Busch Gardens Tampa has posted the menu for its inaugural Food & Wine Festival, which will run from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, March 7 through April 26.
Here's what will be available, and where (from the park's press release):
Gourmet Lodge:
Explore the exotic flavors of Gourmet Lodge, featuring duck confit, venison chili and other exciting dishes.
Savory Tavern:
Tempt taste buds with the rich flavors of Savory Tavern, including coconut shrimp cigars, braised lamb shank and passion fruit flan.
Chef’s Plantation:
Pan-seared salmon cakes, a griddled cheese cake sandwich and more await your palette at Chef’s Plantation.
Coast to Coast Cookery:
Flavors of the land and sea come together at Coast to Coast Cookery, featuring hangar steak, bacon-wrapped prawns and more.
Field House Eatery:
The Field House Eatery is the Festival’s biggest location, offering pan-seared scallops, roasted pork belly and mango éclairs right on Gwazi Field.
Southern Station:
Southern Station tantalizes taste buds with shrimp & grits, pan-fried cod and beef short rib.
Comfort Kitchen:
The Comfort Kitchen fuses classics like bacon mac & cheese with contemporary eats like habanero shrimp salad.
Light Fare Canteen:
Freshen up your palette at the Light Fare Canteen with scallop ceviche and an heirloom tomato & goat cheese salad.
Blazin’ Bistro:
Blazin’ Bistro breaks out the grill for fire-braised pork chops and jerk chicken sliders.
The Festival is, like the long-running Epcot event at Disney World, included with park admission, though the food and wine are available for purchase.
More Busch Gardens Food and Wine Coverage, from Williamsburg
I think it also has to do with the fact that the booths are not themed to countries like the Williamsburg option. BGW does an incredible job of integrating the booths in with the countries, and since there aren't really any countries left in BGT, there's no clear tie in. I think they are losing an opportunity by concentrating all of the booths in one place (people are more likely to sample something from each booth as they walk around the park), but the reasoning behind the move makes sense.
I also appreciate that BGT put all the food booth smells next to birds and kangaroos rather than tigers, lions and hyenas. Otherwise, there could be a sequel to Jurassic World in the making.
I don't know. I've eaten outside before at what was the old Hospitality House, and the smells of the nearby aviary never seemed to be distracting. Gwazi Park is even more isolated from the animal habitats, and should not interfere with olfactory enjoyment.
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The official web site says all the F&W booths will be in the Gwazi field/plaza area and extending out to the new topiary area now being built near the demolished animal show area by Hospitality House. This is different than BG Williamsburg F&W which is scattered throughout the park. Wise choice since there are very strong and unappetizing animal smells in most places of BGT. However, this area is close to the Bird Gardens which can have very strong smells also.