By: Nick the Disney Devo
I have 2 hobbies. Disney and beer. I don’t mean any beer, I mean really good, craft beer. So when planning our trip to Walt Disney World this year, and, more specifically scoping out the beer selection at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, I was very happy to see that there would be a Food and Beer pairing at Italy during my visit.
These events will be held every Tuesday during the festival at Via Napoli, located in the back of the Italy Pavilion in World Showcase from 1:30 pm-4:00 pm.
I attended the tasting on 10/1/13 with my friend Tom.We arrived at about 1:15 and checked in at the podium, where we were asked if we had any food allergies. I said I was allergic to shellfish, and this was noted next to my name. We were told they would be calling us all at 1:30 pm, so, while we waited, we had a beer to “prime the pump,” so to speak, at Tutto Gusto, located next door, where they have a small, but wonderful selection of craft beer.
Tip: The beer at Tutto Gusto is expensive, and you want to enjoy what you order, so ask for a sample first, they are more than happy to give you one, and also ask for a description of what you are drinking.
But back to the event! We waited in the courtyard until exactly 1:30 pm, when we were all called by name by the manager, Gabriele, and brought in one group at a time and escorted to our table in the main dining room.
Gabriele gave us a short introduction to our beer expert, Jacquelyn, and explained that this event is usually held in the glassed in area off the courtyard, but it is being refurbished, and we were told behind schedule, as it was supposed to be completed in time for this event.
The table setting :
The menu for our event: Note: The event menu changes each week! I found a site that has these menus, but of course, these are subject to change.
The first beer served was the Nuova Mattina from Birrificio del Ducato, a Saison Farmhouse style ale, which was paired with Minestra Maritata (Minestrone soup).
Jacquelyn came around to each table and explained the characteristics of the beer, how to taste the beer properly, where it was made, and how and why it paired with each food.
I’m going to be honest. I read Draft Magazine, a magazine for “beer enthusiasts” but I am by no means a beer connoisseur, just as I don’t consider myself a foodie, but I know what I like, and Saisons are one of my favorite beer styles. It paired wonderfully with the soup.
The second beer was My Antonia from Birra del Borgo, an Imperial Pilsner, which was served with the Pizza Margherita con mozzarella bufala (Margherita Pizza with Buffalo cheese).
