Festival of Holidays is already underway at Disney California Adventure and guests are really enjoying all the scrumptious holiday eats and delightful drinks. With over 30 items to choose from the 12 Marketplace locations, how do you know which dish to try? Honestly, it is trial and error. But we did our due diligence and tried out the food to come up with our favorites. Out of all the items available at the Festival of Holidays here are the Top 8 Must-Try Items!
Helpful Tip: The Sip and Savor pass really comes in handy if you want to try most of the foods and non-alcoholic beverages available. This pass only used to be for Annual Passholders, but I am glad to say they have made it available for all guests at $54 and $49 for Annual Passholders. The pass includes 8 tabs that can be used on any Marketplace item excluding alcoholic beverages. If you decide to buy this pass, it will definitely save you money as long as you use them for more expensive food items.
Chorizo Queso Fundido with House-made Tortilla Chips– Brews & Bites
First up, this delicious warm gooey queso is topped with zesty chorizo and served with a side of salty tortilla chips. This pairs perfectly with all the delicious beers available at this booth. Just imagine yourself grabbing a beer with your friends and snacking on this spicy snack in the California sunshine.
Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage– Holiday Duets
The Holiday Duets booth chose the perfect duet with Shrimp and Grits. The grits were smooth and creamy with a pleasant note of savory cheese. The shrimp were impeccably cooked and always tender. The sauce was delicious with black pepper notes and a nice subtle spice of the sausage.
Turkey & Stuffing Tamale with Cranberry Relish– Merry Mashups
Hands down the craziest concoction the Disneyland Resort had come up with. It was executed perfectly! When we first read about this tamale we were hesitant to try it but boy were we glad we did! It may not look good but it is packed with flavor. The stuffing brings you right back to Thanksgiving day with the turkey inside, the tamale was juicy and the masa was perfectly seasoned.
“Hot Cocoa” Marshmallow Macaron– Merry Mashups
A decadent dessert that could bring any chocolate lover to their knees. This macaron is massive and can sell out pretty quick throughout the day. The delicate chocolate meringue is crunchy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. The middle filling is a rich chocolate mousse with a surprise chocolate ganache center. If peppermint isn’t your favorite, ask for it without the peppermint dusting.
Cornbread Cakes with Braised Collard Greens & Smoked Bacon Gravy- Blissfully Braised
Simple and yet so delicious. We were surprised that the braised collard greens were mixed inside the cornbread cakes, but it worked! You can’t go wrong with bacon and smokey creamy gravy smothered on top of tender cornbread cakes. Really gets you in the mood for southern comfort food.
Nashville Hot Fried Turkey with Dill Pickles– Spicy Celebrations Blissfully Braised
Tyler is hooked on Nashville Hot Fried Turkey. Crunchy and spicy, this deep fried fiery bird will have you wanting to come back for seconds.
Jalapeno Latkes with Chipotle Crema– Spicy Celebrations
A Hanukkah favorite with a twist. The classic crunchy potato cake just got fired up with hints of jalapeño. The spice is not too overwhelming and the smoky chipotle crema helps cool down the palate so guests can enjoy the whole thing.
Holiday Stuffing Mac & Cheese– Winter Sliderland
Not sure why this item is located in Winter Sliderland, but glad it made it to one of the Marketplace booths. The pasta was cooked perfect al dente and was coated in a rich creamy cheese sauce topped with ground up stuffing.
