The Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival is one of the most anticipated new events of the year. While Busch Gardens Williamsburg has featured the festival, with the flavors of the world, for a few years now Tampa is only now getting into the fun. Today we have the full menu for the Food and Wine Festival, and it looks as if the wait was worth it. There will be flavors from all around the country, the world, and the seven seas as Busch Gardens Tampa pulls out all the stops with this huge new festival that is sure to be a foodie’s delight.
The first ever Food and Wine Festival at Busch Gardens Tampa will celebrate #corksandcoasters, with some of the most exciting rides and some of the most delicious dishes. The park has unveiled the huge line up of menus, and the different flavors that guests can expect to find. Each different station has a unique flavor, and a different wine and beer paired up with it. There are over 50 different beers and wines at this year’s festival, so there’s bound to be something for every palette.
Here’s the menu line up!
GOURMET LODGE
MENU
Deconstructed Duck Confit
with Crispy Fried Wontons, Orange Salsa & Microgreens
Smoked Beef Brisket
with Cheddar & Smoked Gouda Potato Au Gratin
Venison Chili
with Roasted Corn, Black Beans & Lime Sour Cream
DRINKS
Wine
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Beer
Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Cigar City Cubano Style Espresso
SAVORY TAVERN
MENU
Coconut Shrimp Cigars
with a Mandarin Orange Salad, served with a Horseradish-Orange Marmalade
Braised Lamb
with Roasted Corn & Merlot Jus Lie
Passion Fruit Flan
with a Kiwi-Strawberry Salsa
DRINKS
Wine
Chandon Brut
Sweet Josie Brown Ale
Beer
Copper Tail Wheat Stroke
CHEF’S PLANTATION
MENU
Pan-Seared Salmon Cake
with a Caper-Lemon Aioli served atop Wasabi Microgreens
Goat Cheese Fingerling Potato Tart
brushed with Pistachio Oil
Griddled Cheese Cake Sandwich
with Raspberry Coulis
DRINKS
Wine
Sterling White Blend
Edna Valley Pinot Noir
Beer
New Belgium Brewing Fat Tire
Sam Adams Boston Lager
COAST-TO-COAST COOKERY
MENU
Green Peppercorn Seared Hangar Steak
with Potato Leek Hash
Bacon Wrapped Prawns in a Kumquat Glaze
with a Jicama Cilantro Slaw
Micro Greens, Goat Cheese & Roasted Golden Beets
tossed in a Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette
Flourless Chocolate Torte
DRINKS
Wine
Kendal Jackson Sauvignon Blanc
Penfolds Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon
Beer
Stella Artois
Becks
FIELD HOUSE EATERY
MENU
Pan Seared Diver Scallops
atop a Crispy Tortilla with a Watermelon Salsa
Roasted Pork Belly
topped with a Tomato Onion Jam & Fried Leeks
Shrimp, Kale & Locally-Grown Strawberries
tossed in a Ginger Dressing
Mango Éclair
drizzled with a White Chocolate Sauce
DRINKS
Wine
Estancia Pinot Grigio
Bogle Petit Syrah
Beer
Bud Light Lime-a-Rita
Bud Light Mango-Rita
SOUTHERN STATION
MENU
Pan-Fried Cod
served with Parsnip Puree, Fennel Pollen & Roasted Tomato
Beef Short Rib
braised with a Strawberry Wine Habanera BBQ Sauce served with Brioche Toast
Pan-Seared Shrimp
with Roasted Red Pepper Grits, Grilled Corn
DRINKS
Wine
Alexander Valley Chardonnay
Estancia Pinot Noir
Beer
Shock Top
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
COMFORT KITCHEN
MENU
Bacon Mac & Cheese
Aged Serrano Ham & Homestead Melons
with Baby Greens drizzled with a Fig-Infused Port Wine Glaze
Habanero Shrimp Salad
Strawberry Shortcake
DRINKS
Wine
DeLoach Chardonnay
Graham Beck Rose Champagne
Beer
Tampa Bay Brewing Co Reef Donkey
Bud Light
LIGHT FARE CANTEEN
MENU
Scallop Ceviche
Cheese Plate
Heirloom Tomato & Goat Cheese Salad
DRINKS
Wine
Penfold Chardonnay
Edna Valley Merlot
Beer
Shipyard Summer Ale
Shock Top Honey Apple Crisp
BLAZIN’ BISTRO
MENU
Jerk Chicken & Pineapple Salsa
on Mini Brioche Roll
Fire-Braised Pork Chop
brushed with a Mango-Chili Lime Glaze served with Plantain Chips
Diced Buffalo Mozzarella, Heirloom Tomatoes & Micro Greens
tossed in an Aged Balsamic Glaze
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
topped with Maple Fudge Syrup & Bacon Toffee
DRINKS
Wine
Graham Beck Game Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
La Joya Carmenere
Beer
Blue Point
Rastafa Rye Ale
Vegan and Gluten Free options will be available, to find out which menu options are vegan and gluten free, visit the official website.
There are also several tasting tents that will feature over 50 different beers, 50 different wines, and a select number of specialty cocktails, if beer and wine aren’t your flavor. Which are you most excited about?
If that’s not enough, then hold on…there will be several huge “Horticulture Masterpieces” added, which will include topiary, flower sculptures, and a massive 20-foot-tall “Spirit of Spring” scultpure that showcases twelve different varieties of vines and blossoms.
All the fun happens on Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 9p.m. In addition, there is a huge line up of concerts, which includes Gavin Degraw, Fifth Harmony, Kenny Rogers and more. See all the concerts currently announced by clicking here! More artists are expected to be announced in just a few weeks. All concerts are included with theme park admission, and will take place at 6p.m. on event days.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!
How much more can Busch Gardens possibly have at their Food&Wine Festival?
Here’s a few more things:
- Wine Glass performers-Yes, they play music using nothing but wine glasses!
- Harp and Cellists-The musical delights aren’t reserved for just the huge concerts. There will be performances throughout the day
- Wine and Beer Experts-Want to know more about your favorite wine or beer? Experts will be on hand to give talks and answer questions
- Professional Foodie-A job we really want, a professional foodie will be on hand to talk about all the different flavors, and even match up some great wine with your dishes!
- Conservation Cabin-Get close to animals, and learn about the different species of snakes and other reptiles, and what you can do to help protect them
- Festival Games-Wine cork tosses, corn-hole, and more
Of course the big question is, how much will everything cost. Concerts, entertainment and more are included with theme park admission, but there is an additional fee for the food and beverage purchases. Busch Gardens has a variety of different VIP and Sampler packages to help curb the cost a bit, as well as get you reserved seating for the concerts.
Here’s the rundown on the samplers and VIP packages:
- Wine and Brew Sampler-Choose ten beers or wines-$34.99
- Food, Wine and Brew Sampler-Choose five food choices, and five beer or wine samples-$42.99
- Food&Wine Festival VIP Package-Reserved, priority seating for your favorite artist and choose any 10 samples of beer or wine- $49.99
- Food&Wine Festival Ultimate VIP Package-Reserved, priority seating for your favorite artist and choose any 5 food items, and five beer or wine samples-$59.99
All VIP Packages and Samplers come with a collectible lanyard punch card and collectible acrylic stem-less wine glass.
Stay tuned for more from Busch Gardens Tampa, and be sure to get social with us on Facebook, and follow along with us on Twitter @BehindThrills for the latest updates!
