6/15/16 6/15/16

Beignets -- Snacks -- Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in May 2016.Note: Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory will be undergoing a refurbishment and will be closed beginning July 11, 2016 and re-open at a to be determined date in Fall 2016. At this time, a temporary location will be set-up in the lobby. Some options, like the beignet sundae bowl may be limited and/or unavailable. The gluten free & allergy friendly beignets will still be available for purchase.One of my favorite snacks are the gluten free and allergy friendly beignets served at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. Perfectly deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, these classic New Orleans treats make the perfect snack, breakfast, or dessert any time you visit Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory.And you'll want to even more now with the addition of the gluten free and allergy friendly beignet bowl sundae. That's right. As if these beignets couldn't get any better, Chef Tony and the culinary team at Port Orleans French Quarter created this amazing gluten free and allergy friendly dessert that you're going to want to try.Made with several pressed beignets, the fried beignets turn into a sundae base. Topped with your choice of ice cream (in my case, I got So Delicious Coconut Milk ice cream) and sauces (I went with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup and Raspberry Sauce on one visit and just Raspberry Sauce on my second visit), it's a delicious treat.Typically, the gluten free only version of this sundae comes with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, raspberry sauce, a chocolate chicory sauce. You can see a photo and review of it on Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures's site.Of course, I love a classic fried beignet. If you're looking for something to add to your beignet, try one of the three new dipping sauces. All three are gluten free and the raspberry sauce is both gluten free and dairy free (and probably vegan too). I love the raspberry sauce because combined with the beignet it reminds me of jelly donuts!If you're interested in recreating beignets at home, check out the recipe from Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter.Have you tried the gluten free and allergy friendly beignets?

5/31/16 5/31/16

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2016.Boatwright's, a table service restaurant at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, has long been a favorite restaurant of mine -- one that I definitely think is a bit of a hidden gem. With great comfort food with a Southern and Cajun twist, like chicken and waffles, and terrific special diets accommodations, I've enjoyed getting lots of great eats at Boatwright's.On this particular occasion, I dined at Boatwright's for my birthday and was looking forward to a great meal. Boatwright's does currently have an allergy-friendly dinner menu, and while there weren't a ton of gluten free and dairy free items listed, I was confident that after speaking with a chef I'd be able to get some of my favorites like Crawfish Bites.Before my meal, I was given Deanna's Gluten Free rolls (formerly GNI Brand), with some Smart Balance buttery spread, which is vegan and gluten free. The rolls were heated well, though I do wish the restaurant carried Earth Balance, as I prefer that over Smart Balance.For an entree, I ordered Colonel Peace's Pieces, which is a combination of crawfish bites, okra, and oysters. The restaurant currently uses corn flour as it's batter base for all orders, so this dish is naturally gluten free, which is very nice! My version did need to be modified to be dairy free.The remoulade sauce is so good, and one I can't pass up when I'm at Boatwright's. It is both gluten free & dairy free naturally, though initially, I was told it was no longer dairy free. After confirming with the chef, it is still dairy free, as the remoulade is mayo based, I was able to enjoy it safely.Overall, I did enjoy the appetizer, though I have to say I personally miss the crawfish bites. This version was good, and while I liked the okra, the oysters were not my favorite (that's a personal preference). I also found the dish to be very underseasoned. Of course, nothing a bunch of remoulade wouldn't fix!I had my heart set on the chicken and waffles, which I have really enjoyed at Boatwright's. Unfortunately, the chef was unable to accommodate my request, as they currently use Cup4Cup mix for their waffles which does contain dairy.I ended up ordering the classic jambalaya, though found my dish to be a bit lacking. For some reason it did not contain sausage or shrimp, as it normally does. The flavors were good, but I would have liked to have had the other proteins in addition to the chicken.You can read more about Boatwright's from Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures, including her review of the gluten free chicken and waffles.Overall, I still really love Boatwright's, though my experience wasn't as amazing as it has been in the past. It's truly a nice hidden gem with interesting and unique offerings all set in a lovely atmosphere.Have you been to Boatwright's? What did you order when you dined here?

1/13/16 1/13/16

Scat Cat's Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in December 2015.Port Orleans French Quarter is home to many things - gluten free and dairy free beignets and the ever popular Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory - but has not had a proper table service dining location after the closing of Bonfamille's Cafe well over a decade ago (read a history of the resort over at PortOrleans.org).During the 2015 holiday season for about a week, Scat Cat's Cafe, a pop-up restaurant located in the space formerly known as Bonfamille's Cafe, served up guests classic N'Awlins flavors with a family style all-you-care-to-eat dinner.Because I love the Port Orleans restaurants so much, I knew I had to go. And, of course, my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without, also wanted to dine here too (you can read their reviews of our dinner on their blogs).When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Tony and Chef Paul who I often see at the resort at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory or Boatwright's, one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. Both chefs gave us a run-down of the menu. It was awesome to hear that the majority of the menu was naturally gluten free and mostly dairy free. The only dairy filled items included the mashed potatoes and mac & cheese (a gluten free mac & cheese substitute was offered for Alexis). Hearing this reminded me that we were in for a treat at this dinner.While Chef Tony went over the menu with us, Chef Paul came out with GNI brand rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs in it. These were very well heated and the olive oil was a great accompaniment to the rolls. Of course, knowing the dinner was all-you-care-to-eat, I made sure not to indulge in to many of these!The house salad made served included a delicious roasted garlic vinaigrette and was easily one of my new favorite salad dressings. The sweet and garlicky taste of this dressing was a nice variation of so many of the vinaigrette made on Disney property.Up next were the maque choux (made with corn, peppers, and onions) and collard greens. Both were naturally gluten free and dairy free and delicious. I think I might have been the only diner at my table to really dig into both of these, and I certainly ate my fair share. Having family with Southern roots, I absolutely adore collards, and I found these to be a delicious version.Since we couldn't have mashed potatoes, Chef Paul also brought out seasoned asparagus. Asparagus is on my high list of favorite vegetables, and this version was outstanding. Both Amanda and I quickly made our way through this dish. Hands down one of my favorite things from the meal.The main course included roasted chicken, which had been brined and seasoned well. The brining made the chicken extra moist and super flavorful. Everyone at the table loved this, and we quickly asked for seconds on the chicken.I also really enjoyed the sausage that accompanied the main platter, though I only ate one piece of this. The jambalaya was equally good, but I could have gone for the dirty rice that is served at Boatwright's. That dirty rice is bananas good!The pot roast with carrots was very flavorful, and I added a bit of the juice on the bottom of the bowl to the meat, since our version didn't have gravy. I'm not a huge beef eater, but I did enjoy the portion of it that I ate.As you can see from my plate, I certainly did not go hungry at this meal. Highlights of the main meal were definitely the salad, roasted asparagus, collard greens, and roasted chicken. If you like classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, this meal would have been right up your alley.The restaurant was serving a bread pudding for dessert, which was unfortunately not gluten free or dairy free. Thankfully, Chef Paul brought out some beignets for Amanda and me (Alexis got a bananas foster ice cream sundae), and this was the perfect ending to our meal.I absolutely adore the beignets served at Port Orleans French Quarter, and I seriously couldn't have imagined another dessert with my meal. Smothered in powdered sugar and deep fried, these beignets continue to be one of my favorite unique sweets at Disney World. Whether they are dessert or a decadent breakfast option, they are always worth the trip!Our dinner at Scat Cat's Cafe was terrific, and I can't thank Chef Tony and Chef Paul enough for continually taking care of special diets diners with delicious and decadent food. So much of their menu was already safe for us to eat, and that made having a "normal" dining experience even more possible. It's definitely a testament to why I am such a huge fan of the Port Orleans restaurants and culinary team. They are so committed to making great food for everyone, dietary restrictions or otherwise!I would love to see Scat Cat's Cafe or some other type of table service come back to Port Orleans French Quarter. The restaurant space was terrific, and the family style meal was both tasty and a very affordable dining option ($25.99 per adult). Fingers crossed that they may explore that option at POFQ in the future.Many of the items served at Scat Cat's Cafe can be found over at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, so if you're craving this roasted chicken or the Jambalaya, you can still get your fix there or at Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside.Would you like to see a table service dining location at Port Orleans French Quarter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

11/30/15 11/30/15

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in August 2015.Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, located at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, is one of my favorite quick service locations. With N'Awlins inspired food and decor, you'll be ready to "let the good times roll" when you dine here...especially since it's home to gluten free & dairy free beignets!On this particular occasion, I was greeted by Chef Tony. He showed me the new allergy friendly menus, and after some debating, I settled on the 1/3 lb Angus Avocado Burger with French fries and a side of remoulade. On my previous visit, I had the grilled fish sandwich which I enjoyed a lot but wanted something different.As you can see from my photo, I had a huge sandwich and serving of fries and a giant container of remoulade. Yes, you know the chefs know you well when they serve you condiments in a large container.The sandwich itself was served on a Local Oven bun and well cooked. I enjoyed the addition of the avocado on the sandwich, and, of course, added some remoulade on it to round out the flavors. The French fries dipped in remoulade continue to be my favorite way to eat fries. So so good (trust me on this one!).For dessert, I had to get some beignets. Deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, even though I was totally full from my dinner, I had to enjoy these sweet treats. Piping hot is the best way to eat them, and they really are perfect for any meal. (Go ahead, eat them for breakfast like they do in New Orleans; no judgement here!)Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory? What did you order when you dined there?

6/16/15 6/16/15

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in June 2015. Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory located at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Resort completely evokes New Orleans. With vibrant music playing in the background, N'awlins inspired fare, and Mardi Gras style theming, you'll swear you landed on Bourbon Street when you dine here. I've enjoyed many meals here, but of course, Sassagoula's claim to fame are the gluten free beignets. I've spent entirely too many visits here covered in powdered sugar after eating these deep-fried gems, so to say it's a favorite spot to visit is an understatement.On this particular occasion, I stopped by to grab lunch (and beignets, of course!). Chef Tony greeted me with the new allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu available at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. You can also check out their breakfast menu here on the blog too. There were quite a few choices for both gluten and dairy free, and options to customize others not on the list as well. On a previous visit, I had a chicken sandwich (Po'Boy style) so this time I opted for the fish sandwich, which was a favorite of mine over at Riverside Mill (hello, remoulade!)I told Chef Tony to surprise me with a side dish, and he brought me out a bounty of French fries with a side of Remoulade (which is dairy free, as it is mayonnaise-based). Ah, I love it when the chefs at Disney restaurants know you all too well.This sandwich itself was delicious. The bun (which was Local Oven) was nicely toasted and worked really well with the sandwich (and the perfect vessel for remoulade goodness). The fish that day was Mahi Mahi, which is a fish I enjoy a lot. It has a great texture and isn't too flaky like cod or tilapia. It really holds up well in sandwich form.The fries were standard Disney fries but became transformed immediately when using my extra remoulade as a dipping sauce. If you like sauces, I can highly recommend this...mayonnaise-based sauces and fries were made for each other!Of course no visit to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is complete without an order of beignets -- and these did not disappoint (really, how can anything deep fried and covered in powdered sugar?!). I love that these are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, soy free, and vegan! Want to recreate them at home? You can totally do that with the recipe from Port Orleans French Quarter!As always, I enjoyed my lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. They are consistently terrific at handling special dietary needs, have unique options like beignets, and the food is excellent. It's definitely one of my favorite resort quick service locations!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory? What did you order there?

3/23/15 3/23/15

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.Ah, Boatwright's Dining Hall. Every time I go I am treated to a great meal, and this time my meal was epic. That's because I finally got to indulge in a little thing called chicken and waffles. Yes, honest to goodness deep fried chicken and waffles. But before I get into all that deep fried goodness, let me back up with my entire meal experience. On this particular occasion, I was celebrating (a bit belatedly) my birthday. Last year, I went to Boatwright's Dining Hall for the first time on my birthday, so it seemed fitting to make it a part of my birthday tradition. It was great too because almost all of my friends who dined with me the year before were able to come to dinner this year. Many of them also have special dietary needs, so it's fun to see what everyone gets. You can read Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of our dinner on her website. Alexis had ordered chicken and waffles on a previous visit to Boatwright's, and while I also got the fried chicken, I didn't get the waffles (huge mistake on my part), and for this visit I wanted to make sure I ordered this for the birthday celebration. Because of this I requested the chicken and waffles in advance. The restaurant asks that you request at least 2 weeks in advance through Disney's Special Diets Department. This ensures that they have all the ingredients on hand and everything will be ready for you when you arrive (trust me, you don't want to go and be disappointed you can't order this or the crawfish bites). After we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by Chef Paul who came prepared with a huge basket of GNI brand rolls and extra virgin olive oil. This restaurant consistently heats the GNI rolls really well, so they make for a terrific pre-dinner starter. My gluten-filled eating family and friends enjoyed the house-made cornbread, and I have to admit I secretly hope that one day Boatwright's will also make a gluten free and dairy free version for special diets guests. For an appetizer, I ordered the crawfish bites -- of course! This time, I was pleasantly surprised to taste some new spices on the crawfish bites. The new seasoning added even more of a cajun/creole feel to the dish, and I really enjoyed the bit of spice it added. Of course, how can you really go wrong with anything that's deep fried and seafood? The remoulade with its creaminess mellowed out the spice of the crawfish bites. Luckily, I split these with other diners, which is a good thing because I am pretty sure I'd be able to eat the entire plate myself. And good thing I saved room because I needed it for the deliciousness that is chicken and waffles. I have to say that this dish totally exceeded my expectations (which I have to admit were pretty high after hearing Alexis rave about it). The chicken itself was super crispy (Chef Paul used a batter that included an egg wash and Namaste all purpose gluten free flour) and very well seasoned. I've said it before, but I will say it again - Chef Paul is an expert at seasoning fried foods! The waffles were also extra crispy on the outside. When combined with the sweetness of the maple syrup and the salty fried chicken - the combo was just out of this world. It's been years since I've had proper chicken and waffles, and I am so excited that I can now order it at Boatwright's Dining Hall. I'm pretty sure this will be a regular on my entree rotation along with the sweet tea brined pork chop (another favorite). When it comes to dessert, I'm always too full to get dessert here. Of course, if I had room I would probably run over (or maybe slowly stroll depending on how full I am!) to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter for the gluten free and dairy free beignets. They are so good. Boatwright's does have several options, so if you're looking for dessert you'll definitely have a few items to choose from (if you're gluten free, you have to check out the bananas foster - it gets rave reviews!).One again, I have to say a big thanks to the Boatwright's team for making my birthday dinner wonderful. I can't wait to visit again soon!Have you been to Boatwright's Dining Hall? What is your favorite menu item to order there?

10/13/14 10/13/14

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.When it comes to my favorite restaurants on Disney property, I have to say it probably boils down to two. These are the two that I consider the ones I could eat at nightly and not be bored or disappointed. One is Sanaa and the other is Boatwright's Dining Hall. Both have decidedly unique culinary themes and both are a bit spicy (and condiment heavy, which I adore). I also consider both of them to be a bit of hidden gems on property; both very affordable and delicious. And they are equally popular with my family and friends. Case in point? This meal was requested by my friend for his birthday! Yep, people love Boatwright's. What I love most about it is the food is excellently prepared and delicious. Port Orleans resort restaurants in general are all about real food. Boatwright's, to me, is pure comfort food, with a Cajun and Southern twist. And they have crawfish bites and remoulade. Enough said.On this particular occasion, we were greeted by Chef Tony. He had been making up a beignet storm at the August Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW meet-up that afternoon; let's just say the meet-up and the beignets were very popular! It was a terrific meet-up, and I'm so glad the team at Port Orleans really worked to accommodate our group.At dinner, one of the first things that Chef Tony did was bring me out a basket of GNI rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. This is, as it always is here, a perfect combo. The GNI rolls were heated really well (more bonus points for Boatwright's!) and I love having some variation with the olive oil. Of course, I really can't go to Boatwright's and not get crawfish bites. I think it's literally impossible. Chef Tony served them up with a huge serving of remoulade (ah, the culinary team here knows me all too well). Our group shared these, and everyone agreed they are delicious.Every time I eat these, I have visions of a crawfish Po' Boy made at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory using these in my head. That would be so amazing. For my entree, I ordered the sweet tea brined pork chop with sweet potato and bacon hash. The onion straws do normally contain gluten and dairy, but with advance notice (2 weeks through Disney's Special Diets Department), they are able to make these along with the crawfish bites gluten free and dairy free. I've had this dish several times, and this is officially my favorite dish on the menu. Those onion straws are my culinary jam. Breaded in Namaste pancake and waffle mix with some spice added to it, these were heavenly. And, as you can see from the photo I was not lacking in the portion department with these either. They truly add a nice crunch to the dish, and I'm so grateful that the team can make them for me here. Onion straws for the win!The sweet potato hash is excellent. Combined with the flavors from the pork chop and the onion straws, the dish just is perfection. And the portions are huge! One thing I know, you will never leave hungry at Boatwright's!Boatwright's continues to impress me. I can't believe it took me until this year to dine there. It has quickly come up the ranks as one of my favorite places to dine, and yes, I'm quickly going through the menu options! With big flavors and comforting dishes, I look forward to my next meal and more to come!Have you been to Boatwright's? What dishes do you order there?

10/13/14 10/13/14

Riverside Mill -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, at least that's what this brunch junkie thinks! I am always looking to try new breakfast options at the Disney parks & resorts restaurants, and recently I got a chance to visit Riverside Mill not once but twice for breakfast. Work conferences sure have their advantages some time!On my first visit, I met Chef Ron. He asked me what I was interested in for the day, and I decided to go with a modified version of the adult Bounty Platter which normally comes with scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage and a biscuit. I switched out the sausage for more bacon and added in Udi's Gluten Free toast with Smart Balance vegan margarine. The bounty platter is more or less the same at most quick service locations with slight variations of the breakfast potatoes. I enjoyed the spicy (but not too spicy) breakfast potatoes at Riverside Mill. Overall, a very solid meal. For breakfast number 2, I went a little more sweet with allergy Mickey waffles. Culinary intern, Chef Emma, greeted me. I know her well from my copious amounts of gluten free, allergy friendly beignet orders and it was great to catch up with her. I ordered the allergy Mickey waffles (made here with Namaste pancake and waffle mix) and a side of scrambled eggs. I have to say, these were the crispiest Namaste waffles I've ever had on Disney property. I usually find these are less crispy than Bob's Red Mill allergy Mickey waffles, but these were outstanding on crispiness. I still prefer Bob's Red Mill pancake mix (personal opinion, not based on the quality of the product) but these were very well done. The side of strawberries was another sweet treat and ordering a side of scrambled eggs really balanced out the sweetness nicely.Overall, I found Riverside Mill to have excellent special diets breakfast options. Everything was well cooked and seasoned and easily modified. If you ever get a chance to visit Port Orleans Riverside Mill for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend it. I've had lunch here several times, and they have both been terrific and unique dishes. Have you been to Riverside Mill for breakfast, lunch or dinner? What are your favorite dishes here?

10/10/14 10/10/14

Riverside Mill -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Riverside Mill, located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, offers up quick service with a Southern and Cajun twist. Set to resemble a working cotton press, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this location - in addition to the great food offerings available. On a previous occasion, I stopped by here for lunch and had the mahi sandwich, which was great. On this visit, I was stopping by for another lunch while on break from a work conference. Never one to order the same thing twice in two visits (unless it's crawfish bites, then I'm always ordering them!), I wanted to try something different from Riverside Mill for lunch. While browsing the menu, the Carved Cajun Turkey Sandwich caught my eye. I was greeted by Chef Paul, whom you'll recall from my other visits to Boatwright's and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. Chef Paul always does a great job (as do all of the chefs at Port Orleans), so I knew I would have a great meal. We went over options, and when I mentioned the Carved Cajun Turkey Club Sandwich I learned that it had a Cajun mayo and was made with house-roasted turkey breast, not deli style turkey. Well, that sold me quickly! I also ordered it with a side of coleslaw.Well, I gotta say, this was one of my favorite quick service sandwiches. The house-roasted turkey breast was killer. It was nicely seasoned and not dry. Everything is better with bacon, and this sandwich was no exception. What made it complete for me was the Cajun mayo. Yes, you know I love a good condiment and this was another winner for me. Next time, I'm getting fries with this as a dipping sauce (I think I say that every time I'm at Port Orleans and I try one of their sauces). I was so glad to see that the coleslaw was not a mayonnaise-based slaw. Those can be overpowering, bland, and heavy. This was a light, vinegar-based slaw that was just a little sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey sandwich with it's robust Cajun mayo. Overall, I was thrilled to find this sandwich on the menu. I am always impressed when a restaurant takes the time to roast their own meats, as opposed to using deli meats. Chef Paul said they also cook their roast beef for the roast beef sandwiches in-house too. This team really knows what they are doing here. Port Orleans Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory are two fantastic quick service locations and some of the best on property. They really take the time to make quality meals that go above and beyond the burgers and fries realm (which, of course, you can always still order there and are also delicious). I'm looking forward to getting this sandwich again. It just might have to be a repeat on my next visit!Have you been to Riverside Mill? What special diets offerings did you order there?

9/8/14 9/8/14

Riverside Mill Food Court -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014. Visiting Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort makes you feel like you're transported back to the days of Mark Twain and riverboats, with a distinctly Southern feel. The restaurant is set to resemble a working cotton press and has massive amounts of working gears that are powered by a large water wheel. It's pretty impressive to say the least. It's also a massive food court with lots of seating and Southern inspired menu.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch before a meetup over at Port Orleans French Quarter for my favorite gluten free and food allergy friendly beignets. I also had dinner planned for Boatwright's with friends, so it was a very Port Orleans inspired day! While the food at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is decidedly New Orleans, the menu at Riverside Mill is a little more standard for a food court, with a few standouts with Southern flare including a Muffuletta flatbread and a Southern fire chicken sandwich. I was having a hard time deciding what to order.I was greeted by Chef Page, and I asked him what might be safe to eat. We discussed several options including the Southern fire chicken sandwich and the Mahi sandwich which sounded really interesting. I opted to go for the Mahi sandwich which came with fries from a dedicated fryer. It was rather busy at the food court, so I took the time while I waited to explore the restaurant a bit. There are lots of amazing details in there!Once my meal came out, I got a seat and dug in. The Mahi sandwich had Cajun seasoning on it and was seasoned nicely. Served on a Local Oven brand bun, this was a fairly substantial sandwich. The sandwich was topped with coleslaw and a remoulade sauce (which is mayonnaise based). You know how I feel about condiments and this sandwich satisfied my sauce cravings. Now if I would have asked for some remoulade on the side for the fries... The French fries were the standard fries you get at Disney World, so nothing special there. But had I dipped them in remoulade...genius! The restaurant itself had quite a few offerings available to me, which was terrific. I liked the food a lot here and I love the atmosphere. It's a great place to dine and enjoy the atmosphere and for a quick service it has a lot of charm to it. I enjoyed my Mahi sandwich a lot and would definitely order it again without hesitation.Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10. I am looking forward to grabbing breakfast here soon, when I stay at Port Orleans Riverside for a work conference. I do have to say that I think I prefer Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory's menu overall, but happily would dine at Riverside Mill again for lunch or dinner.Have you been to Riverside Mill? What did you order there?

6/13/14 6/13/14

Boatwright's -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. It includes a gluten free and shrimp allergy review in addition to my gluten free and dairy free review. Boatwright's located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort has quickly moved up the ranks as one of my favorite table service locations on Disney property. With great food, special diets accommodations, service and reasonable prices, I truly think it's a hidden gem on property (much like Sanaa one of my other favorite table service locations). With a rustic atmosphere and New Orleans and Southern inspired food - it really has a homey feel to it. I often wonder why it took me so long to go here.On this particular occasion, I was joined by a GF friend who also has a shrimp allergy. This was her first visit to Boatwright's, so I was excited to have dinner there with her. She knows what big fans Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and I are of this place, so it seemed only natural to have a meal there! I had also seen that were some new menu changes to Boatwright's since my last visit, and I was excited to try something new. Of course, that didn't mean I wasn't going to get my favorite gluten-free crawfish bites. A girl's gotta stick with her favorite fried foods! We were greeted by Chef Wes who went over the options on the menu with us. I was having a hard time deciding what to get, but Chef Wes sold me on the new ribs on the menu. They typically come with a Turbodog BBQ sauce (Turbodog is a beer), so the sauce was out for me, but he said he would try to find some safe BBQ sauce that I could have. He said the ribs were fall off the bone tender, so I was looking forward to trying them. My friend and I got the Crawfish Bites to split, and man were these delicious as always. The only slight change to this dish since the restaurant's menu change is that the Remoulade typically served with the Crawfish Bites now contain dairy. Ever the condiment queen, I inquired if they could make a version dairy free. Without advance notice, this wasn't able to happen for this meal; however, as of June 18, 2014, the remoulade has officially changed back to being dairy free. Hurrah! You know what I'm getting next time I visit...As always, the Crawfish Bites did not disappoint. Crunchy and flavorful - you really get the full essence of Crawfish when you eat these. We also had some GNI brand rolls brought to our table, along with extra virgin olive oil for me and butter for my friend. I have to say that Boatwright's consistently heats these rolls up so they are soft and delicious. Not every place on property has the heating down to an art, but Boatwright's sure does! My friend ordered the Jambalaya which I had on my last visit. Her version did not include shrimp as she has a shrimp allergy. She said it was really delicious too. If you're looking for a hearty dish, this is definitely it! As you can tell by this picture, my entree was huge. The ribs were a nice sized portion. Chef Wes said they were really tender and fell off the bone, and he was not kidding. These were excellent and really well seasoned. Ribs need to be cooked low and slow, and these fit the bill quite nicely. The BBQ sauce served on the side tasted like the BBQ sauce they serve in most QS locations. It wasn't bad, but man it makes me wish I could have had the Turbodog BBQ sauce. I bet it was amazing.The entree also came with seasoned steak fries and coleslaw, both of which were excellent. I really enjoyed the seasoning on the steak fries. And pro tip, dipping them in BBQ sauce was a nice option too! The coleslaw was fresh and crisp - perfect for a rib dinner. My only complaint of the meal? It was messy. But then again, ribs are supposed to be messy. If you're eating ribs and it's NOT messy, I think you're doing something wrong! Thank goodness for wet naps. Overall, this was another really wonderful meal from Boatwright's. I enjoyed my ribs a lot, and it was a great dinner choice. I can honestly say that I haven't had a bad meal at Boatwright's yet...or even a mediocre one! This continues to be a new favorite for me!A solid 9 out of 10 for me. Have you been to Boatwright's? What are your favorite menu items?

4/21/14 4/21/14

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright's Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it's quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!Boatwright's culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines -- something I'm always a fan of. It's definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He's also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright's before. Well, you know that I had to change that!We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright's, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I'm not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I've probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it's pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn't?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce...and you just can't go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me...I honestly could have eaten them both myself!As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po'Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish - which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets - Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.So, I have to say....I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I'm probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it's traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn't sound appetizing, but if you're a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!Note to self...next time order this dish!Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie "fondue" of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. Despite the awful picture that I took - this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don't think he talked the entire time he ate it...it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it's a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright's is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.I can't thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I'm looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I'm already planning my next visit).I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!Have you been to Boatwright's? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?

4/12/14 4/12/14

Beignets -- Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.I love meeting up with Gluten Free Friends and even better...meeting up with friends and getting amazing food. I recently attended the Gluten-Free Living Conference in April and had the chance to share the Disney special diets love with several friends visiting from out-of-state.And you know we had to go to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. It's become a must-do to take my GF friends there whenever they visit the area. On this visit, I met up with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and she brought along our friends Jennifer from Gluten Free Go-To Guide and the one and only Jules from GF Jules.I arrived just a wee bit late for our morning beignet stop before the conference because I was at an earlier breakfast over at Olivia's (yes, this girl needs some extra protein in the morning or I would have been in a sugar coma). The nice part is that they had already ordered the beignets and were waiting for them to be done. Yep, these ladies were on a beignet mission!Chef Tony brought these out for us, and I loved seeing them in some updated packaging - a to-go box with the allergy pick placed in them. This is a really nice touch because it does help ensure that no kitchen mishaps occur. I always feel reassured when I see an allergy notification.I'm not gonna lie...we ordered a lot of beignets. And we devoured each and every one of these powdered sugar gems.One of the cool parts of this visit is that we got to check out the recipe for the beignets. I admit, I'm only slightly tempted to make them at home. I'm just glad I have a place where I can get these to order - no muss, no fuss! But, if I ever want to make them...the recipe is waiting for me.Alexis & I also took a picture with Chef Tony. Yep, he's a total rockstar in my book!Thanks again to Chef Tony & the team for always taking care of us. It was a lot of fun to share the beignet love with some gluten free friends and to share with them the amazing dedication to special diets that Disney has -- all while enjoying some delicious eats!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets?

2/9/14 2/9/14

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review, a gluten free & yellow food coloring review, and a vegan review.Located near the lobby of Port Orleans Riverside lies Boatwright's Dining Hall, a hidden gem of Disney restaurants. Serving New Orleans/Cajun inspired fare, I have long been wanting to dine at this location for dinner. I hadn't been to this resort or the restaurant since 2006, when I made a Mother's Day trip to Disney with my mom. We loved the charming and relaxing atmosphere of the resort, and we also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Boatwright's (which is no longer served).When I was deciding where to go for my birthday celebration dinner, I immediately thought of Boatwright's. I have been spending entirely too much time lately at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory next door at Port Orleans French Quarter getting those fantastic gluten free, dairy free, egg free (and vegan) beignets. But, it had been prompting me to want to try dinner at Boatwright's. So, my birthday dinner celebration was set. Friends and family joined in on the fun, including Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Tony from Disney by the Numbers. Both of them have special dietary needs too, so it was cool to see what they ordered on the menu.First up, I have to apologize that I didn't take any photos of the restaurant. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take photos. But, it's an impressive and cozy restaurant -- built a bit like a shipyard. We had nice seating on the top level of the restaurant, near the warm fireplace (very appreciated after a cold rainy day) -- with a roaring fire, it was the perfect back drop.Chef's Tony & Paul took care of our table during the meal, and let me tell you they did a stellar job. This was one of the best meals I've had at Disney in a very long time. First up, they went over the menu offerings. For appetizers, gluten free (and some modifications for dairy free) included: shrimp and grits (not dairy free), the French onion soup (minus the crouton & cheese - this one might still not be dairy free), the house salad minus the croutons (not dairy free - this one has a green goddess dressing - which looked fantastic), and spinach salad (minus the crouton). These also sounded great, but as soon as I heard that they could make the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites gluten free & dairy free...well, you know which one I chose!Normally, the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites are not gluten free & dairy free - but if you contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department ahead of time, they can arrange to make it safe for you. Of course, you now I couldn't pass up something battered and deep fried and smothered in remoulade sauce (we'll get to that momentarily). I have to tell you, this appetizer is hands down one of my favorites on property now. These were outrageous. First up, it's a huge portion (which I had no problem scarfing down), second it was piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Fried foods really need to be salted properly, and I can tell you the balance on this dish was perfection. Both Alexis & I ordered this and I think neither of us spoke for a good several minutes other than to say "oh my gosh, these are amazing."I adore remoulade sauce and this version was divine. The perfect combo of spice along with the crawfish. I may also have dipped some bread in the remoulade sauce too!! (heck, you could dip an old booth in this remoulade and it would probably taste amazing). Speaking of rolls, we were served GNI brand rolls along with Smart Balance (which is GF and vegan) for me and regular butter for everyone else. For dinner options, we had an impressive amount - and many didn't even need dairy free modifications which was great. Here are the gluten free options:

Jambalaya
New York Strip
Voodoo Chicken (with some modifications)
Vegetarian Jambalaya (also vegan)
Andouille-crusted Catfish (with some modifications)
Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Blackened Fish
Sweet Tea Brine Pork Chop (with some modifications)
Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib (with some modifications)

With so many choices, most of us were having a hard time choosing. And wouldn't you know it we all got something different! (on a side note, I kind of would love a sampler platter entree here - like a Taste of the Bayou with small portions - or I just need to go back soon so I can try other dishes).Alexis chose the Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib which looked fabulous. You can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. Tony got the vegetarian jambalaya which looked delicious as well. I know he really enjoyed the dish. And my other friend ordered the Voodoo Chicken. The red beans & rice and collard greens are not currently gluten free, so he got green beans and potatoes instead. He kindly shared it with both Alexis and I, and wow! The sauce on the chicken was terrific. It was a peach marmalade and totally sweet and spicy.For my entree, I went with the Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop. I have to admit, what got me was the onion straws. The same batter for the cajun spiced crawfish bites was used for the onion straws and they were amazing. They aren't normally GF/DF, so this is another one you'll want to contact Special Diets ahead of time if you want. I have to tell you, this entree was amazing. It exceeded my expectations and then some. The pork itself had a subtle sweetness from the brine and a great grill flavor. Add in the bacony, smoky, sweet potato hash and the fried onion straws...well, it was the perfect dish. It was also huge (side note, if you go to Boatwright's be prepared for massive portions - seriously, the prices and portions at this place are a steal). I had leftovers and they were fantastic the next day too. I admit, that I might have a hard time ordering other dishes at the restaurant after this one -- even though I do want to try others!If you're looking for gluten free dessert options (and yes, believe me we somehow managed to make room for dessert), Boatwright's currently has butterscotch creme brulee, bananas foster angel food cake without the cake, ice cream, or OMG...It's Gluten Free cookies and brownies. They also have Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes on hand. Chef Tony jazzed up one for me with a chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries (my favorite), and vanilla Rice Dream. Oh yeah...about that candle. I also got a restaurant serenade to help celebrate the occasion. Perfect way to end the meal! Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the food. Honestly, this is a hidden gem of a restaurant, and I can't believe more people haven't discovered it yet. Everyone at the table (and there were 11 of us!) raved about the meal and really enjoyed it -- special diets or not. I can tell you, I will certainly be back to try out new dishes...but those cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, they're totally going to be a permanent fixture on my visits. They were to-die-for!Thank you again to Chef Tony & Chef Paul for making this a memorable and delicious birthday dinner. This restaurant was a solid 9 out of 10 for me!Have you been to Boatwright's before? What are your favorite dishes?

1/20/14 1/20/14

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Lunch/Dinner -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in January 2014.Nothing says New Orleans like beignets and Po'Boys. They are simply iconic New Orleans fare, and thankfully, Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, located at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter can supply these gluten free and dairy free.On this particular visit, I stopped by for lunch after the Family Fun Run 5K during Marathon weekend. I had not eaten lunch or dinner at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory before, so I was excited to check it out.I got the chance to say see Chef Tony & Chef Raphael, both of whom are so nice and always willing to make guests great special diets meals. They told me that they can make a lot of the quick service options GF/DF which is great (and including pasta which was hugely popular during the race weekend). I decided that I really wanted to try one of the Po'Boys. How could you not at a New Orleans inspired restaurant?! Not all of the Po'Boys can be made GF/DF - any that are fried (like the shrimp) are not going to be safe, but the beef and pork ones are OK. I asked if I could get chicken by chance, and yay, they could make me a chicken Po'Boy. I was very excited to hear that there was no hidden dairy in the remoulade sauce, as there have been a few instances on property where they've added sour cream or other type of dairy. The meal comes with chips or a bean salad. The house made chips are not GF but they have pre-packaged chips (much like you can find throughout Disney property) and the bean salad is GF/DF. I was feeling like chips that day, so I went with those.Now, if you're familiar with Po'Boys you know that they are traditionally served on a sub (i.e. hoagie, grinder) roll. They currently don't have a safe option at this point at the restaurant but they do carry the Udi's bread. This actually works well, so the only downfall is that these sandwiches are turbo messy. Bring extra napkins (and really this isn't a bad thing!). My was loaded with grilled chicken (nicely seasoned), lettuce, tomato, and of course that remoulade sauce. The remoulade is what makes it uniquely New Orleans, and this version was stellar. I really enjoyed this condiment and man, I think it would be a really good dip for French fries (just saying!). You know me....I gotta have dip for fries! The chips were a nice accompaniment to the sandwich, though I might get the bean salad next time. It sounds intriguing!Overall, I really enjoyed the sandwich and I wouldn't hesitate to get it again. It would also be nice to try out some of the others too. What I most appreciated were the bright fresh flavors and that the sauce was clearly made in-house. Remoulade French fry dip...yep, I'm gonna make this a thing!Of course, I couldn't go to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory without getting beignets. And having just finished a 5K that day, well, it was a nice treat! (of course I had them pre-race too). And holy moly - as always these were amazing but these were extra piping hot and delicious. I love extra hot deep fried beignets and these totally hit the spot. Seriously, I may have a beignet addiction!Overall, I really enjoyed the lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. I would like to pop by for dinner sometime because they do have some options not available at lunch. I really love that this location is taking the extra steps to make gluten free options that are unique to the location and also something different from just burgers and fries (though, of course, you can get them there as well). And of course, any place that serves GF/DF beignets and Po'Boys is my kind of place!I'd give this a solid 9 out of 10 for this visit for great food and options.Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for lunch or dinner? What were your favorite special diets options?

10/9/13 10/9/13

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in October 2013.

View of lobby in Port Orleans French Quarter

This is a brief review of POFQ's quick service location Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for breakfast. As I've mentioned in my recent reviews, this is the place to be for New Orleans inspired cuisine on property. From the Mardis Gras vibe to the amazing beignets, there's just a terrific vibe in this resort & restaurant.On this particular visit, I stopped by with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando (http://glutenfreeinorlandoflorida.blogspot.com/). We caught up right before my very first runDisney race (Happy Haunted 5K), and it was great to indulge in some beignets before I got myself prepared for the big race day. We both knew we were going to get the now famous GF/DF beignets that Chef Tony & the rest of the POFQ team serves up. I may have a slight beignet addiction right now!We were lucky because Chef Tony was also at the restaurant that morning, and we were able to say "hi" and chat briefly. He's been a very busy guy with Food & Wine Festival season doing culinary demos, Party for the Senses, and even being in the cranberry bog! So, it was a nice treat to be able to say hello!Another Disney CM took our beignet order, and I also ordered some scrambled eggs & bacon as well. As much as I love the sweets I knew I needed some pre-race day protein, particularly as I was heading to the expo center to pick up my bib and then meet up with some friends which meant food might be elusive for a while!And, of course, I was not disappointed. These beignets were amazing as always. I will say that right now I think the recipe is just right! I love the puffiness of them and how light they are. The chewiness that I mentioned the 1st time I had them has definitely gone away. These are just terrific! I have to say anything deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar is just A-OK to me!

Beignet deliciousness!

Scrambled eggs & bacon

As far as my eggs & bacon, I'm going to give some big credit to the CM who made these. I believe her name was Molly. These were really good! I'm going to say probably the best cooked QS scrambled eggs that I've ever had. I'm not kidding! They were delicious. Not overcooked and flavorful! I was very pleased with these. It's rare that a QS doesn't completely overcook my scrambled eggs (and I can't fault them, they are handling large quantities), so this was pretty awesome! The bacon was the typical bacon you get in the QS locations. Nothing special, but hey, bacon is bacon right?!Overall, I found this to be a really nice morning breakfast. I have to say the beignets just knock it out of the park as a breakfast choice! It certainly gave me a nice sugar boost to get through the rest of the day, which was very busy!I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 as far as QS go, this is one of my favorites! The fact that I can get beignets morning, noon, and night makes me swoon!Have you tried the fabulous allergy friendly beignets yet?

9/14/13 9/14/13

Beignets -- Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Port Orleans French Quarter -- Quick Service

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

There's nothing quite like a beignet. Deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, they are truly a decadent treat for breakfast and a great dessert in the evening. For many guests with a special diet, these treats have been a no-go but at WDW and specifically at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter this has become a reality! They have become one of my most favorite sweet treats on property!You may recall that a reader tipped me off to these delicious beignets a while back, and I was finally able to check them out (you can read the first review HERE). When I went, I had to contact the WDW Special Diets Department well in advance to make sure they had these on hand. As it turns out, they've become so popular that now you don't need to call in advance--just head on over to Port Orleans French Quarter, grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy these treats! Chef Tony and the rest of the culinary team at POFQ have now made these an everyday occurrence, so you are sure to be able to enjoy no matter when you go! This just makes me so excited because now make an impromptu visit whenever I'm craving beignets.On this particular occasion, I stopped by before making the trek back home to get some beignets for the road (well, more before the road...they didn't make it out of the restaurant). My family hadn't tried them either, so it was a great time to see what they thought. The ordering couldn't have been simpler. I just walked up to the counter that makes beignets and asked for them specifically. The cast member went back and got the chef. Chef Paul came out to assist me, and Chef Tony also popped out to chat quickly. He mentioned that they have tweaked recipe for the beignets just slightly (replacing some of the water with club soda, etc.). I really love that they are striving to make things better for those of us with special diets. It's just another example of the magical Disney touch! We also talked about how much of the menu can be easily made GF, so that's excellent news! I totally want to stop by and grab lunch or dinner here soon!Once we got our beignets (which really didn't take long at all--maybe 5-10 minutes), we headed over to dig in! I will say, I could tell immediately that they had modified the recipe some because they were much puffier than the last ones I had.

I never saw a GF/DF beignet I did not love!

Anything smothered in powdered sugar makes me happy!

And let me tell you, I didn't think they could make these beignets any better, but they did! I will say that they chewiness that the previous version had is literally gone. These are much lighter and fluffier and well...just delicious! The texture has definitely hit the beignet texture that I remember from the glutenous ones. And my family really enjoyed these! Let's put it this way, I think they finished theirs before I did!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Chef Tony & the rest of the culinary team at Port Orleans French Quarter. The time, dedication and care they have put into these beignets are so evident. And the fact that you can now get them anytime, just like you can allergy Mickey waffles, is just amazing to me! I'm thinking of hosting a breakfast meetup in the next few months here! It will be a beignet bonanza!To me, the beignets on this trip were 9 out of 10--my only complaint? I should have ordered more!! Thanks again to Chef Tony and all at Port Orleans French Quarter for making these delicious treats available to those of us who normally can't have things like this!Have you tried the special diets beignets at POFQ? Do you love them as much as I do?

7/21/13 7/21/13

Beignets -- Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Port Orleans French Quarter -- Quick Service

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

There's nothing like a beignet. Deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, it's a confectionery delight! And any proper N'awlins experience wouldn't be complete without one. But what if you're gluten free, dairy free or even egg free and soy free? Luckily for guests at WDW, they can experience this treat even with a special diet! Back in May, a blog reader emailed me to tell me that they were able to get special diets beignets at Port Orleans French Quarter (POFQ) at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. You know that meant I needed to investigate and try them out for myself.The first thing I did was contact the WDW Special Diets Department. They let me know that you can indeed get these beignets with advance notice. At first, they only noted that they were gluten free, but after further investigation revealed that they were also dairy, egg, and soy free--making them vegetarian and vegan friendly. I asked Special Diets to let POFQ know that I would be arriving about a week in advance; however, I didn't actually hear from them until 1 day before I went to confirm. I would recommend arranging this well in advance because as I learned later, there were some miscommunications that occurred partially due to my last minute request.

The Bakery Station is currently to the far left of this photo.

When I arrived at POFQ, we headed to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. Like many QS locations at resorts, they have various food stations (such as the Po'Boy station, Pizza station, etc.). Since the beignets were prepared at the Bakery station, I inquired there about the chef. Once the chef came up, I explained that I had emailed ahead of time for the beignets. He said that they were told by Special Diets that I was coming in the morning and had a dedicated fryer with hot oil running for part of the day but had shut it off because they assumed I wasn't coming. I felt bad there was some confusion, as I had noted lunch or dinner time and visited at 5 p.m. I told the chef that I understood if he couldn't make it happen that night, but he was very obliging and agreed to make them. He said it would just take a bit.While we were chatting I mentioned that I had a friend who was vegan who might want to try them and wondered what the ingredients were. He didn't bring out the ingredients but he did say they were vegan. In fact, they sounded a bit like the ingredients for the allergy Mickey waffles! He said they used Bob's Red Mill Pancake Mix, rice flour, applesauce and he thought apple juice and cinnamon. As I mentioned before, they do use a dedicated fryer and they seem to only use it when special requests are made.While we waited, we checked out the layout. I will say that I really like this resort. It's really small but has a great vibe to it. Very mardi gras like!

Dining area

The chef gave me a pager so that we could wait at the tables and then come back to pick up the beignets. Once I got them, I was super excited to try them. I also told the chef that I would come back the next day because he said that they had several orders the next day, so to stop by.

Beignet gloriousness!

The first thing I noticed about these, is that they are smothered in powdered sugar. You will be on a sugar high once you eat these (and also, if you are vegan you'll need to confirm the powdered sugar ingredients to confirm they are safe). The other thing is that they aren't quite as light as "regular" beignets. But that being said, they were delicious. Like a little deep fried donut. And so often allergy friendly donuts are not deep fried, so this was amazing. I will say, they weren't as hot as I expected, but it didn't stop me from scarfing them down. The taste is very very similar to the allergy Mickey waffles. (oh, if someone could deep fry an allergy Mickey waffle, I bet they would!)So, the next day I stopped back again for the beignets. This time it was about 3 p.m. The chef was a little busy because the regular deep fryers for the beignets out front went down and there were a couple of other kitchen crises, so he was very distracted. But, he said they had the fryer ready and that he'd have them ready for me. He was in such a hurry, he did not give me a pager, and I waited for a while out by the stations. Once they were ready, he brought them out. This time I scored 4 beignets because he said the oil wasn't as hot as he liked it to be, so he wanted to give me an extra one. That's ok by me!!

Beignets take 2!

Oh my, these were glorious!! Super piping hot and crispy. I don't know why he said they wouldn't be as good, but I thought they were better the second time around. Lots of powdered sugar deep fried deliciousness! Because they were so hot, I really had time to savor each bite. As I mentioned, they aren't quite as light and fluffy and are a little chewy, but hey...deep fried beignets are deep friend beignets! These would go great with a nice cup of coffee in the morning.One other great thing about this location is that they take Tables in Wonderland here, which means 20% off your ticket for food and beverage. That meant my beignets were only $2.55 for a serving. Not too shabby.Overall, I can't say enough good things about the beignets themselves. They were quite delicious and a nice rare treat. I wouldn't do this all the time, but definitely on special occasions. Make sure you get a hold of Special Diets well in advance to arrange these and it is a good idea to check in with the restaurant, especially if you are staying there at the resort itself.For me, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10! Head over there to check these out and let me know what you think!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for the allergy friendly beignets? What did you think?