2018 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

From Strawberry Frosé to Jalapeño Popper Mac & Cheese, there are so many great bites and brews to discover at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival!

Hi friends! Yesterday was THE DAY. The 2018 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival kicked off with a bang! I was so excited to be invited by Disney to cover the start of one of my favorite festivals ever. Last year, my husband Andre and I went to the festival for a date weekend and it was so much fun, so of course I jumped at the chance to head back. We were greeted by the chairman of the festival, the manager of California Adventure and the head chef John State who covered some of his favorites and updates they made to the festival line up this year. We sampled some of their favorite and items they wanted to highlight, which you can find in our Media Preview, then we were let loose on the festival to find some favorites of our own (keep reading)!

Best Things to Eat and Drink at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

So after the Media Preview, we headed out to the park to get a first-hand look at the festival, the kiosks and try different food and drinks from the kiosk menus. So let’s dive right in!

Brie Toast with Fig, Mint and Almond Crumble from Nuts About Cheese. Now I was eyeing the mini cheese plate (it looks so good) but I opted for this little brie toast and it did not disappoint! I love the combo of the brie and the fig jam – delicious!

Mimosa Flight from Nuts About Cheese. Now this one is FUN! You can try all three mimosa options: raspberry, pomegranate and pineapple. All were tasty, but I think Pineapple was my fave! If you’re only going for one, that’s the one I’d pick.

Chicken Teriyaki Slider with Spicy DOLE® Pineapple Jam from LA Style. Another returning favorite from last year, you just HAVE to try this slider! The flavor combo is amazing, I’m going to have to try to create that pineapple jam at home because well, it’s the jam!

Mango Agua Fresca (non-alcoholic) from LA Style. So refreshing! I love a good agua fresca and this one fits the bill! It’s perfect for non-drinkers or if you need a break between flights.

Mexican Chocolate Custard from LA Style. Now there aren’t a ton of desserts on this year’s menu so snag them when you can! This sweet custard with notes of cinnamon is the perfect addition to your LA style sampler.

Jalapeño Popper Mac & Cheese with Bacon from Peppers Cali-ente. I mentioned above that there were two mac & cheese options on this year’s list and this one is a MUST-TRY! I loved the spice and crunch of this dish. And bacon? Well, bacon is good on just about everything right?

Bright & Refreshing Beer Flight from California Craft Brews. I loved this flight that included Three Weavers Brewing Company, Seafarer, Kölsch; Mission Brewery, Hefeweizen; Bottle Logic Brewing, Kingdom Common, California Common (Festival Exclusive); Black Market Brewing Company, Cherry Gose.

Strawberry & Coconut Rice “Frushi” with Sweet Oikos® Greek Nonfat Yogurt Wasabi Sauce from Strawberry Patch. Now this one is the HIT dessert of the festival! It’s such a fun take on “sushi” with sweet fruit from the Strawberry Patch. It’s a must try!

Strawberry Frosé from Strawberry Patch. This was also one of my favorite finds! If you’re a fan of strawberries and rosé, you really can’t go wrong with this sweet treat.

Citrus-Brined Pork Roast with Tangy Barbecue Sauce and Lemon Pepper Slaw from Citrus Grove. I love a good pulled pork! And this one switched it up from the spicy BBQ we usually have with a sweet finish and the slaw and crunch on top finished it off. Great one to try!

Avocado & Pepper Jack Petite Guacamole Burger from Avocado Time. Who doesn’t love a good burger?! And this one is perfection, topped with spicy pepper jack and guacamole. YUM!

Salt & Beer Vinegar Parmesan Chicken Wings from Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo. These wings are seasoned perfectly and go perfectly with your favorite brew!

Popcorn Lemonade with Whipped Cream and Candy Corn Garnish from Off the Cob. Now this one’s just for fun! The lemonade is great, but who doesn’t want whipped cream and candy corn too?! There’s also a cocktail version that I heard tastes like cotton candy, yum!

So there you have it! Our “best of the fest” list for this year. It really is an amazing line up with returning favorites and amazing new bites! Let me know if you go and if you love something on this list or find something even better that’s not on the list!

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