesto, shaved pecorino, and balsamic glaze 🖼 
  • Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie 
  • 81Bay Brewing Co. Italian Pilsner 🖼  
  • Boyd & Blair Blood Orange Cosmo 
Deco Delights

Deco Delights
 - Near Port of Entry  
  • Almond Frangipane Cake layered with raspberry jam and Belgian chocolate 🎨
  • 3 Daughters Brewing Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Beer 🖼  
  • Keel Farms Strawberry Shortcake Hard Cider 🖼 
  • Left Hand Brewing Company Milk Stout with Coconut 🖼 
  • Boyd & Blair Espresso Martini 
  • Beer Flight  
Swirled Showcase

Swirled Showcase
 - Near Port of Entry 
  • Bubble Gum Soft-serve in a cone 🖼  
  • DOLE Whip in a cone: Lemon, Lime, or Strawberry 
  • Imagination Cone: Bubble gum soft-serve in a lavender cone, “sparks” of imagination, and white chocolate wings 🖼 
  • Candy Trio Flight: DOLE Whip Strawberry with STARBURST MINIS fruit chews, DOLE Whip Lemon with SKITTLES POP’d Freeze Dried Candy, and DOLE Whip Lime with chili-lime seasoning and LIFE SAVERS gummies 🖼 
  • Liquid Nitrogen Minnie cake pop with berry sponge cake, white chocolate ganache, and colorful chocolate splats 🖼 
Pop Eats

Pop Eats
 - Near Port of Entry 
  • Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese  
  • Tomato Soup with pimento cheese, bacon, and fried green tomato grilled cheese  
  • Brooklyn Brewery Pulp Art Hazy IPA 
  • Bleu Spectrum: Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with boba pearls  
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
 - Throughout the park 
  • Color Craze Latte + Donut: Espresso, Swiss chocolate syrup, dark chocolate sauce, and milk complemented with a frosted donut and whipped cream and topped with M&M’S Milk Chocolate Minis 🖼🧋 (Spirited Version available with Kahlúa Coffee Liqueur)
🖼 - New
🎨 - Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine
🧋 - Non-alcoholic
🥕 - Plant-based

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Daredevil: Born Again Trailer

Daredevil: Born Again Trailer
All images: Marvel

Marvel is definitely taking on more of the darkside with their latest series. The first trailer for Daredevil: Born Again has arrived, and it is just as dark and violent as the previous Daredevil series. 


Here's the official synopsis from Marvel: 

In Marvel Television’s 'Daredevil: Born Again', Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened abilities, is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course.

Daredevil: Born Again Poster

Several actors from the Netflix series are returning, including Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, and Elden Henson as Franklin "Foggy" Nelson.

Daredevil: Born Again arrives on DisneyPlus on March 4th.


Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Space Mountain Turns 50

Space Mountain Turns 50
All images: Disney

Can you believe Space Mountain turns 50 today? In the 1960s, Walt Disney wanted to build a roller coaster that simulated a ride through space in Disneyland. Unfortunately, the computer technology wasn't quite there yet, but when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, there was more than enough space for a new ride called Space Voyage. Imagineers were inspired by the Matterhorn ride to create a fully enclosed, fully immersive, galactic-themed roller coaster renamed Space Mountain.

Riding Space Mountain became a rite of passage for young Disney fans. With a height requirement of 44", it was something to strive for on a trip to Disney World. It was definitely a ride the kiddo looked forward to experiencing. 

Space Mountain has popped up (with a few variations) at Disney Parks around the world since it first opened in the Magic Kingdom in 1975. It opened in Disneyland in 1977 and is now home of the Season of the Force, a Star Wars overlay, from March to May. Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland are both home to Hyperspace Mountain, and Star Wars-themed adventure through the galaxy that is actually quite fun. And a new version of Space Mountain is scheduled to open at Tokyo Disneyland in 2027.

Space Mountain Facts

While the classic ride with its particular soundtrack will always be fun, at Disney World there are a few seasonal variations that are only available during parties. At Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, it becomes Deep Space Mountain, and you ride in complete darkness to a Halloween soundtrack. It is unexpectedly exciting because you can't see where the track is going next! At Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, it becomes Space Mountain Holiday Run, with a soundtrack of Christmas music and Christmas colored lights as well. I've also ridden once with all the lights on, and I'm honestly not sure which is more thrilling, all the lights on or all the lights off. Whichever version you ride, Space Mountain is a real blast!

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Recipe From Disney

Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Disney

In my house, cold weather is soup weather. So, lately, I've made a lot of soup, but I'm always looking for a new one to try. This Loaded Baked Potato Soup can be found at the Carnation Café in Disneyland, but with this recipe from Disney,  you can make it at home, too.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Serves 6

1 pound bacon, roughly chopped 
1 medium yellow onion, diced 
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 cup diced celery                                       
4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium red potatoes, diced 
1/4 cup flour 
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock                  
Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste 
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, reserved chopped bacon, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels (reserve half for garnish). In the bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes.  Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. 

Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Monday, January 13, 2025

"Can I Get A Chee Hoo?" - Moana 2

Moana 2
Disney

The music of Moana 2 is so good. And I really like how the relationship between Moana and Maui has changed in this new movie. In this song, "Can I get A Chee Hoo?", Maui is trying to help Moana see that she's capable of more than she thinks.


Moana 2 is in theaters now.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Henry Van Dyke Quote

Henry Van Dyke

Use what talents you possess;
the woods would be very silent 
if no birds sang there 
except those that sang best.

- Henry van Dyke

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Dragon Crossing The Delaware

Washington Crossing the Delaware, with a twist

This year's EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is right around the corner. Beginning on January 17, there will be art pretty much everywhere you look in EPCOT. And there may be a certain purple dragon hiding within some of that art. Here, Figment joins George Washington as he crosses the Delaware in a rather famous painting. It is part of a scavenger hunt called Figment's Brush With The Masters.