What is a Culinary Demo at the Festival Center During Epcot's Food & Wine Festival? Photos

Here, a Heitz 2007 Trailside Cabernet has been paired with Pam Smith's Beef and Bella Bronze & Blue Burger, with Red Cherry Chipotle Ketchup and Roasted Fingerling Potato Chips.

Pam Smith RD, LDN welcomes guests to the culinary demo.

Art Smith’s Fried Chicken and Mickey Waffle

There are usually three people on stage for the Culinary Demos that are part of Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. Pam Smith (your host), the visiting chef, and a representative from a vineyard, a particular winemaker, bottler, or distributor.

Restaurateur (Raglan Road) and Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon plates his Spiced Duck with Carrot and Coriander Puree and Mango Chili Salsa.

Everyone gets a sample of the wine or aperitif that the beverage representative is speaking about (soda and water are also available), but be sure to save some for the food pairing that happens next!

The wine samples vary with each culinary demo (we've seen a few beers and aperitifs such as Limoncello in there as well) . Here are just a few that we got to sample during the course of the festival. Noble Vines 446 Chardonnay, the 2010 Nipozzano Riserva Chianti, and Undone's Pinot Noir.

Frequent Disney diners with special dietary requirements "know" the legendary Chef TJ Sudiswa. Chef TJ had been located at Ohana, and is now working his magic at Disney's Fort Wilderness Lodge. Here, he's preparing Smoked Pork Skewers with Savory Fried Potatoes and Ocean Spray Craisin® & Sriracha® Dipping Sauce.

Each guest at the Culinary Demo gets a sheet with the chef's name, the date and time of the event, the name of dish they will be preparing, the wine or beverage pairing that will be served with the item, and a complete recipe for the dish the chef will be demonstrating.

Pam Smith, Food Network host and chef/owner of D Bar in Denver, Colorado Keegan Gerhard and pastry chef Lisa Bailey.

Food Network TV personality Chef Emily Ellyn has appeared on "Food Network Star", "Cupcake Wars", and "Cutthroat Kitchen". Chef Emily prepared a Chocolate Tea Cake Filled with Rosewater Frosting which was paired with Banfi Vintners', Rose Regale Red Sparkling Wine.

She's not "just" the host of the Culinary Demos! Internationally known nutritionist Pam Smith gets to cook a few times during the festival as well and always has interesting and useful tips for preparing dishes in your own kitchen. Pam is usually cooking with P.S. Flavor!, her own line of wholesome spice blends.

The portion sizes are considered "tapas style" but I know several guests that book two or three of these demos in a day, and call it lunch! Here, we see a close-up shot of Kevin Dundon's Spiced Duck with Carrot and Coriander Puree and Mango Chili Salsa.

D Bar's Keegan Gerhard and Lisa Bailey.

Disney Park Event Operations Chef Derrick Messenger takes a closer look at the Nipozzano Riserva Chianti that has been selected to be served with his Turkey and Apple-Walnut Stuffing with Spaghetti Squash Noodles, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and "The Land" Grown Micro Greens.

Just a few of the many amazing and creative culinary arts cast members that help make the Culinary Demos in the Festival Center possible.

Most chefs from the Culinary Demos head over to the Book Signing area right after the demonstration, where you can grab a quick photo and get a little one-on-one time with your favorite chefs. Here, Pam Smith signs her book "The Energy Edge".

Katie Farmand, Disney Parks Food Writer Pam Brandon, and the Orlando Sentinel's Heather McPherson prepare Sauteed Greek Shrimp and Feta with Orzo paired with the Grgich Hills Estate Chardonnay. The trio have written several cookbooks together including the popular Field to Feast. Katie Farmand and Pam Brandon are also managing editors at Edible Orlando.

The Culinary Demo programs at Epcot can help spark conversation about the foods we eat every day, and how they are prepared.

Chef Art Smith (chef/owner) from Table Fifty-Two in Chicago and Art and Soul Washington D.C. demonstrates the preparation of his infamous Chicken and Waffles. Chef Smith completed a culinary internship with the Walt Disney Company while attending Florida State University, and went on to become the chef for Florida Governor Bob Graham and the personal chef for Oprah Winfrey up until 2007.

Emily Ellyn gets off the stage to visit with guests during an informal question and answer session.

Celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and host John Ekin on stage at the Culinary Demonstrations during Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival.