The first of the Party for the Senses events was Saturday, and it looks as though the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival’s Saturday-nightly extravaganza has found its most entertaining level. The concept is the same as it has been for years, but just as with anyone who likes to entertain and have people over for food and fun, the more you do it, the more comfortable and confident you become.

The big-ticket event — $145 per person plus tax and admission to the park — features an array of Disney World culinears, and visiting and local chefs set up in the massive World Showplace space. The cooking stations are paired with wine or other beverage servers, and the brightly lit and colorful booths seem to float in the blackness of the event space. You know you’re attending something special the minute you walk through the door.

I sampled dozens of good dishes, many that I’d go back to try again. My favorite was from Kenny Gilbert of Cooking Like the Big Dogs in Jacksonville. He was serving a blackened diver scallop with tasso ham and bacon and creamed corn corncake. (I did go back to try that one.

Local favorite Kevin Fonzo of K restaurant in College Park was in attendance serving a yummy pork belly with compressed watermelon. I heard several raves about it as I wandered about.

Kevin Dundon, the Irish celebrity chef and Raglan Road principal, was alson on hand with gorgeous trout fillets that he was cooking for the guests and serving with a toasted almond and lemon butter emulsion. It was quite good. (That’s the trout at the top of the page.)

I can’t say that any of the wines blew me away, but I enjoyed seeing (and sipping) high quality sparklers, including Nicolas Feuillatte and Moet & Chandon, both of Champagne, France.

There was also one kicker of a cocktail, the Turnberry Sour, which had Hendrick’s gin (a new favorite) with fruit juices and a splash of soda. Very refreshing.

Entertainment is provided again this year by some of the cast members of Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba, who performed some of the acrobatics from the trampoline finale from the show. Pretty cool to see up close.

There were also lots of cheeses and sweets and coffee to go, thank goodness.

Each week is different, so if you go to one of the remaining parties you’ll find different chefs and offerings, but you’ll almost certainly find a good time.

Click here for the Party for the Senses webpage.

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