Either they just aren't doing as good a job this year as in the past or you just really hit things on an off day
burnt caramel just sucks and ruins things - so that definitely is going to notch the creme brulee down a bit.
The crispy pork belly was awesome last year! One of my favorites (I think it was new last year) - so that stinks that it wasn't as crispy this year
I wish we were going this year to try the slider this year with the pimento cheese. Last year I think it was just cheddar on it and it was great - so the added dimension of a more "different" cheese was exciting to me. Glad you liked it!
Bummer that you didn't like the Bacon Hash. I was watching the DISunplugged special show where they had gone to the festival and this was their favorite dish - so wondering if it was a bit of the "first day blues" you got and that some things at least got better
The venison sausage was also one of our favorite dishes from last year. Actually, the sausage itself I thought was good but nothing super special - but the reduction and the mushrooms were awesome and made the whole thing together really tops!
Oh no, those clouds do not looks so great .. ugh, I would be so bummed if rain put a damper (pun intended) on my party ... which it looked like it did - so sorry to hear that, but hopeful you get to another one.
I have never been to a party yet but one thing I really want to see if the parade and especially the gravediggers, doing their dance so if that got cut I definitely would have been sad.
Do love your costumes though!