Once again over Memorial Day weekend, BGWFans braved the crowds and the weather to taste and review everything at Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s annual culinary extravaganza. This year Zachary and I (Nicole) were joined by Renee, Thomas, and Tony.
Despite the forces of nature and a Code Purple at the park, we successfully tried, scored, and discussed all of the food items at this year’s event. We decided against reviewing the new Island (“Icelands?”) Freeze booth, because we didn’t want to have to try all of the frozen cocktails throughout the event.
Like last year, we have opted to split our review into two parts:
- This article scores each dish and provides our thoughts on each booth.
- Our second piece will look more broadly at the trends we identified this year, as well as our individual recommendations.
As in the past, we decided to score desserts against desserts and savory dishes against other savory items. Thus, we have identified both savory and sweet “Best in Booth” winners for each kiosk. A dish will not win Best in Booth by default. So, for example, when there is only one sweet option, it will not be selected for Best in Booth (Sweet), but can compete for Best Dessert overall.
Before proceeding, I’d like to note that one of the few things the entire group agreed on was how improved the event was as a whole. We would strongly recommend that everyone try a few dishes, even if you were disappointed in the past.
So, without further ado, presented in alphabetical order, here is our review of the 2017 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Food & Wine Festival.
American Southwest
Chocolate Lava Cake
Fudge brownie cake with molten Ancho-spiced Chile chocolate filling
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
American Southwest | $4.00 | 4.2 |
Fish Taco
Chile-spiced tilapia with red cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, and cilantro lime sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
American Southwest | $4.50 | 3.8 |
Ghost Pepper Guacamole
Spicy hot guacamole with Tajin seasoned tri-color tortilla chips
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
American Southwest | $4.25 | 3.6 |
Sonoran Spice Pork Taco
Spice-rubbed pork carnita with jicama-chayote slaw in a soft tortilla
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
American Southwest | $4.50 | 4.1 |
Asia
Bánh Mì
Vietnamese-style sandwich of marinated pork and pickled vegetables on crispy bread with lime and nuoc mam slaw
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Asia | $5.00 | 3.8 |
Ginger-Lemongrass Custard
Creamy custard infused with fresh ginger and lemongrass
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Asia | $3.25 | 4.8 |
Lettuce Wrap
Vegetables and tofu wrapped in tender butter lettuce with toasted almonds and sweet chili dipping sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Asia | $4.00 | 3.8 |
Mushi-Gyoza
Japanese-style steamed chicken dumplings with citrus ponzu sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Asia | $5.00 | 4.4 |
Canada
Cheddar & Lager Chowder
Sharp cheddar and Canadian lager chowder with smoked paprika oil
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Canada | $3.25 | 2.1 |
Mac & Cheese with Peameal Bacon
Creamy macaroni and cheese with cornmeal-crusted Canadian bacon
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Canada | $4.25 | 2.4 |
Pumpkin Caramel Mousse
Spiced pumpkin mousse with caramel, topped with maple syrup
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Canada | $3.25 | 4.5 |
Venison Sausage & Corn Porridge
Wood-fired venison sausage and creamy polenta with apple cider and caramelized onions
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Canada | $6.00 | 1.7 |
Caribbean
Gamba Fritters
Caribbean fried shrimp dumpling with Pickapeppa dip
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Caribbean | $5.25 | 4.7 |
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Jerk-marinated chicken drumsticks with guava barbecue and grilled pineapple salsa
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Caribbean | $6.00 | 3.3 |
Mojo Shrimp
Citrus and garlic marinated shrimp on heart of palm, black bean, and corn relish with lime cilantro vinaigrette
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Caribbean | $5.50 | 4.2 |
Pineapple Rum Upside-down Cake
Cake with sweet pineapple-rum sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Caribbean | $4.25 | 2.6 |
Crêpes & Coffee
BLT Crêpe
Crispy bacon, spinach, and sun dried tomato with Old Bay aioli
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Crêpes & Coffee | $6.99 | 2.9 |
Choco-noisette et Banane Crêpe
Hazelnut-chocolate spread and bananas
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Crêpes & Coffee | $4.99 | 4.3 |
Poulet Cordon Bleu Crêpe
Braised chicken and ham with Swiss cheese and dijonnaise sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Crêpes & Coffee | $6.99 | 2.6 |
Spinach, Strawberry & Goat Cheese Crêpe
Spinach, strawberries, and goat cheese with toasted almonds and balsamic glaze drizzle
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Crêpes & Coffee | $6.99 | 4.4 |
French Quarter
Bananas Foster Cheesecake
Vanilla and pecan-crusted cheesecake with orange-rum caramel sauce and sliced banana
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
French Quarter | $4.00 | 3.4 |
Beignets
Fried doughnut squares, topped with powdered sugar and drizzled with caramel
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
French Quarter | $5.00 | 3.1 |
Chicken & Andouille Gumbo
Creole-spiced stew with shredded chicken and spicy sausage over rice
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
French Quarter | $5.00 | 3.8 |
Muffuletta
Sliced mortadella, salami, ham, and provolone with olive spread on sesame bread with Cajun coleslaw
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
French Quarter | $5.00 | 3.5 |
Germany
Currywurst
Knockwurst with curry-spiced tomato ketchup and roasted potatoes
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Germany | $4.25 | 3.4 |
German Chocolate Cake
Rich chocolate cake layered with sweet coconut icing
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Germany | $3.00 | 3.2 |
Schinkennudel
German-style noodle, baked with cured ham and cheese
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Germany | $3.25 | 3.6 |
Schnitzelwich
Pork schnitzel slider with sliced lemon and caper sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Germany | $5.25 | 1.9 |
Hawaii
Haupia
Sweet coconut mousse with Kona coffee ganache
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Hawaii | $3.25 | 3.9 |
Huli Huli Chicken
Sweet pineapple and soy BBQ chicken served with orange and purple sweet potato salad
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Hawaii | $5.00 | 3.8 |
Spam Slider
Fried spam with Sriracha mayonnaise and grilled pineapple, served with
pineapple and coconut coleslaw
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Hawaii | $5.00 | 3.5 |
Tuna Poke
Soy and sesame sushi tuna in a wonton flower with wasabi aioli, served with wakame seaweed salad
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Hawaii | $6.00 | 3.2 |
India
Mango Burfi
Mango and coconut snowballs
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
India | $3.50 | 3.7 |
Samosas
Savory pastry filled with curried potatoes and peas, served with mango chutney
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
India | $5.00 | 4.4 |
Spicy Potato Curry
Garbanzo beans, sweet peas, and potatoes, stewed in coconut milk with curry spice
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
India | $4.50 | 4.8 |
Tandoori Chicken
Spiced yogurt marinated chicken with cardamom ginger rice and cucumber raita
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
India | $6.00 | 4.9 |
Ireland
Bangers with Colcannon
Irish sausage with mashed potatoes, cabbage, and Guinness brown sugar gravy
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Ireland | $5.25 | 4.1 |
Guinness Mousse
Dark chocolate and Guinness mousse with whiskey-infused whipped cream
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Ireland | $3.50 | 3.8 |
Irish Cheese Sampling
Sage Derby, Blarney Castle, and Dubliner cheeses, served with apple-raisin chutney & cream crackers
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Ireland | $4.50 | 4.6 |
Italy
Mini Cannoli Trio
Traditional, strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate-hazelnut mini cannolis with chocolate-dipped shells
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Italy | $5.50 | 3.9 |
Panna Cotta
Vanilla cream pudding, served with strawberries
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Italy | $3.25 | 4.4 |
Tiramisu
Italian parfait with sweetened mascarpone cheese, layered with espresso-soaked lady fingers
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Italy | $3.25 | 3.8 |
Mediterranean
Baklava
Sweet pastry with nuts and honey between thin crispy filo pastry layers
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Mediterranean | $3.50 | 3.8 |
Falafel
Chickpea fritter with sesame dipping sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Mediterranean | $3.75 | 2.5 |
Halloumi
Griddled Greek cheese with clover honey and crushed pistachios
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Mediterranean | $4.25 | 3.5 |
Lamb Burger Slider
Seasoned ground lamb on pita bread with feta cheese spread, cucumber, tomato, and olive
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Mediterranean | $6.00 | 4.6 |
Spain
Chorizo Empanada
Spicy pork sausage pastry pocket with cilantro lime cream
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Spain | $4.25 | 4.2 |
Gazpacho con Ceviche
Chilled tomato cucumber soup with citrus-oyster mushroom salsa
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Spain | $4.00 | 3.5 |
Tapas
Paprika-roasted Marcona almonds; Marinated olive medley; Manchego cheese with Membrillo–quince paste
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Spain | $5.00 | 2.9 |
Venera con Jamón
Scallop, wrapped in cured ham with saffron rice, and romesco sauce
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Spain | $7.25 | 4.0 |
Virginia
Bacon & Cheddar Hushpuppies
Cornmeal fritters served with honey butter
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Virginia | $3.25 | 3.3 |
Pecan, Bacon & Chocolate Bars
Sweet pecan caramel bars topped with smoked bacon and chocolate drizzle
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Virginia | $3.25 | 3.1 |
She-Crab Soup
Crab bisque finished with sherry, an Old Bay crostini, and a Chesapeake blue crab salad
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Virginia | $5.75 | 3.7 |
Smithfield Ham Tasting
Red Eye country ham, Applewood carved ham, and ham pate, served with a honey biscuit, apple butter, honey mustard, and whole grain mustard
Booth | Price | Rating (Out of 5) |
Virginia | $4.00 | 2.6 |
Zachary and I would like to thank Renee, Thomas, and Tony for their participation and invaluable insights. By bringing a wide array of experiences and preferences to the table their inputs lend credibility to our recommendations and observations.
Next week we plan to publish our thoughts about the event as a whole, as well as the specific recommendations for both savory and sweet dishes from our tasting team. So, be on the lookout; follow BGWFans on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; and join the discussion on the ParkFans Forum.