Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival starts March 7. We have a list of the food options available this year for the event.

Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay ends March 2. The following weekend, the signature theme park food festival starts on March 7. The Food & Wine Festival & Concert Series showcases plenty of culinary options from various cultures. Guests can also attend concerts as part of their theme park evening. The event happens on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March 7 until May 18.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay released some details about this year’s event earlier this month.  However, we now have official menus to explore and plan our dining days at the Food & Wine Festival.

Food and Wine Festival Menus

Based on our visit last year to this event, we are looking forward to several of the menu items for the 2025 event. The food and beverage cabin menus include:

Caribbean

• Smoked Jerk Chicken, Caribbean Rice, Mango Salsa (New) – Jerk-rubbed chicken thighs slow-smoked, white rice infused with coconut milk, spicy mango salsa.
• Sautéed Jamaican Callaloo (New) – Braised Swiss chard, onions, garlic, red bell pepper, Scotch bonnet (Vegetarian)
• Caramelized Banana with Rum and Vanilla Ice Cream
• Gin Crush Craft Standard Cocktail
• Blackberry Bramble Craft Standard Cocktail
• Strawberry Lemonade Craft Standard Cocktail
• Spiced Rum Sangria Craft Standard Cocktail

South America TOMA for Food & Wine

At this cabin, guests will experience the creations of Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, son of Sofia Vergara. TOMA has become a regular at Busch Gardens’ events, like Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town. The items offered for Food & Wine include:

• Empanadas (Chicken, Beef, Ham and Cheese), with Salsa Verde or Roja
• Chicken Croquetas
• Chocolate Hazelnut Empanada
• Achaval Ferrer Malbec (Argentinian Wine)
• Ernesto Catena Padrillos Pinot Noir (Argentinian Wine)

Chile

• Churrasco-Inspired Grilled Beef with Garlic-Cilantro Yucca – Herb-marinated grilled flank steak, mashed yucca tossed with garlic and fresh cilantro
• Local White Fish Ceviche – Local fresh white fish, slow-cooked key lime juice, garlic, pimento peppers, cilantro, habanero peppers
• Papi Pink Moscato (Chilean Wine)
• Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Chilean Wine)

New Zealand

• Roasted Lamb Rack with Cauliflower Purée and Pinot Noir Demi
• Venison Slider with Tomato Jam Chile and Homemade Potato Chips
• Craggy Range Chardonnay (Kiwi Wine)
• Urlar Pinot Noir (Kiwi Wine)
• Matua Rose (Kiwi Wine)

India

• Chickpea Masala with Basmati Rice (New) – Chickpeas, tomatoes, turmeric, garlic, spices (Vegan)
• Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice (New) – Tomato, curry, garlic, butter, ginger, marinated chicken served with basmati rice

Canada for Food & Wine

• Cold Hot-Smoked Salmon Sandwich – Cherry and oak-smoked salmon served with spicy maple syrup coleslaw on a brioche bun.
• Halifax Donair – Canadian version of a gyro – Greek-style beef wrapped in pita, sliced onions, tomato, topped with sweetened condensed milk and garlic sauce
• Nanaimo Bar – A crispy layer of graham cracker crust topped with a creamy custard layer, all held together with a coconut topping.

Two of our favorite items from last year came from the Canadian cabin, and we are glad to see them return.

Spain

• Albondigas – Pork and beef meatballs roasted, simmered in a spicy tomato sauce with chipotle peppers, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese
• Seafood Paella (New) – Saffron rice, peas, pimento peppers, garlic, onion, spices, scallops, shrimp
• The Black Rose Craft Standard Cocktail
• Italian Margarita Craft Standard Cocktail
• Chai Elixer Craft Standard Cocktail
• Caipirinha Craft Standard Cocktail

France

• White Bean Cassoulet with French Baguette – Slow-cooked white beans, vegetables, cured bacon, duck confit, finished with fresh herbs and a toasted French baguette
• Ratatouille – French Provençal dish of stewed vegetables – peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, squash, garlic, and tomatoes (Vegan)
• Crêpes Suzette – Grand Marnier, orange juice, vanilla ice cream
• Chateau La Tuilerie Du Puy Bordeaux (French Wine)
• Comtesse De Malet Roquefort Bordeaux Blanc (French Wine)

Italy for Food & Wine

• Rotini Puttanesca – Traditional Napoli dish with Kalamata olives, capers, and tomatoes simmered with herbs, served over pasta (Vegan)
• Chicken Marsala with Crispy Polenta Cake – Chicken and mushrooms slow cooked in Marsala wine, garlic, onions, beef demi, crispy polenta cake.
• Deconstructed Tiramisu
• Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico (Italian Wine)
• Michele Chiarlo ‘Le Orme’ Barbara d ‘Asti (Italian Wine)

United States of America (U.S.A)

• Lobster Roll—A New England favorite, this dish features chilled poached lobster tossed in mayonnaise, dill, and shaved celery on a soft potato roll.
• Crab Cakes – Jumbo lump crab, mayonnaise, mustard, and old bay seasoning, seared to a golden brown, accompanied with a mustard sauce.

Old World Wines

• Red Wines
• White Wines
• Rose Wines
• Fell on Black Days from Wild Rover Brewing Company -a dark German lager
• In the Pines from Wild Rover Brewing Company -an East Coast IPA
• Dad Bod DIPA 3 Daughters Brewing – Double Golden IPA
• Orange Wheat from St. Pete Brewing Company – an American-style wheat beer

Festival Field Bar

• Cotton Candy
• Caramel Corn
• Craft Beer on Tap
• A Selection of beers on tap
• Craft Standard Cocktails
• A Selection of Craft Standard Cocktails

Food & Wine at Busch Gardens March 7

We have been invited to attend a special media and VIP event at Busch Gardens on March 7. After that, we will describe our experience. Also, on February 22, we will attend the Busch Gardens pass member appreciation weekend. At that event, we will hear from new park president Jeff Davis and take our first look inside the new Pass Member Landing, a lounge for pass members. For more Busch Gardens coverage, follow along at MSM News.

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