REVIEW: Spicy Empanada and Ají de Gallina Are Red Hot Hits at Peppers Cali-ente at the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

Alicia

REVIEW: Spicy Empanada and Ají de Gallina Are Red Hot Hits at Peppers Cali-ente at the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival

If you’re looking to spice up your life while visiting Disney California Adventure during the 2022 Food & Wine Festival, head over to the Peppers Cali-ente marketplace. This booth never skimps out on the spice, or the flavor!

Peppers Cali-ente Marketplace at Disney California Adventure 2022 Food & Wine Festival

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Menu for Peppers Cali-ente Marketplace at Disney California Adventure 2022 Food & Wine Festival

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Food:

  • 🆕 Chile Relleno Empanada with arbol pepper salsa and Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses – $8.50
  • 🆕 Ají de Gallina: Spicy yellow chile creamed chicken with jasmine rice and olive tapenade – $7.25

Beverages:

  • Cantarito-style Paloma: Reposado tequila, habanero-pineapple juice, rock melon syrup, lime, and Fresca – $14.00

Photos of Menu Items from Peppers Cali-ente Marketplace at Disney California Adventure 2022 Food & Wine Festival

*NEW* Chile Relleno Empanada with arbol pepper salsa and Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses – $8.50

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This was the spicier of the two, and really delivers on the heat promised by all of the peppered signs around the booth. The creamy red pepper sauce on top is responsible for much of the spice, with the inside being pepper-flavored, not extremely hot. For any fans of the classic Mexican dish, this really is a unique take on the chile relleno, and something we weren’t expecting to like so much!

*NEW* Ají de Gallina: Spicy yellow chile creamed chicken with jasmine rice and olive tapenade – $7.25

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The delicately spiced stewed chicken is deliciously tender and falls apart in your mouth. Served on a bed of rice, it’s the perfect accompaniment to both soak up some of the chili sauce and to help take the edge off of the bit of spice that is here. Overall we enjoyed it and it’s definitely what we recommend for those middle of the road diners who shy away from intense heat but want a little pep in their step.

Cantarito-style Paloma: Reposado tequila, habanero-pineapple juice, rock melon syrup, lime, and Fresca – $14.00

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Peppers DCA FW2020 10.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php 1.2

This drink was sweet, spicy, and very fruity. It’s light and refreshing compared to other beverages available at the festival, but people may not like how spicy it is. This is one of the less syrupy options at the festival.

Running from March 4 to April 26, there’s plenty of time to experience all of the offerings at the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.