Review: Cheese Studio Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2019

We continue on from the Chocolate Studio.

The Cheese Studio nestles itself in between the Chocolate and Wine & Dine Studios along the walkway that connects World Showcase and Future World near the Imagination Pavilion.

The Black Pepper Boursin Soufflé with Fig Marmalade is new, while everything else returns.

Braised Beef “Stroganoff” with Tiny Egg Noodles, Wild Mushrooms and Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Sauce — $5.50

While I had reviewed this poorly for a couple of years, it has recently improved quiet a bit. We received a substantial chunk of tender beef that was topped with a deliciously creamy, mildly sour sauce and a ton of freshly cut, thick slices of mushroom on top of a considerable amount of spaetzle. I’d still prefer to see soft, less gummy, traditional egg noodles underneath, but this is a hefty portion of comfort food that should taste even better as temperatures cool.

Taste: 7/10

Value: 8/10

Black Pepper Boursin Soufflé with Fig Marmalade – $5

The usual soft, spreadable Gournay cheese is intensified with a blend of peppercorns and then baked with plenty of butter, flour, milk, eggs, and more to create this cheese soufflé, puffed up a little to a deliciously crispy golden brown. The inside stays soft, creamy, and almost molten in texture and the chunky Fig Marmalade is slightly fruity and almost honey-like in its sweetness. It’s an interesting pairing and while it’s definitely a little on the small side, I think it’s worth picking up if you’re prioritizing flavor and uniqueness.

Taste: 8/10

Value: 5/10

Maple Bourbon Cheesecake with Maple Bourbon Cream, Caramel and Pecan Crunch – $4.50

This was one of our favorite items from the 2018 Festival and it returns this year. The Cheesecake base is soft and plump, but sturdy enough to stand tall underneath a generous scoop of deliciously sweet, lusciously-maple bourbon cream with plenty of crunchy candied pecan pieces and then finished with a rich caramel sauce. Words don’t do it justice. You want to try it.

Taste: 10/10

Value: 9/10

La Crema Pinot Gris – $5

You’ll see La Crema Chardonnay on the menus of a lot of mid-tier restaurants, but it’s interesting to see their Pinot Gris offered here. Officially, you should be able to pick up the “wet river stone” mineral undertones that are unique to Monterey Wine Country, but you’ll probably taste more peach, pear, and melon than anything. Still, if you’re trying to impress someone, mention that river stone and if they call you out on it, tell them to look it up. You were right all along. The bottle price is about $18, making the $5 pour an above average investment. Not bad.

Alta Vista Estate Malbec – $7

This is a poorer value considering the bottle price is the same, yet the pour costs $2 more than the Pinot Gris. The wine is appropriately spicy with softer tannins than a lot of the bolder blends available elsewhere. It’s too expensive to give strong consideration.

Domaine Saint André de Figuière Rosé – $5

This is a basic Rosé, dry and refreshing with your typical strawberry and watermelon notes with a heavy shot of minerals at the finish. It’s not worth seeking out, but if you’re here and in the mood for Rosé, it’s certainly not a bad buy at five dollars, relatively speaking.

The Cheesecake is a must-buy and you might attach a wine along with it if you’re in the mood. I like the Souffle too, but you may be disappointed by the portion. I probably wouldn’t on the Stroganoff, but the portion is large enough that even if you don’t love it, you shouldn’t feel too ripped off.

The Wine and Dine Studio is up next.