Food & Wine Festival at Busch Gardens

We’ve been having a ball taking family trips to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia, over the past year. There are lots of awesome seasonal shows and events that make each trip unique and exciting, and this summer was no exception.

We recently got the chance to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival and really enjoyed it.

The Busch Gardens Williamsburg Food and Wine Festival is on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until June 29. It runs from 11 a.m. until park closing.

We had a full day to walk around and let the kids have fun on the rides as we strolled throughout the park and enjoyed the Food and Wine Festival. Our kids always love to go to the Land of the Dragons, so we let them climb and play there before heading over to enjoy the Caribbean Food.

Once we got to the Caribbean Festival area, we were hungry and ready for some good food. We tried the Gamba Fritters (fried shrimp dumpling with pickapeppa dip) and some Sweet cream cake with pineapple marmalade (called Tres Leche con Mermelada de Piña). It was all great. In fact, the cake was so good that the kids wanted to use their food tickets for an extra cake to share.  We sat in the shade, listening to Bob Marley, and enjoyed the Caribbean feel.

We’re planning on going back in a few weeks before the end of the festival. I want to try the German Beer  (and everything else too!).

Here are just some of the available specialties offered at the Food & Wine Festival:

American Southwest

– Chicken Mole Adobo (Southwestern marinated chicken with chili chocolate sauce)

– Chocolate Lava Cake (Fudge brownie cake with molten Ancho-spiced chocolate filling) (vegetarian)

– Beer: Harpoon UFO Big Squeeze Shandy, Shiner Bock®, Sweet Josie Brown Ale 

Belgium

– Belgian Beer Pairing Sampler (Belgian-style chocolate with orange essence, coriander toasted hazelnuts & Edam Cheese) (vegetarian)

– Huis van Lum Chocolate Wafel (House of Lum’s rich, chocolate walnut brownie waffle with berry compote) (vegetarian)

France

– Coq au Vin (Red wine-braised chicken stew with rosemary roasted potatoes)

– Tomates Farcies à la Ratatouille (Tomato stuffed with roasted vegetables & topped with parmesan bread crumbs with extra virgin olive oil) (vegetarian)

– Wine: Georges duBoeuf Beaujolais-Villages, Louis Bernard Côtes de Rhône

Coffee and Crepes

– Brie et Marmelade d’Orange Crêpe (Brie cheese & orange marmalade crêpe with whipped cream) (vegetarian)

– Champignons et épinards Crêpe (Roasted mushroom & spinach crêpe with feta cheese & balsamic glaze) (vegetarian)

– Chocolat de Noisette et de Banane Crêpe (Crêpe stuffed with hazelnut-chocolate spread & bananas) (vegetarian)

Greece

– Salata (Traditional Greek salad with lemon oregano vinaigrette & crispy pita chip) (vegetarian)

– Baklava (Sweet pastry with nuts & honey between thin crispy filo pastry layers) (vegetarian)

– Wine: Elios Mediterranean Red, Elios Mediterranean White

Spain

– Chorizo Empanada (Spicy pork sausage pastry pocket with cilantro lime cream)

– Tapas (Small Bites Sampling: Paprika-roasted Marcona almonds, Marinated olive medley, Manchego cheese with Membrillo – quince paste) (vegetarian)

– Venera con Jamón (Scallop, wrapped in cured ham with saffron rice & romesco sauce)

Italy

– Caprese Salad (Fresh mozzarella, grape tomatoes & spring mix, tossed with Italian vinaigrette) (vegetarian)

– Italian Cheese Sampling (Asiago, fontina, gorganzola, & caprino fresco) (vegetarian)

– Tiramisu (Italian parfait with sweetened mascarpone cheese, layered with espresso-soaked lady fingers) (vegetarian)

– Panna Cotta (Vanilla cream pudding, served with strawberries) (vegetarian)

Germany

– Schinken Nudel (German-style noodle bake with cured ham & cheese)

– Linzer Torte (Traditional Austrian pastry of spiced cookie crust with ground nuts, lemon zest & raspberry filling) (vegetarian)

– Beer: König Pilsener, Paulaner

For a short list of favorites, these are the top dishes according to the Busch Gardens blog:

Hope to see you there!  🙂