Our Preview of the 2022 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Hi everyone!
I attended a preview for the 2022 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. This favorite foodie event returns for its 13th year a little later than usual – November 11th-12th, 2022 (instead of around Halloween) and it runs from 5:30-9:00 pm each day. While the Food & Wine Classic is held on the causeway and surrounding area between the Swan and Dolphin hotels, the preview was held in the gorgeous 15th-floor Swan Reserve event space called The Vue. There will be two separately ticketed events held at The Vue as well on November 12th: The Grand Tasting and a VIP Champagne & Dessert Party.
View from The Vue at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic started in 2009 as a relatively small event, to bring in local crowds during a recession. Each year the event has grown, with the 2022 Classic featuring over 25 food booths and 100+ beverage offerings from 75 beverage booths. The food booths include samples from popular Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin restaurants like Shula’s and Todd English’s Bluezoo.
Photo from a previous Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
New this year is a themed area for the upcoming Rosa Mexicano restaurant, where the Beer Garden is usually located (the Beer Garden is being moved for this year). Rosa Mexicano is scheduled to open in Spring 2022 in the former Fresh Mediterranean Market location. Director of Food and Beverage Luciano Sperduto told us, “There will be several different food items, we’ll have some of their signature drinks there. We’ve decked out one of our food trucks for a Rosa Mexicano theme as well.”
Classic Guacamole En Molcajete (the roasted tomato salsa does have quite a kick to it)
Executive Chef Dan Herman talked about how some items are brought back year after year – for example, Shula’s always has steak, although the accompaniments do change. This year, Shula’s will offer a Roasted Linz Heritage Black Angus Tenderloin with roasted organic mushrooms, pearl onion, and Sauce Foyot (Shula’s is always my favorite food booth). On the other hand, a lot of items are changed every year. Herman said he was really proud of the “Baked Ricotta Cheese that we’re serving at Il Mulino”. He also talked about the handmade pasta that they make from scratch.
Roasted Linz Heritage Black Angus Beef Tenderloin
Herman also stated said that they’ve written a menu that is much more conscious of vegetarians, vegans, and those with other dietary restrictions like dairy free. “I’m excited to get the feedback from that as well”.
I mentioned that Shula’s is my favorite booth every year. The tenderloin was so delicious yesterday. Even though the portions are sample size, you can go back as often as you want (but with 25+ food booths, you may want to just try a little of everything as well).
Roasted Linz Heritage Black Angus Beef Tenderloin
The Chargrilled Chicken Souvlaki is new this year, and comes with crispy potatoes, tabbouleh, spiced hummus and warm pita from Amare at the Swan Reserve.
The Crispy Cauliflower with sweet & spicy Thai chili sauce and shoyu. I often don’t like having food in sauce, but I really enjoyed this dish (and went back for a second plate). It wasn’t too spicy.
Executive Pastry Chef Arnis Robeznieks is new to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, joining the resort at the end of 2021 – he brings a new spin on desserts for the Food & Wine Classic. My favorite of what I tried is the Banana Split Tart with Nitro Vanilla Ice Cream.
Banana Split Tart
I mentioned earlier about the wide selection of wine and beers. When the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic first started (and for a number of years after), beer was an afterthought. And now the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has its own popular beer called Phins & Feathers and a nice selection of beer choices during the event.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic costs $165.00 per person for unlimited food and beverage samples (plus a ticketing fee). Tickets can be purchased here. Seminars are back as well! Tickets for the seminars can be purchased here.
Thank you to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort for having me out to preview the Food & Wine Classic. The food and drinks are always top notch at the event, and we look forward to attending again this year.