Appreciate them trying to salvage parts of the festival and good to see some favorites, but so much missing. Understandable under the circumstances, but a much different experience this year.
Seems most of the specialty booths are gone other than Earth Eats. No Flavors from Fire (Steakhouse Blended Burger, Chimichurri Steak), Chocolate Studio (Liquid Nitro Chocolate Almond Truffle - just not sure those liquid nitro cake pops they're offering are going to do it), Cheese Studio (Maple Boursin Cheesecake), Wine & Dine Studio (Scallops, Butternut Squash Ravioli), Coastal Eats, Donut Box or Active Eats.
No Australia, Alps, India, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Greece, or Thailand (just looking at last year's lineup).
Glad to see the duck confit make the cut in France - but no Croissant aux Escargot?? No duck confit poutine either at Refreshment Port (just the normal poutine). Very little seafood other than shrimp (and a couple of offerings in Japan) - both Hawaii and Citrus Blossom had fantastic tuna offerings in the past, but neither offering anything in this festival. Also noticed not too many beef offerings. Assume sourcing and cost might be the problem for a lot of these choices (and explain the absence of the very popular Flavors from Fire).
I'll give it a go and some things I'm looking forward to, but very scaled down even with lowered expectations.
