Gaston's Tavern -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- New Fantasyland
*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Gaston’s Tavern located in New Fantasyland is something truly out of the animated film. They say, he uses antlers in all his decorating and boy is that sure true. From the exterior of this quick service restaurant to the interior decor, it looks like a hunting lodge and tavern all in one. While I can’t say I personally love Gaston’s decorating tastes, I do enjoy some of the items served in Gaston’s Tavern. 
On this particular occasion, I stopped by to try out the roasted pork shank and Le Fou’s Brew. I actually hadn’t been since the opening of New Fantasyland (during the annual passholder preview, actually!), so it had been a long time. On that first visit, I tried both, and I even got a chance to see the bottles and ingredients, thanks to a kind manager there. You can read more about that in my original post.
But back to today’s visit, when I entered the restaurant, I notified the cast member that I had special dietary needs. She then went and got the special diets binder and a manager. She gave me permission to take a photo of the binder cover, as you can see it here. 
In looking at the ingredients binder, I noticed that the roasted pork shank (made very simply with a few spices) was made using Badia brand spices, which were listed as certified gluten free. I always like when I see Badia listed because it’s one of the brands I buy for my own kitchen. 
You can see detailed info on my original post about Le Fou’s Brew and also on Gluten Free in Orlando’s website. The mango foam on top is really quite good and has that creamy texture that is often lacking from dairy free items. Thankfully, no dairy there!As far as taste goes, I have to say Le Fou’s Brew is way to sweet for my tastes. It’s seriously sweet, and I found myself wishing Disney would offer a smaller size version. I really like the topping but halfway through the drink, it just felt super heavy to me, mostly because of the sugar. 
The roasted pork shank, on the other hand is just delicious. It’s a little pricey at $9.79 but still delicious. (Fun fact: In December 2012 it was $7.99, so there's been a definite price increase on these!) My family says they prefer it to the turkey legs these days, which surprised me a bit. But, I have to agree with them. It’s simply seasoned, slow roasted and delicious. 
While there may be a few snack items that are gluten free and dairy free at Gaston’s Tavern besides the pork shank and Le Fou’s Brew, most people come just for these two items.I have to say that it’s a great little spot to rest and enjoy a snack, though I wouldn’t make it a must-do every time I go. The pork shank I would absolutely get again. The Le Fou’s Brew I might again but split with someone. The sweetness just overtook this drink for me.I rate this a 6 out of 10.Have you been to Gaston’s Tavern? What did you think of Le Fou’s Brew?
Landscape of Flavors -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Art of Animation
*This dining experience took place in June 2014. 
Located in Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Landscape of Flavors is one of my favorite quick service locations in the resorts on property. Filled with tons of variety and unique options, it's well...a Landscape of Flavors (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun). Guests who visit Landscape of Flavors will appreciate the unique options and even real plates and silverware - no plastic or paper plates here!On this particular occasion, I stopped by Landscape of Flavors after Star Wars Weekends. It had been a really hot and humid day, typical for Florida in the summer, and I really wanted something light. I've been wanting to try some of the Indian dishes but for dinner after a day in the hot sun? Not so much. I decided to see what options they had for their create your own salad bar.It was a slow evening there, and I stopped by the salad station and asked the cast member if I could speak with a chef or manager. After a short wait the chef came out to see me. She did say there were several options in the Indian station, but we quickly turned to the salad bar. Their toppings aren't as large as I would have like but it wasn't bad either.I decided to go with a romaine lettuce as my salad base (you have an option of romaine, spinach or shredded lettuce). I then was able to add diced cucumbers (one of my favorites), diced onion, bacon, grilled chicken and grilled shrimp. The only challenge was the salad dressing. Every option had dairy except the Italian they had on hand. Italian's not my most favorite dressing option but I'm glad that they at least had something.
The salad itself was refreshing, and I was glad to have it after being outside all day. Portion-wise, I felt it was fairly small for a $11 salad. The toppings were a bit skimpy. The salad dressing was on the side, as they got dressing from the back for me. With a salad bar that included a lot of mix and match, it was much safer getting the items from the back, especially the dressing.Next time, I'm not sure I'd get a salad from Landscape of Flavors, not because of the taste but more because of the cost to portion ratio. I think there are better values in terms of salads on property. If only Hollywood Brown Derby had been taking walk-ups that night. I totally would have gotten the Cobb salad there (one of my favorites).On a side note, if you are looking for a gluten free beer, Landscape of Flavors carries Redbridge and now Estrella Damm Daura which is a made from Barley Malt and has had gluten removed from it. As one who has tried these kind of beers and gotten sick from them, I stay away from them even if they test under 20ppm. Note that neither of these options are listed as "gluten free" on the labeling (except on the bottles).
Overall, I still really enjoy visiting Landscape of Flavors for the food and atmosphere. Art of Animation is a neat resort, and I really think this restaurant puts it on the map as having one of the best resort quick service locations.I'd give this particular visit a 6.5 out of 10.Have you been to Landscape of Flavors? What is your favorite thing to order?
ABC Commissary -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios
*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Hurray for Hollywood! ABC Commissary is the dining location to the stars...or at least the stars when they are on the movie set. This quick service location is my go-to restaurant for allergy chicken tenders while in Hollywood Studios. The managers are always excellent at this location, and I truly feel like a celebrity when I make my routine chicken tender order.On this particular visit, I stopped by ABC Commissary for a quick bite to eat before we headed to the Star Wars character dinner at Hollywood & Vine. We didn't want to eat to much throughout the day after having a really hearty breakfast at Kouzzina and knowing that we would have a huge dinner. When I arrived at the cashier station, I told the CM that I has special dietary needs. When the manager arrived, I asked for the allergy chicken tenders and french fries. One thing that is interesting about this location is that they almost always ask if this is a health related request (i.e. Celiac Disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or allergy) or if this is a dietary preference. I do appreciate that they are very cognizant of health related issues that might require a gluten free diet. Once ordered, I was given a pager and told that the pager works throughout the perimeter of the restaurant. We popped by the benches near the bathroom - this is a great spot to charge up your phone, as there are outlets by the phone booths and under the benches. About 8-10 minutes later, my chicken tenders were ready!
And oh how delicious these are, especially when piping hot! It's funny how my family remarks how much they like these just about every time we order them and split them. Yep, non-gluten free & allergy free folks like them too. They are just plain delicious. I have to say that ABC Commissary continues to be one of my favorite locations for allergy chicken tenders. You can find a full list of locations (including my favorite place, Columbia Harbour House) here on the site. Overall, I give this review a solid 8 out of 10. Great allergy chicken tenders, special diets knowledge, and service. Have you been to ABC Commissary? What do you order when you go to this quick service location?
Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining review took place in May 2014.
Ok, you guys, I have a problem. And it's name is Cooke's of Dublin. I have been to this quick service restaurant at Downtown Disney kind of a lot lately. Um, it's that good. As you know, I'm a sucker for great gluten free and dairy free fried foods, and this place fits the bill more than nicely. What can I say? I like great places like this that give me variety. On this particular visit, I stopped by on my lunch break during a work conference. The good news is my conference was at a hotel in Downtown Disney. That bad news...I wanted to eat at Cooke's of Dublin for every lunch (ok, maybe that's not bad news, but I wanted to go here a lot). On a side note, go to Downtown Disney in business attire and see the funny side looks you get from Disney guests. It's rather hilarious. I looked a wee bit out of place. But I digress.Back to the awesomeness that is Cooke's of Dublin. As you can see from my previous post, the offerings available at Cooke's of Dublin fried gluten free & dairy free is pretty vast. Where else can you get fried scallops, shrimp, fish, chips, chicken tenders, and onion rings? (OK, with the exception of chicken tenders & scallops, you can get these all next door at Raglan Road too!)On my previous visit, I got the shrimp & chips which is my favorite so far at Cooke's of Dublin. This time, I really wanted to try the scallops. I had them at Raglan Road over the holidays and while expensive, they were divine and also got me fully addicted to the best condiment there - sweet chili jam. Order this when you go. You'll thank me for it.
The scallops & chips is a reasonable $12.95 (or maybe it was $13.95 with an upcharge. I was too excited to pay attention). The scallops are only available at Raglan Road as an appetizer and are $15, so this was a bargain in my opinion. Not only did you get the same condiments as you get at Raglan Road but you also get chips. Win and win. The scallops were really well cooked - not rubbery at all. The chips were also well cooked. I just love that they cook all the fried items to order. Nothing's getting soggy and your food comes out piping hot. The way fried food should be! Again, my only slight complaint is a common theme of undersalting, but I think salting is problem subjective here. I also think it's a bit of an art (see my dinner review of Boatwright's for perfectly salted crawfish bites). I always add a bit of salt to mine as soon as I get an order at Cooke's of Dublin. 
My meal came with sweet chili jam and a lime cilantro mayonnaise. When I had it at Raglan Road, I didn't eat the mayonnaise because I didn't know the ingredients. This time I asked, and they said it was just mayo no dairy ingredients like sour cream or milk. Yay! You know I love my condiments. I admit, I didn't love the lime cilantro mayonnaise. It just wasn't my favorite. It was good but not great. Now that jam. Oh the sweet chili jam. That stuff is amazing. Next time I may just ask for two containers of it instead of the mayo.Overall, I was very pleased with my choice of lunch that day. The scallops are a fabulous option, and I have to say, between the shrimp & scallops is a tough choice. I'll probably order these two exclusively at Cooke's of Dublin when I visit. I think the scallops really are a great money saving option at Cooke's of Dublin versus Raglan Road.I'm taking a bit of a Downtown Disney break during the Disney Springs construction this summer, but if I find myself there, this will likely be my lunch spot of choice! I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great food and special diets accommodation...and sweet chili jam! Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What's your favorite fried thing to order there GF/DF?
Old Port Royale Food Court -- Breakfast
*This dining experience took place in May 2014.
Set amidst the tropical paradise that is Caribbean Beach is Old Port Royale, home to the food court, Shutter's table service restaurant, and a gift shop. It's a one-stop shop as you relax and enjoy all that the resort has to offer. Island inspired, you'll feel like you stepped into a Caribbean dream. While staying at Caribbean Beach recently, I stopped by two mornings for quick service breakfast offerings. This review combines both visits and includes what I ate both days.
One of the first things that you notice when you head to Old Port Royale is that it's setup like an outdoor market (only inside). Each area houses a different type of food - pizza, sandwiches, etc. at lunch and dinner and different breakfast entrees during the morning hours. Because I needed to speak with a chef about the offerings, I popped into the first area I saw with breakfast options. It happened to be the section that served the Bounty Platters which you can find at every resort quick service location on property and includes: Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, French Toast, and Biscuit all for around $8.99.I spoke with the chef and asked for scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes and toast. They carried Udi's Gluten Free bread on hand. I also asked if they carried the allergy Mickey waffles (they do - see my list of Mickey waffle locations) with the Namaste & Bob's Red Mill combination mix being what they are currently using. I opted to get the Mickey waffles on morning #2.
The wait wasn't very long, and soon I was eating in a very quiet area of the food court (with a nice view of the lake). Ahhh, relaxing! My breakfast was really pretty good. The eggs weren't anything special per se, but they were tasty and free of dairy. The bacon is that thin stringy bacon commonly found on property (again nothing special) but the breakfast potatoes here were the big winner. I don't know what they seasoned it with (seemed like just salt and pepper) but they were roasted perfectly. They were delicious! The bread didn't come with any Earth Balance but was fine with the other accompaniments.
Day #2 was an early morning for me. I was at the food court at 6:30 a.m. Yes, you read that right. 6:30 a.m. Not my most favorite time to be up while at Disney. I was at a work conference, and had to present at that conference at 8:30 a.m. so no time for me to dilly dally. I literally was the 1st person in the food court that morning. Yeah...that's early.I met with the chef and asked for the allergy Mickey waffles and a side of scrambled eggs. I knew I needed something protein based along with my sugar.
I have to say that the Mickey waffles weren't the best I've had, nor were they the worst. They were good but nothing special. The eggs were way overcooked but still edible. Overall, I preferred my entree from Day #1 over the Mickey waffles, but that's just me.In general, Old Port Royale Food Court had nice options for gluten free & dairy free breakfast diners like me. I found my meals to be perfectly adequate and safely prepared. Sure, it wasn't my favorite place on property, but if you're staying at Caribbean Beach this is a great option for a meal.I'd give these visits a 7 out of 10. Solid quick service meals with good special diets accommodations.Have you been to Old Port Royale Food Court? What meals did you enjoy there?
Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in May 2014.
When it comes to fried food, you know that I'm a total sucker. I adore chicken tenders, fish and chips and just about anything that comes out of Cooke's of Dublin. This is a brief post, as I popped by recently to meet up with a friend and her family while they were vacationing at Disney. She's also gluten free and dairy free, and let me tell you sharing this restaurant with her was so exciting. She & her family liked it so much they came back that evening for dinner! (never underestimate the power of gluten free & dairy free fried foods!)On this particular visit, we stopped by right at 11 a.m. when they open. I like doing this because this place gets super packed at lunch time. I ordered my new favorite - shrimp & chips and my friend ordered the gluten free fish & chips. For a full list of gluten free & dairy free options, see my previous post about Cooke's of Dublin.I think the only thing I can say is that this restaurant consistently under-salts their food. I try to make sure I get a packet or two of salt and put it on as soon as I get my hot fried food. Salting is key with fried foods for me. Add in some cocktail sauce, and you're good to go.Overall, I always enjoy my visits to Cooke's of Dublin, and it has become one of my go-to spots at Downtown Disney for quick service. It's fast, delicious, and affordable.I give this experience a 7 out of 10.Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What is your favorite thing to order there?
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?
Mara -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
The Mara is perhaps one of my favorite quick service locations on Disney property and easily one of my tops for a resort quick service restaurant. I love the African inspired food and the quality of food that is served at this location. This location is also extremely special diets friendly and has a ton of options for guests who are gluten free and dairy free.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for dinner on the evening before my last race of the 2013-2014 runDisney race season - the Royal Family 5K. I didn't want to order anything too complicated or outside of my normal realm of food choices, especially so I didn't upset my stomach for race day.I will say that this restaurant was packed (around 6 p.m.) that night and there were a ton of other racers also dining there. Of course, there was pasta as a pre-race special but I'm not a huge GF pasta fan, so I skipped that option. Once I got to the front of the line, I asked for a chef and they quickly brought out one to chat with me. I forgot to write down his name, but he was a very friendly older gentleman who was very willing to go over options with me. Here are some options he gave me:
- Angus Bacon Burger with fries (on a GF/DF bun)
- Allergy chicken tenders with fries
- Flatbread minus the cheese
- Oak-smoked Rotisserie Chicken substitute something else for the mashed potatoes
- Mara Salad with Chicken
- African Stew
- Harissa Salmon (with some substitutions - can't remember what though)
There were a few other options that I can't recall, but ultimately, I decided to go with the allergy chicken tenders and fries. I know, I know...kinda boring, but I knew they wouldn't upset my stomach, plus they are just darn delicious!While I waited for my food I got a chance to check out the restaurant to see if there were any special diets options available, and wouldn't you know it I found the Babycakes NYC cupcakes. They are the mini cupcakes in a 4 pack, and it's great that you can find these here.
I also noticed that they had boxes out for runners with bagels, etc. I have to say that it would be really great if they offered some alternatives for guests who have special dietary needs too. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to accommodate!
Once I got my chicken tenders (which came out faster than some other people's non-special diets meals!), I headed back to my villa at Kidani Village. I got to rest up and enjoy my dinner while watching the Must Do's on TV. The must do's are simply a must do!
As usual, the allergy chicken tenders were perfect. They actually did a great job frying these (almost as good as Columbia Harbour House!) - though the fries were a little soggy by the time I got back to my room. Either way, it was exactly what I wanted before my race and quite delicious.Next time I visit the Mara, I'll have to try something else. It's been forever since I've had the African Stew and the Mara Salad also sounded interesting.I'd give this experience an 8 out of 10.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite dishes here?
Contempo Cafe -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Contemporary
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Contempo Cafe, located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, offers fast and convenient fare for guests who are in the resort. Set right in the hustle and bustle of the fourth floor, guests dining at Contempo Cafe can enjoy the sights and sounds from Chef Mickey's and watch the monorail whiz by. 
On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick breakfast. Having had less than stellar breakfast here before (yuck, horrible allergy Mickey waffles), I decided I just wanted a side of eggs and a side of the famous Disney stringy bacon.It took quite a while for the manager to come by; in fact, they had to page her multiple times. When she arrived, I knew what I wanted and let her know that it was just basic scrambled eggs and bacon. Easy enough. She took care of that while I paid, and in fact, my food was ready before I had even paid - so I guess that makes up for the long wait time beforehand.
Taste-wise, these were nothing to write home about. The eggs were fine, if not a little bland, and the bacon was the same bacon you can get pretty much anywhere at Disney. It certainly wasn't memorable, but it was solid and my stomach thanked me for having something in it. I will say that I'm not a fan of their breakfast potatoes here (the same ones as next door at Chef Mickey's) and their breakfast turkey sausage is really not great either. But, if you're looking for a quick basic breakfast, this place has got you covered.I'd give this experience a 6 out of 10. Nothing of note to report. Just blah and bland.
Sommerfest -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- World Showcase -- Epcot
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
Sometimes you just want a quick bite to eat and Sommerfest, located in the Germany pavilion in the World Showcase, fits the bill nicely. Offering a limited quick service menu, guests can order bratwurst and frankfurters gluten free. On this particular occasion, I stopped by to get a bratwurst on a gluten free and dairy free bun.Prior to Fall 2013, Sommerfest was carrying the Udi's Gluten Free buns; however, they are not carrying these anymore, but rather the Ener-G buns. The unfortunate part is that they don't seem to know how to heat them properly and 9 times out of 10, they are cold, which makes for a rather unpleasant and almost styrofoamy texture. Still, smother anything in enough sauerkraut I suppose and it won't taste too badly? (That is if you like sauerkraut!)
In the past, they also used to get the buns from Biergarten located next door; however, the last two times they have carried the buns in the kiosk itself. In fact, I watched the person preparing the food in the back, and they actually changed gloves and then went into the refrigerator to get my Ener-G bun. Again, the heating factor seemed to be missing on these.As far as taste goes, the bratwurst and the sauerkraut are great. The bun...again not so much. Please heat these guys...I'm begging you! Special Diets people like decent buns too!On a side note, the curry ketchup they serve is supposed to be gluten free & dairy free, so double-check and you might be able to replace that with regular ketchup when enjoying a Frankfurter. I might do that the next time I'm there myself!As always, this location has OK fare - it's something just a little different than burgers. I would rate this particular experience a 6 out of 10. Really because of that darn bun!Have you been to Sommerfest?
Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
I have a confession to make....I really like gluten free & dairy free fried foods. Well, who can blame me right? Anything that is safe for me to consume that's fried is a rare treat, and that's probably why I love these kinds of food so much. And the items at Cooke's of Dublin fit the bill nicely.Located in Downtown Disney, Cooke's of Dublin is the quick service version of Raglan Road Irish Pub which is located next door to this location. They do, in fact, use a lot of the same recipes for their gluten free & dairy free fried items, but they are a little more affordable and fast on the service. This means they are a great quick service spot in Downtown Disney for special diets diners.The last time that I visited, I enjoyed their fish and chips which are essentially the same as the version you can get at Raglan Road (though I do think a teensy bit greasier). I like them a lot but what really caught my attention was that they could make quite a few gluten free & dairy free options. They include:
- The Original One & One – Fish & Chips $10.95
- Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops $12.95
- Cold Water Shrimp $11.95
- Battered Chicken Tenders $9.95
- Double Dipped Onion Rings $5.00
- Fresh Chips $5.00
I knew I just had to have the fried shrimp because, well...why not? I had tried the scallops, fish and chips, and onion rings all next door and as much as I love chicken tenders I figured shrimp was the way to go. And I was not at all disappointed!
First off, the shrimp portions were really good. I figured I might just have a few but there were quite a lot in this serving. They were piping hot and really delicious. The shrimp were definitely of a high quality and were well fried. Again, a little greasy, but heck I'm not complaining. The fries were equally good. The cocktail sauce at the restaurant perfectly accompanied the shrimp. They still need to salt their fried foods just a wee bit more, but again nothing some sauce won't cure.Overall, I was super pleased with this lunch, and I really enjoyed the shrimp. I'm fairly certain I didn't talk for a while during that lunch! I would order this dish again easily. And I would actually order this over the fish and chips any day. I like my fish and chips better next door at Raglan Road, but for shrimp - this place has got me covered. I'm very curious about the scallops here portion wise compared to next door at Raglan Road as well as the chicken tenders. They all sound great!For a quick service, this still is my favorite Downtown Disney location for reasonable prices and excellent GF/DF offerings.This visit was a solid 8 out of 10 for me.Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What's your favorite gluten free/dairy free fried dish?
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?
The Mara -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge
*This dining experience took place in January 2014.
The Mara at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers African inspired quick service fare at a reasonable price with a nice variety for guests craving more than just burgers and fries. Nestled near the pool area of Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, this is the only quick service location at the resort.On this particular occasion, I stopped by the Mara the day before my runDisney Marathon Weekend Family Fun Run 5K and I wanted to grab something before my dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. I didn't want anything substantial, just a little something to tide me over. When I arrived, I notified a cast member who then got the chef. Once the chef came out, he asked me what I wanted. I told him that I wanted probably a kids meal - something lighter. He said I could have a burger and fries, which I did not want, a pizza, which I also did not want (sorry but Disney & pizza just do not mix!), a turkey sandwich, and chicken tenders. I asked if I could get the chicken tenders as a kids meal and he said yes; however, he did not prepare a kids meal and I was charged for an adult meal. Ah well, you win some you lose some. I should have gone with the turkey sandwich, and in the future I may grab that when I visit the Mara. The chef also offered me French fries with my chicken tenders but I opted for green beans instead.
The allergy chicken tenders are the same that you will find throughout Disney property. I like them a lot, though I think some locations are better at frying than others (for example Columbia Harbour House has frying down to an art!). I'm so thankful that Disney has dedicated allergy fryers, that I can't really complain even when they aren't as crispy as I would like. These were fairly well done and quite delicious. I do kind of wish locations like this would make their own dipping sauces. I could imagine a really tasty African inspired BBQ sauce with these tenders.
The green beans were good but spicy. Almost a little too spicy for me. I thought the spices on them were a little too heavy and that they could have scaled back a little. I really enjoyed the sauteed onion in the green beans and the beans were cooked down well for me -- which is helpful when you have Crohn's. I'd get these again but might check to see if they are pre-made or they could scale down the seasoning.Overall, this was a nice quick meal for me and satisfied my hunger in between breakfast and my big dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. I'd give this a 7 out of 10. The food was not bad but not amazing either. A middle of the road experience.Have you been to the Mara for lunch or dinner? What do you recommend readers order?
The Mara -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge
*This dining experience took place in January 2014.
What better way to start the day than with a breakfast at the Mara in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. For a unique and delicious quick service breakfast, the Mara can't be beat. Serving up classic American breakfast fare to Africa inspired options, there is certainly a lot of variety for guests visiting the Mara.On this particular occasion, I visited post-runDisney race. Having just finished the Family Fun Run 5K during the Marathon Weekend events, I was ready for a hearty meal and of course, those allergy friendly Mickey waffles. A girl's gotta get her carbs in after a tough race!Upon arrival, I notified a cast member that I had a special diet. They then got Chef Vickie, who assisted me not that long ago at Boma post-Jingle Jungle 5K, so I knew she would be able to provide me with a great breakfast. I told her that I was interested in the bounty platter but no sausage (typically it comes with bacon and sausage) and asked if I could make a strange request. I was really craving the Boma grilled asparagus and I asked if it was possible to swap that sausage out for asparagus. I was surprised when she said yes! I also got two allergy Mickey waffles.It did take a little bit for the food to come out, and when it did it was missing Mickey waffles. Chef Vickie explained that they had to make a batch for me and it might take a few minutes. She did offer me Kinnikinnick muffins and/or donuts in exchange (which I love) but you know me, I gotta have my Mickey waffles!
I have to say that the Mara consistently has one of the best quick service breakfasts on property. 1. Their scrambled eggs are always made fresh for me and they don't taste like they've been made in a giant batch. 2. The breakfast potatoes are amazing. I love the seasoning on them. They are also the same ones you can get at Boma. 3. They have a good variety of options. I could order quinoa or even the pap & chakalaka for my breakfast. I love that. Of course, there are many more reasons why I love the Mara, but these are just a few!The breakfast I had that morning didn't disappoint. As always, the eggs were well cooked and the potatoes were excellent. I also was so excited to add in the asparagus. It's one of my favorites. I will say, it wasn't cooked as much as I would have liked, but still it had great grill flavor.
Last but not least were the Mickey waffles. Chef Vickie brought these out to my table when they were done. I will say they were extra crispy and piping hot! This was the perfect way to end my breakfast. And thank goodness she only gave me two. I might have eaten a lot more at that point in time!Overall, I can't say enough good things about the Mara. It continues to surprise me, especially for breakfast. Of course, you know I'm a big breakfast person so I'm partial to their breakfast offerings but still it's a great quick service location on property and one of the best in my opinion! A solid 9 out of 10 for this visit!Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite dishes here?
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Five
This morning, we are having breakfast with our friends, Mark and Louise Mullen, at Kona Cafe.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I’m the only one of the 4 of us to have eaten here before (it’s one of my favorite breakfast spots!)My sister always, always gets the Tonga Toast and I always, always get the Big Kahuna or the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes. But I’ve come across something in all my internet research the last few weeks – I saw a blog somewhere (and cannot figure out where exactly now) that said you could get Tonga Sliders here that are made with GF rolls! I decided that if I could get those, I’d go with that instead of one of my usuals.Chef Josh comes to the table and there’s some small talk while Ethan orders the Big Kahuna modified to be GF (allergy Mickey waffles instead of the pancakes and French toast). Chef Josh looks at me and I say “I heard a rumor that there’s something called Tonga Sliders?…” and his mouth fell open! He asks where I heard it. I incorrectly credit (blame?) Sarah since that’s where I got most of my GF info on eating at WDW. He says only he does them and he only started doing it 3 weeks ago and he can’t believe how fast that information traveled! (Sarah's note: I knew they used to be able to make a gluten free version and that they can make a vegan version with advance notice, but I had been told they stopped making these, so it's neat to see that they are starting them back up. Jaime's correct that I hadn't heard this!) -- UPDATE 3/2014 - The Tonga Toast Sliders are NO LONGER available. The restaurant stopped serving them due to cost.Here’s Ethan’s modified Big Kahuna:
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And here’s my GF Tonga Sliders:
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And for comparison – this is what the real Tonga Toast looks like:
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. (Sarah's note: This is NOT gluten free) |
I’m in heaven! I traded Ethan one Mickey waffle for a Tonga Slider. Chef Josh comes out during the meal and is checking on us. I ask about the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes being modified and they don’t have a dedicated griddle, just the waffle iron. I asked, for future reference, if they’d do the allergy Mickey waffles with the pineapples and macadamia butter, because I really love them. He said yes, and then ran into the kitchen to bring me some of each! It was amazing! I put it on my waffle and on the Tonga Slider!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
This was an even better breakfast than I’ve had there before! I can’t say enough about Chef Josh or the Tonga Sliders!Lunch was at EPCOT today before we have to head back on the road to go home – what a fast weekend! We end up at La Cantina de San Angel since Mexican food is one of the easier ones to work around being GF. We were extremely hungry by the time we stopped, so I didn’t even bother with the manager, I just made sure the chips were corn, not flour. And I have no idea what anyone else ordered… (Sarah's note: the corn tortilla chips are not made in a dedicated fryer the last time I checked and were not gluten free. :( Ask a manager on-hand to make sure when you visit, as this may or may not have changed)
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I ordered the Nachos - corn tortilla chips with ground beef, nacho cheese, fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, black beans, and sour cream.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
It was fine, basic nachos… we were also very tired and bummed that we were leaving right afterwards.All in all, I was very impressed with the Disney training for counter service locations: every cast member we encountered was very knowledgeable about handling an allergy situation for a guest. As for the table services, it seemed hit or miss on whether you got a chef who enjoyed what he did or was just accommodating you.We’re going back in February and will go back to a few of these (Be Our Guest for lunch and dinner, Kona for breakfast, Mara for breakfast) and we’ll add some new places to Ethan’s list (Prime Time, Boma, Chefs de France). It will be interesting to compare the experiences since we were there over a holiday weekend vs. a slow week of crowds!Thank you so much Jaime for all the awesome reviews!! Do you have a trip report with a special diet that you'd like to share? Let me know by emailing me!
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Four
Friday, November 29, 2013Today is Ethan’s first day ever in the Magic Kingdom! I’m not sure who was more excited!Breakfast was granola bars in the car because we wanted to go to Be Our Guest for lunch, which meant getting in line early and eating an early lunch. I went picture crazy just standing in line!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan found a Hidden Mickey on the last suit of armor on your right!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
It took about 15 minutes to get up to a cashier. I had been hoping for one of the self-order kiosks, but it wasn’t a big deal. We told him there was a wheat allergy and he listed the 5 items on the menu that were safe or modified to be safe. He rattled them off very quickly I might have gotten 1 or 2 wrong (I believe he said “tuna, quinoa, ham, roast beef, turkey”). (Sarah's note: See Sarah's post with some of the gluten free options listed HERE) I ordered the roast beef; Ethan got the turkey. We don’t normally get desserts, but I just had to try the lemon and raspberry cream puff. Because we had Magic Bands, they scanned that instead of giving us a rose tracker. We were free to find a table and get drinks (and wander and snap photos!).
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
We were served fairly quickly – but no trolley for us! Our food came out on a human!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I’d seen photos of other gluten free sandwiches here and they always came out on bread, so we were really surprised to see the buns! And, I don’t know if it was the ambiance or the company or the food, but this is the best roast beef sandwich I’ve ever eaten…
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The only thing that made this lemon raspberry cream puff “raspberry” was the single raspberry sitting on top. It’s just lemon flavored otherwise, but it was still very good!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan and I agreed that if every meal at Be Our Guest was this good, we don’t want to ever eat anywhere else again!Dinner is at Tony’s Town Square.I haven’t eaten here in probably 10 years, but I kept seeing good review after good review for their GF pasta, so here we are. We checked in and found a seat in the waiting area (no pager, they call your name) where there’s a TV for the kids playing what appeared to be an endless loop of the movie Lady and the Tramp. One of the waitresses was coming around with a tray of tiny hot cups – they were handing out hot chocolate since it was really, really cold out (the low was supposed to be 37!)We were seated fairly quickly and the waitress was wonderful. She went to get the chef who was out extremely fast (I really wish I could remember his name) and was very helpful and friendly. We both ordered spaghetti and meatballs. He said he’d send out rolls first.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
These rolls were HOT! They were also very good and didn’t even last until the pasta came out! Bonus points on your rolls, Tony’s!Then there was the pasta and meatballs.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan proclaimed the meatballs bland. I thought the whole dish was just so-so. I can make GF pasta at home better than this. (Now I remember why we didn’t come here for 10 years.) It wasn’t “bad”, just not anything you can’t do yourself.Now I know I said we don’t do desserts, but the waitress tells us the crème brule is GF – the Pistachio crème brule… we decide we can split it. It was fantastic.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
So aside from rolls and dessert, I’m done with Tony’s Town Square… again…Stay tuned for Day 5 of Jaime's trip report!
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Three
This series of guest reviews comes from blog reader Jaime. Her enthusiasm, excitement and love for Disney just shine through in her trip report, and I think you'll agree when you read them. Speaking with her before her vacation, I was just so excited to hear her recap when she returned. Jaime provided a thorough trip report, so I have broken it up by days. You'll want to make sure to read them all (I'll link to them in each post)! Thank you again, Jaime, for your awesome reviews!
Thursday, November 28, 2013Happy Thanksgiving!We spent today at Hollywood Studios. We just missed rope drop, so we need breakfast. The only place I know that serves breakfast is Starring Rolls (it was also the only place listed in the Times Guide). We got to the bakery case and I asked about GF. All they had was some kind of strawberry parfait. Not very breakfast-y… so I asked about other places. She told me Fairfax Fare served breakfast also.The manager here tells us they can do the breakfast sandwiches on buns, but she’ll need to run and get them, so it’ll take a few minutes. No problem. I ordered egg, cheese, and sausage. Ethan ordered egg and sausage.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I was excited about a breakfast sandwich – it’s been a while! This was a longer wait than we’d been having, but not anything to complain about. We could see the manager making our food when she got back. Ethan was just eating his, I was enjoying mine.Cross section of the egg, cheese, and sausage – anyone know what brand of buns these were? (Sarah's note: These are GNI Brand Buns)
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Lunch ended up being at Backlot Express.I wanted a hot dog and knew they had Udi’s buns here. Our manager was Dan from WI. He was one of the best! He came out from behind the counter and really talked with us about our choices. He went over the whole menu before asking if we had any thoughts or questions. He brought the cashier into the conversation when it was time to place the order and told us he’d be back – DO NOT TAKE FOOD FROM ANYONE BUT HIM! Wow! We could see him in the back making everything, too.It took a very long time to get the food, but it was totally worth it for the service Dan provided. He handed us the food with the last warning of DON’T EAT THE BAR-B-Q SAUCE FROM THE CONDIMENT MACHINE! Flame Tree should have told me that the other day…
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
You know that hot dog bun has already fallen apart, don’t you? I didn’t care; it was a hot dog ON a bun!Ethan ordered Grilled Turkey & Cheese - multigrain ciabatta with arugula and red peppers served with French fries or carrot sticks. He said it was very good.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Thanksgiving Dinner was at the Sci-Fi. I had been thinking about this meal for months now. I wanted the spinach-artichoke dip and chips and a specialty shake.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The chef said I couldn’t have the spinach dip and I was so crushed, I didn’t even ask why – I don’t know if it was the dip or the chips! (UPDATE: My daughter asked on her trip – it’s in the dip mix). He was pushing the steak and the ribs. The voice in my head that says things that shouldn’t be spoken out loud was noticing the price tag on the “suggested” items.We both ended up getting the Build-Your-Own Angus Chuck Burger - Flame-broiled Beef Patty with Cheddar or Swiss, crispy Bacon, Lettuce, and Vine-ripened Tomatoes; choice of Cucumber Salad or French Fries. The hamburgers were wrapped in pizza crusts, I believe. It was tasty and I liked the texture of the crust with the burger. But I was really bummed about the spinach dip.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I did get a specialty shake, just not the one I planned on – tonight (for the holiday) they had a pumpkin pie shake. It was amazing!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And Ethan ordered a glass of wine. (sorry, so not a wine expert here)
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The movies and clips are always fun to watch. It was a lovely Thanksgiving, but we won’t be back for a while – just not enough variety on the menu to try.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day One
BackgroundHi, I’m Jaime. I’m 45 and live just outside of Chicago. Thanksgiving, 2013, found my new husband, Ethan, and I driving to Walt Disney World for our first Gluten-Free trip. I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy in June and, in a huge show of support, Ethan went GF with me. While I’m extremely lucky that my allergy is minor (it was only discovered because I was having a contact allergy to something else), the other benefits of being GF were a surprise to us both: my migraines are gone, my PMS symptoms have almost completely vanished, and both our ragweed allergies have diminished significantly! Plus we both felt this odd sense of being ‘clear’, physically and mentally… it’s a strange sensation to describe.I’m a WDW Vet – this was trip #39. Ethan has spent a total of ONE DAY in a Disney park in his life (I took him to EPCOT over a quick Super Bowl Weekend trip earlier this year), and he had never been to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios. I have a lot to show him!After being diagnosed with the wheat allergy, I scoured the internet for advice. I made ADRs and changed ADRs and read more dining reviews and made more changes. We packed GF snacks and food for the car ride (I made tuna salad sandwiches for dinner – you have to love how GF bread doesn’t get soggy!) I also made one of my (not so) Famous Peanut Butter and Swedish Fish Sandwiches! Don’t judge – it’s like a portable peanut butter & jelly!Day 1: Tuesday, November 26, 2013We arrived in Orlando and headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I wanted to show Ethan around (this is where we’re staying on our next trip) and grab lunch at The Mara Food Court.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan and I perused the menu for a few minutes while in line (and came up with a couple of possibilities) and when it was our turn to place our order, I just said “We have a food allergy.” The cast member immediately asked us to hold on one second, she was going to call for a chef. It took a few minutes for him to come out, but he was full of apologies (it wasn’t that long!). He asked what the allergy was and said there was a lot we could do. He mentioned the fries were GF. He asked what we were thinking about and mentioned that they keep Udi’s pizza crusts in back for the flatbreads. We had both decided we didn’t want to go too basic by ordering a burger or chicken nuggets this early in the trip (and we had dinner scheduled in 3.5 hours, so we were going to split this meal).I decided to push it a little and asked if he could do the chicken pita sandwich: chicken breast served on a warm pita with sun-dried tomato hummus, cucumber, tomato, and mixed greens with mint yogurt sauce with choice of Couscous or French Fries.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The chef looked up at the menu, tipped his head back and forth while he thought, and announced “Yes, I can do that!”We were given a pager, got our drinks, and headed outside to a table. It took 7 minutes total for the pager to go off! I really thought it would have been longer. I went back for our tray and it was on a separate surface than someone else’s – I shouldn’t have been shocked by the care they took, but I was!The sandwich was delicious (the sauce was a little spicy) and, with the fries, plenty to share!
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Dinner tonight is at The Wave in the Contemporary Resort.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
There were many things on the menu that looked good to me: Herb-salt Seasoned Beef Tenderloin - with tomato-green bean salad with Cypress Grover Creamery Lamb Chopper Cheese and citrus-herb butter, Thompson Farms Pork Tenderloin - soy-pineapple honey marinade, pineapple salsa, bonito and cauliflower mash, and the Dry-rubbed Flat Iron Steak - au gratin potato and winter vegetables.The waitress (Diane) took our drink order and said a chef would be right out. About 5 minutes later, she came back and asked if anyone had come out. Um, no.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I didn’t think the restaurant was all that busy, but when Chef Tom came out, he appeared rushed and stressed. He apologized for the wait, but was looking around the restaurant as we talked, so the sincerity of it fell kind of flat. He checked what the allergy was and asked if we had anything in mind. I said I had heard good things about the pork and the flat Iron Steak. He said the pork was out because of the sauce, but he could do it plain. So I chose the flat iron steak. Ethan chose the beef tenderloin.Chef Tom called Diane over and gave her our orders within earshot. After he left, she went over them one more time to make sure. I appreciated her care with the order. She left to go get GF rolls for our bread service. I have to admit to being surprised, and I can only attribute that to the fact that neither of us has had more than 2 hours of sleep in the last day and a half. Of course, when the bread service comes, they were out of rolls and we got GF bread.
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Is that Udi’s? It doesn’t look like it to me, but I’m not good at telling the different breads yet. And the butter was yummy!We were exhausted and famished and finished the bread and butter off very quickly. The entrees took about 10-15 minutes.Ethan’s beef tenderloin:
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And my flat iron steak:
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| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Both were cooked perfectly and this would have been an amazing dinner if we weren’t so tired. The au gratin potatoes were fantastic. It turns out I’m not a fan of winter vegetables. We will go back, just not anytime soon.Stay tuned for Day 2 of Jaime's review!!
Everything Pop -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Pop Century
*This dining experience took place in December 2013.
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| Sign for Everything Pop in the resort elevators |
Everything Pop, located in Disney's Pop Century Resort, offers a variety of options for guests with special dietary needs. As the resort's main dining location, they offer quick service fare that is fast, tasty, and convenient. Their breakfast options include many classic staples like waffles and scrambled eggs. The best part is that the chefs here really work with guests to create custom and safe dishes for those who have particular dietary needs.On this particular occasion, I visited for breakfast while staying at Pop Century. I had eaten dinner here the night before, and while the chef had been very helpful, I ordered something that wasn't my favorite dish I'd eaten there (see that review HERE). I was very excited for breakfast though, because I knew they had my favorite allergy Mickey waffles. You know I just can't go to breakfast and not get them!
It was a fairly busy morning (around 8 a.m.) as guests were getting ready to go to the parks and resorts for the day. I found a cast member who then paged a chef for me. I totally spaced on getting the chef's name in the morning (someone stayed out at Epcot a little late), but he was very helpful. He basically asked me what I wanted, and I told him I knew I wanted some scrambled eggs, bacon, and allergy Mickey waffles. Easy enough. After writing down my order, he brought over a page for me and told me to come back when it went off. I took this as an opportunity to wander the location for special diets grab and go options.
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| Paging Mr. Morrow...Mr. Tom Morrow...oh wait, I'm not in Tomorrowland! |
I found several options, including the OMG It's Gluten Free brand brownies (gluten free only) and chocolate chip cookies (gluten and dairy free) as well as the Lundberg Rice Chips, Larabars, Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn, and Surf Sweets. Someone recently asked me if I had seen Surf Sweets on property lately, and this is the first time I have in a while. I was glad to see them here!
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| Special Diets grab and go items |
I did not notice any Babycakes NYC mini cupcakes or even any gluten free beer options. Although it was early in the day, so perhaps it wasn't stocked.
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| Bounty platter modified |
Essentially, the chef gave me the Bounty Platter (served at most quick service locations) modified. I had scrambled eggs, which were fairly good, bacon (sadly the stringy Disney bacon), sausage (which I did not eat), Udi's toast and allergy Mickey waffles. Interestingly enough both Art of Animation and Pop Century's allergy Mickey waffles are a combination of mixes; they use Namaste AND Bob's Red Mill together. Personally, I prefer just the Bob's Red Mill alone but these weren't bad. Everything tastes better Mickey shaped right? I was not given any regular maple syrup but rather the syrup that they carry in the main condiment area (it has corn syrup in it). I did notice they had Sugar Free maple syrup on hand.
I've been given this syrup many times on property. It's gluten free and certified Kosher. I still prefer the fully leaded pure maple syrup!
Overall, I found the breakfast at Everything Pop to be pretty decent for a quick service meal. It wasn't anything special, but it was safe, tasty, and a good solid quick service meal. I would definitely get breakfast here again.Have you been to Everything Pop for breakfast? What's your favorite special diets breakfast option?
Everything Pop -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Pop Century
*This dining experience took place in December 2013.
Set in the Classic Hall of Disney's Pop Century Resort, Everything Pop is your one stop shop for shopping and dining. With a variety of food stations and many grab and go items, Everything Pop offers quick service fare that fits all types of appetites and meal needs. Many of the food items served are are reminiscent of days gone by -- from fried chicken to lasagna and even tie-dyed cheesecake. But what's a guest with special dietary needs to do? Luckily, the team at Everything Pop can provide lots of options for guests with dietary needs.On this particular visit, I was staying at Pop Century Resort and wanted to grab a late bite for dinner. It was nearly 8 p.m., so to say I was hungry is an understatement. Luckily, the quick service location is open from 11 a.m. - midnight so I had plenty of time to get a hot meal.
Upon arrival, I found a cast member who was located in the middle of the quick service ordering area. Often a cast member is placed there to assist guests with questions, including contacting a chef from the kitchen for those with special diets. The CM paged a chef who then came out to assist me. Chef Fred went over the options with me and told me that they had a variety of things that they could make.One of the first things he offered was gluten free & dairy free pizza. They have several kinds of alternative non-dairy cheeses on hand. He said they can also make them flatbread style without the cheese. I wasn't in the mood for pizza or a sandwich, which I've had before at Pop Century, and he suggested the roasted chicken entree (which would take a bit because they had to make the green beans dairy free), the create your own salad option, or the coconut curry shrimp (this last one needed no modifications). I opted for the coconut curry shrimp as I am a big fan of all things curry. The chef then went to the station and got the dish for me.
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| Chef getting my coconut curry shrimp |
Once I got my meal, I made a beeline to a table to eat! Of course, even at 8 p.m. it was fairly busy in the restaurant. Luckily, there is plenty of seating to be found.
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| Coconut Curry Shrimp with rice |
The entree itself came in a take-out container, almost like the ones you would get at a Chinese take-out restaurant. This meant my pictures didn't come out that great. Sorry! One thing I will say is that the food was not very temperature hot. It was however, spicy hot! Flavor wise it wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I would say it was mediocre. Still, it was a very filling meal served in a large portion. Guests who are craving really authentic curry should stick to locations like Sanaa. My family got the roasted chicken, and I kind of wish I had gone with that! That being said, I've enjoyed some of the sandwiches I've had at Everything Pop (I really liked the tuna salad sandwich). This dish was just OK. Also, not the best thing to order at 8 p.m. when you have Crohn's. My tummy wasn't super thrilled with that choice!Overall, I did find that the location offered a lot of variety; I just made a less than stellar choice for myself. Chef Fred was very willing to customize and make me something that was tasty, and I really appreciated that. I've also heard rave reviews about Chef Jose who works here in terms of customization and special diets offerings!I also had the chance to visit for breakfast during this visit and found the breakfast offerings more my speed.Have you been to Everything Pop for a quick service meal? What were your favorite special diets dishes?