Honest Review: EPCOT’s “Encanto” Booth

On Thursday, January 27, 2022, I spent the day at EPCOT to take in the latest International Festival of the Arts. And, of course, I had to stop at Columbia’s Encanto-themed kiosk. And this is the part of my job where I tell you if I think it’s worth it or not. Long story short: it is.

I highly recommend everybody stop at this little booth. It is situated between Permanent France and Morocco installations and has plenty of seating. I would always recommend Guests–especially the recurring Guests–prioritize the food and booths unique to the latest festival, but I absolutely recommend Guests specifically visit Vibrante & Vivido: Encanto Cocina before it’s gone.

So, let’s dig in.

I ordered four items on the menu; all three food options and one of the specialty drinks:

• The House-made Chorizo and Potato Empanadas with Tumeric Aïoli and Annatta Aïoli.
• The Spicy Ajiaco Soup with Guanjillo and Árbol Chili-spiced Chicken, Potato, Avocado, Corn, and Crème Fraiche.
• The Passion Fruit Mousse with Dragon Fruit Jam.
• Passion Fruit Daiquiri.

I must confess upfront that I cannot correctly judge the soup due to a pre-established gastronomical bias. I can’t stomach capers–which, in my ignorance, I didn’t realize was in the soup–or avocado chunks. But I tried it anyway because that’s my job, and I can say that if these are flavors and textures you enjoy, you would definitely enjoy this soup. The spice level is mild, but that is coming from someone who enjoys spicy food.

Moving on, the house-made empanada is delicious. The chorizo’s innate spiciness was present but not overpowering. It allowed the complexion of flavor from the chunks of potatoes, tomatoes–which, fair warning, are also included–and other seasonings to show through and contribute to the experience. However, the two aïolis served as little more than exterior decoration and added more of a level of unnecessary messiness than anything else. But still, it was a pretty empanada. 8/10.

Turning now to the Passion Fruit Mousse, honestly, I had no idea what to expect. At first glance, the dessert looked more like a flan with some sort of whipped cream and cookie on top. But as soon as my plastic micro-shovel broke ground, I realized I struck gold-standard sweetness. The defining characteristic of this dish is layers. A surface layer of flan tents a center that features a dollop of mousse on top of a generous helping of Dragon Fruit Jam. But don’t let this description fool you. In no way is it too sweet or too rich. It is perfectly balanced. The only thing I’d say is that this dessert is big but in a good way. It’s perfect for sharing. 9/10.

And last but not least, the Passion Fruit Daiquiri. Wow. That’s all I need to say. In matters of taste and refreshment, very little already beats a properly prepared Passion Fruit Daiquiri on its own with its balance of flavor, richness, and sweetness. But in terms of value, this drink is one of the best options around the World Showcase. If you get any drink while visiting World Showcase, get this one. 9.5/10. (Please drink responsibly.)

But this booth offers more than just food and drinks. I noticed three panels around the seating area that offer enriching information on Columbia that taught me a few things. Here are the pictures I got:

Related: ‘Encanto’s Mirabel is a Disney Princess, Here’s Why

Related: Movie Review: ‘Encanto’

Overall, I loved this addition to EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts. I hope that Disney uses Vibrante & Vivido: Encanto Cocina to set a precedent for all culturally-inspired movies yet to come.

Now, does it warrant a permanent pavilion, like Josh Gad and his family say it does? I don’t know. But it proves once again what a treat it is to have more countries “visit” during these extra-magical festivals.

The one disappointment: I didn’t get to try Julieta Madrigal’s (Mirabel’s mama’s) all-healing buñuelos. But hey, you can’t get everything you want, right? (We should make it feel like Christmas all year round!)

The artists, chefs, musicians, and mixologists of the International Festival of the Arts will continue to occupy the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow until February 21, 2022.