The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival is back for 2023. The event — happening now through April 25, 2023, — is a foodie’s delight, pairing small plates, handpicked wines, and craft beers and cocktails with epicurean-themed shows. And this year, more than 60 new dishes were added, including plant-based and kid-friendly options.
The Sip and Savor Pass
Park guests who purchase the Sip and Savor Pass can indulge in tasty offerings from a dozen Festival Marketplaces, small food stalls uniquely themed with their own signature dishes. Also on offer are special menu items at the park’s dine-in restaurants and snacks from food carts sprinkled throughout the property. Each pass contains eight entitlement tabs that may be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional charge.
My Favorite Eats
With my pass and accompanying Tasting Passport on hand, I followed the map and menu through a day of appetizing adventure. I sampled festival favorites, including the smoked honey-habanero chicken wings and barbecue beef brisket slider from Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo, and the grilled top sirloin with roasted garlic, gruyere smashed potatoes and black garlic chimichurri from Garlic Kissed.
My personal favorite dishes paid homage to California's heritage: the chile relleno empanada with arbol pepper salsa and Oaxacan and cotija cheeses; and the camarones a la diabla, a smattering of spicy shrimp with California chile and cilantro rice from Peppers Cali-Ente. They were the perfect accompaniment to a viewing of World of Color on a chilly spring evening. Each dish was small and easy to carry, much like tapas or a small appetizer.
A spicy chile relleno empanada with arbol pepper salsa and Oaxaca and cotija cheeses can be found at Peppers Cali-Ente.
Credit: 2023 Deborah DimondDecadent desserts are also on the menu. The Mickey Mouse-shaped macaron made with Snickers from Nuts About Cheese is a must-try, as well as the humble blueberry buttermilk pie from the Berry Patch.
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Festival-goers can also devour culinary-themed entertainment, such as cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs including Duff Goldman, Jet Tila and Claudia Sandova. Little ones, ages 3-11, can attend “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party," which lets kids decorate their own cupcakes and rub shoulders with Minnie Mouse. There are also photo ops with Chef Goofy, as well as nightly music.
The attraction Soarin' Over California has returned for a limited time, replacing Soarin' Over the World.
New this year is the BBQ Beef Brisket Slider featuring Fiscalini Farmstead Smoked Cheddar with dill pickles on salt and pepper brioche from Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo.
Credit: 2023 Deborah DimondFestivities also extend to the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Both properties are offering bookable experiences including a mixology seminar and a food and wine experience where guests can meet chefs, sommeliers and art historians while sipping and sampling expertly paired wines and plates.
