Walt Disney World’s most anticipated foodie gathering is just two weeks away — and it’s time to take a closer look at what’s in store for us at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.   The annual foodie extravaganza, which runs from Sept. 19-Nov. 10, has plenty of favorites returning, ranging from the food and beverage “Marketplaces,” or kiosks that are set up around Epcot’s World Showcase, to more celebrity chef cooking and wine tasting demonstrations, seminars and high-end parties.  

The event also brings more locals and travelers to the theme park, bringing a boost to Central Florida’s $50 billion tourism industry.   Additionally, some of the newer things to look forward to include the Farm Fresh Marketplace — which is taking over the kiosk formerly known as the Florida Local Marketplace — as well as the Patagonia and Brazil marketplaces, not to mention Orlando Brewing Co.’s I-4 IPA being among three Florida brews at the new Farm Fresh marketplace.  

The festival preview takes place this afternoon and I took one for the team — as Orlando Business Journal’s tourism reporter Richard Bilbao couldn’t make it — in order to bring you, loyal readers, a sneak peek of what to look forward to at this year’s tasty event. For those of you who have been following me for the last couple years, you know I’ve got some background in this as formerly covering restaurants for OBJ, so I promise to reach back to access those skills.  

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