Previewing the 14th Annual Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic at Walt Disney World

Oct 19, 2023 in "Walt Disney World Swan Resort"

2023 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic preview
Posted: Thursday October 19, 2023 10:19am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The renowned Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic event is back this fall, promising two nights of culinary excellence on Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11, from 5:30 - 9 pm each night.

The Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic is our favorite foodie event of the year. You get to enjoy high-end restaurant calibre dishes, more choices of drinks than you could possibly imagine, and it is all served in a wonderful atmosphere on the Swan and Dolphin causeway. If you are looking for a dining highlight of a vacation, a special occasion treat for an idea for an amazing date-night, this is it.

Priced at $185 per person, you can indulge in over 25 expertly prepared food dishes and take their taste buds on a journey with more than 200 wine, beer, and spirits samplings. The event will offer different menus each night, ensuring a unique experience for those attending both days. Tickets are available now at www.FoodandWineClassic.com.

This year marks the event's 14th anniversary, and it's expected to be bigger and better than ever. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin recently hosted a media preview for the event, giving us a taste of some of the dishes on offer.

New Themed areas: For the Love of Florida and The Rosé Room

Among the exciting new additions are themed areas named 'For the Love of Florida' and 'The Rosé Room,' both are anticipated to be new guest favorites.

'For the Love of Florida' celebrates local cuisine and ingredients with flavors of the Sunshine State. Dishes include:

  • Seminole Pumpkin Fry Bread with powdered sugar and warm pumpkin spice sauce
  • Grilled Florida Oysters with housemade kumquat hot sauce and shallot butter
  • Butter Poached Bay Scallops with Florida corn puree, charred scallion vinaigrette, radish threads and shallot butter

The Rosé Room will transport guests to a tranquil garden party, complete with topiaries, roses and classical-style covers of modern-day hits. The Rosé Room will serve various selections of rosé amidst a pink color palette perfect for sipping – whether still or sparkling.

New and Returning Dishes for 2023


All-new dishes for this year's event include:

  • Red chile chicken taco with avocado, tomatillo, pico de gallo and queso fresco on corn tortillas from Rosa Mexicano
  • Smoked American Lamb: Hand crafted lamb, smoked cumin and harissa barbeque sauce, roasted black pepper and date puree and pickled mustard greens from Smokin' D's BBQ
  • Gorgonzola cheese filled agnolotti with spiced pear, walnuts, nasturtium and 'Nduja vinaigrette from Il Mulino
  • Tonnarelli Pasta: House-made tonnarelli pasta, steamed baby clams, roasted tomato sauce, Calabrian chili and guanciale from Amare
  • Congee: Slow-cooked rice porridge, shrimp dumpling, fried shallot, green onion, garlic, and crispy chili flakes from China Town pop-up

Returning favorites include:

  • Roasted Linz heritage black angus beef tenderloin with potato puree, pearl onion, Dijon mustard and cognac sauce from Shula's Steak House
  • Signature classic guacamole en molcajete with fresh tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa from Rosa Mexicano
  • Crispy cauliflower with sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce shoyu from the Beer Garden
  • Dragon roll: Crispy shrimp, yellowfin tuna, Haas avocado and kewpie mayonnaise from Kimonos
  • Baked ricotta cheese, carrot two ways, radish, tomato, and pine nut "gremolata" from Il Mulino


All-new dessert options will include:

  • Triple Chocolate Cherry Ring Flambé with Kirschwasser chocolate sauce and caramelized sesame ice cream
  • Pear Pecan Praline Cake with black fig compote
  • Blood Orange and Raspberry Tart
  • Wild Strawberry Éclair
  • 70% Single Origin Peruvian Chocolate Mousse with mango and passion fruit gel

View the full menus for the 2023 Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic.

Premium Events and Seminars


VIP Champagne & Dessert Party

Guests of the Food & Wine Classic have a special opportunity to ascend to the Swan Reserve's 15th floor private event space, The Vue. From there, they can soak in panoramic floor-to-ceiling views of all Walt Disney World Theme Parks. The highlight of the evening will be a VIP champagne and dessert reception where guests can relish champagnes and sparkling wines perfectly paired with the hotel's award-winning desserts. This all happens while taking in the mesmerizing view of Disney nighttime spectaculars. This VIP experience takes place on Saturday, November 11, from 8:30-10 p.m., with tickets priced at $150 per person.


You can see all four Walt Disney World theme parks from the rooftop Vue venue at the Swan Reserve.

The Grand Tasting

For those with a deep appreciation for wines, The Grand Tasting is a must-attend. On Saturday, November 11 from 2-5 p.m., this high-end wine pairing tasting curated by Master Sommelier John Blazon is paired with a custom chef's table menu by the resort's Executive Chef Dan Herman. With seating limited and tickets at $425 per person, it promises an intimate and elite experience for wine enthusiasts.


Seminars

During the educational seminars, guests can expand their knowledge of wine, beer, spirits, or pasta-making through hands-on learning experiences led by the resort's award-winning food and beverage team. Updates for this year's seminars include Craft Cocktails offered both Friday and Saturday and Wine Blending adding a bottling component in which guests will leave with their own bottled custom Meritage blend to take home.

The 2023 seminar line-up includes:

  • Craft Cocktails – Friday and Saturday
  • Wine Blending – Friday and Saturday
  • Pasta Making – Friday
  • It's Better to Wine in Italian (Italian Wines) – Friday
  • Base to Bubbles (Champagne) – Friday
  • Beer, Please! – Saturday

The seminars will take place on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 prior to the outdoor festival. It's Better to Wine in Italian and Beer, Please! seminar tickets are $75 per person, excluding tax. Base to Bubbles, Wine Blending, and Craft Cocktails seminars are $85 per person, excluding tax. Pasta Making seminar tickets are $110 per person, excluding tax. All seminars require separate tickets and space is limited. Specific dates and times of each seminar are available at www.FoodandWineClassic.com.

Supporting Veterans

Embracing the spirit of Veterans Day, the resort has formed a new partnership with Friends of Fisher House Orlando. A portion of the event's proceeds will be donated to this worthy cause. The Orlando Fisher House offers invaluable support, providing free accommodations and resources to military and veteran families while their loved ones undergo medical treatment. To learn more about their work, visit OrlandoFisherHouse.org.

Buy Tickets

Tickets are available now at www.FoodandWineClassic.com, starting at $185.

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Epcot82GuyOct 19, 2023

I really would like to save up and do this again someday. I did it about 5 years ago, and it was a lot of fun. It seems to have gotten better (and more expensive) in the meantime.

Eric GrahamSep 13, 2023

We've always wanted to do this, but never have...