Although a lot of folks are making their way to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival before it ends on November 22nd, we want to make sure you know about Disney World’s OTHER festival…the one that doesn’t require you to buy a park ticket. If you’ve ever been interested in attending the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, this might be a great year to do so…even MORE new food is coming to the event this year.

Recently, we got a sneak preview of this year’s event, and we’re going to tell you about the BEST food and drinks you need to grab when you’re there.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic takes place on November 14th and 15th from 5-9 PM. Tickets are on sale now, so you’ve still got time to get those if you want to attend (and trust us, there’s a lot of great food to try!). Even better? That ticket gets you unlimited bites from themed areas across the event, like The Beer Garden, For the Love of Florida, Carnival Corner, The Bubbles Lounge, and Chinatown.

Okay, it’s time to talk about the items you HAVE to try this year at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic.

Okay, let’s dive into some food and drinks you need to try this year. We’ll warn you that this year saw a huge overhaul of the menus, so there will be a lot of new menu items we haven’t seen before. But, honestly, that’s exciting, right?

Red Wine Braised Wagyu Short Rib at Bourbon Steak

Our reporter described the Red Wine Braised Wagyu Short Rib with Celery Root Espuma and Shallot Marmalade as “incredible.” This is a new item debuting this year, and you’ll have to put it on your list. The beef is so tender that it falls apart. It also has a rich, deep, and buttery flavor.

Then there was the pairing of the celery root and shallot marmalade that brought all the flavors together.

Chirashi Bowl from Cabana Bar and Beach Club

The Chirashi Bowl with Cured Salmon, Seasoned Sushi Rice, Shoyu Egg, Wakame, Pickled Radish, Cucumber, Edamame, and Sriracha Aioli is another new item that quickly became a favorite of ours. Yes, it’s adventurous, but that’s part of the fun of a food festival, right? Getting to try things you’ve never tried before? Well, we ended up loving this, but we also love the sticky rice sushi vibe.

The bowl also has some nice veggies, and the salmon had a nice flavor. What really brings it all together, though, is the sriracha aioli on top.

Ricotta Cappelletti from Il Mulino

The Ricotta Cappelletti with Hand Crafted Pasta, House Made Citrus Ricotta Filling, Slow Cooked Angus Beef Ragu, and Crispy Pancetta Breadcrumbs is for you, pasta lovers. This is a fantastic savory dish, and the ricotta gives it a rich flavor. We also loved the citrus flavor of the ricotta that adds some brightness to the whole meal.

On top, you’ve got those nice pancetta breadcrumbs, which add a little extra flavor and texture.

Blue Crab Stir-Fried Rice from bluezoo

The Blue Crab Stir-Fried rice is a stir fry made with blue crab, Florida Gulf shrimp, and tempura shiitake mushrooms, and is another one that should make your “must-try” list. The rice has a wonderful sweet and salty soy-based flavor, but it’s not TOO salty. The crab is tender and soft, and the shrimp is perfectly cooked.

The mushrooms add a nice crunch, while green onions give the flavors some brightness. This is also such a filling portion, too, that you might want to share it.

The Cherry at Sweets & Desserts

The Cherry with Cherry Mousse, Chocolate Cake, Black Cherry Compote, and a Dark Chocolate Disc is another new item at the event this year, and it blew us away when we tried it. Not only is it shaped like a giant cherry (so A+ for presentation), but it has a wonderful cherry flavor, thanks to the cherry compote.

The chocolate cake is also good, and the mousse has a wonderful, light consistency.

Green Tea, Lime Mango Mousse Dome at Sweets & Treats

If you want something perfect for your Instagram photos, the Green Tea, Lime Mango Mousse Dome is VERY pretty, but we’re also happy to report that it tastes really good, too. The lime mango inside the dome is nice with just a hint of green tea flavor.

This is also a nice, light dessert, and something that won’t make you feel heavy after you eat it.

Grab those tickets to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic while you can. Tickets for unlimited food and beverage tastings on the Causeway for Friday OR Saturday night are $205.00 per person ($224.01 with tax and service fees).

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

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Will you be going to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic this year? What are you most excited about trying? Share with us in the comments!