Good evening! Today, we were invited out to a preview of the 2025 Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve!
2025 marks 16 years for this annual event, which will feature the most dishes ever offered for the Classic (49 in total!) and almost an entirely new menu from past years. This year’s Classic also brings two new food booths from the newest restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin: Lagoon Lanes & Games and Bourbon Steak by Chef Michael Mina.
There are also two new five-course Signature Tasting Experiences with beverage pairings hosted by celebrity chefs, “A Culinary Journey Through Asia with Chef Todd English” and “A Global Inspired Tour with Flair with Chef Michael Mina.”
We were able to try several of the dishes that will be available during the event! Each item we tried is new for this year, and we were also able to try a few sweet treats.
Here’s everything we tried, and what we thought!
- Slow Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib with Celery Root Espuma, and Shallot Marmalade (Gluten-Free) from Bourbon Steak
This was so delicious, we would eat it every day if we could. The short rib is super flavorful and falls off the bone. If you love a hearty, homestyle flavor palate, this will hit the spot for you.
- Ricotta Cappelletti with Hand Crafted Pasta, House Made Citrus Ricotta Filling, Slow Cooked Angus Beef Ragu, and Crispy Pancetta Breadcrumbs from Il Mulino
This was really good too! We especially liked the breadcrumbs and thought they added a pleasant texture to the dish. The citrus ricotta filling is light and fresh and this is overall a nice twist on a pasta dish. While it didn’t blow us away completely, it is a great staple for the Classic.
- Pan Fried Shrimp & Pork Dumplings with Ginger & Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce, House Made Chili Oil, and Yu Chen’s Crispy Chili Oil (Contains Shellfish) from the Chinatown themed area
These dumplings were so good that we just had to eat two servings! They were very spicy, but still delicious. The dumplings themselves are a good size, and not overly stuffed or too small. The texture was also just right, nestled between the perfect amount of softness and structure. As for the filling, it tasted super fresh and high quality, with plenty of large pieces of shrimp inside.
- Sweet Corn Ice Cream Cone with Hot Honey Syrup, Crushed Cheddar Cheese, and Caramel Corn (Vegetarian)
This tastes just like creamed corn without the corn, and they made it into ice cream! There’s no sweetness here, it’s more of a savory treat. As it’s ice cream, the overall texture is smooth and creamy, which is offset by the crunch of the caramel corn. If you’re a fan of savory desserts, you might like this. It’s an interesting flavor.
- The Cherry with Cherry Mousse, Chocolate Cake, Black Cherry Compote, and a Dark Chocolate Disk (Gluten-Free) [left]
This is a very cherry-forward dessert. It offers a beautiful presentation and looks just like a giant cherry. The outside is a deep red glaze that tastes great, and the inside is a dense mousse. It was also more tart than we were expecting.
- Chocolate Cassis Mousse (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free) [center]
This dessert was just perfect. We can’t say no to chocolate, and love an airy dessert mousse. The portion is an ideal size, and it’s not too sweet at all. We thought this was the perfect way to end our tasting.
Out of everything we tried, these three dishes got top marks from us:
- Pan Fried Shrimp & Pork Dumplings
- Chocolate Cassis Mousse
- Slow Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib
The Food & Wine Classic takes place on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 5-9 p.m. The two tastings will take place on those days, too; the experience with English will be on Friday, and Mina will be on Saturday.
Also for 2025, the Swan and Dolphin is partnering with the Wounded Warrior Project as its charity beneficiary, in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month. Wounded Warrior Project provides special programs and services for veterans who served in the military and were impacted by a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound during or after service following 9/11. Swan and Dolphin also partnered with the organization in 2024, and raised $13,000 for the non-profit. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.
Tickets for each event day include unlimited food and beverage samples, and the tastings are available as add-ons to your ticket. You can also save 10% if you purchase a bundle with tickets for both nights! To learn about the event, ticket pricing, and more, visit FoodAndWineClassic.com, and thank you to the Swan and Dolphin for having us out!
