The Best & Worst Returning Dishes At EPCOT’s Festival Of The Arts

Gourmet Landscapes in the Canada Pavilion
There are a few dishes returning to Gourmet Landscapes and I heartily endorse them all. Any of them would be a wise use of a Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit, too.
Wild Mushroom Risotto (above, left), $9.79 – the Zinfandel Reduction makes this dish so nice. The sweet reduction and heady waft of truffle shavings makes this feel like a treat. Even dedicated carnivores will want to scrape the bottom of this plant-based bowl.
Citrus-braised Beet Tartare (above, right), $5.50 in 2025 and 2026 – if you have an affinity for beets, this is probably going to be your star dish of the whole festival. Gourmet Landscapes has been playing around with beet prep during festivals for years and I’m delighted with the results. The beets are sweet and puckery and there must be 7 different textures on that one plate. Were I only allowed two dishes for the entire festival, this would be one. This made our 2025 list of the Best $50 You Can Spend at Festival of the Arts and as long as I’m still employed when the festival opens, it will be on there again.
The Craftsman’s Courtyard, Walkway between World Showcase and the Imagination Pavilion
The Craftsman’s Courtyard
Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels, $8.00 in 2024, 2025, and 2026- This is the second of my two most favorite dishes from this festival. I look forward to seeing the giant cauldron of mussels, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs as I approach this kitchen each year. The Cast Members behind the grill are the culinary equivalent of the pyro team in the Magic Kingdom. Skilled, confident, and far beyond an average human with a fire proof hand mitt. Nary a mussel has been overcooked nor a grilled bread singed too far as long as I have been witness to their skills. The pot liquor, though. Please linger over the puddle of golden liquid that will be waiting when you’ve consumed the mussels and are contemplating a second bowl. Now is the time for the bread to shine. One of our pals on Instagram, Amy M., suggested stopping at Les Halles in the France Pavilion for a half baguette and I think she and I have just become besties.
The Craftsman’s Courtyard
Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme, $8.50 in 2025 and 2026- I’m a sucker for a wine reduction, whole grain mustard seeds, and a tender cut of beef. Ensure you’re done eating for a few hours if you plan to get this dish. Dig if you will, the sauce. The puddle of deep, garnet sugary red wine sauce on the upper left corner in the picture above. My mid photography skills and grasp of adjectives cannot do justice to the gloss, the perfection of this sauce. I was able to cut this beef with just a fork and it tasted like it was hours and hours on a slow simmer.
Pastoral Palate, Germany Pavilion
Pastoral Palate in the Germany Pavilion
Black Forest Cake, $5.00 in 2025 and 2026– a most elevated example of a classic combination. The Chantilly Cream is light and you’ll wish you had more of the Morello Cherries. This is always a yes for me.
Red-Wine-braised Beef Short Rib, $8.79 – if you aren’t getting the Beef Wellington at Craftsman’s Courtyard, get the short ribs in Germany! The Parsnip Purée is excellent and the beef is tender.
Now let’s review a few dishes that should not be consumed for various reasons.
L’Art de la Cuisine Française, France Pavilion
L’Art de la Cuisine Françise in the France Pavilion
Crème de Brie en Petit Pain, $9.95 in 2025 and $10.25 in 2026 – As a self-proclaimed Fromage Ami of my local cheesemonger, I’m not against high prices for excellent cheese. This is not that. The picture on the right in the frame above is the image shared by Disney in promotion of Festival of the Arts. The picture on the left is what I was served at last year’s festival. The bread was not worthy of any cheese and the brie inside wasn’t fully melted. I would have been just fine with the diminutive size had the taste, texture, and presentation been stellar. This is way too much money for a Costco roll and a hunk of half melted cheese. Skip.
Opening Bites, CommuniCore Plaza
Opening Bites, CommuniCore Plaza
Enchanted Rose, $6.50 – this Milk Chocolate Rose has a delicious Raspberry and Rose Center, but this dessert has gone the way of the dome cake. There are lots of these types of molded mousse concoctions around the parks (especially Amorette’s at Disney Springs) and I’d be happy to see them disappear. While lovely, the mousse is wet and boring. There are so many other sweet treats at this festival that deserve our dollars.
L’Arte di Mangiare, Italy Pavilion
L’Arte di Mangiare, Italy Pavilion
Mozzarella Fritta, $9.00 in 2025, $9.50 in 2026 – Let’s pretend that the long lines, regular technology outages, and general chaos of this kitchen doesn’t put you off. Paying $9.50 for a flat cheese stick and few dribbles of sauce should. Hard no here.
What do you think? Do you agree with my assessment? Please drop me a note! Just behind discussions of Celine Dion’s stage presence and the shameful lack of Fraggle Rock merch in Disney World, my favorite topic of discussion is Disney World food, so fire away. And thanks for reading!

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