Written by: Dawn Gosdin

Welcome to Food & Wine y’all! Epcot’s World Showcase is covered with Food and Wine everywhere, two of my very favorite things! My friend Colleen and I enjoyed spectacular food and drinks beginning with the Hawaiian pavilion. I had the Kālua Pork Slider with sweet and sour Dole® Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise which I paired with Maui Splash Sweet Pineapple Wine and ended the night at Epcot~ After Hours Wind Down.

 It’s a special ticketed event at $35.00 per guest. La Cava del Tequila~ Mexico Pavilion was our choice for mischief that awesome October evening. We checked-in at the entrance to La Cava del Tequila at 9:10 PM. and received our colorful wristbands then patiently waited, we explored the Mexican pavilion till our reservation time of 9:20PM. Right on cue the doors opened (angels were singing) and it was time to get down and dirty (not really.) We were whisked away to our assigned seating and quickly noticed the tables were already filled with a tequila flight, a small bottle of water and a two shot glasses, one of vodka and the other~ even more tequila, now that’s what I’m talking about!

Tequila flight included:
• Shot of Tequila Ambhar Blanco
• Shot of Tequila Partida Reposado
• Shot of Tequila Casa Noble Añejo
• Shot of Mezcal Sombra Blanco

On with the show~ Hilda was the “tequila ambassador” and our host for this special event. She taught her captive audience an informative yet quick history on tequila making and most importantly; proper drinking techniques which made it literally easier to swallow, yum. She did a great job; I actually had a better understanding of tequila after her spiel.

Now it’s time to eat or so I thought. When they say “light” appetizers they aren’t kidding, a little too light for me. I would have eaten my way through Food & Wine if I knew this was all I was having. Some sort of slaw, shrimp cocktail, chicken salad and dessert in a sample size taster. Not really what I expected, I felt it was an odd pairing but overall delicious.

You also have the opportunity to order selected fare off the menu as well. We ordered chips & salsa for additional $3.50, which I found to be a great value for our money and very good to boot.

Epcot~ After Hours Wind Down is only available during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival; but with Disney anything is possible, who knows what the future might bring. Overall it was a lovely experience, though not sure I would do La Cava del Tequila again. I think I would enjoy Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, I do have an affinity for wine; also Rose & Crown Pub sounds appealing to my inner beer lover and fish & chips are always amazeballs.

“Disney Dawn” is here to help guide Disney newbies into full-on Disney dorks like herself! She’s forty-two years young, Louisiana native, married to her BFF Ryan and mother of two deviously rotten teenagers. Half Marathon Runner/Writer/Blogger/Disney Dork/Regular Podcaster on http://mousequestpodcast.com/. You can follow Dawn on Twitter @Logpey.