Food and Wine Festival: What to Try and What to Avoid

Chris and I have had our fair share of tasty treats from the Food and Wine Festival this year. Below you can find our thoughts on most popular and recommended items. We grouped them based on our average score between the both of us.
Updated with Trip 4 Reviews: October 15, 2018

Must Try/Highly Recommend (8.5-10)

• Africa – Berbere-style Beef Tenderloin Tips ($5.50)
• Canada – “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon ($8.00)
• Canada – Moosehead Radler ($4.25)
• The Cheese Studio – Maple Bourbon Boursin Cheesecake ($4.50)
• Flavors From Fire – Piggy Wings ($4.75)
• Ireland – Guinness Baileys Shake ($10.50)
• Italy – Mezzi Rigatoni ($7.00)
• Thailand – Red Hot Spicy Thai Curry Beef ($5.50)
• The Wine & Dine Studio – Seared Scallops ($6.00)

Worth the Try/Pretty Good (7-8.4)

• Active Eats – Spice-crusted Verlasso® Salmon ($5.75)
• Australia – Grilled Lamb Chop ($7.75)
• Belgium – St. Bernardus Abt 12 ($5.00)
• Brazil – Crispy Pork Belly ($5.75)
• China – Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun ($6.75)
• China – Kung Fu Punch ($8.95)
• The Chocolate Studio – Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle ($5.00)
• Coastal Eats – Seared Scallops ($6.00)
• Coastal Ears – Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip ($5.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Charred Chimichurri Skirt Steak ($6.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Chocolate Picante ($3.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Swine Brine ($8.25)
• France – Croissant aux Escargot ($5.75)
• France – La Passion Martini Slush ($10.75)
• Greece – Loaded Greek “Nachos” ($4.75)
• Hops & Barley – Heavy Seas AmeriCannon APA ($4.25)
• Islands of the Caribbean – Ropa Vieja Empanada ($5.25)
• Italy – Frozen Margarita ($10.00)
• Light Lab – 3 Daughters Brewing Blueberry Peppercorn Hard Cider ($4.25)
• New Zealand – Steamed Green Lip Mussels ($4.50)
• Wine & Dine Studio – Artist Palette of Cheese and Wine ($11.75) Croissant aux Escargot Active Eats – Spice-crusted Verlasso® Salmon ($5.75)
• Australia – Grilled Lamb Chop ($7.75)
• Belgium – St. Bernardus Abt 12 ($5.00)
• Brazil – Crispy Pork Belly ($5.75)
• China – Beijing Roasted Duck Bao Bun ($6.75)
• China – Kung Fu Punch ($8.95)
• The Chocolate Studio – Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle ($5.00)
• Coastal Eats – Seared Scallops ($6.00)
• Coastal Ears – Baked Shrimp Scampi Dip ($5.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Charred Chimichurri Skirt Steak ($6.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Chocolate Picante ($3.75)
• Flavors of Fire – Swine Brine ($8.25)
• France –
• Greece – Loaded Greek “Nachos” ($4.75)
• Hops & Barley – Heavy Seas AmeriCannon APA ($4.25)
• Islands of the Caribbean – Ropa Vieja Empanada ($5.25)
• Italy – Frozen Margarita ($10.00)
• Light Lab – 3 Daughters Brewing Blueberry Peppercorn Hard Cider ($4.25)
• New Zealand – Steamed Green Lip Mussels ($4.50)
• Wine & Dine Studio – Artist Palette of Cheese and Wine ($11.75)

Probably Wouldn’t Get Again/Alright (5-6)

• Australia – Coopers Brewery Original Pale Ale ($4.35)
• Belgium – Beer-braised Beef ($5.25)
• Brazil – Frozen Caipirinha ($10.00)
• Brazil – Pão de Queijo ($4.25)
• The Cheese Studio – Braised Beef “Stroganoff” ($5.25)
• Earth Eats – The Steakhouse Blended Burger ($5.00)
• Germany – Apple Strudel ($4.00)
• Greece – Wine Flight ($6.00)
• Hops & Barley – New Brunswick Slider ($5.75)
• India – Madras Red Curry ($5.00)
• Islands of the Caribbean – Frozen Mojito ($9.50)
• Ireland – Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip ($4.75)
• New Zealand – Frozen Wine Cocktail ($7.00)
• Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar – Key Lime Mimosa ($6.00)
• Spain – Seafood Salad ($6.00)

Probably Pass/Wasn’t Our Favorite (3-4)

• Craft Drafts – Beer Flight 2 ($9.00)
• Germany – Roasted Bratwurst ($5.50)
• Islands of the Caribbean – Jerk-spiced Chicken Lollipop ($5.50)

Avoid/Complete Miss (0-2)

N/A at this time.

Read Our Full Reviews by Days

Trip 1 – September 9
Trip 2 – September 14
Trip 3 – September 23
Trip 4 – October 13
Trip 5 – November 4