Disney invites you to sample the taste of California at its annual Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival. The festival offers over 80 food and drinks from various booths spread across the park.
From March 1 to April 22, 2024, Disney California Adventure guests can enjoy the park and go on a foodie adventure across California without spending money on gas. The park will be home to delicious flavors inspired by the Golden State.
ThatsItLA had the chance to taste a few of the items from the new plant-based eatery called Earth Eats, the sports bar-inspired Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo, the savory Garlic Kissed, the food truck-inspired LA Style, the cheesy and nutty flavors from Nuts About Cheese, the spicy Peppers Cali-Ente, the sweet and savory D•Lish, the tasty snacks at Golden Dreams, and the California winery inspired Uncork California.
For a complete experience, we recommend getting the Sip and Savor pass, which, for the first time, is entirely digital and has the option of four or eight coupons. The special, commemorative credential that you scan lets you sample different food and non-alcoholic beverage items at participating locations anytime throughout the festival. We also suggest looking at the complimentary menu, where you can find all the food and drink items.
After picking the ones you’d like to have, head over to the closest booth and order all of the items you’d like to have. That way, you don’t have to wait in line; you can go straight to the castmember, who will hand you your order.
With over 80 items to choose from, guests are encouraged to bring their appetites and thirsts to the annual event. So, while there are plenty of delectable dishes and delicious drinks to choose from, we narrowed it down to our top five: one savory, one sweet, one non-alcoholic drink, one plant-based option, and our top dish, which you absolutely have to have.
Savory Dish – Cheese Pizza-flavored Wings (Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo)
I don’t know much about Sports Bar food, but I can guess that chicken wings are high on the menu. Of course, they have to put a little twist on it, like barbeque or spicy buffalo wing sauce. But at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, the chefs put their own spin on wings by adding pizza-flavored dry rub on them. It’s the same pizza dust you would find on a Pringles chip. So make sure you dip it in that complimentary ranch sauce to offset the dryness and “pizza spice.”
These are made in mass quantities for the thousands of guests who roam the park, so it is no surprise that some wings have more pizza flavor than others. That said, it is still a dish, which is priced at $8.50, that is worth a tab.
Sweet – Olive Oil Cake (D•Lish)
This sweet little treat is one of the better dessert options that Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival offers. Glazed with lemon curd, topped with vanilla bean Chantilly, and finished with fresh candied lemons, strawberry crunch, and lemon-lime gelée, this dessert is a bit dense at first bite, but the cake still has an airiness that makes it quite delectable. However, it reminded me more of a lemon cake than an olive oil cake, especially with the lemon curd, candied lemon zest, and lemon-lime gelée acting as the sweet and sour flavor components. That being said, it’s worth the $7.00 but not the tab, which is probably better for something a bit pricier.
Non-Alcoholic Drink – Huckleberry-Citrus Cooler (D•Lish)
The Huckleberry-Citrus Cooler lives up to its name. Its cool and refreshing, perfect for a warm or hot day. The drink, made with Gold Peak Black Tea, huckleberry and agave syrups, grapefruit soda, and lemon and orange juices garnished with an orange wedge, reminded me more of an Arnold Palmer than anything else. So, if you are looking for something to drink while you sit and wait in line or wait for your kids as they go on rides, this is the drink to sip on. See if you can order it with light ice. Also, at $7.00, this might not be worth the tab.
Plant-based – IMPOSSIBLE Chicken Parm Bites (Earth Eats)
I am not the biggest fan of plant-based foods, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out how delicious these plant-based chicken bites dressed with tomato and cheese sauces and grated parmesan are. And suppose the carnivores are worried about this being too vegetarian. In that case, they should know that the shape and texture were much like a chicken nugget. And with the tomato and cheese sauces masking the lack of chicken flavor, this item tastes great. But I wonder what vegetarians will think. Priced at $8.50, this might be worth the coupon if you are curious to know what this taste like.
Must-Have – BBQ Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese (Nuts About Cheese)
One of the first things I got at the festival since it was the closest to the festival, and it is one of my favorites. This dish is as advertised. It’s pulled pork sitting on a bed of creamy mac-and-cheese and then topped with crispy dill pickle onions. The sweet and tangy barbeque sauce gave the pulled pork some added depth, while the crispy dill pickle onion provided a nice crunch. I highly suggest trying to get as many of those layers of flavors as you can so that you get all of the flavor profiles. At $9.00, I recommend you use a tab for this one. Also, while I encourage sharing these dishes to justify the Sip and Savor pass, I would try to keep the Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese to yourself.
As mentioned, the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festiva runs from March 1 to April 22, 2024.
