Taste of Disney

This was paired with Casa Amigos Tequila Blanco. But before tasting the first of the three tequilas, we were introduced to Tequila Specialist, Hilda Castillo. She told us about the Blanco (white) Tequila, saying it was the youngest class of tequila. Youngest because it is bottled either immediately after distillation or within two months of the process. Then she instructed us to smell a strip of lime from the tray on our table before smelling and then tasting the tequila in order to bring out its citrus notes.

However, for me this didn’t help, it still tasted like jet fuel…or what I would imagine jet fuel would taste like. From the look on his face, I’m not sure if my husband enjoyed it either…

But that didn’t stop him from drinking all of his and most of mine too.

For our second course, we were presented with this soup…

Sweet Potato Cream prepared with Tequila, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cream and Tequila reduction. Topped with queso fresco foam and cinnamon oil.

I don’t really care for sweet soups, so this was just okay for me. My husband though seemed to like it, as he ate all of his and then the rest of mine.
This was paired with Partida Tequila Reposado. Hilda told us that Reposado Tequila is “rested” or tequila that is aged in an oak barrel for at least two months, but less than a year. That gives the Tequila a slightly golden hue and a smoother taste. I believe we were told to smell the cinnamon stick before smelling and then tasting this one.

I had hopes of liking this one since we were told it was smoother than the first, but sadly I didn’t. So my husband ended up drinking most of this one too.

It was about this time in her presentation that Hilda requested a volunteer to demonstrate the proper way to take a tequila shot. Seeing no hands raised, she selected my husband…maybe she noticed that he was drinking most of the tequila on our end of the table.

And so, here he is showing off his tequila shot skills…

Followed by a sangrita chaser…

And then taking a bow after his “sitting” ovation…

Once the demonstration was over, it was time for our main course…

So let’s begin with the Pork Belly part of the entree…

As I may have mentioned previously, I have a strong aversion to fatty meat so pork belly is not really my thing. I picked at this, eating the crispier, less fatty parts and the flavor of what I tasted was pretty good. Overall, I can’t really say that I liked this though, but I can say that I liked it better than the Octopus…

While I enjoy calamari, I discovered that I do not like octopus. For me, squid seems more tender and tastier. So I’d have to say that this entree was a fail for me, however my husband seemed to enjoy it.

The last of the tequilas was paired with the main course, which was Casa Noble Tequila Anejo. We learned from Hilda that Anejo Tequila is “aged” Tequila, which means it is kept in the barrel for at least one year, but less than three years. This makes the color a bit darker and the taste a bit smoother.
And yet I still didn’t like it.

However I did like the tequila liqueur that was served with the dessert course…

1921 Tequila Cream Liquor

Tequila Tres Leches Cake – Tres Leches Cake dipped in Tequila Liquor and topped with Coffee Whipped Cream. Served with Avocado Mint Ice Cream.

And a close up…

After tasting the tequila liqueur we were encouraged to make a hole in the middle of our cake and pour the rest of our glass into it, as my husband is demonstrating in this blurry photo…

Now this was really good! Definitely my favorite course of the meal.

So overall, of the three Food & Wine Festival pairing lunches that I attended on this trip (the Italian and French were the other two), this one was definitely the weakest link for me. However, to be fair, I should mention that the price of this meal was $75 (plus tax), which is far less expensive than the other two I attended. The Italian Regional Food & Wine Luncheon was $94 and the French one at Monsieur Paul was a whopping $135. But then again, that one included a copious amount of champagne! But anyway, if you calculate the cost of the alcohol served at the Tequila lunch it comes to more than $46 (at La Cava del Tequila the margarita is $13.50, a similar tequila flight is $22, and the 1921 Tequila Liquor is $11). Which means the 4-course meal was only $29. Quite a bargain! This of course would only hold true if you like tequila, which for the most part I guess I don’t. So for me, this was a fun new experience but not one I would probably do again.

Oh, but one more interesting tidbit is that while the other two lunches I attended were sold out, the Mexican one I was able to book just one week prior to the event.