Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in September 2014. Note: Kouzzina is closing September 30, 2014 permanently and will become Trattoria al Forno. 
I can't believe that this is my final review of Kouzzina. This Greek/Mediterranean inspired recipe has been of the Disney restaurant community for the last 5 years. When Disney announced that the restaurant was closing (and being changed) in March 2014, you can imagine how devastated I was! They have some of the best allergy Mickey waffles and breakfast offerings on property, and I was definitely bummed at the thought of losing these options.On the plus side, we have learned that much of the breakfast menu will be tweaked and will offer similar options (things like the turkey sweet potato hash will be gone though). In fact, if you head to Flying Fish Cafe beginning October 1, 2014, you'll be able to sample the new breakfast menu that will eventually be served at Trattoria al Forno. I'll be going during Tower of Terror 10 Miler race weekend, and I'm looking forward to checking it out.I'm also very glad to know that the culinary team there will be there after the transition which is a great thing.As my last visit, I knew I had to get two things: turkey sweet potato hash and allergy Mickey waffles. Chef Brad greeted us and took my meal order. As a fairly steady Kouzzina regular, he's a chef I see pretty often, so it was great to catch up with him!
As always, this dish did not disappoint. With poached eggs, sweet potatoes and turkey breast and an arugula salad, it's just the perfect breakfast dish. Normally, I get it with gluten free & dairy free toast (usually Udi's Gluten Free) but this time, I had to have my allergy Mickey waffles.
As always, Kouzzina's allergy Mickey waffles were amazing. Crispy and cooked perfectly and topped with real maple syrup. These are so delicious, and I have a feeling that they'll continue to be delicious at Trattoria al Forno.Chef Brad also popped by the table and sent along a sweet treat for the road - Enjoy Life rice crisp candy bars. These are perfect to take in the parks, and I enjoyed one when I recently went to the Florida Bloggers Conference and needed an afternoon pick-me-up!
Overall, I'm going to miss Kouzzina for breakfast so much. It was a great restaurant with terrific special diets offerings. I know that so many of you will miss it to.What was your favorite breakfast meal at Kouzzina? Are you looking forward to the opening of Trattoria al Forno?
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in May 2014.
As many of you know, Kouzzina is closing permanently on September 30, 2014. It's sad to see one of my favorite breakfast spots going away, so you know that I have to visit as many times as I can before the restaurant officially closes. I love the Mediterranean inspired food, and the breakfast is simply one of the best on property. From the turkey sweet potato hash to the glorious allergy Mickey waffles, there is something for everyone. Whenever I have visitors come in to town, I take them here (and it's always a hit!). On this particular occasion, I stopped by with my family for breakfast before the first Star Wars Weekend event. We needed to get a hearty breakfast in before we headed to Hollywood Studios for a very busy day. Our server, Amy, was fabulous and very nice. She took our drink orders and then Chef Sergio came out to take my order. You know you dine someplace often when the chefs know you and your special dietary needs. It also helps that I know the menu pretty much inside & out and what I like to order. I asked Chef Sergio if they still had the Bob's Red Mill pancake mix because it is being phased out and replaced with Cup4Cup (*Note: You can still get allergy Mickey waffles made with Namaste mix - The Cup4Cup mix used at Disney contains dairy). I was so excited when he told me they still had it. I venture to say that I think they have the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (they have got the perfect crispy outside & chewy inside). I ordered the American breakfast entree with scrambled eggs, bacon, sweet potato hash and replaced the toast with allergy Mickey waffles. 
I have to say that this breakfast, as usual, did not disappoint. The scrambled eggs are made here using a high quality extra virgin olive oil. The bacon is Nueske's which is thick cut and applewood smoked - none of that stringy bacon! And the sweet potato hash is divine. Add in the Mickey waffles, well, it's just a perfect breakfast. The waffles are served with real maple syrup, which I promptly smother them in.One of the things that makes me happy is that while Kouzzina is closing, much of the staff will still remain. As regulars here, we're pretty used to seeing all of them. As our server put it, "Everyone here seems to know you all." Yep, we like Kouzzina for breakfast...just a smidgen! I'm told there will still be breakfast served here as well - thank goodness! I need my Boardwalk breakfast spot! I'm looking forward to hearing announcements about the new restaurant and seeing what they come up with. Will you get a chance to dine at Kouzzina before it closes? What will you miss the most from this popular Disney restaurant?
Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in October 2013 and includes a gluten free & vegan dining review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. This review includes my comments, as well as comments from Laurie Sadowski, the Allergy-Free Cook, who accompanied me on this meal! Laurie's comments are in green! Kouzzina is one of those locations that I often visit for breakfast. I really enjoy the Mediterranean inspired food, and they have some of the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (the key is the crispiness)! But believe it or not, I had never dined there for dinner. So, you can imagine how excited I was to finally be heading to Kouzzina for dinner. During the special diets dessert party weekend, I got the chance to enjoy a celebratory meal with fellow dessert party weekend collaborator, Laurie Sadowski. I knew that Kouzzina was one of her favorite places, so it was exciting for me to dine there with her and enjoy some of the dinner recommendations that she had.Wait a moment here… One of my favourite places? Definitely my favourite! (So sad to hear about this closing, though - see post on the closing HERE). But the key is in the chefs—in the process of dining many (many) times here, I’ve become friends with a couple of the chefs, and even when they’ve moved on, I still get those Mediterranean-inspired meal. The highlight of my nights here definitely have included the multi-multi-course dinners, including the Koranation Room (IE Chef’s Table). Alas, onto the review!Laurie had contacted the restaurant prior to our visit, as Laurie is gluten free & vegan. She is definitely a Kouzzina pro, but it’s always good to double-check as restaurants frequently change menu items. When we arrived, we were greeted by the enthusiastic Chef Miguel. I instantly recognized him as a chef I’d seen briefly at Kona, but he’s based at Kouzzina now. He quickly let us know what options were available for us and was ready to make our meal extra special.Chef Miguel and I had been in contact via email, and I set out a couple of requests. Certainly nothing over the top—just a few things that I’d enjoyed in the past with when dining with my mom at Kouzzina. His responses via email were friendly and easy-going, so I knew a fantastic meal was to come.
First up was the appetizer. Holy moly! Laurie & I split the Kouzzina Sampler which includes marinated olives, dolmades, tzatziki (which we had replaced with an eggplant spread) hummus and pita (which was replaced by Ener-G rolls jazzed up—more on this in a minute!). It also normally comes with a choice of two of the following: Spicy Gulf Prawns, Greek Lamb Meatballs in sauce, or Pork Souvlaki. What we ended up having was sweet cipolini onions for Laurie and spicy gulf prawns on the side for me. This was an amazing appetizer I have to say. The dolmades were a huge hit – so flavorful and had a terrific dill flavor. We liked them so much we ordered another order of them!Mom and I always get the Kouzzina sampler, so I’m glad that Sarah obliged when I told her this was a must-have! Dolmades are a long-standing favourite of mine, and among the many I’ve tried in my life, Kouzzina’s are my favourite. I’m not sure if they have a specific sous-chef on Dolmade duty, but each time I’ve gone, they’ve been consistently wonderful—never a stray dill piece, loose grape leaf, or mushy rice in sight. And for those who’ve ever bought dolmades in the store (which are often in a mixture of olive oil and soy oil), these are completely soy-free, if you’re a soy-free diner.The platter also included cardamom-spiced cashews, which I can’t lie – I’ve been recreating ever since. I also got a glass of wine, and although it took awhile to hunt down one completely casein-free (and vegan) on Barnivore, I finally found one and it definitely fulfilled my merlot love.The marinated olives were also quite delicious, and the hummus was unique as they don’t use tahini in it. It was nice to try a different version of hummus. I also really adored the eggplant spread. It was spicy and earthy and just plain delicious.The eggplant spread was (and still is) my favourite of the dips. For those familiar with babaghanouj, it’s not the same at all. Instead, it is slightly acidic with a hint of smokiness, but a little sweeter from (likely) slow roasting the eggplants. Really smooth, and not much garlic, too—a plus for me.There were also some spiced nuts on our appetizer plate and those were amazing. So many spices, both sweet & spicy really complemented the nuts.Yes! So good.I also really loved the shrimp and found the charred grill flavor to be just perfect.My onion skewers were done similarly the shrimp; Chef Miguel said he didn’t want me to be “without my own”. If you’re not familiar, cippolini onions are super naturally sweet, so they harbour their own dominance of flavor without needing much else to round it out.And then there were those Ener-G rolls. I don’t know what they did to these—call it Disney magic if you will—but they were awesome! Garlicky and delicious, almost like a garlic round. Perfect for spreads and dips. We may have asked for more……And more. Previously at Kouzzina, the chefs have always thinly sliced the rolls, spread them with olive oil and Mediterranean herbs, then toasted them… so really, wouldn’t you have pre-requested that, too?
For my entrée, I chose the Fisherman's Stew, which came with Scallops, seasonal Fish, Shellfish, Fennel, Grilled Bread, and Ouzo Butter. Chef Miguel replaced the Ouzo “butter” with Earth Balance. I had heard such great recommendations on this dish, both from Laurie’s mom & blog reader Linda T., so I was very excited to try it. I had heard it might be spicy, but I didn’t find it to be spicy really for my tastes (maybe I was still used to the high spice from the Goan Curry at Sanaa!). But, it was extremely flavorful. The seafood was perfectly cooked and the broth was well seasoned. Instead of regular bread, I got more of those delicious Ener-G rounds. Um, double yum!Mom has definitely been a fan of the stew on multiple occasions, and knowing what Sarah loves, I was pretty certain she’d love it.
Chef Miguel put together a vegan sampler platter for me. Some of it included side dishes or variations of side dishes from the current menu, and other things were specially created. One of the “special” items was a white corn polenta, made with sandlewood corn, fresh oregano, and topped with a peppadew relish. Beside it was a menu mainstay: Brussels sprouts with capers, then finished with a splash of balsamic. Another one of my top dishes made the platter: those oh-so-coveted gigantes beans with sautéed escarole and a lemon oil sauce. Definitely had the rosemary fingerlings, and I also had a sauté of briami (it was currently on the menu), which was finished with a rosemary truffle oil. And because I have an appetite of gargantuan proportions, I also had another side order of dolmades.
And just when we thought we couldn’t eat any more…it was time for dessert!“We” thought? I’m a bottomless pit over here! :)Chef Miguel had the pastry department whip up something special for us. We both got a coconut milk rice pudding with pistachio crumble and a spiced apple sorbet. First off, the presentation was gorgeous. It really reflected seasonality and just was so delicate in its presentation. Surprisingly, the rice pudding was not hot, it was cold. Which sounds strange. But, it was just perfect. The rice pudding was so flavorful and tasty, it could have been hot or cold and it would have been delicious. The pistachio crumble below the pudding was exactly what the dish needed for texture. Wow! I also really, really loved the apple cider sorbet. It was completely refreshing and truly a palate cleanser which worked really well given the rest of the meal. Plus, how often do you get to have sorbet that isn’t some traditional fruit flavor like strawberry, raspberry, and mango? So delicious!
Like Sarah said, we got a special dessert. I hadn’t asked for anything out of the ordinary in the email, but did ask if we could have something other than the “usual” allergy-free desserts. I really enjoyed the rice pudding—something I do normally love, but much prefer warm (I prefer pretty much all desserts warm!). But it was so good, and the spice of the crumble—like Sarah mentions—was a perfect topping.The sorbet was really good, but not really my thing… however, this is coming from someone who isn’t keen on sorbet and has a pretty strong distaste for apple juice. That being said, there was a hint of spice and, topped on the pudding, it rounded it out into something good. We also had a drizzle of a lovely raspberry syrup, which cut the sweetness of the rest of the dessert. And don’t get me wrong about the sorbet…I mean, I still ate it (not surprisingly)!Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Chef Miguel and the meal that we enjoyed at Kouzzina. Not only was it delicious but the flavor profiles were really terrific. There was a lot of depth of flavor in simple dishes. I liked it so much that I ended up making an ADR to go back with my family! I’m so glad Laurie suggested that we head to Kouzzina for dinner!There was no other option. Just kidding!It was the perfect way to end a wonderful weekend celebrating special diets. This was a hands down 10 out of 10 for me on this visit!
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
When it comes to breakfast options at Disney World, Kouzzina has to be one of my favorites. Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, this restaurant (owned by celebrity chef Cat Cora) has bright and bold flavors and dishes that are totally different from many dishes you'll find on Disney property for breakfast (or dinner too, for that matter). As a gluten free & dairy free diner, the amount of options I have to choose from are pretty amazing....and delicious too.On this particular occasion, my family stopped by after the Royal Family 5K runDisney race held at Epcot. We were all wearing our race shirts and medals afterwards, so it was fun to go celebrate at one of our favorite breakfast spots. That being said, this restaurant is usually slow to moderately busy for breakfast and this morning it was slammed. And I mean slammed. I guess every runDisney racer decided to head here! It does actually have some great fuel options for runners (turkey sweet potato hash anyone?)Chef Sergio, who I haven't seen in forever, was working the breakfast shift. And the poor guy was running around like mad. I guess everyone in the restaurant had a special diet that day! I saw several different Disney friends (who also have dietary needs), so I knew it would be more of a leisurely meal. And it was. It took quite a long time for Chef Sergio to come over but when he did, he was very apologetic. I felt bad for the guy. It was a zoo in there.Thankfully, I've been there so many times that I knew exactly what I wanted: The American breakfast option with eggs over-easy, sweet potato hash (my weakness), bacon, Udi's gluten free/dairy free toast and a side of allergy Mickey waffles with real maple syrup. Oh yeah, I was about to get my carbs on!
One thing I love about Kouzzina are the eggs are always cooked in high quality extra virgin olive oil...and so good. They also carry Nueske's bacon here which is not that stringy bacon you get at Disney. I mean it's bacon and all, but it's nothing like the thick cut Nueske's. The sweet potato hash was excellent. Perfectly cooked (the last time I got it it was crunchy so I'm glad that didn't happen again), and so good after a race. The Udi's toast dunked in the egg yolks (sorry for those who think that's gross) is one of my favorite things. So good.
And of course, those allergy Mickey waffles. I just adore these at Kouzzina. Perfectly crunchy and delicious. The best! And you better believe I scarfed every bit of them down. Sorry Mickey!Overall, despite the long wait times here, this continues to be one of my favorite breakfast spots. It's just that good.I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10.Have you been to Kouzzina? What's your favorite breakfast option on the menu?
Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in November 2013.If you're craving a taste of the Mediterranean and more specifically Greek food, then you simply must head to Kouzzina located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. This restaurant is celebrity Chef Cat Cora's collaboration with Disney World, and there's certainly no shortage of Greek inspired fare at this restaurant.As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Kouzzina for breakfast. I adore their allergy Mickey waffles and think they are some of the best on Disney property (they have that whole crispy waffle thing down to an art), and I also really love that they use great olive oils in their breakfast offerings. And don't get me started on their turkey sweet potato hash! I have a slight addiction to that breakfast entree! However, what many of you probably don't know is that I hadn't been to Kouzzina for dinner until October 2013 with my friend and special diets collaborator Laurie Sadowski. She is a huge, and I mean huge fan of Kouzzina, and it only seemed fitting that I dine there for dinner my first time with her. And stay tuned for our combined dinner review - Laurie & I will be sharing that review together with her gluten free & vegan offerings and my gluten free & dairy free offerings. If you haven't checked out our combined review of Ohana, you'll want to check it out!But back to this dinner review! After such a wonderful experience the first time, I wanted to stop back again and get something different with my family who also had never been for dinner. And the perfect time to visit was during my pre-race dinner for the Jingle Jungle 5K race.
One thing I love about Kouzzina at night is that it totally transforms, and this evening was no different. And it smells amazing in here! Like seriously, amazing. The open fire is just ridiculous, and makes the entire restaurant smell of whatever deliciousness comes out of it.Upon being seated we were greeted by a bit of an overzealous server. He really really tried to sell just about every upcharge thing he could think of to us. I appreciate that he's trying to make a living, but sheesh. I was really glad when Chef Miguel came out to the table to assist me because it got our server to settle down a bit.Chef Miguel is super nice and having met him before, I was glad he was on hand for the meal. I knew he would make sure I got great offerings. This time, I knew I wanted something different but not super spicy. I learned my lesson after a little bit of a spicy meal at Jiko before the Happy Haunted 5K. This time - go mild! I decided that I wanted to get some dolmades (which are grape leaves stuffed with rice), a salad, and the Kouzzina Appetizer Sampler as my entree.
Before the appetizers and entrees, Chef Miguel brought me an olive medley with two kinds of extra virgin olive oil along with Udi's pizza crust cut into wedges and heated.
I adored the olive medley here (and as you will see I didn't suffer from a lack of olives at this restaurant). I love the variety of them and the high quality. These are not your typical canned olives! The Udi's pizza crust is probably one of my least favorite Udi's products interestingly enough. I just find them really tough (as in chewy and not in a good way). Still, you top anything from Kouzzina on it and it's OK. As you can see, Chef Miguel was extra generous. (hello, carb loading!)Up next came the House-made Dolmades - rolled grape leaves with rice, dill and lemon. Oh my god these are amazing. Like seriously. Amazing. If you've ever had dolmades, you'll know that they are typically filled with rice and often times are bland. These are filled with lemon and dill and the rich flavor of the dill really comes through. They top them with olive oil and some type of crisped nut mixture. Oh and more olives. Nothing wrong with that.
Up next was my House Salad -seasonal lettuces with vine-ripe tomatoes and cucumbers in a thyme-honey vinaigrette. This was really light and fresh but very flavorful. I'm not a huge raw tomato fan, but they worked well with the rest of the salad. The mixed greens were nice and I adored the thyme-honey vinaigrette. It married well with the ingredients and really brought out the essence of Greek flavors.
For my entree I ordered the Kouzzina Sampler. It typically comes with the choice of two (spicy gulf prawns, Greek lamb meatballs in sauce, or pork souvlaki), along with marinated olives, dolmades, tzatziki, hummus and pita. I chose the gulf prawns and the pork souvlaki. Since I couldn't have the tzatiziki, Chef Miguel brought out the eggplant dip instead. It the sampler also has some marinated nuts as well.I really love this appetizer sampler either as an entree or appetizer. It's phenomenal. The hummus is made in a really unique way (no tahini) and the eggplant spread is spicy and savory. I love the unique spices on the nuts. You can't go wrong with more Dolmades (you know I pigged out on those) and the two meat options were really well done. The pork was actually my favorite and the marinade used on it was awesome. The shrimp has a spicy marinade and was perfectly cooked. This is a hands down favorite dish for me.Overall, I can't say enough good things about Kouzzina. For dinner or breakfast it's fantastic. I just wish they served lunch. That would be so amazing!For this dining experience I'm giving it a 9 out of 10, despite our server who basically ignored us for the duration of our meal after we told him we weren't ordering wine or lots of extra dishes. It's still a fantastic restaurant with amazing food, especially if you have a special diet.
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*These dining experiences took place in October 2013. This is a compilation of two meal reviews for Kouzzina breakfast. One includes a gluten free, dairy free, and soy free review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.
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| Allergy Mickey waffles with pecans! |
Kouzzina offers guests a taste of the Mediterranean with an emphasis on Greek cuisine. Breakfast options continue this theme with various dishes that include peppers and feta cheese among other ingredients. And while cheese is a no-go zone for me, there are plenty of gluten free & dairy free items from which I can choose from.On the first visit I went to recently, I went with a friend who is gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. He came in for a visit (he used to live in MCO but moved back to Chicago) and he was craving Kouzzina. Of course, I never turn down a breakfast that includes allergy friendly Mickey waffles and good ones at that.Chef Paul took care of us on this particular visit and my friend decided to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and an omelet with sausage and bacon in it. They use extra virgin olive oil for their eggs at Kouzzina, and he said the omelet was really good.
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| Omelet with sausage and bacon in it |
I actually decided not to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and got just the turkey sweet potato hash. I have a serious turkey hash obsession lately. I also got the Udi's toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. After getting my entree, I noticed that the sweet potatoes weren't cooked as well as they normally are and the hash itself had been overcooked a little--there was a little bit of burnt on the bottom. And the eggs were beyond hard poached. Yikes! Still, it wasn't terrible enough that I wouldn't eat it or would send it back. It was the first time I've ever had that happen, and I will chalk it up to a busy day in the kitchen. In my second visit, I didn't have this problem.
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| Toast that was not very toasty! Still good though! |
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| Turkey sweet potato hash |
Which brings us to visit #2. This time I was with my family and we decided to get breakfast again. We were staying at the Boardwalk for the Special Diets Dessert Party weekend and it was a great convenient way to get a meal.Chef Paul was on duty again this time and I decided this time to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles (you know I couldn't go too many visits without them) and with the American with scrambled eggs, bacon and Udi's toast with Earth Balance.
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| Happy little Mickeys! |
The only sort of hiccup I had at this meal is that I accidentally got served real butter. I didn't realize it until I spread some on my toast and thought it looked different (my own fault I didn't realize it earlier but I was tired!) - I took one small bite to see and thought it was butter. I then gave it to my parents who also confirmed it was indeed butter. Chef Paul did come out and profusely apologize for the mistake--he said he was trying to make sure that I got all the other components on his dish that this slipped through. I will say that these things do happen, but it is a reminder that you need to be vigilant when it comes to your dietary needs and food allergies! Even places you go to all the time can make a mistake here and there. Kitchens are busy places, and we just have to really try to be diligent consumers! I'm lucky it was just a piece of bread wasted and that I didn't get sick!
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| Pecans, Honey, Maple Syrup and BUTTER (not Earth Balance) |
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| Much more toasty this time around! |
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| American - scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes |
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my second breakfast. Despite the slight dairy issue, everything this time was well cooked and tasty. I might switch things up again and try the breakfast skillet next time or even an omelet, but it's nice to know that this entree continues to be one of my favorite easy breakfasts at Kouzzina.I'd give my first visit a 6 due to some spotty food and a poor service experience (with our server not the chef). My second visit I would give a 7, despite the dairy being brought to my table--primarily because the food otherwise was delicious and well cooked.Kouzzina continues to be a standard favorite for me for breakfast, and I'm looking forward to my next visit and trying something new!Have you been to Kouzzina for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish?
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining review took place in September 2013.
Kouzzina is as always one of my most favorite breakfast spots on property. I just adore the food, the atmosphere, and did I mention the food? It's a hands down winner. And whenever I have friends & family in from out of town, this is where I take them. I've not heard a bad review from anyone yet :) This review is mostly just an update, as it's the same Turkey Sweet Potato Hash that I got the last time. And to give a shout-out to the Kouzzina staff, including Chef Brad who was on hand to assist me.On this particular visit, I went with my friend Krista from Disneyways. She had never been, so this was great to share Kouzzina with her. When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Brad, who has helped me numerous times before. I don't usually see him though because I'm typically there on the weekends and on this trip, I was there during the week for the Give Kids the World Blogger Bowl. I didn't have him go over any options, mostly because I know the breakfast menu by heart and also because I knew I wanted the amazing Turkey Sweet Potato Hash. I will probably surprise some of you in that I did not order allergy Mickey waffles (I know, a rarity!!) I did get some Udi's toast & Earth Balance Vegan Margarine for the meal.
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| My breakfast in all its glory! |
I will say that I just adore this breakfast entree. I love the eggs (nice and poached with ooey gooey yolks, perfect for dipping in toast), the delicious arugula with olive oil, and of course the turkey sweet potato hash. The turkey is all white meat diced and the sweet potatoes are nicely tossed in along with onions and sweet peppers. It's just a really good combination!
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| Before digging in... |
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| And mid-way through so you could see what the hash looked like |
Many people asked what the hash itself looked like, so I decided to take a pic part way through eating (sorry it's a little messy, but I was hungry!!).Overall, I can't say enough good things, as always about Kouzzina. It's a hands down favorite place to dine for breakfast. A solid 9 out of 10!Have you been to Kouzzina? What do you order for breakfast?
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in August 2013.
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| Kouzzina menus |
Kouzzina at the Boardwalk Resort remains one of my top restaurant recommendations for breakfast, regardless of whether you have a special diet or not. This restaurant, owned and operated by celebrity chef Cat Cora, offers a taste of the Mediterranean. Breakfast continues to remain a big hit with special diets diners. From allergy friendly Mickey waffles to unique Mediterranean inspired fare, it's sure to please any palate.As a GF/DF diner, I adore Kouzzina. The food quality is just a notch above many TS breakfast locations, and I love some of the unique dishes that they serve. In fact, it's my go-to place to take family & friends when they visit, and always one of my first recommendations for 1st time Disney goers. It's just that good! And can you believe I've never been to dinner here?! That's something I hope to remedy soon.But onto breakfast! I went with family that morning resolved to order something other than my usual standard which is the American entree modified to include allergy friendly Mickey waffles. My family had been raving about the breakfast skillet entree so I was contemplating that.
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| Quiet day! I love this dining room. So cozy. |
Now, Chef Sergio has been the morning chef for a while. You might recall him from the day I had the worst Mickey waffles ever (not his fault; I just didn't personally like the Namaste mix for those waffles). He's very nice and always very helpful. I had heard from reader Linda T. that he was moving from the weekend am shift to pm for a while. I was a bit sad to see another one of my familiar chefs move shifts! Now I just need to go to dinner :) I was greeted on the morning I went by Chef Paul who was very nice. I told him that I was contemplating both the breakfast skillet & the turkey-sweet potato hash and he said that both of these were available GF/DF. I was very excited about this. I decided to go with the turkey-sweet potato hash on a whim because 1) it sounded good and 2) if I ordered Mickey waffles with it, it would be close to the same price as the other dish. You guessed it, Mickey waffles won out. So I ordered the hash with eggs over-easy and the side of allergy Mickey waffles. I was very surprised and thrilled to see Chef Paul bring out my dish with Udi's toast as well! (hey, I love my carbs!) I hadn't asked for toast, so I was very surprised to see it come with my dish. I'm sure they serve a regular non-GF bread with the traditional version, so it was nice to have. I didn't get any Earth Balance with it, but I decided not to ask because I had so much to top the toast with in terms of what was on my plate.
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| Udi's Toast, Turkey-sweet potato hash topped with eggs over-easy and arugula salad. |
First off, this was just a gorgeous plate of food. The colors are all so vibrant. The first thing you get on the plate is the arugula salad. Delicious! It's tossed with very flavorful extra virgin olive oil and perfectly seasoned. The eggs are also cooked in high quality EVOO. Underneath this is a mixture of sweet potatoes, sliced/diced white turkey breast meat, onions, and some peppers. Just delicious. Everything balanced perfectly, and I found it to be one of those really hearty breakfast options. This is sooo going to be a RunDisney breakfast for me! I've had the sweet potato hash before, but I will say the turkey in this dish really made the hash. This may be one of my new favorite breakfast options! What I love is that it's tasty and different. It's not the same old same old, which is what many of us with special diets get. Hands down big winner.
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| Mickey waffles - YUM! |
And of course, I can't do a breakfast review here without briefly mentioning the allergy friendly Mickey waffles. I adore them. What can I say?! They are very delicious at Kouzzina and probably some of the best on property.
Overall, I can never say enough good things about Kouzzina. It continues to stand heads and tails above the rest when it comes to delicious gluten free & dairy free breakfast options. I know that many of my friends with special diets have enjoyed meals here too. They are very accommodating. A solid 9 out of 10, as always!! Best breakfast EVER!
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in May 2013.This is just a brief updated review of breakfast from Kouzzina. I've posted quite a few reviews of Kouzzina recently (you can tell I'm a big fan!), so not much new to report here. Chef Brad took care of us this time, and he is always happy to customize as needed; however I went pretty basic.I really wanted the sweet potato hash, and I guess I wasn't paying attention that the American breakfast entree comes with "breakfast potatoes." I didn't ask for any special modification of the potatoes thinking they would be the sweet potato hash. I was pleased though with the potatoes I got--regular white potatoes with herbs and onions and peppers. Yum! I actually really enjoyed them--though I wouldn't order them every time (mostly depending on my stomach and Crohn's). I got the eggs scrambled and bacon. Nothing different there. I did add the Udi's white sandwich bread/toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. I also got a side of Mickey waffles. I'm pretty sure I can't make a trip there without ordering them! lol
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| American breakfast entree |
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| Mickey waffles with maple syrup & earth balance |
On a side note, my family ordered the "Breakfast Skillet" and it looked REALLY good. My mom ordered it without cheese, and we all thought they could probably easily modify it for GF/DF. Essentially, it was the same potatoes I had with an omelet on top with peppers and onions (and cheese for those who can have it) and then garnished with an arugala salad. My family members really enjoyed it and said they would get it again. So, I'm thinking of asking to modify this the next time I'm there. Or get the sweet potato hash.One thing I know for sure, I'll be treated to a wonderful breakfast. Solid 9 out of 10 as usual. Great food, allergy accommodation and service.
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in April 2013. It includes my gluten free & dairy free review and an egg free review.Here we are back at Kouzzina. I think I have a shameful addiction of eating breakfast at this location. It's bad! On this particular visit, I met up with some Disney blogger friends and it was great to see how much they love Kouzzina too! Great company and great food. How can you wrong?! As a shameless plug, you should definitely visit their pages: Sarah over at Running at Disney & Amanda over at Disney Every Day.And now back to our regularly scheduled food blogging... What I love about Kouzzina is that the food is always so solid. No worries of getting one good meal one time and a bad meal the next. Their breakfast always is excellent. On this trip, Chef Sergio was on duty. Bless that man. He's so good with the allergies and very willing to accommodate--and he's also the poor chef who was on duty the day of the worst allergy Mickey waffles in history (yes, that really happened). So, he REALLY remembers me lol Luckily, they have been making the waffles with Bob's Red Mill ever since, so they remain the tried and true Mickey waffles for me. I think he still feels bad that those waffles on that past trip tasted so bad.For my part, I ordered my standby entree--The American--modified. I got scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. I actually wanted the sweet potato hash this trip just without the red peppers, but I ended up with plain potatoes. I didn't mind so much but I was def. in a sweet potato hash mood. I'll just have to let them know more explicitly next time that that's what I want. I also subbed out toast for a Mickey waffle. Yum!
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| My lone Mickey waffle--he looks so sad all by himself! |
Overall, I don't have anything bad to say about my entree. It was great as usual.Sarah over at RAD can't have eggs, and she sent over the pics of her breakfast (I admit, I'm kind of jealous--hers looked better than mine I think!). She ordered a plate of allergy Mickey waffles (which they sub out for the regular waffle) with all of the normal fixins' on the side (pecans, honey and marscapone cheese). On the side is smart because that stuff is sooo sweet (my mom regularly gets the marscapone cheese on the side). She also got a side of the sweet potato hash and her waffle came with bacon. I really wished I had ordered the regular version instead of making the request of no peppers. Looked delish!
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| Look at all the allergy Mickey waffles! |
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| Marscapone cheese, pecans, and honey for the waffles |
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| Sweet potato hash! |
If you're GF/DF like me, you'll note that all of the items above are safe EXCEPT the marscapone cheese. I've actually ordered the waffles with just pecans and honey before and I often get the hash. Great to know these items easily cover several allergens. :)As usual, Kouzzina proves itself to be one of my fav locations for breakfast on property. Solid 9 out of 10!
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in February 2013.
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| Entrance to Kouzzina |
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| Boardwalk! |
This dining review is a mash-up of several trips to Kouzzina. I ate there not once, but three times in a week and 1/2 for breakfast. Yup, 3 times! I actually can't find the photos from the 2nd trip, so either I was so excited to have breakfast or I totally forgot. Whoops! But never fear, I still have 2 meals worth of photos.First up, is trip #1. I went there for my birthday celebration (my family surprised me). Chef Brad was the chef on duty. He's very good; in fact, I think he's one of my favs at Kouzzina. He's really good at customizing things for me. I decided I wasn't in a very big sweet potato mood, so I asked him if he could do plain potatoes with rosemary and garlic in it. This was no problem. So, I ordered scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon, and subbed out bread for the Mickey waffles--which was used with Bob's Red Mill mix (if you recall the Namaste batter disaster, you'll note why this is important!) I also got bacon.
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| Breakfast #1 |
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| Breakfast #1 |
Everything was great this meal. I will say the Mickey waffles weren't very crispy, but they were still good. The potatoes tasted more like they had parsley in them, but they were also still good. One thing I got that I normally don't is the hot tea (Twinnings Decaffeinated English Breakfast). It was really chilly that day!
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| Hot tea |
Trip #2 was more of the same. I got virtually the same breakfast items except I added the Udi's toast with Earth Balance in addition to the Mickey waffles. Hey, what can I say I like carbs! This time it was Chef Sergio who assisted me. I'm surprised he doesn't remember me as he was the poor chef during the Mickey Waffle Crisis.Trip #3 yep...more of the same. I actually tried to get Chef Brad (who was back again) to make me French Toast with Udi's but he said it falls apart too much to make it. Aw bummer! So, I ended up back at my old standby. Hey, you gotta stick with a good thing!
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| Breakfast #3--potatoes were crispier and tastier this time |
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| Breakfast #3 -- Mickey waffles were also much better |
I forgot to mention that on the 1st trip, Chef Brad gave me a couple of packages of Enjoy Life Foods Boom Boom Bars! Yeah! I love these things; they make a great sweet treat later in the day.
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| Yum! |
As you can tell, I really enjoy Kouzzina. I may not be overly adventurous on the breakfast choices, but I really like what I normally get. As always a great standby breakfast place on property. A solid 9 out of 10!
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in September 2012.
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| Kouzzina dining room |
Ah, Kouzzina. One of my all time favs. You've probably read a lot of my reviews on this restaurant. I'm a big fan of their breakfast. I visited this time to grab some Mickey waffles and Udi's toast. I had also heard recently that there had been some bread vendor changes adding in GNI brand products and I wanted to find out if this was a complete replacement or only partial (I'm still not clear on that one). So, I figured one of my standby restaurants with some of my standby chefs would be a good place to start!Chef Sergio, who helped me on my last visit, was on hand today. I kind of miss Chef George. It's been May since I last saw him, and he was really good. I wonder if he's doing more dinner service now? In any event, Chef Sergio said we could do the Udi's toast and Earth Balance vegan margarine. I also ordered a side of Mickey waffles. This turned out to be a bummer, but more on that later. I also got eggs over easy (I like to dip the egg yolk in the bread--yum! And rarely get to do this in restaurants) and plain potatoes with no peppers and onions.
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| Eggs over-easy, bacon, and plain potatoes |
First up, the eggs were quite good, but I find that lately they are using a little more extra virgin olive oil than I personally would like. The potatoes were awesome today. Sometimes they are so-so, depending on who's cooking them and how they cook them. These were deep fried with sea salt. Yum! The bacon is also always a winner here. No stringy bacon at Kouzzina!
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| Udi's GF/DF toast |
Then the toast. I am soooo happy they have this here now. This is the second time I've had it, and I was very excited for it. Add Earth Balance to it, and it's divine. Chef Sergio said that as far as he knows that Udi's toast is a current addition that he didn't see being changed and that the GNI brand is being used there for the rolls (replacing the Udi's rolls, which sorry Udi's rolls were not real great--weird because I like all of their other products!). Good to know, and I need to follow up on this at other restaurants.
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| Not-so-yummy Mickey waffles... |
Now on to the disappointing part of the meal. I ordered Mickey waffles and I was really looking forward to them because Kouzzina has some rocking waffles. My mom also ordered "regular" Mickey waffles and when they came I thought they were hers. Um not a good sign. I tasted one bite and knew immediately something was wrong. They looked different, they tasted different. My mom said they were clearly GF/DF after she ate them, but that they didn't taste the same. I tried a second bite and I just couldn't even eat them. They tasted really bland and bitter. Not so good. Now, maybe someone else might not think they are that bad, but for me they were yucky. I have been so spoiled by the amazing Mickey waffles made with Bob's Red Mill mix. I told the server that I just didn't want to eat them and asked to speak with the chef. This has to be pretty bad for me, because I've only ever sent something back at Disney once and that was at a terrible meal at Jiko (a selective experience I think).Chef Sergio came out and we talked about the waffles. He said he didn't know if the mix was a permanent change or a replacement for the Bob's Red Mill temporarily. It was Namaste mix, and I was pretty shocked about this because Disney's Catering used Namaste in all of the items and none of them tasted like this. Plus I use some of their mixes at home! I think it was not knowing how to use it the mix. I was pretty perplexed after this and wanted to know if this was a company wide change. Yikes! Yes, it's GF/DF but not so good on the taste (at least in this version).I headed to the Polynesian later and talked to Chef Johnny at Kona and he assured me that no this was a temporary change for Kouzzina and that the Bob's Red Mill is still there and not going anywhere. Phew! A sign of relief!!Overall, the meal at Kouzzina was still great. Just disappointing about the waffles. Still a solid 8 out of 10! In the future though, I'll be asking restaurants what mix they are using before I get the waffles! Good to know!
Kouzzina -- Table Service -- Breakfast -- Boardwalk
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| Entrance to Kouzzina by Cat Cora |
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| Another view of Kouzzina |
*This review is from July 2012.Kouzzina is one of my favorite table service breakfasts. I love the food, the ambiance, and the location. It's nicely situated between both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, which makes it a nice way to start a day of touring.I must admit, I don't really try anything exotic here, but the breakfast I get is so solid and tasty, that I don't really want to veer too much off the path. However, I have in the past had allergy friendly Mickey waffles with honey and pecans; that was nice. Usually, I get a modified version of "The American;" this means, eggs (scrambled for me), bacon, and breakfast potatoes. Sometimes I like the house breakfast potatoes, which are composed of regular potatoes and sweet potatoes with red peppers and onions and sometimes I just request plain breakfast potatoes. This trip, I went with plain potatoes. They were tasty, could have used a wee bit more seasoning, but overall very good. The eggs are always amazing here, as they use extra virgin olive oil in them (and a very high grade Greek evoo). Kouzzina happens to also have some of the best bacon on property. Yum!I always get allergy friendly Mickey waffles with regular maple syrup. This time though, the chef asked me if I wanted to also get some gluten free/dairy free toast. Say what?! Toast!? This was a first for me at Kouzzina. I was ecstatic. Yes, please with toast. I also asked if they had Earth Balance vegan margarine. They did (the regular version, not the soy free). Hurrah! The toast did not disappoint. I love, love, love Udi's bread. The only downside is that I ended up paying extra for the Mickey waffles, and usually, I don't. But, I was ok with it because the toast was so amazing.
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| Modified version of "The American." The Udi's toast was awesome. |
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| Here's a close-up of my toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine |
I have to say that the Mickey waffles and toast were the highlight (yes, I admit it, I love bread type carbs). I actually was so full that I had about a 1/4 of one piece of toast left, and my mom tried it. She's still talking about that toast! She said she actually preferred it to the regular non-allergy friendly toast. What a testament that this bread is tasty for all palates.
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| Allergy friendly Mickey waffles |
As usual, Kouzzina is a solid meal, and it remains one of my standard restaurants. I missed seeing Chef George this time (he's always really nice), but I'm sure I'll be back there soon. Another solid 9 out of 10.
Kouzzina by Cat Cora -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*Note: This review includes a gluten/dairy free review and a gluten/dairy/soy free review.**This dining experience took place in summer 2011. I've been interested in Kouzzina for a long time. I am a big Food Network fan, so I was intrigued by Cat Cora's (Iron Chef) restaurant. I've always been on the fence about the menu. I wasn't sure if it would be easily catered to food allergies and honestly, it hasn't appealed to me that much, food wise. However, my friend who is gluten/dairy/soy free said they did a great job for dinner there and that it was very good. So, we decided to check it out for breakfast. Boy, am I glad we did! This is a new favorite for breakfast! My whole family (allergies and otherwise) loved it! Surprising flavor combinations and tasty food. Plus, it was very calm, quiet atmosphere, which was nice.We were greeted by Chef Brad (who I swear I've had at another restaurant), who was just great. He was really very helpful. We did another customizable menu. I ordered scrambled eggs (which are all cooked in Greek extra virgin olive oil already, a plus!), roasted potatoes, bacon, and a side of Mickey Waffles, with pecans and honey. Boy, was this to die for. I literally scarfed it all down, and I usually don't eat my whole meal. The eggs were the best I've had on property. I loved the flavor of the evoo, and you could tell it was a very high quality evoo. The roasted potatoes were cooked with rosemary and sea salt...they were addicting!!! My mom and step-dad both snuck some of these from my plate (without contaminating it, of course). The bacon was nothing special, but good. Now onto the waffles! Gotta love Mickey Waffles. However, the addition of the pecans and honey were awesome. The pecans are a new must. I would actually probably just do the pecans and get regular maple syrup, but it was a nice twist. I ate everything except for a few potatoes and half a mickey waffle (and Chef Brad gave us four each!!!). Wow, stuffed and very happy! Oh and did I mention they had Earth Balance here! Soooo happy! (note it was not the soy free Earth Balance)
Mickey waffles with pecans (before the earth balance butter and honey added)Now my friend ordered something similar. He got a customized meal. Eggs over easy, sweet potato hash, and bacon. The chicken sausage has soy in it, so he was not able to get this. He also go the mickey waffles, with pecans, but no honey. He had sugar free maple syrup. He like everything except the hash (which looked different from my step-dad's sweet potato hash) and had a combination of potatoes and a lot of red peppers. He really loved his meal. Another clean plate!!
On a side note, my folks really enjoyed their meals--the Stacked Kouzzina breakfast (they loved the kalamata olive bread) and the waffle w/pecans, honey, and marscapone cheese.A definite 9 out of 10! Awesome place--we'll be here again! Highly recommended.