Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2020 Weight Watchers Guide

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Coming off the heels of the Festival of the Holidays at Epcot is the International Festival of the Arts! From January 17 through February 24, Epcot will turn into a giant artist showcase - and, because it's Disney, they'll have some seasonal food options around the world. 

Festival of the Arts is my second favorite festival (only behind Flower and Garden!) for two reasons: it's colorful and highlights some amazing talents, but also because they don't go as heavy on the food offerings as some of the other festivals (while still having samplings all around the world), which is a relief for Weight Watchers wanting to sample without dipping into too many Weekly SmartPoints. 

Let's dive right in to the menu for this year's festival! Worth noting that I'll be sharing my Magically Fit recommendations of Disney's menu for just the food: I don't drink alcohol so it's not my expertise, and if you are looking to cut back on SmartPoints then I always recommend going for a non-alcoholic option as that will down on it quite a bit,

The Deconstructed Dish
Food:

• Deconstructed Reuben: Sliced Corned Beef, Rye-crusted Sauerkraut and Jarlsberg Cake with Broken Thousand Island Dressing
• Deconstructed BLT: Crispy Pork Belly, Tomato Jam and Soft Poached Egg
• Deconstructed Strawberry Cheesecake: Whipped New York Style Cheesecake with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Sugar Cookies with Micro-basil

Beverages:

• Rainboba: Sparkling Water layered with Fruit Boba and topped with a Foam Cloud (non-alcoholic) 
• Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake garnished with Maple Syrup, a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon (non-alcoholic) 
• Imagery Sauvignon Blanc, California
• Mad Genius Red Blend, California
• Deconstructed Breakfast: Twinings® Spiced Apple Chai Tea Shake with Cream Bourbon, garnished with a Waffle Crisp and Candied Bacon

Magically Fit's recommendation: The Deconstructed BLT sounds like it packs a good amount of protein thanks to the pork and egg without sacrificing on flavor thanks to the tomato jam. The Deconstructed Reuben has a few extra things like the Jarlsberg Cake and dressing that are probably sneaky when it comes to calories, so the BLT is the champ here.
​

Cuisine Classique
Prepare to be amazed with these hearty braised bites and traditional Old World delights!
Food:

• Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes and Aged Balsamic
• Seared Corvina with braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc (GF)
• Saint-Honoré Tart: Caramel Cream Tart with Caramel Glaze topped with Cream Puffs
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie

Beverages:

• Angry Orchard Rosé Hard Cider, Walden, NY
• Concrete Beach Brewery Rosé Ale, Miami, FL
• Frozen Rosé
• Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva Art Series, Logrono, Spain
• Domaine Savary Chablis, Burgundy
• A Play on Rosé Flight

Magically Fit's recommendation: The seared corvina sounds both delightful, light yet satisfying, and like it would be a better protein option since beef can be pretty fatty. 

The Artist’s Table
Satisfy hunger with these savory plates—all prepared using oven and stove-top techniques!
Food:

• Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables 
• Pan-Seared Scallop with Chorizo, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis and a Parmesan Crisp (GF)
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie 

Beverages:

• Sipping Chocolate Flight: White, Milk and Dark (non-alcoholic)
• Saugatuck Brewing Co. Neapolitan Milk Stout, Douglas, MI
• Lexington Brewing Company Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale, Lexington, KY
• Lindemans Framboise Lambic, Belgium
• Barrymore Rosé, Monterey County, CA
• Carmel Road Drew’s Blend Pinot Noir, Monterey County, CA
• Symphony in Chocolate Flight: Mozart Cream Liqueurs paired with Sipping Chocolates
• Chocolate and Beer Pairing Flight

Magically Fit's recommendation: Going with the seafood option again here since scallops have a great deal of protein and this is a small sampling with a small sampling of chorizo. This dish packs a lot of flavor in its bite, which always makes something worth it if you ask me!

Pop Eats!
Unearth the tasty treasures and tantalizing textures of modern art-inspired eats!
Food:

• Sous Vide Chicken Roulade with Apples and Sage served with Warm Brie Fondue, Blueberry and Beet Gel and garnished with Beet Chip Crumbles (GF)
• Shrimp Ceviche with Lime Mint Foam (GF)
• Almond Frangipane Cake layered with Raspberry Jam and Belgian Chocolate 
• Pop’t Art: Modern-design Sugar Cookie with Strawberry Filling 

Beverages:

• Blue Sky Black Cherry Boba Freeze (non-alcoholic) 
• #RainbowSherbetGlitterDreamAle by Playalinda Brewing Co., Titusville, FL
• Popping Bubbles Cocktail
• Tomato Soup Can Bloody Mary

Magically Fit's recommendation: We've got a seafood trend so far! The shrimp ceviche will pack a ton some great flavors (as ceviche usually does) and some protein. 

Decadent Delights
Indulge in a gallery of divine delectables that transform dessert into a fine art!
Food:

• White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse, Caramel, Coconut and Maple Meringue
• Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Pretzel Crunch 
• Lemon and Blood Orange Tart
• Artist Palette Jumbo Chocolate-Chip Cookie 
• White Chocolate Figment Puzzle on an Artist Palette 

Beverages:

• 3 Daughters Strawberry Blonde Nitro, St. Petersburg, FL
• Breckenridge Nitro Vanilla Porter, Breckenridge, CO
• Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, England
• Biagio Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont
• Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port, St. Petersburg, FL
• Cold Fashioned Coffee Cocktail
• Neapolitan Beer Flight

​Magically Fit's recommendation: If you find yourself at this booth and you want to indulge, treat yourself! The best part of these festivals is that the samplings are just that: samplings. However, it's important to know your food triggers, so I recommend trying something that you won't be able to just get whenever you're home and at the grocery store - besides, that helps enhance the experience to make sure you're getting something truly unique. If you do want to avoid indulgence, though, and your friends and family are dragging you this way, I always like to have a protein bar in my bag. 

​The Masterpiece Kitchen
Raise your glass and celebrate this fabulous fusion of food and wine—cheers!
Food:

• Wild Mushroom Risotto, Aged Parmesan, Truffle Shavings and Zinfandel Reduction
• Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar and Micro-herbs
• Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats and Cheeses featuring Nueske’s ® Applewood Smoked Beef
• Vanilla, Rose Water and Pistachio Panna Cotta

Beverages:

• Weihenstephaner Original Lager, Freising, Germany
• Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Brut Champagne
• The Meeker Vineyard Winemakers’ Handprint Merlot, Sonoma County, CA
• Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut, Spain
• Pinord La Dama Reserva Familiar Brut Rosé, Spain
• Classic Sidecar with a Chocolate Twist

Magically Fit's recommendation: All of these non-dessert options sound like they're on relatively equal footing - just depends on what you'd enjoy more. Just be aware of how much cream gateau and egg yolk cream they put on your salmon - that can add up quick, and you're already getting healthy fats from the salmon.

And now, let's head to the World Showcase!

Goshiki – Japan Pavilion
Food:

• Taiyaki: Fish-shaped Cake stuffed with a Sweet Red Bean Filling served with Green Tea Chocolate and Whipped Cream Cheese 
• Sushi Donut: Donut-shaped Sushi featuring Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, Cucumber and Sesame Seed over a decorated plate of Wasabi Aïoli, Sriracha and Eel Sauce
• Vegetable Gyoza: Vegetable and Edamame filled Gyoza atop Truffle-mashed Potatoes, Shiitake Mushrooms, Pepper Strings and Tonkatsu Teriyaki Sauce 

Beverages:

• Nomi Masui Draft Lager
• Masu Sake in a Traditional Personalized Wooden Cup
• Nigori Sake Cocktail: Frozen Nigori Sake and Calpico accented with Strawberry and finished with Cotton Candy

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A post shared by Jessica • Disney + WW Blogger (@magicallyfit) on Feb 22, 2019 at 4:25am PST

Magically Fit's recommendation: This is one of my favorite booths, both because the sushi donut is a great, colorful, and protein-packed choice, but the taiyaki is a fantastic option if you really want a sweet treat since it's small and, per My Fitness Pal, only roughly 210 calories or so. Plus it's something out of the norm from what you get at a grocery store, so you'll be treating yourself to something that is special if you're like me and try to avoid sweets.

El Arista Hambriento – Mexico Pavilion
Food:

• Sopes de Barbacoa: Braised Barbacoa Beef served on Fried Guajillo Corn Shell with Black Beans, Cotija Cheese, Mexican Cream and Chives
• Agave Pork Belly: Pork Belly caramelized with Agave atop Pumpkin Seed Pesto Lentil Salad

Beverages:

• Frida Banana Daiquiri: Mexican Handcrafted Rum, Banana Purée and Applejack (served Frozen)
• Diego Blackberry Margarita: 100% Agave Tequila, Blackberry Purée, Fresh Jalapeño-Lime Juice served with Black Ant Salt Rim
• Mexican White Sangria: White Wine, Fruit Juices and Sweet Cinnamon-infused Tequila

Magically Fit's recommendation: Both options are probably on equal footing, though the pork belly seems to have less things that could add up quickly even as a sample size (the cheese and cream, for example, from the barbacoa). 

Refreshment OutPost – Outpost
Food:

• Plant-based Bratwurst with Spicy Turmeric Aïoli, Coffee Barbecue Jackfruit and Slaw
• Paintbrush Churros: Cinnamon-Sugar Churros Dipped in Colorful White Chocolate (KA)

Beverages:

• Barrel of Monks Brewery Endless Enigma Golden Pale Ale, Boca Raton, FL
• Collective Arts Brewing Life in the Closus Hazy IPA, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
• M.I.A. Beer Company Malt Bach Brown Ale, Doral, FL
• Popcorn Pairing Flight

Magically Fit's recommendation: Really only one option here, and it's all plant-based. I've heard jackfruit makes for a decent pulled pork alternative, so it's probably good with the plant-based bratwurst!

Refreshment Port – Showcase Plaza
Food:

• Lobster Chips: House-made Chips, Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños and Citrus Cream

Beverages:

• Ciderboys Zen Berry Apple Boysenberry Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
• Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA

Magically Fit's recommendation: Again, only one option here. This sounds like a great sampling to share, since that's a lot of lobster!

The Painted Panda – China
Food:

• Spicy Beef Shumai
• Char Siu Pork Bun

Beverages:

• “Panda” Bubble Tea: Classic Milk Tea with Black and White Boba Pearls (non-alcoholic) 
• Jasmine Draft Beer
• Fortune Cookie: ByeJoe Spirit, Amaretto, Coconut and Pineapple
• Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec
• Sea Butterfly: Butterfly Pea Flower-infused Cocktail with Lychee Syrup, Vodka, Light Rum and Magic Boba Pearls

Magically Fit's recommendation: Ni hao! In case you didn't know, shumai is steamed or panfried dough. In this case, it's filled with beef. This and the pork bun are probably on equal footing.

L’Art du Cuisine Francaise – France
Food:

• Crème de Brie en Petit Pain: Warm Creamy Brie in a House-made Bread Bowl 
• Tomate Farcie FaÒ«on Paul Bocuse: Tomato Stuffed with Braised Ribs Paul Bocuse-style
• Moelleux Aux Chocolats Valrhona: Molten Chocolate Cake with Pure Origin Valrhona Chocolates 
• Trio de Macarons: Assortment of Three House-made Macarons in a Gift Box

Beverages:

• Frozen French Martini: Grey Goose, Vodka, Chambord Liqueur, Pineapple, Orange and Grape Juice with Lemon-Lime Foam
• Veuve du Vernay, Brut N°1, Limited Edition: French Sparkling Wine
• Vouvray, Marcel Dubois, 2018
• Bordeaux, Château Malbec, 2015

Magically Fit's recommendation: I'd go for the tomato stuffed with braised ribs! Paul Bocuse was innovative in terms of using fresh ingredients with a lighter cooking style, so you know it'll be a great choice if you're tracking your food on Weight Watchers or My Fitness Pal.

Mosaic Canteen – Morocco
Food:

• Spiced Beef with Pine Nuts and Dried Cherries, Hummus and Pita Chips
• Mediterranean Flatbread with Zaatar, Olive Oil Artichoke, Olives, Mozzarella and Feta Cheese
• Chebbakia: Hand-twisted Strips of Fried Dough coated with Honey, Rosewater and Sesame Seeds

Beverages:

• Casa Beer
• Kabash Prestige White Wine
• Embrace the Arak: Massaya Arak, Grapefruit Juice and Grenadine

Magically Fit's recommendation: The spiced beef and flatbread are both good options and probably on equal footing; you have some more healthy fats with the cheese in the flatbread, but that makes up for the lack of protein a little bit. Plus you still get those carbs with the beef dish thanks to the pita chips.

L’Arte di Mangiare – Italy
Food:

• Insalata di Gamberi al Limone di Zagara: Salad of Poached Shrimp in Sicilian Lemons, Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Avocado, and Citrus Dressing
• Pollo ala Pirandello: Golden Chicken Drumstick stuffed with Ricotta Cheese and Pomodoro Sauce 
• Rossini: Prosecco Mousse with Strawberry Sauce (contains alcohol) 

Beverages:

• Peroni Nastro Azzurro Pilsner
• Prosecco, Villa Sandi
• Moscato Fior d’Arancio, Montegrande
• Corbinello, Montegrande
• Pinot Grigio, Santa Marina
• Merlot, Montegrande
• Amaretto Bellini: Amaretto, White Peach Purée and Prosecco
• Vodka Rossini: Vodka, Strawberry Purée and Prosecco

Magically Fit's recommendation: That poached shrimp salad sounds so delicious, I'm mad that I'm not currently eating it right now. Plus it's Weight Watchers friendly regardless of plan!

And, of course, if you're worried about temptation sneaking up on you, then I always recommend brining a snack! I love having a Built Bar handy since I have such a sweet tooth, and most flavors are only 3 SmartPoints on Weight Watchers (but they max out at 4 SmartPoints, and that's really just for the peanut butter bar!). I like to keep them in the fridge, so if I pack it with me to the parks, it doesn't get super melted unless its a really hot day (as any product with real chocolate would). If you're worried about melting, you could even freeze it prior to leaving for the park! Get 10% off your order of Built Bar and their other products (like Built Boost, a flavor packet loaded with vitamins for your water) when you shop with the coupon code MAGICALLYFIT. 

Another reason I love this festival is there are a ton of fun photo opportunities, so its another great way to distract yourself if you are worried about raking in the SmartPoints. Focus on enjoying the experiences and you'll find yourself pretty occupied between the art and the interactive ways you can become art (photos below from 2019's Festival of the Arts)!

Which Epcot festival is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!