REVIEW: New Zealand – 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

New Zealand is usually a solid marketplace at the Food and Wine Festival and this year they’re back for more.  Some of the items include: Steamed Green Lip Mussels, Lamb Meatball andSeared Venison Loin.  Does it live up to its reputation?  Let’s see in my New Zealand Review for the 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival….

New Zealand Marketplace:

It’s hard to miss the New Zealand marketplace and you’ll find it almost immediately upon entering World Showcase and going right towards Canada.

Everyone is so friendly in New Zealand!

 

 

New Zealand Menu:

While some marketplaces change constantly, New Zealand is one of the most conservative year after year.  2018 is no different and the New Zealand menu is exactly the same as last year just with minimal price increases of 0.25 or 0.50 cents.

2017 Menu:

2018 Menu:

Food:

• Steamed Green Lip Mussels with Garlic Butter and Toasted Breadcrumbs ($4.50)
• Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney ($5.50)
• Seared Venison Sausage with Kumara Purée and Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce ($6.50)

Beverages:

• Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough ($6.00)
• Antmoore Wineworks MOKOblack Pinot Noir, Marlborough ($6.00)
• Frozen Wine Cocktail featuring Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($7.00)

Menu Review:

Steamed Green Lip Mussels ($4.50):

We always love the Green Lip Mussels, they are consistently good.  Always fresh and deliciously prepared in garlic butter and breadcrumbs!  So yummy!!!  Each one is pretty big two, these aren’t the small black mussels you are used to seeing on pasta for example.

The problem is that Disney cut the quantity this year on them (like they’ve done on a few other popular items) from 4 to 3.  This really infuriates me honestly, especially since they probably don’t think the majority of people will notice.  Charge me more if you have to, but don’t cut my portions!

 

Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney ($5.50):

This is another Food and Wine Favorite that we always love and this year is no different!  The lamb (which isn’t super gamey tasting) is really moist and prepared in a delicious tomato chutney.  It says spicy in the title, though we didn’t find it overly spicy, just right imo.  The tomatoes were actually a bit sweet with counteracted the spiciness.  We also love the shell it comes served in which is like a pastry puff shell.  Also prepared nicely and not dry.  Mouthwateringly good and a must-get!

 

Seared Venison Sausage with Kumara Purée and Wild Mushroom Marsala Sauce ($6.50):

Our last food item was the seared venison sausage.  New Zealand has a way of preparing gamey meat to not taste that way and this was delicious like the lamb.  Not a ton of it, but very tender.  I love the gravy that comes poured on top, they aren’t skimpy with that.  It’s a marsala sauce with mushrooms which is paired awesomely with the meat.  Honestly I had to look up what Kumara is and I found it’s actually a town in New Zealand.  The puree itself is sweet potato, which I’m not a huge fan of, but it was drowned out pretty much my the sauce anyways.  Another good option and a winner in my book.

Frozen Wine Cocktail ($7.00):

Any trip around World Showcase in late August needs one of these, or two!  This cooled me down as much as a drink could ( I got throat freeze) and I drank this with no problems.  It’s made from Kim Crawford wine which is pretty fruity, and we couldn’t get enough!  Not a bad size either!  Zesty and refreshing, you’ll love it!

 

Booth Summary and Grade:

Overall the New Zealand marketplace was really good.  We love all the food items, they are really delicious, we just don’t like getting one of our mussels taken away this year.  My only hope too is that next year they will introduce something new, even a dessert would be nice!  Not MUST-TRY level, but really good.

If you have to get just one thing: Lamb Meatball

New Zealand Review

Overall

7.5/10

7.5/10

• Overall Grade - 7.5/10
  7.5/10

Take a look at all of my 2018 Epcot Food and Wine articles.  I have a 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Info Guide with a Complete Index of the Food and Wine Menus, The Top NEW Items for 2018, Top Food and Wine Booths and more…I want you to be able to have the best info on the Festival so you have a great time and don’t waste your time!

I want you to be able to have the best info on the Festival so you have a great time and don’t waste your time!  Take a look at all of my 2018 Epcot Food and Wine articles including:

• 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Info Guide
• Complete Index of the Food and Wine Menus
• 11 MUST-TRY NEW items at 2018 Food and Wine Festival
• Top 10 Overall Snacks at Food and Wine
• Top Food and Wine Booths

Your Thoughts:

I want to know what you think about the New Zealand Review at the 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival…

• Which is your favorite item?
• Which do you still want to try?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

 

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