The massive concert line up of The Busch Gardens Tampa Food and Wine Festival is just the first stop on the 5th annual road trip. The real adventure lies with the huge menu that the culinary team at BGT has cooked up. This year is even better than ever, as the park takes you around the country without leaving the park. They will take guests from the Pacific Northwest, to New Orleans and even back through park history, with tastes that are as different as the places they come from.
Here’s a good taste of the menu, try to keep your hunger in check!
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Refined and innovative, indulge in inspired sauces from trendy Korean gochujang sauce to distinguished 15-year aged balsamic vinaigrette. The shareable charcuterie and cheese cone is the perfect snack to grab-and-go on the way to your favorite concert.
MENU
-Grilled Lambchops
with 15-Year Aged Balsamic Drizzle
-Crispy Duck Wings with Korean Gochujang Barbecue Sauce
-Charcuterie & Cheese Cone
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
From seaside splendor to the fruited plains, don’t miss the mouth-watering tenderness of Cedar Planked Wild Alaskan Salmon, indigenous Dungeness Crab Croquettes, and the leaner taste of Bison Sliders.
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-Cedar Planked Wild Alaskan Salmon
-Bison Slider with Bacon Onion Marmalade
-Dungeness Crab Croquettes with Lemon Aioli
NOLA EATS
Jazz up your taste buds with a smooth symphony of soul food and Cajun spice including oysters, gumbo and classic Bananas Foster with a twist.
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-Grilled Oysters topped with Creamed Spinach, Andouille Sausage & Garlic Crumb
-Chicken Gumbo
-Bananas Foster Cheesecake
SOUTHERN CUISINE
Country-fried and full of flavor, tempt your palate with tastes from the deep-south featuring fried chicken and biscuit sliders, bacon and cheddar Hushpuppies, and a fried green tomato stack!
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-Fried Chicken & Biscuit Slider
-Bacon & Cheddar Hushpuppies
-Fried Green Tomato Stack with Pimento Cheese & Jalapeño Jelly
THE BOARDWALK
A trip to the shore isn’t complete without a stroll on the boardwalk. Stop by and enjoy Maryland-style crab cakes, Jersey favorite Taylor Ham Mac & Cheese, and delectable Griddled Cheesecake.
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-Taylor Ham Mac & Cheese
-Griddled Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce
NEW ENGLAND TAVERN
Take in the bounty of the Atlantic Ocean with our spin on a traditional lobster roll or classic clam chowder and give in to your sweet tooth with a tangy blueberry rhubarb crisp.
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-Lobster Roll
-Clam Chowder
-Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp
THE HEARTLAND
Roaming fields and beautiful landscapes make up the Heartland of America, where traditions collide into iconic flavors. Enjoy traditional potato and cheese pierogis, Italian hot beef sandwich, and St. Louis ribs with Kansas City BBQ sauce!
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-Potato & Cheese Pierogis
-Italian Hot Beef Sandwich
-St. Louis Ribs with Kansas City BBQ Sauce
SOCAL
Like a day at the beach, this menu will leave your taste buds feeling sun-kissed. Enjoy the fresh flavors of trendy shishito peppers and classic Baja fish tacos.
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-Baja Fish Tacos
-Blistered Shishito Peppers with Lemon Aioli
-Cheeseburger Slider with Pico de Gallo & Guacamole
ALOHA EATS
Craving a little paradise? The islands are closer than you think with Kahlua pulled pork, Kona crusted filet mignon, and a pineapple upside down cake that is sweeter than sunshine.
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-Kona Crusted Filet Mignon with Maui Onion Butter
-Kahlua Pulled Pork with Hawaiian Sweet Roll & Pineapple Agrodolce
-Pineapple Upside Down Cake
TEX MEX CANTINA
Take a trip south of the border for deconstructed Mexican street corn with the new grilled elote or kick up the flavor with the chorizo queso fundido.
MENU
-Short Rib & Cheddar Quesadilla
-Grilled Elote – Mexican Street Corn with Cotija & Lime Crema
-Chorizo Queso Fundido with Jack Cheese, Sweet Onions & Shishito Peppers
TAMPA TAVERN
Enjoy a fusion of a Tampa classic with the Cuban Egg Roll. Sample local strawberries as they star in a classic shortcake.
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-Cuban Egg Roll
-Ground Pork with Ham, Swiss Cheese & Dill Pickle Relish
-Plant City Strawberry Shortcake
Busch Gardens Tampa always does an amazing job with different taste options, so we can’t wait to see everything they have on the menus at the various taste cabins throughout the event.
The best way to savor and save on everything the festival has to offer is with a Food & Wine Festival Sampler. Guests can purchase a 5, 8 or 12-item sampler lanyard to use at each festival cabin to explore sample-sized dishes and drink offerings with ease. Pass Members can purchase an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler.
One of the other big things of the festival are the amazing tastings. There’s not just food and wine, but a huge array of tequila, vodka bourbon and ice wine. Each of the tastings are available for an additional fee, and can even be combined for more for your money.
The Busch Gardens Tampa Food and Wine Festival kicks off on March 16th and will run on select dates until April 28th.
In addition to the massive menu, there’s a huge concert series, games, other performances, huge topiary, and of course coasters!
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!
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