1/14/17 1/14/17

D-Luxe Burger -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in January 2017.D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs is a quick service restaurant owned and operated by the Disney Company that serves up burgers and fries. It's become another great gluten free and dairy free option for whenever I visit Disney Springs, and I enjoy both the atmosphere and the food. I also love the back story of the restaurant, which you can read about in my first blog post I wrote about D-Luxe Burger.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for dinner before a movie at AMC Disney Springs. We initially wanted to go to Blaze Pizza, but it was jammed, so we opted for D-Luxe Burger, which is a pretty close walk from Blaze.Brandon had yet to visit D-Luxe Burger, so he was excited to check out the burgers and fries. We both ended up with a cheeseburger (since I've been re-introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, I decided to get the cheese on this visit, though you can easily make any burger dairy free by removing the cheese and certain sauces).Gluten free burgers at D-Luxe Burger are served in a lettuce wrap or on a gluten free bun, whichever you prefer. I decided to get the Local Oven gluten free bun, which was well heated. Brandon and I both agreed that the burgers are a step up from most Disney quick service burgers, but that the star of the meal was the order of fries we each got.Hand cut and perfectly fried, they are super delicious. Brandon likes his plain with just a bit of a salt while I, ever the condiment queen, love them with dipping sauces. I got the chipotle mayo (contains dairy), curry ketchup (gluten free and dairy free), and the honey mustard (gluten free and dairy free). I'm basically obsessed with their dipping sauces, and the chipotle mayo has to be my hands down favorite.All of the sauces at D-Luxe Burger are gluten free, but you'll want to confirm any other special dietary needs as many of the sauces do contain dairy. At this time, only the curry ketchup and honey mustard are both gluten free and dairy free.Overall, we both really enjoyed the meal -- though we both noted that this place is pretty pricey. The good news is throughout 2017, if you're a Disney annual passholder, you can get 20% off your bill, which does help. I'd probably opt for another Disney Springs restaurant on most occasion due to price and options, but I'm glad we got to go here again for the amazing fries and well-cooked burgers.Have you been to D-Luxe Burger? What did you order when you dined there?

1/8/17 1/8/17

Olivia's Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in January 2017.Olivia's Cafe, located at Disney's Old Key West Resort, is a table service restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast has to be my favorite meal at Olivia's Cafe. I really enjoy their sweet potato hash, which is exactly what I ordered on my most recent visit to the restaurant.One of the things I love about Olivia's Cafe and Old Key West in general is the laid-back vibe and the long standing DVC member decor. Olivia's is flagged by photos of Disney Vacation Club Members who have stayed here in years past, which is really neat to see!Olivia's does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast menu, but if you have multiple dietary needs or those not covered by the allergy-friendly menu, you can always ask to talk to a chef. I do this quite a bit, as I tend to cross-reference the regular menu and look for things that can be made gluten free and dairy free whenever possible.Thankfully, the Poached Eggs and Hash is easily made dairy free by removing the Hollandaise Sauce.The Poached Eggs and Hash is Poached Eggs served over Sweet Potato-Ham Hash topped with Key Lime Hollandaise and served with Allergy-Friendly Bread. Removing the Hollandaise does make it both gluten free and dairy free. Plus, you can get Earth Balance vegan buttery spread with your Udi's Gluten Free toast too!Though I should probably branch out and try some other newer dishes at Olivia's Cafe, I keep coming back to the sweet potato-ham hash. The flavors are delicious, and it's a simple, hearty breakfast option. It's definitely a go-to whenever I am craving breakfast at Disney.Right now and through 2017, annual passholders can get 20% off their meal at Olivia's Cafe, which makes it even better. I will definitely be heading back there again a few times this year to get this favorite breakfast of mine!Though not breakfast, I'm also a huge fan of the Mallory Square Cobb Salad served at Olivia's Cafe too. It's soooo good!Have you been to Olivia's Cafe? What's your favorite breakfast item?

1/3/17 1/3/17

Liberty Inn -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in January 2017.Liberty Inn, located in the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot, is a quick service restaurant that serves up burgers, sandwiches, and chicken tenders. Though the food isn't super fancy, it's a good go-to for me whenever I'm in Epcot.Liberty Inn, unlike many of the restaurants in the World Showcase, is actually owned & operated by the Disney Company, which means they adhere to Disney's food allergy and special dietary needs protocols, and they have an allergy-friendly menu.More often than not, when I visit Liberty I'm getting allergy chicken tenders. They are gluten free, dairy free and free of the top 8 common allergens, plus others like corn. (Always double-check with a manager or chef to confirm ingredients and safety before consuming)On this particular visit, I was joined by my friend Ron who was visiting from out-of-town. We decided to hang out at Epcot that day and of course, ended up grabbing lunch. Both of us figured Liberty Inn was an easy lunch to get.Because we both have special dietary needs, we ended up getting two orders of allergy chicken tender and fries. These take just a bit of extra time to prepare, and so we we grabbed a seat by the far window where we were told to pick up our special diets order.Though I mentioned it in my last review, I've always just been told to wait at the regular counter. Ron told me that he was surprised that I'd never experienced that before, as it's been that way for the past few years whenever he's visited. That was pretty interesting, but just goes to show you that experiences and procedures can vary from visit to visit for each guest.The chicken tenders and fries on this visit were excellent, as usual. I thought the frying was well-done, and I actually like my tenders cooked a bit longer, so the coating is extra crispy, which these were. My only complaint about Liberty Inn is that they don't have barbecue sauce or honey mustard for the tenders. That would make them perfect!Overall, Liberty Inn is the perfect spot to grab a special diets friendly meal during an Epcot visit. The chicken tenders are a great go-to, but they also have many other options too.Have you been to Liberty Inn? What do you order when you visit there?

12/30/16 12/30/16

Cape May Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Cape May Cafe, located at Disney's Beach Club Resort, is a table service seafood buffet that has been a long-time favorite in my family. As a special diets diner, navigating a buffet can seem pretty scary, but thankfully, Cape May Cafe is not only very gluten free (and even dairy free) friendly naturally, but the chefs there will prepare you food from the kitchen upon request to avoid cross-contamination.Cape May serves both breakfast and dinner, but for me, the dinner is the best of the two -- if you're a seafood lover. Breakfast is also a character meal, while dinner is not.Before this month, it had been a few years since I'd had dinner at Cape May Cafe. A few weeks ago, I had dinner there with my friend Ron, and we had such an amazing meal. So, I didn't argue when my family decided they want to go there too for our early Christmas celebration meal.On my previous visit, I got the Cape May Salad, prepared in the kitchen for me, and on this visit, I knew I wanted it again. The flavors are so good, and I adore the citrus dressing and candied walnuts in it.I also got a repeat of the peel and eat shrimp and cocktail sauce, along with their olive medley which was extra garlicky and delicious on this visit. I noticed that the salads on the salad bar (potato salad, antipasto salad, etc.) had changed from the previous week when we went. The ones on this visit were much more gluten free and dairy free friendly.On the previous visit, I avoided dairy completely but since I've been reintroducing it a bit, I opted to try the paella this time, which contains a bit of butter. Hands down, it was one of the best things I ate that night. The seafood in it was fresh and the flavors were incredible.The salmon was lackluster and dry, so I'd probably skip it next time.Of course, you can't go wrong with the steamed crab legs (no need to add drawn butter to these -- they are super sweet on their own), steamed clams, and steamed potatoes. I also tried the carved beef again, which was good, though a bit overdone. To be fair, I asked for a more well-done piece, so next time I might see if I could have one more on the medium side.The thing I was looking most forward were the steamed mussels with garlic and chorizo. Ron and I were both blown away by these on our visit, and I couldn't wait to get them again. Sadly, when the chef made them they were overcooked and the flavors weren't that balanced. I missed that big punch of garlic and flavor that we got on the last visit. They were still good, but not as incredible as the first time we went.For dessert, the chef noted there were two gluten free desserts on the buffet -- Flan and chocolate mousse cups. They both contain dairy.I did try the chocolate mousse cups, and they were super delicious. I also liked the raspberry sauce on top of them.The chef also brought me two Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC brownie cupcakes and Enjoy Life Foods Snickerdoodle cookies. These are a nice option if you're looking for more special diets options beyond gluten.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Cape May Cafe. I still think the buffet is outstanding for options and flavors, and it continues to be a huge favorite in my family.Have you been to Cape May Cafe? What did you think of the buffet options?

12/29/16 12/29/16

Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Raglan Road Irish Pub, located at Disney Springs, is one of my favorite table service restaurants on Disney property. Though not owned & operated by the Disney Company, celebrity Irish chef Kevin Dundon and his team do an amazing job at accommodating guests with special dietary needs.Plus, where else can you get proper gluten free and dairy free fish & chips?! If it's gluten free and deep fried, you know I'm in! Of course, Raglan Road has some other amazing dishes too, and I'm partial to their sandwiches. But, if you're a first-time visitor, you simply must get the fish and chips.On this particular visit, I went to Raglan Road with my friend Ron, who is visiting from out-of-town. We both love Cookes of Dublin and Raglan Road and decided on getting dinner at the main table service restaurant for dinner.Before we ordered, we both got a pint of Magners Irish Cider. It's available on draft at Raglan Road and is oh so delicious. It's one of my favorite hard ciders, and there's something about getting it straight from the draft that makes it even better. You can also get Magners Pear Cider from the bottle.Because we both can't resist gluten free and dairy free deep-fried foods, we decided to order the onion rings as an appetizer to split. All of the gluten free and dairy free fried foods use the same batter, so if it's available deep-fried at Raglan Road, chances are you'll be able to get it gluten free.Along with the onion rings, I asked for a side of sweet chili jam and the mustard sauce. I'm such a fan of condiments that I couldn't imagine eating the onion rings without them. The sweet chili jam is still my favorite with the onion rings, but the mustard sauce was also really nice too.We both also opted to order the gluten free and dairy free fish and chips as our entrees. It's such a classic Raglan Road staple, that sometimes I have a hard time NOT ordering it when I go. It's that good.A word of note on fried foods. A lot of people say that the fried foods at Raglan Road are a bit bland. I think this is because they don't tend to overly salt the dishes. If you find the flavors too bland, simple add more salt. It's easy to do and makes a world of difference. I always add a bit of salt to my fish and chips immediately after it arrives to the table.The fish and chips on this night were piping hot and well cooked. The fries, as always, were outstanding. Dip your fish and chips in the gluten free and dairy free house-made tartar sauce, and you have a real winner on your hands. If you're like me, you may need to ask for more tartar sauce too!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Raglan Road Irish Pub. I really appreciate the quality of the food and the level of care that Chef Kevin and his team put into providing safe gluten free and special dietary needs options for guests that are just as good as the gluten-filled versions!Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What's your favorite thing to order when you dine there?

12/29/16 12/29/16

Cookes of Dublin -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Cookes of Dublin, located in Disney Springs, is one of my favorite quick service restaurants at Disney Springs and at Disney World, in general. Who can resist deep fried fish & chips and other deep-fried treats?! Not this girl...Cookes of Dublin is gluten free deep-fried heaven.I recently stopped by for lunch with my brother and his wife, while they were visiting from out-of-town. We are all big fans, and I was craving the gluten free and dairy free fried shrimp & chips. I get it a lot at Cookes of Dublin, and it's a favorite.So you can imagine my surprise and disappointment when I learned that Cookes of Dublin has completely changed up their menu and removed the shrimp & chips. It's still listed on the Disney website, but they are definitely gone from the menu now. Insert sad face.The cast member working suggested I get either classic Fish & Chips, but then she also mentioned they can now make the Hog in a Box dish and the Battered Burger & Chips gluten free. The Hog in a Box was sold out for the night, so Battered Burger & Chips it was!Of course, deep frying a burger sounded both intriguing and dangerous...The Battered Burger & Chips comes with a Hand Battered Beef Burger topped with Garlic Mayonnaise, Tomato Chutney and Mixed Greens. The manager I spoke with said they use the same batter for the gluten free fish & chips to fry the burger.The verdict?I gotta say, that it was kind of amazing. It sounds weird and even super greasy, but I found it to be really quite tasty. The grease factor wasn't as bad as I expected, and to be honest, it made the perfect super moist and tender...and flavorful. Plus, the crunch was pretty nice too.The burger is served on a gluten free bun, which is nothing to write home about, but the flavors in the burger and the mayonnaise and chutney were just outstanding. I also enjoyed the fries, as always, and got a side of the Dalkey Mustard and Cocktail Sauce, both of which are gluten free and dairy free, to dip my fries in. Yum!Overall, I can't believe that I ordered and loved the gluten free and dairy free battered burger at Cookes of Dublin. It was outrageously good and a dish that I'll definitely be ordering again. I do miss my shrimp & chips, but I'm glad that there are at least a few more options to enjoy at Cookes of Dublin.Next time, I might get onion rings or the garlic parmesan chips to go with the burger!What do you think of the gluten free and dairy free battered burger at Cookes of Dublin? Would you order it?

12/28/16 12/28/16

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant that has been a long-time favorite for me for both breakfast and lunch. Offering affordable options, I enjoy the Polynesian inspired food and reasonable prices. Plus, they have some of the most best allergy Mickey waffles on property. Kona Cafe also serves dinner, but for some reason, I'm just not as big of a fan of the options at dinner.On this particular visit, we had lunch at Kona Cafe for my mom's birthday. It was her pick for a Disney restaurant, and she always loves the lunch options at Kona too.When we arrived, I checked out the restaurant's allergy friendly lunch menu which had some new items, including the Loco Moco -- a classic Polynesian brunch offering (more on that later). I ended up talking to a chef because I was craving the Island Chicken Sandwich, which has been one of my favorite Kona Cafe lunch choices, but isn't listed on the allergy friendly menu.The Island Chicken Sandwich is easy to make gluten free. There are two modifications -- serving it on a gluten free bun, in this case Local Oven brand, and removing the crispy fried onions. Otherwise, this dish is pretty easy to enjoy gluten free.Because I've been adding a bit of dairy back into my diet, I did get this sandwich with Swiss Cheese on it (which is normally lactose free for those who are lactose intolerant), but you can easily get it without it. It's actually the first time I've had it on the sandwich, and I will say it was good but didn't elevate the dish in my opinion, so I might order it without cheese next time.The sweet potato fries made in a dedicated fryer were as delicious as ever. Usually when I get this sandwich, my favorite component is the curry mango mayonnaise, but the restaurant has changed the recipe. The curry flavor has been reduced and the mango flavor is much more prominent. I wasn't as big of a fan of this version, but I still thought it was pretty decent. My stepdad ordered the Loco Moco, a new lunch and breakfast offering. It's made with a tower of Rice, a grilled Hamburger Patty, House-made Chorizo Gravy, Two Eggs-Any Style, and topped with a Tomato Salsa and is marked gluten free (but not dairy free) on the allergy friendly menu.My stepdad raved about this dish, especially the chorizo gravy, which he said was a bit spicy and really flavorful. I'm not sure how much dairy is in this dish, but it looked delicious and something I could see myself ordering for brunch.Overall, we had a great meal at Kona Cafe for lunch. The food options here are solid and there are plenty of gluten free and dairy free options. If I don't seem something I like on the allergy friendly menu, I always recommend talking to a chef, as the ones at Kona always seem up for modifying dishes to be safe.Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you think of the special diets options there?

12/21/16 12/21/16

Jiko -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Jiko: The Cooking Place, a signature table service restaurant, is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. African inspired, it features an upscale menu with unique flavors. I've had hit or miss experiences with Jiko, but I had a wonderful experience last fall when dining at the chef's counter.On this particular occasion, we dined at Jiko for Brandon's birthday. Last year, we went to Artist Point which was fabulous, but we knew we wanted to do something different this year. We both love the atmosphere and ambiance in Jiko, especially that the restaurant actually changes color throughout your meal, in order to represent an African Sunset.We went with a medium size group and were seated in the cozy booths in the back of the restaurant.Jiko carries an allergy-friendly menu, though it's important to note that you can ask for a chef at any time. I chose to order on the menu, without a chef consult on this visit, though I often do ask to speak with a chef.I'm not sure what it is about signature dining restaurants, but they always seem to carry Ener-G rolls, which are allergy-friendly and vegan. I'm not a big fan of these, as they turn hard as a rock almost immediately, so I was definitely disappointed to see these rolls. I much prefer the Deanna's Gluten Free (formerly known as GNI Brand Rolls), which are also allergy friendly and so much tastier.I was served a side of butter with sea salt, but you can easily get extra virgin olive oil upon request. I didn't really eat the rolls because they were not very well heated.On a side note, Brandon did order a cheese plate, and I'm assuming you could easily get it gluten free with some slight modifications.While the rolls were really disappointing, I was more than pleasantly surprised with my entree. I decided to get the 7 oz Oak-grilled Filet Mignon with Pumpin Pap “Isidudu,” Brussels Sprouts, Caramelized Onions, and a South African Red Wine Sauce. This dish contains dairy, but can be modified to be dairy free, as well as gluten free (you'd get marble potatoes instead of pap, etc.)Wow. The flavors in this dish were outstanding. The filet was perfectly cooked and tender (served butterfly style) and the pap was creamy and delicious. The absolute stars of the dish were the Brussels Sprouts (my favorite), caramelized onions, and red wine sauce. I could have drank that red wine sauce; it was that good!There were a lot of dishes on the menu that I was interested in. Normally, I don't go for beef, but I'm glad I did. This was super delicious and a perfect meal for a birthday celebration. I'm also partial to the maize crusted fish, which I've had gluten free & dairy free on several occasions and is delicious.Have you been to Jiko? What is your favorite menu item to order when you go there?

12/15/16 12/15/16

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Frontera Cocina, a table service restaurant, has quickly become one of my favorite table service locations at Disney Springs. Serving authentic cuisine, Frontera Cocina is the brainchild of celebrity chef Rick Bayless. I'm a huge fan of his Chicago-based restaurants, so there's no wonder I enjoy Frontera Cocina so much. On top of that, most of the menu is gluten free and the restaurant marks their special dietary needs options on their menu, which is great.On this particular visit, I joined my friend Ron for lunch. We had dined here previously together along with our friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and really enjoyed it.On this visit, we knew we had to get their guacamole. It's the perfect appetizer, and I love the versions in the main restaurant and at their to go counter. By far, the best one is the bacon guacamole. Served with gluten free chips, it's rich and delicious.My only complaint? It needs more bacon!We also decided to go for margaritas, and while there's a bunch of different unique versions, my preference is the classic Frontera Margarita. I also really like that they serve it with only half of the rim of the glass covered in salt. I'm not a big salt and margarita fan, so that worked out perfectly for me.If you're not into margaritas, I highly recommend the Cocina Gin & Tonic. So good!Both Ron and I ordered gluten free & dairy free entrees. Ron got the carnitas, which I ordered on a previous visit. He said the meat was really delicious and tender.For my entree, I ordered the chicken tacos. These come as "build your own," which means you can assemble them as you wish. The corn tortillas here are outstanding and the perfect vessel for the meat, salsa, and guacamole.I thought the chicken was quite good, though the winning pieces of my dish were the refried beans and guacamole.Note: This dish normally comes with cheese. You can order it without cheese to make it dairy free, easily.Overall, Frontera Cocina consistently offers a solid meal. I love how many of the dishes are gluten free, which means tons of choices! The restaurant is also really good and making accommodations for special dietary needs and modifying dishes.Have you been to Frontera Cocina? What's your favorite dish there?

12/15/16 12/15/16

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

12/13/16 12/13/16

Boma -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Boma: Flavors of Africa, is a table service buffet located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House. Hands down, if someone asked me what my favorite breakfast was on Disney property, this restaurant would be it. I love everything about Boma - from the theming to the food.On this particular visit, I was joined by my family for an early holiday celebration. We all adore Boma, and since I had booked a DVC villa for my family at Jambo House, breakfast at Boma was a no-brainer.Boma is a buffet, which can be scary for those of us with special diets. The stuff of cross-contamination nightmares, buffets outside of Disney are places I avoid. But thankfully, Disney is really amazing with handling buffets for special dietary needs guests.Typically, the chef will first walk you through the buffet, noting items free of the special dietary ingredients you need to avoid. If you're comfortable dining straight off the buffet after this tour, you can. However, I often ask for food items from the kitchen to ensure safety. Much of the Boma buffet is gluten free, so I do a bit of a mix here; I tend to get a few things off the buffet and then request the remaining items from the kitchen. Of course, you'll want to use whatever strategy you're most comfortable with. Chefs will make all of your food from the kitchen, so you don't have to get items off the buffet at all, if you prefer too!Prior to getting to speak with a chef, our server brought us drinks. I always go for unsweetened iced tea and the signature juice -- Jungle Juice. It's a combination of orange juice, passion fruit juice and guava juice. Yum!After my tour of the buffet with the chef, I opted to get a few things off the line. This included grilled asparagus (a favorite for me), pap (grits), turkey, ham, bacon, and sausage. I also got some hot quinoa, which is now served with apples and grapes in it. I can't say I loved that combination, but it was nice to see it served in a different way besides plain.The carving station meats (turkey and ham) are perfection. Both are super moist, tasty, and just perfect for brunch. Even better, I had grilled asparagus and pap to enjoy with it. I was not a big fan of the sausage (really greasy on this visit), and the bacon wasn't anything special.I always always get fresh fruit at Boma. I don't know what it is, but I swear they have the best pineapple there. Pineapple is a fruit I can't get enough of, so I got a few small servings throughout my meal.The chef also prepared me a custom omelet, which I got with ham, onions, and cheddar cheese. Because I've been adding a bit of dairy back into my diet, I decided to get the cheese, and it was a really nice addition. I've also had an omelet with goat cheese on previous visits, if you are looking for a non-cow's milk option too.The breakfast potatoes on the buffet line have a cross-contamination risk now, as they are fried in a shared fryer. Because of this, the chef made me some in the back, sauteed with olive oil. And they were super crispy and delicious.And because you need Mickey waffles, I got the allergy friendly ones. They are currently being made at Boma as a blend of Namaste mix and Bob's Red Mill pancake & waffle mix. I thought they were extra crispy on this visit. I still personally prefer the straight Bob's Red Mill Pancake & Waffle mix myself, but at least they weren't the awful ones using the new mix served at some locations like Captain's Grille.If you're feeling fancy, ask the chef for banana chips or any other kind of topping you'd like to add to the waffles and your pure maple syrup. So good!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boma. Their breakfast is outstanding and really delicious, and they have a ton of gluten free and dairy free options!Have you been to Boma? What has your experience been when you visited?

12/13/16 12/13/16

Liberty Inn -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Liberty Inn, located at the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot, is a quick service restaurant owned & operated by Disney World. Many of the restaurants in the World Showcase aren't owned & operated by Disney, so I like visiting Liberty Inn for their allergy friendly offerings, including my favorite, the allergy friendly chicken tenders.On this particular visit, I decided that allergy chicken tenders were definitely what I was craving, and while they do have other options on their allergy friendly menu, there's something about those chicken tenders.I ordered my chicken tenders at the main cash register stations, but I was asked to move to the far right window in this image where all special diets orders were to be picked up. This is slightly different than my previous visits, but I found it to be a lot more streamlined and stress-free to be at a dedicated window not blocking everyone else waiting.When I got to the window I did get a pager and was told that I could return for my food when it went off.The allergy chicken tenders (which are free of the top 8 common allergens) take about 8-10 minutes to fry, which is totally fine by me. Along with some gluten free fries, I was one happy camper. Both the fries and the chicken tenders were perfectly fried and delicious.Plus, if you're an annual passholder, you can get 20% off right now through 2017, which made them really affordable!Have you been to Liberty Inn? What do you order when you dine there?

12/2/16 12/2/16

Cape May Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Cape May Cafe, a table service buffet at Disney's Beach Club Resort, is a favorite dinner spot for my family. With a seafood theme, I've always found Cape May Cafe to have so many great gluten free and dairy free options. Plus, I can pretty much always eat my weight in shrimp and crab legs on any given occasion.I haven't been to Cape May Cafe for dinner in almost two years, which seems a bit crazy given how much I enjoy it. Thankfully, I had a chance to dine here recently with my friend Ron, who was visiting from out of town. The two of us are soul foodies, and we always enjoy eating some of the same types of food.On this visit, we were greeted by the chef who took us around the buffet. Buffets can be a tricky business with special dietary needs, so never hesitate to ask a chef if you can have food prepared for you from the back in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination.Much of Cape May is naturally gluten free (and a lot of it's naturally dairy free too), and they do a good job at separating gluten-filled foods from gluten free ones, so I often find that at Cape May, I eat half off the buffet and half from freshly prepared items in the kitchen. Trust your judgement and comfort level when you dine.There are so many great gluten free and dairy free items. Peel and eat shrimp and cocktail sauce are big winners, along with marinated olives. I also enjoyed steamed crab legs (who needs butter?!), red potatoes, corn, clams, and ribs. The ribs were actually really tender, and I enjoyed them a lot. The crab legs are best eaten piping hot, so don't let them sit too long!The chef prepared several dishes for us in the kitchen. This included a side of Cape May Salad, which has candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and an orange vinaigrette. It's so good! Ours was made minus the blue cheese which normally comes with it.We also had some plain salmon, as the salmon on the buffet contained dairy. It was good, but nothing amazing.The absolute hands down star of our meal were the mussels with garlic, tomatoes, and chorizo. Wow. The amount of flavor in these was outstanding. The mussles themselves were perfectly cooked and the broth was rich, garlicky, and flavorful. We had a huge bowl made by the chef, and we had plenty to share. My only complaint was that the chorizo was a bit tough...but that didn't stop me from eating it!Overall, we left Cape May Cafe both very full and satisfied. I forgot how much I enjoy this restaurant and the simplicity of fresh seafood. Such a great solid meal and one I will definitely keep going back to. If you're interested in their character breakfast buffet, check out my review from my last visit this year.Have you been to Cape May Cafe? What did you think of the special dietary needs options there?

12/2/16 12/2/16

Blaze Pizza -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in November 2016.Blaze Pizza, located at Disney Springs, has quickly become a favorite stop for me to get gluten free pizza at Disney. Blaze Pizza is a national chain pizza restaurant that offers fast-casual pizza that cooks fast.When they opened in 2016 at Disney Springs, I knew I wanted to check it out, as they have gluten free pizza crust. As you can tell my by previous reviews, I've been blown away by the quality of ingredients and their gluten free crust. They also carry vegan options, including Daiya Cheese, which makes it a great option for many special dietary needs.I've heard a lot of negative feedback from readers who feel Blaze Pizza isn't a very safe place to dine. This can definitely be true. It's not a dedicated gluten free restaurant (neither is any restaurant at Disney, except Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC), and cross contamination is always a risk. It's even more of a risk if the team doesn't change gloves or use fresh toppings for you pizza. They do also use a shared pizza oven, so that can add risk too (they use dedicated gluten free mats to cook the gluten free pizza to help protect it from cross-contamination).As I've learned from reader comments, guests have received mixed experiences. I've noticed that unless I speak up, the default gluten free handling is a glove change and dedicated pizza cutting utensils (this is the same with vegan options). However, I've had great experiences speaking to the team and managers about getting fresh ingredients from off the line -- another layer in protecting myself from cross-contamination.I love their gluten free pizza, so I really try to speak as much as possible to the team to ensure they know that I need to pizza to be prepared as safe as possible. So far, in my experiences at this particular Blaze Pizza location, this has served me well.As an aside, I've tried another Orlando area Blaze Pizza and the experience was woefully underwhelming and not great, so do note that not all Blaze Pizza locations handling of gluten free and special dietary needs pizza are created equal.On this particular visit, I chose to get the same gluten free pizza I've had on every visit (what can I say, I found a pizza I love) -- the gluten free BBQ Chicken Pizza, minus banana peppers and with bacon added.I took the pizza home and that also gave me an opportunity to try out the Nima Sensor that I was sent for gluten detection. Nima is a portable device that detects gluten in food. It's not currently out on the market; it ships in Spring 2017, but the folks at Nima, whom I met at a food allergy conference event, sent me a device to test out.Here are some quick facts about Nima Sensor.

Used to detect gluten (at low levels, including 5 ppm which is under the FDA legally acceptable amount of 20 ppm)
Not 100% guarantee that a product is gluten free
May require multiple test vials to test each parts and/or ingredients of a dish
Not scientifically validated in a peer-reviewed way (I'm a university librarian, so this one is pretty important to me)
Has some limitations on food tested
Could be pricey depending on how much you eat out and how many test vials you use

Because folks have been really concerned about Blaze Pizza's safety for those with celiac disease (and I echo this concern, as a celiac), I decided to test out my pizza with the Nima Sensor, just to see what it would test as.I used 3 vials. 2 vials were used to test two different sections of the gluten free crust and 1 vial was used to test the toppings. That being said, I could have used more vials, which definitely presents a major cost issue in my opinion.I've not had any noticeable reactions to the Blaze Pizza I've had in the past, but I know full well that doesn't mean that there wasn't gluten exposure or that the pizza would be safe on every visit (as cross-contamination can occur).After three vials, I received all gluten free smiley faces, which was pretty exciting to see. Again, while we can't say to 100% that the pizza was gluten free, this was good enough for me. I enjoyed the pizza and felt no ill effects afterwards -- a positive sign that my Blaze Pizza was indeed safe.Overall, though I'm still ever a skeptic of devices and those that are not peer-reviewed, I'm at least a bit relieved to see that the product itself did test OK according to the Nima Sensor. That to me gives me confidence to continue to dine at Blaze Pizza at Disney Springs.If you're curious about Nima Sensor and how it works, I recommend checking out the Beyond Celiac post about it, as well as Erica from Celiac and the Beast's experiences with it. I'm not sure it's a device I would personally buy, but it's been fun testing it out on various Disney products (all of so far have passed the tests positively).What do you think of Blaze Pizza's special dietary needs options. Do you feel safe dining here? *Note: I was provided a blogger review Nima Sensor for temporary use, but was not compensated for using it; nor was I was I asked and/or required to write any reviews about it.

11/23/16 11/23/16

Morimoto Asia -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in November 2016.Morimoto Asia, a table service restaurant at Disney Springs, offers Asian food inspired by Iron Chef Morimo. I've been here on several occasions -- all of which have resulted in progressively worse experiences.On this particular occasion, I joined my family for a last minute lunch at Morimoto Asia (they really enjoy it). Initially, I was going to grab lunch at Cooke's of Dublin or Blaze Pizza while my family dined at Morimoto Asia, but at their insistence I ended up going there for lunch with them.I enjoyed seeing the holiday decorations here, which were really lovely, but that was basically the best of my experience.In previous visits, Morimoto Asia has had a gluten free menu. On this visit, I learned that they recently removed the menu and now only have limited gluten free offerings. The hostess said that she thought some of the rice dishes were now gluten free, but then came back to our table after a few minutes (and before our server came to the table) and said she was mistaken.Sadly, our server did not give me any more good news. I was told my only gluten free option was the pad thai. I asked about speaking to a manager, but the server indicated that they would tell me the same thing -- that the only gluten free option was pad thai.What a huge bummer and such a sad situation that I couldn't get a manager or that there were any other options beyond pad thai. I told my family that I was going to leave and get food elsewhere, as I both felt unwelcome and frustrated by the experience, but they really wanted me to stay. I'm not a big fan of their pad thai, but ended up ordering it.On a previous visit, I found the pad thai woefully oversauced and very sweet. This time, there was barely any sauce. I found the noodles and even the chicken to be super bland and tasteless. I can get much better versions of pad thai in Orlando, so it was nothing special for me.While the dish itself was perfectly passable, I can't in good conscious either recommend or support Morimoto Asia. I'm fine with a restaurant not offering gluten free options; it's their choice. What I can't get behind is a restaurant at Disney, where the special dietary accommodations are second to none, not even making an effort. Of course, Morimoto Asia is non-Disney owned, so it's certainly their prerogative to remove menus and/or options and restaurants at Disney not owned or operated by Disney are not required to follow Disney's accommodations for special dietary needs...but most do.Look at Raglan Road. Chef Kevin Dundon has done an incredible job at not only making amazing and delicious food but also creating outstanding and safe gluten free and special dietary needs counterparts so that everyone can enjoy. In fact, he talked about this recently at a culinary demo I went to at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and he took the extra effort and time to make me a gluten free version of the lamb pie he made for the demo. That, to me, is true commitment and compassion for guests with special dietary needs. There's a reason Chef Kevin Dundon's restaurant Raglan Road has won "best gluten free restaurant" in Orlando.I can only assume that Chef Morimoto and the Pantina Group, which owns Morimoto Asia, find that accommodating special dietary needs is too time-consuming and/or difficult. And that's fine. That is their choice. But, it's disheartening to see a restaurant like this at Disney, where many guests might not know that there's a difference between Disney owned and non-Disney owned restaurants and might expect that they can be accommodated for at Morimoto Asia.Thankfully, there are so many Disney owned and non-Disney owned restaurants that can accommodate. And, if I'm craving Asian food, I will just head to Skipper Canteen and other Disney locations. Sadly, this was one of the most disappointing meal experiences I've ever had at Disney, and I will not be going back to Morimoto Asia.I truly hope that they will take feedback from the special diets community to heart and work to provide safe and delicious options for guests and not just make them feel like a burden or give them "a" single choice (because that's not really a choice or option. It's just what you have to order). Until then, you'll find me at Raglan Road next door with a platter of gluten free and dairy free fried fish and chips and a pint of Magners Pear Cider.Have you been to Morimoto Asia? What has your experience been?

11/23/16 11/23/16

Morimoto Asia -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

11/8/16 11/8/16

Blaze Pizza -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. Blaze Pizza, a quick service restaurant located in Disney Springs, has quickly gone up the ranks as one of my favorite spots at Disney Springs for lunch or dinner. I've managed to get several meals here successfully without getting sick, which is great!Blaze Pizza is not owned & operated by the Disney Company and does not necessarily have to adhere to Disney's rigorous standards for special dietary needs, and I recommend anyone dining here remain vigilant.I've heard mixed reports from other guests who have felt it was not celiac safe (as the only accommodation was to simply change gloves but use shared ingredients). Every visit I've been there, I have spoken to them and asked them to not only change gloves but also prepare my pizza in a separate area with fresh ingredients, and they have been happy to do this every time.Remember, we are our own advocates, and it's always good to speak up! If you don't feel safe eating here, as they do share a common pizza oven, know there are tons of other amazing options at Disney Springs!On this particular visit, I got a BBQ Chicken Gluten Free Pizza to go. The cast members there were awesome. They initially only offered a glove change, and upon my request, they prepared my pizza in a separate area from the regular line and used fresh ingredients. I was there to watch it every step of the way, and was very impressed with how easily they accommodate this every time I've been.Gluten Free pizza is placed on a plastic/silicon/mesh mat (I still haven't figured out what exactly it is) and the placed in the pizza oven. They do try to keep gluten free pizza on the side to avoid cross-contamination, but there is always a risk.I always check with the cast members at the pizza oven to ensure they cut my pizza in a safe area and with clean utensils.If you're vegan, vegetarian, or dairy free, Blaze Pizza offers Daiya Vegan Cheese as a dairy alternative, so gluten free & dairy free pizza is easy to get.Overall, I really enjoy the gluten free Blaze Pizza. I've had great experiences here, but I've also been really vocal and vigilant at every visit to ensure I get as safe of a meal as possible. It's the best gluten free pizza I've ever had, and I'm glad this location is able to take measures to make me a safe meal.Have you been to Blaze Pizza at Disney Springs? What has your experience been?

11/3/16 11/3/16

Katsura Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in October 2016.Katsura Grill, a quick service restaurant at the Japan Paviion in Epcot, has long been a place that I've wanted to eat. Back when it used to be called the Yakitori House I had the most awful experience, in which I was told not even white rice was safe for me to eat due to cross contamination. Yikes! So, I'll be honest that I've pretty much avoided the place since.Recently, I learned from a reader that they are now serving gluten free teriyaki, so you know I had to check this out, especially since Brandon loves the Beef Udon Noodles here, and it would be nice to enjoy a meal together there.After I arrived at Katsura Grill, I spoke with a cast member who said that they did have gluten free teriyaki. She let me look at the ingredients binder and also take pictures. As you can see, they offer chicken, shrimp, and a combination of the two as options. Both dishes do contain soy but are gluten free and dairy free.The cast member also mentioned to me that I could have some of the sushi rolls too, though I did not check those ingredients in the binder.As you can see from the regular menu, they quickly identify the gluten free teriyaki options for adults and kiddos.My food arrived fairly quickly, and they also had marked my food with a gluten free notice. In general, I liked the chicken and shrimp teriyaki that I got well enough, though to be honest, I make a better version at home myself.The dish does come with white rice and a plain salad. I would have liked to have had a nice ginger dressing or something with the lettuce, as it was served with no dressing. The kids version comes with steamed vegetables, and I think I would have preferred that over the plain lettuce.In generally, I would definitely get it again, but if I have a choice I'll probably order options from other locations. Still, it's awesome to have something safe so I can get it every once in a while.As a quick aside, next door to the Yakitori House is the Mitsukoshi store which includes a hidden Sake Bar! If you're popping by, definitely check it out. Brandon and I went and loved it. Have you been to Katsura Grill? What did you think of the gluten free teriyaki?

11/3/16 11/3/16

Everything Pop -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. Everything Pop, located in Disney's Pop Century Resort, is a cafeteria style quick service restaurant, and the value resort's only restaurant. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the food at Everything Pop is a lot of your standard quick service options, but also incldues some fun and delicious retro inspired meals too.On this particular visit, I stopped by for breakfast with Travel Planner Mary Morales, a wonderful Disney Vacation planner who may be at Disney even more than I am! I decided to grab a quick meal before heading to work.I took a look at the Everything Pop allergy friendly breakfast menu before I went, and I was intrigued by the gluten free chocolate chip pancakes. The chef told me that they were made with a combination of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix and Namaste Pancake and Waffle Mix. The chocolate chips do and/or may contain dairy, so they are not listed as dairy free (though I'd love to see them use dairy free chocolate chips, like Enjoy Life Foods).I ordered the pancakes with a side of bacon and scrambled eggs (which are made dairy free). The eggs and bacon weren't anything special, but good. Though I wouldn't say a spectactular breakfast, the chocolate chip pancakes really hit the spot -- although, they were awfully sweet! Nothing like a sugar rush in the morning before work.Overall, I would definitely get this breakfast again at Everything Pop. The food was substantial, filling, and quite good. Plus, it's one of the few locations where you can actually get gluten free chocolate chip pancakes. That's a win!Have you been to Everything Pop? What do you like to order when you visit there?

10/21/16 10/21/16

California Grill -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Contemporary Resort

*This dining experience took place in October 2016.California Grill, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a signature dining location with impressive views of the Walt Disney World Resort. Because of that, it's a popular restaurant and one that often books up 180 days in advance.I had not been to California Grill since 2013, when it had recently re-opened after a lengthy refurbishment. The food was great, the atmosphere amazing, but the service we had in 2013 (for my brother's 30th birthday) was not so great.On this particular occasion, I visited California Grill with a friend from college who was visiting from out-of-town. California Grill is one of his favorite restaurants, so it was a great excuse to visit.California Grill carries an allergy-friendly menu, like most restaurants at Disney. I had looked at the menu here on my site before going to dinner, but California Grill does frequently update its menu.Of course, you can always speak to a chef upon arrival if you have any questions or are interested in additional menu modifications (or your special dietary need is not listed on the menu). For instance, none of the beef options on the menu are currently listed as gluten free, but I'm sure with some easy modifications they could be.Prior to ordering, our server Donald brought me Ener-G rolls and some butter (you can request extra virgin olive oil too). I only tried a bite of the roll and decided not to even ask for olive oil. I am always so disappointed when a restaurant like California Grill serves Ener-G. They weren't well heated and turned hard very quickly.I would have much preferred the GNI / Deanna's Gluten Free rolls, which are much tastier.For an appetizer, I ordered the Artisan Tacos with Adobo Fish, House-made Cilantro-Corn Tortillas, Pickled Red Onion, and an Avocado mash. It normally comes with crema, but I asked for it to be served without it in order to make it dairy free. With this modification, the dish was gluten free and dairy free.The flavors on this were really nice. It was a bright flavorful dish -- though I think the flavor of the delicate fish was lost on the bold flavors of the accompaniments. Still, it was a really large portion for an appetizer and could easily be an entree with a side salad.For my entree, I chose the Pork Two Ways with Grilled Tenderloin, Goat Cheese Polenta, Mushrooms, and Lacquered Pork Belly. This is gluten free, egg, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut free, but does contain dairy (goat cheese).This was a beyond amazing entree. Simply the best thing I've ever ordered at California Grill, and it might be one of the best entrees I've ever ordered at a signature dining location. The pork tenderloin was unbelievably tender and well seasoned. The pork belly was the absolute star of the dish (because...well, pork fat rules!). It was so rich and tender and the sauce on it was insanely good. The goat cheese polenta was very flavorful but not overpowering in goat cheese.Overall, it all balanced so well. I may have nearly licked my plate, it was so good!For dessert, I could have ordered a sorbet, but because I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, I tried the Chocolate Pudding Cake with Nutella Filling, Meringue Kisses, and Chantilly Cream. It is both gluten free and peanut free.This was so super rich, so only a few bites were necessary for me, but wow. What flavors! The rich cake was really just dense chocolate with Nutella. The meringue and homemade marshmallows on the side were really nice too. Overall, this was a rich decadent dessert that if you're gluten free and can have dairy is a must!During dessert, I also opted for a pot of hot peppermint tea. The flavors were perfect, and it was excellent to have after a few bites of the rich dessert.California Grill has an entire tea menu, so definitely check it out if you like tea.After dinner, we walked to the observation deck and checked out the amazing view of Walt Disney World and Orlando. On a clear night, you can see a lot of the city, and it's a spectacular view. If you are at California Grill at the right time, you can also see Wishes on the deck too (they also pipe in the music). If you finish dinner earlier than the time for Fireworks, you are allowed to come back as a dining guest after your meal to enjoy the view, which is a nice bonus.Overall, I was extremely impressed with the dinner I had at California Grill. The food was incredible and the server was impeccable this time. I can highly recommend our server Donald, who was very attentive throughout our meal. California Grill is definitely a lovely spot for a special occasion, and it's great to know that guests with special dietary needs have many options while dining there.

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW