James Beard Award-Winning Chefs to Headline Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is serving up a major first for its 16th annual event. This year, the two-night culinary extravaganza will be headlined by renowned celebrity chefs Todd English and Michael Mina, who will not only be on-site for meet-and-greets but will also each host their own exclusive signature tasting experience.
Both chefs are James Beard Award winners known for their impressive culinary careers, including acclaimed restaurants, bestselling cookbooks, and television appearances. Their presence at the event is a natural fit, as both have a strong connection to the resort. Todd English’s bluezoo and Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina are both located within the Walt Disney World Dolphin.
Guests attending the outdoor festival on November 14 and 15 will have the unique opportunity to meet the chefs along the hotel’s scenic causeway. Chef English is scheduled to appear both nights, while Chef Mina will be there on Saturday, November 15. The event will also feature specially curated tastings from each of their on-site restaurants.
For those looking for an even more intimate experience, the two chefs will host their own signature tasting events with expertly paired beverages. These are the first-ever standalone tasting experiences hosted by the headlining chefs at the Classic.
A Taste of What’s to Come
On Friday, November 14, at 3:30 p.m., Chef Todd English will host “A Culinary Journey Through Asia.” This exclusive five-course voyage promises to take guests on a global tour of Asian cuisine, interpreted with Chef English’s signature style. The menu includes a bluefin tuna trio, smoked scallop crudo, miso carbonara udon, and a Koji-cured short rib. The experience concludes with layered matcha crisps with white chocolate and is exquisitely paired with sake or wine.
The following day, Saturday, November 15, also at 3:30 p.m., Chef Michael Mina will lead “A Global Inspired Tour With Flair.” Guests can expect a five-course culinary journey filled with storytelling and a touch of humor, paired with magnificent wines and a decadent dessert cocktail. The dinner will feature dishes like bacon-wrapped scallop, white truffle agnolotti, miso broiled seabass, slow-roasted prime rib, and the signature Bourbon Steak candy bar for dessert.
Tickets for the Signature Tasting Experiences are $185 per person, plus taxes and fees, and can be purchased here. Space is limited, so reservations are highly recommended.
The main Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening. The vibrant street party-style festival offers unlimited food and beverage tastings from the resort’s 23 restaurants and lounges, along with themed areas like Chinatown, Carnival Corner, and For the Love of Florida.
A bundle ticket option is available for guests who want to attend both nights, offering a 10% savings and the chance to experience each evening’s unique menu for the ultimate culinary weekend.
James Beard Award-Winning Chefs to Headline Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
