Biergarten -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

 The Germany pavilion in Epcot makes you feel like you are in Munich for Oktoberfest. There’s a lot of charm to this spot in the World Showcase and Biergarten, the pavilion’s table service location, really embodies this essence. The restaurant is set to resemble a German Oktoberfest celebration, complete with an Oompah Band and communal dining. I had heard lots of great reviews for vegetarian dining from the Disney Hipsters, Adam and Andrew, and also lots of gluten free diners. Believe it or not, I had never been to Biergarten, so I decided to stop by for lunch as a part of the Candelight Processional Dinner Package (more on that in another post).Biergarten is set far back in the pavilion. It’s located next to Sommerfest which is the quick service location that serves bratwurst, currywurst and macaroni & cheese among its offerings. I occasionally pop by this location because I really enjoy the bratwurst on a gluten free/dairy free bun (which varies) and sauerkraut (you can read a review about this restaurant HERE). When we went to check in to this location, I saw the prices for meals—for an all-you-care-to-eat location, I thought it was pretty reasonable! Way cheaper when you compare some of the other buffet or family style locations. Plus, if you are a Tables in Wonderland card holder, you get 20% off or 10% off for Annual Passholders.

 The restaurant check-in was super busy, and we tried to check in 30 minutes early but were told to come back 15 minutes before our ADR. Wow, that was actually a first for us. So, we wandered around the World Showcase for a bit, and then came back to check-in. The cast members give you the spiel about siting with other diners (which we knew ahead of time) and also climbing stairs. As we saw when we got in the restaurant, it would be slightly more difficult if you had mobile challenges, as there were levels of seating. Once our pager went off, we were taken into the restaurant with a group of 5 plus our group of 3.I’m not going to lie, seating is a little weird, especially if you have an odd numbered party.  We sat towards the railing at our table and our table-mates sat closer to the walk-way. Once seated our server clarified who was in each party and then took drink orders. She also told me she would get the chef for me. The rest of the table went to get in line – which was a good idea because it was crazy busy in there. Evidently the Candelight Processional dinner package meant the 1 p.m. time frame was nutso!

 The chef came over and offered to walk me around the buffet. He basically went over the options which were safe and which to stay away from. Pretty much all of the non-breaded meats were safe (i.e. bratwursts, sausage, cold cuts, pates, etc.) Most of the veggies were safe too with the exception of the cold potato salad, macaroni gratin, and some other items. All but one sauce for the carving station were gluten free & dairy free (aka sweet mustard). Soups were definitely out--dairy and gluten filled cream based soups! Dessert basically off-limits except the fruit compote which came in individual ramekins. Then the chef pretty much was going to walk away; but I wanted to ask if they had bread or buns (which I knew they had) and dessert options. He said he could get be a bun and maybe some cookies. I’ve heard really wonderful things about the chefs here from others, but this chef was pretty disinterested. I’m sure he was totally slammed in the back, but I felt like he was just trying to get through with me as quickly as possible.Heading back to the buffet, I saw several areas that felt like big cross contamination risks to me, especially because it was so busy. I actually waited and asked for fresh plates and serving spoons as they came out because they were replenishing things really quickly. For instance, I scored fresh roasted chicken (which was in between fish in a sauce, meatballs, and schnitzel – a gluten free nightmare!) and also fresh sausages and even fresh German potato salad (my favorite thing of the day). So, it definitely pays to ask. I stayed away from the salad area as much as possible.

 While walking back from the buffet stations, the Oompah band started. Did I mention how amazing these guys were? Totally charming and totally awesome. Not only was it great to have some live entertainment, but they also got the audience involved too. Plus, they sang Christmas songs. Talk about getting in the holiday spirit!

Really bad photo of the Oompah band!

As far as the food goes, it was actually fairly good. First off, I adored the plates and bowls. How cute are they? Loved the designs, and they very light plastic plates, so you wouldn't feel too horrible if you dropped one. As you can see from my plate, I had a menagerie of food items plopped into one. This was because I honestly didn't want to make a second huge trip (although I did go back for more bratwurst and German potato salad).

 Here are some of the things I got: Bean salad (which was green beans and other white beans with some type of vinegar sauce), pickles (FYI these were amazing! They were like a spicy bread & butter pickle that they make in-house), German potato salad (can you say lots of bacon?!), roasted root vegetables (parsnips, carrots), sauteed green beans and red onions (I'm still not sure what was in this but wow, it was good), roasted chicken, carved pork tenderloin, Bratwurst, some other type of wurst (which I hated and promptly gave to my family), sauerkraut, applesauce, mustard (not sweet), and curry ketchup (I adore curry ketchup!!). I did got back for seconds on several things, so I was definitely very full by the end of the meal!I will say that it's a good thing that I eat meat because I'm not sure a gluten free vegan or vegetarian would have many options. There are good options for vegetarians but add in another special diet and it seemed much harder.

I love the tea in the "beer" steins!

 The roll that was brought to me was Ener-G and it was not at all heated well. I'm fairly convinced they shoved it in a microwave and it turned hard instantly. Still, smother anything with some curry ketchup and it's good! (which is obviously what I did!).For dessert, I sampled the fruit compote (sorry I forgot to take photos), which were really yummy. Sweet but tart at the same time, I found the mixed berries (including strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries) to be really nice after a heavy meal. I also got Enjoy Life cookies and a Boom Boom Bar (which I love) for the road. That Boom Boom Bar was the perfect snack on my drive home from Disney!Overall, I liked Biergarten for the ambiance and the decor. Our table mates were not at all chatty and really weren't interested in interacting with our party, so it made for a weird vibe. It would be awesome if you had your whole family there or a big group of friends (which I plan to do). Food-wise, I would say it was OK. I liked a lot of the dishes but I also didn't love all of them. The roasted chicken was dry and bland and some of the sausages were just plain gross but I did find things I liked. I also wish the chef on this visit would have made more of an effort to help ensure cross-contamination risks by perhaps bringing me more items from the back--though I was able to work around that myself. Of course, the Oompah Band alone makes me want to go back again! We caught not one but two shows that afternoon!For this visit, I would give it a 7 for ambiance, charm, and fairly decent offerings.Have you been to Biergarten? What was your experience?

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

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Set atop the top floor of the Contemporary Resort, California Grill offers guests not only an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom but also a taste of culinary and seasonal offerings. Long hailed as one of the best places to dine on property, it was with great fanfare that this location went down for a lengthy refurbishment this past year. Having re-opened early this fall, many guests have been flocking to California Grill to see the new decor and taste items from the new menu. I finally was able to dine at this location after much anticipation.If you have read my past blog posts, you'll recall that I had my 30th birthday celebration dinner at California Grill. I adored the sea bass dish that I had, as well as the sushi (which California Grill is renowned for). I also had one of my favorite desserts there--a custom chocolate cake with non-dairy chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis. See that full review HERE. So, it was with great expectations that I went into this meal experience. It also happened to be my brother's 30th birthday meal celebration with friends & family, so it was an extra special night.

I love the new Mary Blair inspired decor

The first thing to know when you head to California Grill is that the main check-in is located on the 2nd floor of the Contemporary Resort. From there, you receive a pager and are taken by a cast member to the top floor of the resort to the restaurant. Once there, you can either spend time in the lounge enjoying a cocktail or wait for your seat to be ready. Our pager happened to go off while we were in the elevator, so we were seated quickly. It was also an early reservation 5:20 and the restaurant was not very busy yet.It was exciting to see the changes made to the restaurant. I like the wide openness of it and the new bright colors. It is said to be Mary Blair inspired (Mary Blair is a prominent Disney artist; you can see her touches all throughout the Contemporary Resort - including the large mural by the monorail - and by her work on rides like "It's a Small World."). Overall, it was a very big redesign. Everything is very streamlined and chic.

We had a large party (9) and were seated against one of the walls with a nice view of Walt Disney property. It's really impressive, especially as it gets darker! One of the new things I noticed was that there were iced containers located next to various groups of tables. This turned out to be where they serving their "house water" and keeping it here to chill. Someone posted that they use super purified water that is filtered 5 times. Our server didn't say, but it came out in big glass bottles that were then poured into our glasses.Speaking of our server, I have to say she was particularly unpleasant. I had been hearing some horror stories about the new California Grill staff and I have to say that unfortunately she lived up to those stories. She kept skipping over certain people at our table for drinks and was very grumpy. She seemed really grumpy after our orders and it only went downhill from there. Now our group was a family based one - we also had two children with us, one was 9 and the other was 11. As far as kids go, these two are extremely well-mannered and well-behaved. They are very polite and never fussed at the meal. They were also very engaging with the server which seemed to be off-putting to her. The kids certainly didn't notice but I was disappointed by her general lack of niceties. (*Note: at the time of day there were a lot of families with kids around in the restaurant).I was given a special diets sushi menu. This is kinda cool! It was nice to see that they gave some options right away for guests interested in sushi. It wasn't the clearest special diets menu I've ever seen but at least it was something. I was surprised then to learn that they didn't have any special dietary menu (some locations do this for ease for the guests & servers).

Special diets sushi offerings - see the menu transcribed HERE

When I started to talk about my special diet with the server her response was "We DO NOT bring the chef out." and that she would be working with me on this. I mentioned that I did not feel comfortable with this given Disney's policy is that chefs or managers consult with guests who have a special diet. This turned into the "We're not a typical Disney restaurant therefore the same rules do not apply" conservation began. Still, I insisted that I talk to a chef. When one came out, he seemed like this is not something they normally do (again, surprise on my end). He basically wouldn't give me any ideas of what to order for any portion of the meal, except dessert (I'll get to that in a minute). He said that they would "just substitute" whatever needed to be substituted. It was really quite strange overall. It was almost edging on the experience I had once at Jiko (which I have hailed as the worst dining experience I've ever had on property...see that HERE). But, I was optimistic. For dessert, the chef said my option was a pomegranate lime sorbet with fresh & seasonal fruits (he suggested pears). He did not take my order but rather told me that I would need to tell the server and they would coordinate. Again, this was feeling very strange given Disney's normal procedures.Meanwhile, the server brought out the GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Nothing really special to report on these. These were the same old rolls I get most places. Luckily, they did heat them properly.

GNI Brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil

I decided to order the Bell & Evans Chicken which normally comes with mashed yukon gold potatoes, Braised Lacinato Kale, Caramelized Onion Jus. Mine came out with smashed sweet potatoes and the other accompaniments. It also had some type of mild chicken sausage patty on the bottom (imagine my surprise when I discovered it!). The chicken itself was encrusted with spices (and was skin on) including fresh sage. There was only one bone included in the piece of chicken and the remaining portion was boneless (much easier to cut that way but ensures that flavor). 

Bell & Evans chicken

When I first bit into the chicken, I assumed the crust had some type of breading to it and I just wanted to confirm that it was safe. The server again did not want to get the chef and said that it was safe. "Just trust me." Clearly, she doesn't know what it's like to live with a special diet. Once I felt safe eating the dish, I found it to be delicious. It was very flavorful with a rich complexity that you don't often see in many dishes outside of signature dining locations. The chicken itself was perfectly cooked and the seasonings were outstanding. The kale was delicious and well sauteed as were the onions. The mashed sweet potatoes were good and complimented the dish, though I think the yukon golds would have been better. In general, everyone seemed very pleased with their meal choices which ranged from the filet of beef to the pork two ways to sushi and flatbreads. I think the only dish that seemed to be less than well received was the three-meat signature meatball dish. I decided to forgo sushi this time or another appetizer for the dessert, as the sorbet sounded intriguing and even more intriguing with the fruit. The server basically said gluten & dairy free options are fresh fruit or this sorbet only. When it arrived, I was very disappointed that 1) it didn't have any fruit with it as the chef had mentioned and 2) that it was literally just scoops of sorbet (and not pretty scoops either). I was just a wee bit shocked given that many restaurants that are not signature dining locations go out of their way to make visually appealing presentations even just of sorbet. 

Pomegranate Lime Sorbet

 Just so you can see for comparison how many of the other desserts looked like, here's a non special diets dessert....

This is NOT gluten free & dairy free - this is the Sundae Sampler dessert

Taste-wise, the sorbet was good. It was very limey and I enjoyed it a lot. But, it was also really sweet. It needed some other taste profile to counter-balance the extreme sweetness. 

Gorgeous view of the Magic Kingdom!

As far as the meal went, I enjoyed the food that I did eat very much. I thought the entree was really excellent and I almost wish I would have gone for sushi instead of the dessert option. As my brother put it, food was terrific, service was terrible. I'm hoping that this location is working on improving this, as I keep hearing very consistent feedback from others indicating the same disappointments service wise. I'm also still very disappointed by the chef and servers lack of concern and/or communication with me about special diets options. They really made me feel like an after-thought and that I was putting them out at this meal. It's not something that I normally get at Disney, and quite honestly it will likely deter me from heading to California Grill for a while. I can easily head to so many of my favorite places that have just as high quality offerings but better service overall. It's a gorgeous location and terrific for special occasions but if this is their special diets accommodation, I personally would go elsewhere. I'd rate this particular experience the following: food here an 8 (it lost a point for me because of the dessert, but would otherwise have been a 9) and 6 for the lousy service.  Have you been to California Grill yet since the location re-opened? How as your experience?

Trail's End -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Fort Wilderness

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

 Howdy folks! This was my first time visiting Fort Wilderness (can you believe it?!), and I've been long wanting to visit Trail's End Restaurant. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on special diets offerings but consistently I've heard that it's a very affordable restaurant with hearty fare. On this particular occasion, my family and I headed to Trail's End for lunch where the menu is a la carte.For those who might not be as familiar with Fort Wilderness Campground, it is comprised of cabins which guests can stay in, as well as locations for folks to bring in their campers & RVs. It really has a nice rustic feel to it, and truly encompasses that "camp" feeling. I felt a little bit like I was back at summer camp! Since our family had never been, we really want to explore as well as eat our meal. So, we made sure to hit the Settlement Trading Post across the way on our way out after lunch. We also just meandered a bit and looked at the grounds. It really does feel like you're totally removed from Disney property, which is kind of a neat thing for this resort! I'm so hoping to go check out the evening campfire now & maybe even the holiday sleigh rides!But back to lunch! Meals served at Trail's End are buffet all-you-care-to-eat for both breakfast and dinner, but lunch is a la carte. The fare is a bit rustic inspired - yes, there are s'mores on the menu! It also has a bit of a BBQ & Southern feel to it (they have Shrimp & Grits on the menu & Po' Boys). I was really curious to see how they handled special diets.

Inside of Trail's End - Yep, it feels like summer camp!

We checked into the restaurant and were seated within about five minutes. We didn't have much time to sit on the porch, but they did have checkers & rocking chairs (a bit like you would see at Cracker Barrel). That seemed like a great place to sit and relax. Once we got inside, we could definitely see the rustic theme continuing. I loved the wooden slats in the chairs and the overall campground cantina or mess hall feel. Breakfast was just finishing up, and we could see a lot of people still enjoying that. I have to say, the decor was rather charming, as were the cast member uniforms. They all had on jeans and blue shirts with bolo ties. Now, in general, I think bolo ties are a little bit outdated but they really did fit in here!

 Our waiter Ken took our drink orders and then notified the chef. One thing I really loved about the drinks -- Masons Jars!!! I really miss these from Whispering Canyon Cafe. The fact that they still have these makes me excited. And yes, it totally fits the theme of this location.

Yes, it's only water, but it's in a Mason Jar by golly!

Once the chef came out he went over the menu. I had to keep reminding him that I was gluten free AND dairy free, not just gluten free but it seemed like I had a good amount of choices. He didn't tell me there were any safe appetizers (now I hear they can make or get gluten free bread. I know Hoop Dee Doo Review usually has Babycakes on hand, though this may have changed). Some of the options he said were safe:

• Salad with Fresh Berries and Grilled Chicken Breast (minus the blue cheese)
• BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (on a GF/DF bun)
• Angus Chuck Cheeseburger (on a GF/DF bun)
• Shrimp & Grits (ONLY GF)
• Chicken & Waffles (served with grilled chicken instead of fried chicken, allergy friendly waffles--I have heard reports that it may be possible to get fried chicken GF but only at opening if the fryer hasn't been used--this was not offered to me, and I really wasn't up for fried chicken, but it would be nice to know if this is still the case)

Nothing was really standing out to me, except one thing...candied bacon. Yep, you read that right. Candied bacon. Non-meat eaters, I'm sorry I'm going to go on a shameless rant about bacon. I love good, thick cut and flavorful bacon and this one sounded sooo intriguing. The only problem is that it was topping the cheeseburger, and I don't really eat beef (maybe a burger a few times out of the year but that's it), so I really didn't want the burger. I asked if they could make a grilled chicken sandwich instead and top it with the bacon. The chef said he could, and this made me really excited! And it was totally worth ordering. I also was able to get their french fries. Their house fries are a blend of sweet potato & regular fries which is actually one of my favorite fry combos! If you've read one of my lunch reviews from Kona Cafe (see one HERE), you'll see I have actually asked for that combo before!

Chicken Sandwich with that glorious candied bacon - minus my fries. Don't worry I got a ton of them!

First up came the sandwich. I guess they had to make my fries separately in a dedicated fryer (or a pot, not sure) so mine were taking a bit. They wanted to make sure I got my sandwich though first. The bun they served was Udi's, which I prefer as far as the buns served on property. It's nice and thick and works just perfectly for a hearty sandwich. The chicken itself was grilled but had been marinated in some herbs. It was quite flavorful and the grill flavor, of course, is very nice. I asked for mayonnaise to top my sandwich is about the only accompaniment I felt I needed with the bacon & chicken. The red onion & lettuce also worked well as accompaniments. I ate the pickles on the side -- they were sweet, bread & butter pickles and I'm not sure I would have wanted them with the sandwich. Then, there was the bacon....can this post be an ode to candied bacon? (I think it already is!) This bacon was the BEST! It was thick cut first off, which was very good. As you've heard me mention many times, I like the thicker meatier bacon versus the stringier cafeteria style bacon. This was a really nice meaty bacon. Candied bacon is usually made with brown sugar and that's exactly what this tasted like. My mom makes these chicken bite appetizers made with chicken, brown sugar, chili powder and bacon and it so reminded me of that! The amount of bacon to sandwich ratio was quite generous.

That's a lot of fries!

Now, when my fries came out, I couldn't believe the portion size. Yikes! That was a lot of fries. I really liked how they were mixed together and really well seasoned. They had some sort of house seasoning on them that was salt, pepper, and likely some garlic or onion powder maybe. They were really good & piping hot. The sweet potato fries weren't too soggy, which can be really tricky. The only thing that might have made them better? The curry mango mayonnaise from Kona Cafe...Ok, I know that's not happening! But it sounds good to me!My family ordered the Po' Boy & BBQ Pork Sandwich and both seemed to like it. My mom says her favorite BBQ pork is still Flame Tree but that this was her second pick for that sandwich. My step-dad like the Po' Boy a lot too.Overall, I thought the restaurant itself was charming. The breakfast buffet from what I could see looked pretty basic but not terrible. We really enjoyed the lunch. The restaurant was very slow when we were there and it was a welcome treat to have such a calm & quite restaurant on property! We all agreed we would definitely come back for lunch again. I thought the lunch menu was quite good for meat eaters, vegetarians & vegans would have a hard time I think.

 Rating wise, I would give this a solid 7 out of 8. I almost bumped it to an 8 solely for the candied bacon but I think a 7 is a solid rating for good service, decent gluten free & dairy free menu offerings and quality of the entrees. We'll definitely go back again for lunch. I'm quite convinced I will be ordering candied bacon every time I go (even for breakfast!)Have you been to Trail's End? What do you think of this table service location?

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Modified Big Kahuna

This is just a brief review of my breakfast at Kona Cafe in Disney's Polynesian Resort. I recently visited with blog reader Laurie & her family. It was awesome to catch up with them and also to grab a great breakfast with others who have a special diet. Laurie is gluten free and her daughter is dairy free.Upon arrival, we were greeted by Chef Johnny who I know quite well from my ridiculous amounts of visits to Kona Cafe! He took Laurie & her daughter's orders (Laurie got breakfast potatoes & sausage and her daughter ordered allergy Mickey waffles) - I, of course, go the Big Kahuna modified, as usual. I asked for extra ham instead of the sausage and scrambled eggs. And, since I was running the Jingle Jungle 5K the next morning I was ready to carb it up!This was really good, as usual. The allergy Mickey waffles were nice and crisp and very tasty. I always enjoy the ones that are made here (and also served at Ohana--they use the same waffle maker!).Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this meal. Definitely one of my favorites made even better by my visit with Laurie & her family!Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish to order there?

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

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Boma: Flavors of Afirca located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House - is probably one of my most favorite breakfast buffets on property. With African inspired cuisine, Boma offers traditional breakfast offerings and dishes with a twist. Not surprisingly, this location can also easily accommodate guests with special diets offering options like allergy Mickey waffles, custom omelets, and more.On this particular visit, I was celebrating the completion of the Jingle Jungle 5K at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This runDisney race took place early that morning, and I wanted to celebrate my race accomplishment with a nice hearty breakfast. My family happened to be staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village, and this seemed like the perfect place to celebrate! I can tell you that many other guests also decided to visit Boma too to celebrate because it was packed and also packed with fellow racers!Our server let us know that the chef would be coming out to greet me, and based on her description, I assumed it was Chef Chris whom I've met a lot at Boma; however, I was greeted by Chef Vickie who was also helping out that morning (I did see Chef Chris in the kitchen though). She took me through the buffet and showed me the items that were safe. These included: grilled asparagus (my favorite), chakalaka, grilled tomatoes (no pap this time--they used butter in it that day! boo!!), carved ham, quinoa, custom omelets, breakfast potatoes, bacon and sausage, and fruit. In addition, they can usually make whatever your heart's content is in the back, and that morning I asked for: Allergy Friendly Mickey Waffles, Custom omelet with ham & onions, and breakfast pastries that are GF/DF (they typically carry Udi's and Kinnikinnick on hand).While Chef Vickie was preparing my dishes in the back, I ran the buffet for the few safe items I was interested in. Boy, the buffet line was huge! I snagged: grilled asparagus, ham, quinoa, breakfast potatoes, bacon, and fruit. I also got to enjoy the Jungle Juice which is the fruit juice they serve at the buffet. It's pretty sweet and not something I'd normally drink every morning, but it really hit the spot post-race! It's a mix of orange juice, passion fruit juice, and mango juice! Yum!

View of the Boma buffet pods

 First up was the buffet options. I adore and I mean adore the grilled asparagus. It is so good. Even when it's not the most seasonal asparagus, it's still delicious. The open oak grilled fires really impart a lovely grill flavor. I always make sure to grab a bunch of the asparagus. The ham was also really good, though the piece I had was a wee bit fatty. The breakfast potatoes were really well seasoned that morning which was good because they have been a little under-seasoned in the past. The bacon was just the same old stringy Disney bacon.

 I also really enjoy the hot quinoa, especially with some brown sugar and raisins. In case of cross contamination, ask for brown sugar and raisins from the back as this pod also contains oatmeal which is not gluten free.

 I also really enjoy the fruit at Boma. For some reason their pineapple is some of the best on property. It's a hands down must for me whenever I visit.

 Now up for the items made in the back. The first was my omelet and Mickey waffles. The omelets at Boma are always really good. I very much like the ham that they use in the omelet--it's minced extra fine and so you get ham in every bite! This time the onions were really not finely chopped at all (which they usually are), so it was a little onion heavy. Otherwise though, great as usual. Now the waffles are good here -- not as good as Kona or Kouzzina but good. I asked for Earth Balance but I did not get served Earth Balance. We tasted it (yes, the whole table test-tasted it) and determined it was some type of margarine (my guess is smart balance--which is supposed to be dairy free now). I actually skipped this one and just ate the waffles smothered in syrup. Nothing wrong with that!!

Kinnikinnick Donuts & Muffins - my favorites!

Next up were my favorite breakfast pastries -- the Kinnikinnick muffins & donuts. I rarely get the chocolate chip muffins these days, and I was soooo beyond excited that they brought out the chocolate chip muffin. I also really like the cinnamon sugar donut and the glazed donut!Let's just say I totally pigged out at this breakfast! It ended up being my meal of the day! As you can see, I got a lot of great breakfast options and many of them were prepared in the back to ensure safety and minimized cross contamination risks. It was great to really celebrate my race accomplishments at this location and especially with fellow racers.Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this visit. Our server was a bit non-existent which was a bit of a bummer and the crowds were higher than normal but overall, it was a terrific meal -- one I wouldn't hesitate to go back to for breakfast again. It's also a fairly reasonably priced buffet - $18.99 (character breakfast are typically around $23.99 or more!) and I definitely ate a lot of food! A great post-race choice!

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Hear ye, Hear ye! Liberty Tree Tavern located in Disney's Magic Kingdom provides traditional American fare in a colonial setting. With a rustic setting, you'll feel like you've settled into colonial New England. One of the terrific things about this location is that gluten free & dairy free diners can enjoy a Pilgrim's Feast of their own complete with gluten free gravy and dairy free mashed potatoes.On this particular visit, I was attending the 2013 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and our tradition involves eating at Liberty Tree Tavern. For us, it's convenient for the party (our family always makes an early dinner reservation, so we have plenty of time to enjoy MNSSHP) and filling. In fact, it's my family's go-to spot for both the Halloween party & Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It's also a terrific location for Thanksgiving celebrations.Our server said he was very familiar with GF/DF guests and that the chef would come out to assist. We did have a rather lengthy wait, and during that time our server brought over salad and said, "I know this is safe, so I'm bringing it to the table." Now, Disney protocol does typically mean that the servers do not bring over food until a chef has cleared it. This guy seemed a wee bit bossy about the whole thing, and I just smiled & waited for the chef. I was pretty confident that they had not changed the salad dressing and that it would be safe, but I like to play it safe and wait to confirm with the chef. Once the chef came out, he did confirm that it was indeed safe. He also told me that they had the dairy free mashed potatoes ready, as well as the gluten free gravy. Our table actually asked for only gluten free gravy because they prefer it over the glutenous version! Chalk one up for GF gravy! He also said they had a variety of seasonal vegetables which they would also bring over.

GNI Brand rolls with Earth Balance

First up, though were the salads and the GNI brand rolls. The rolls were heated fairly properly, so they weren't bad. Of course, I smother them in Earth Balance & dip them in gravy. I'm fairly convinced the gravy would make anything taste good! But, really, these weren't bad at all.

Salad with strawberry vinaigrette

I have to say that the strawberry vinaigrette dressing here used to be amazing. It's really declined in quality over the past few years--primarily seasoning and flavor-wise. It seems like the strawberry is very muted now and the flavors are just very bland. I wish they would just brighten this dressing back up to where it used to be.

Gluten free gravy

The gravy, of course, is the hit of the table. It's great topped on dairy free mashed potatoes and even the turkey. For me, it's the big winner in this meal. I like the dairy free mashed potatoes, but they always seem to lack salt. The gravy does wonders for it!

 In terms of offerings, gluten free & dairy free diners get the dairy free mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, seasonal vegetables (more on that in a minute), and roast pork, roast turkey, and roast beef. I don't eat the beef, but it does always seem a little rare and usually is the least eaten thing at our table. The roast pork is not bad - this version had a slightly rosemary seasoned taste to it - though I have to say I do miss the ham. The roast turkey breast is the big winner at our table as always, and it is very moist and flavorful.

 And now onto those seasonal veggies. I've been saying how most of the meal was under-seasoned, well this was the one exception. It was totally and utterly over-seasoned. Really salty and weirdly seasoned with some sort of almost Italian seasonings. It didn't match the flavor profiles of any of the other components to the deal and was almost aggressively in its flavor. And I was so disappointed too because I adore squash and zucchini and had had an amazing version at a prior visit in the fall 2012. This was not my favorite. I'd like to see the simple sauteed version of this again. I also have to say Liberty Tree has a penchant for odd sides. The last visit, they had broccoli rabe with the meal. Broccoli rabe?! Totally doesn't fit the theme! I'll give the chefs kudos for branching out but not so much on the execution of these dishes.

 Dessert at Liberty Tree is always raspberry sorbet with fresh fruit for me. I don't hate it, and I actually don't mind it at the end of this meal because I'm always usually really full. But just once, in a dream world, I'd love to have a GF/DF cranberry Johnny Appleseed Cake!Overall, I'd give this experience a 7 out of 10. While it has some nice offerings for GF/DF diners, there are a few things I'd love to see improved upon. Of course, it will always remain our holiday tradition at Disney but I do hope that they can work to make the options here just a little more special. That gluten free gravy though is the hands down winner of the meal!

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*These dining experiences took place in October 2013. This is a compilation of two meal reviews for Kouzzina breakfast. One includes a gluten free, dairy free, and soy free review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.

Allergy Mickey waffles with pecans!

Kouzzina offers guests a taste of the Mediterranean with an emphasis on Greek cuisine. Breakfast options continue this theme with various dishes that include peppers and feta cheese among other ingredients. And while cheese is a no-go zone for me, there are plenty of gluten free & dairy free items from which I can choose from.On the first visit I went to recently, I went with a friend who is gluten free, dairy free, and soy free. He came in for a visit (he used to live in MCO but moved back to Chicago) and he was craving Kouzzina. Of course, I never turn down a breakfast that includes allergy friendly Mickey waffles and good ones at that.Chef Paul took care of us on this particular visit and my friend decided to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and an omelet with sausage and bacon in it. They use extra virgin olive oil for their eggs at Kouzzina, and he said the omelet was really good.

Omelet with sausage and bacon in it

I actually decided not to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles and got just the turkey sweet potato hash. I have a serious turkey hash obsession lately. I also got the Udi's toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. After getting my entree, I noticed that the sweet potatoes weren't cooked as well as they normally are and the hash itself had been overcooked a little--there was a little bit of burnt on the bottom. And the eggs were beyond hard poached. Yikes! Still, it wasn't terrible enough that I wouldn't eat it or would send it back. It was the first time I've ever had that happen, and I will chalk it up to a busy day in the kitchen. In my second visit, I didn't have this problem.

Toast that was not very toasty! Still good though!

Turkey sweet potato hash

Which brings us to visit #2. This time I was with my family and we decided to get breakfast again. We were staying at the Boardwalk for the Special Diets Dessert Party weekend and it was a great convenient way to get a meal.Chef Paul was on duty again this time and I decided this time to get the allergy friendly Mickey waffles (you know I couldn't go too many visits without them) and with the American with scrambled eggs, bacon and Udi's toast with Earth Balance.

Happy little Mickeys!

The only sort of hiccup I had at this meal is that I accidentally got served real butter. I didn't realize it until I spread some on my toast and thought it looked different (my own fault I didn't realize it earlier but I was tired!) - I took one small bite to see and thought it was butter. I then gave it to my parents who also confirmed it was indeed butter. Chef Paul did come out and profusely apologize for the mistake--he said he was trying to make sure that I got all the other components on his dish that this slipped through. I will say that these things do happen, but it is a reminder that you need to be vigilant when it comes to your dietary needs and food allergies! Even places you go to all the time can make a mistake here and there. Kitchens are busy places, and we just have to really try to be diligent consumers! I'm lucky it was just a piece of bread wasted and that I didn't get sick!

Pecans, Honey, Maple Syrup and BUTTER (not Earth Balance)

Much more toasty this time around!

American - scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes

Overall, I was pretty pleased with my second breakfast. Despite the slight dairy issue, everything this time was well cooked and tasty. I might switch things up again and try the breakfast skillet next time or even an omelet, but it's nice to know that this entree continues to be one of my favorite easy breakfasts at Kouzzina.I'd give my first visit a 6 due to some spotty food and a poor service experience (with our server not the chef). My second visit I would give a 7, despite the dairy being brought to my table--primarily because the food otherwise was delicious and well cooked.Kouzzina continues to be a standard favorite for me for breakfast, and I'm looking forward to my next visit and trying something new!Have you been to Kouzzina for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish?

Tutto Italia -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining review took place in October 2013. It includes a gluten free & dairy free review, as well as a gluten free & yellow food coloring review.

 Tutto Italia is a quintessential authentic Italian restaurant. From the tiled floors, to the gorgeous chandeliers, and dapper dressed servers, you will be transported to a fancy restaurant in Rome immediately. Having not dined at this location in many years (and prior to a special diet), I had no idea what to expect from this location. I learned not that long ago that Italy is one particular country that is very adept at handling Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance, and I was pleased to see that this location took extra steps to ensure that as well.

Gorgeous tile work!

One of the things that surprised me when we arrived is that the restaurant actually has a gluten free menu. I can't say that I've really seen many non-Disney owned locations carry such a menu, so this was nice. What's different about this location versus Disney owned ones is that the chefs do not come out to talk to you. In fact, we were assisted by the manager of the restaurant. He immediately came to our table and discussed some of the options with us. My friends (one of whom is GF) had dined here before, but it sounded like the GF menu was fairly new as they hadn't seen it before.

You can see a textual version of this menu HERE

There were a few dishes that were immediately out for me as a dairy free diner--Definitely no mozzarella or panna cotta. They said they could do the pasta dish without cheese (always good). I ended up going for the salmon because I thought it sounded good & was also very easily made GF/DF (safe choices are always my best bet). My friend ordered the insalata mista, which is also dairy free. And he shared with the table. It was really fresh and light. I would definitely consider ordering this (though it was a little pricey!).

Gluten free & dairy free bread in the background with EVOO & insalata mista

Now the manager also said they had bread on hand for gluten free diners. I asked specifically if it was also dairy free because I've encountered some imported bread that was not safe. He swore up and down that it was, but I still sort of questioned it (and we couldn't flag him down later). Though, after my friend & I both tasted it, we both thought it tasted like Schar. I didn't feel sick or get any scratchy throat, so I'm thinking it was OK.

Gluten Free (and likely dairy free) bread

The table also had extra virgin olive oil (very high quality) and green pitted olives. They were very good because they weren't briney at all and were very mild.

Our entrees came surprisingly quickly, and mine looked gorgeous! The colors were very vibrant and the fish looked beautiful. My initial reaction was though that mine wasn't safe because of the sauce on the top of the fish. It looked creamy (turns out it was just a really good emulsion), so I made sure to ask the servers to see if they could find out what was in it before I ate it. No taking chances on the entree. According to them it was parsley, orange citrus, and some type of vinaigrette. It definitely had a nice citrus punch to it and really complimented the meal nicely.

Check out that sauce! this was sooo good.

Taste-wise, I was really glad I got this dish. I personally find pasta almost too filling (I rarely eat) so this was perfect for me. The potatoes, artichokes, and olives were also really well balanced for the whole dish. This to me would be the dish I'd order again. Definitely a hands down winner.

Classic GF pasta dish!

My friend really enjoyed his pasta dish. In fact, he said it's the only pasta he's had properly al dente. That's really hard to do with GF pasta because it often becomes quite mushy. This seemed really hearty in terms of texture, so I'm not sure how they make it (other than it's rice pasta), but it seems like the Italian exported pasta is really substantial. Now my friend easily reacts to gluten and often feels sick by the end of a meal if he's been hit. This happened to him at Via Napoli but not at Tutto Italia. One of the warnings for Via Napoli was the flour in the air from the pizza. I would say that probably a safer bet would be to dine at Tutto Italia like we did for safer GF offerings.

Trio of breads

Interestingly enough, we asked for gluten free bread after the 3 pieces we were given were done, and they brought out a trio of breads the second time around. Now, this made me wonder if the 1st round was the GF/DF bread and these two contained dairy. I admit, I was nervous about that. We asked several times, but the servers could only tell us that it was the allergy bread. Um, not helpful guys! I tried a small corner of each and wasn't overly impressed, so I just abstained from the bread consumption. The middle one was like Cinnamon Raisin and the far right one was sort of sweet (but mildly sweet). Not really a challah but sort of that similar eggy bread/with a hint of sweetness.

Panna Cotta with cherries

My friends ordered dessert & split it. The panna cotta they got looked pretty good (no sure worth $12 but good!). The syrup and cherries on top also looked quite nice, and they said they were almost candied. It would be nice if they had a few more dessert options and maybe something GF/DF!

Dining room

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Tutto Italia. I was nervous to eat here but overall, they had some nice offerings. If you're just GF, I think you will have a better time here, as there weren't a ton of GF/DF choices but still at least there was something. I wouldn't consider this a vegan friendly place. But the fact that I navigated an Italian restaurant safely makes me happy. I can't step foot into most outside of the 'world.' I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this experience with safe offerings and some tasty food. Boun Appetito!

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

Jiko Interior

*This dining experience took place in October 2013. It includes my gluten free & dairy free review as well as reviews from blog readers Linda & Brandon T. with a gluten and soy free review and gluten free review. Thanks again to Linda & Brandon and their friend Andrea for joining me for dinner!

Picture of open kitchen at Jiko

Jiko: the Cooking Place is located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House and offers African inspired cuisine at a signature dining location. The interior is set to mimic the African sunset and the lighting aptly changes throughout your dining experience. This location offers terrific gluten free & dairy free offerings and even has special menus for specific dietary needs, making it much easier to order items off the menu. On this particular occasion I visited with several blog readers who also have special dietary needs and really enjoyed the experience with them.My previous experience at Jiko had been several years ago, and it was bad. And I mean BAD. The worst dining experience I've ever had at Disney. Which is unfortunate for a variety of reasons. You can read that review HERE. So needless to say, I was a bit nervous about dining here. It's been about 3 years, and I figured at this point, hopefully things had improved. Our server discussed drink options with us and then brought over the chef. The chef was very nice & really knowledgeable. He also brought us out special dietary menus, which was very helpful in making decisions about what we might want. It helps not making decisions on the fly when there are so many choices! We were actually able to keep our menus, and I have scanned versions of the gluten free menu HERE and the dairy free menu HERE. I also enjoy being able to match things up & cross reference the sheets quickly. Very handy.First up, our table split the Taste of Africa sampler. Essentially this is a variety of dips & lentil pappadums. We also received extra pappadums for the table, so we had a lot! I will say that the dip sampler seems a lot stingier than it used to be. It seemed fairly small for the price, and between 3 of us splitting it, we did OK mostly because our entrees came quickly. We did not get a really good description of the dips, but there was a Kalamata olive hummus and several other spicier dips (I think they still have the chermoula and some others). In my opinion, the dip sampler at Sanaa is vastly superior both in taste and in quantity. For $10 you get all the dips at Sanaa which is a lot!

Lentil Pappadums

Taste of Africa sampler

For our entrees, both Linda and I ordered the Maize crusted monkfish. Linda is gluten & soy free, so she was able to get the tomato butter sauce that this dish normally comes with, while mine was prepared dairy free and had a rich tomato sauce. All other components to our dishes were the same.

Gluten free & Dairy free version of maize crusted monkfish

For my part, I will say that I like this dish very much. It was on the menu at my last visit (and what I ended up ordering) and I found it to be quite good. The vegetables were perfectly sauteed and very flavorful. The tomato sauce was nice and light. And the fish was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. I like the maize crusted coating on it. This is one of those entrees that I would definitely order again.

Gluten free & soy free version of maize crusted monkfish

I know that Linda loved her fish dish and said she really enjoyed it a lot. I was glad that she enjoyed her version as much as I did!

Wonderful dinner with terrific company!

Brandon and Andrea both ordered the Filet Mignon on the menu, which has been known to be very good. Andrea doesn't have a special diet, but she seemed to really enjoy her entree. Brandon didn't love his filet, but it just goes to show you that everyone has different tastes and food reviews are certainly relative!

Gluten free beef filet mignon

Brandon also ordered the tomato soup, which he said had a very smoky almost BBQ sauce flavor to it. My guess is that they roast the tomatoes in the wood fired oven.

Tomato soup

For our desserts, I chose the coconut milk panna cotta which was made with soy milk & coconut milk. Linda ordered the flourless chocolate cake. Her dessert looked incredibly rich and delicious!

Flourless chocolate cake

Coconut milk panna cotta

I will say that I wasn't wowed by my dessert. I found the taste to be a little strange, and I think they could have made a nice tropical mix of fruit with the mango coulis which would have played better with the panna cotta. The plain fresh berries didn't seem to mix well, in my opinion. I also had a slight stomach ache after dinner, and I wondered if the soy milk might have been Kikkoman (which I heard later that it used to be) and is not gluten free. In general, I wouldn't order that particular dessert again.Overall, I did enjoy the meal. I really loved my entree, and I know Linda did too! The appetizer sampler was good, but I think I have been spoiled by Sanaa way too much and have high expectations of a dip sampler. The only thing I really didn't love was the dessert.In general, I would definitely visit Jiko again, but my personal preference both for type of food, price, and atmosphere would be Sanaa hands down. This is a great special occasion place to visit, and I very much thank Linda, Brandon, and Andrea for joining me the night before my first 5k (review HERE). It really made the meal special!

The Wave -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Contemporary Resort

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Entrance to the Wave

The Wave is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort and it's culinary viewpoint is sustainable and seasonal items. This is one of the locations that I often visit for breakfast when I'm staying at Bay Lake Tower, my home DVC resort. Their breakfast offerings include a variety of gluten free & dairy free products from companies like Udi's and Kinnikinnick.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for breakfast after attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party the evening before. We were all tired and looking forward to a relaxing breakfast close to our hotel room. I've been to the Wave several times previously, and I've usually been moderately satisfied with my choices and service. Unfortunately, this particular experience wasn't as magical as it could have been.One thing to note is that this location serves both a buffet option & an a la carte menu. We chose to go for the menu option rather than the buffet. To me, it hasn't been one of the best breakfast buffets, so I'd rather go for the menu. After our server greeted us, she seemed mildly disappointed we weren't ordering buffet. The chef came in the meantime and also seemed pretty put out that he had to come over. In fact, he barely spoke to me. I'm sure that it's very busy in the kitchen and that it can be stressful. Maybe he was having a bad day. Regardless, he was very curt with me and didn't seem willing to offer much. He really wanted me to get Mickey waffles and I didn't want them because I have had really good pancakes here before. I asked if he could make the banana walnut pancakes I got before and he said he could. I also asked if there was ANY chance he could do the sweet potato pancakes. His response was, "Well if we have sweet potato that hasn't been mixed yet..." and then proceeded to walk away. I got banana walnut pancakes so I assume that meant they didn't have any available or he just didn't want to make them. Yikes!

As you can see it was REALLY busy in here...

Our server was also basically non-existent for our meal. And this rarely happens unless a restaurant is slammed. Now this restaurant is never slammed and quite frankly most of the people were getting the buffet, so I'm not sure what the issue was.

Banana walnut pancakes and bacon

After getting my breakfast, I investigated the pancakes. They were basically Bob's Red Mill pancakes with sliced bananas and walnuts. I liked the version I got the time before because the chef had basically pureed the banana into the batter, so it was like banana bread flavor all throughout the pancake. This was banana flavor here and there. But overall, they were good. The bacon, on the other hand, was another story. I have no clue what they did to this bacon but it was terrible! Even the worst quick service bacon was better than this. It was very stringy, greasy, and just had a weird flavor, like it was slightly off. Honestly, for a place that touts local, sustainable and seasonal, they can't have good bacon!?My family also didn't really love their meal. They thought it was adequate but not really worth the price or effort. We all agreed that we would rather take the monorail next time to another resort to get breakfast. I'd happily head over to Kona for breakfast over this any day! It's just a bummer because honestly, I see a lot of potential in this restaurant, but it's just not at the level it should be. Really disappointing.Overall, I'd give this a 5 out of 10. This experience just wasn't good from start to finish. While the pancakes weren't terrible, just about everything else wasn't very good. I wish I could say better things about the Wave, but it's definitely off my skip list for now.Have you been to the Wave? What was your experience there?

Sanaa -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge -- Kidani Village

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Ceiling in Sanaa

Sanaa, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, continues to remain one of my favorite restaurants on property. With African & India inspired food, it offers the best of both cuisines. The restaurant is dramatically themed like a forest and is set upon the African savannah with a view of many of the animals that call the Savannah home (think giraffes and zebra). One of the best parts about this restaurant is that it easily accommodates gluten & dairy free diners, as well as vegetarian and vegan diners.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch eager to try something different. Normally I tend to get the dishes themed as "Slow Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well Seasoned" which are traditionally a lot of curry type dishes. My favorites include the Durban chicken & shrimp and the now gone green curry shrimp. I also adore the bread service with it's lentil pappadums & dipping sauces. Anything that involves red pepper hummus & chutneys is OK by me!

Bar area in the restaurant

Today, however, I wanted to get some type of nice lunch sandwich. I wasn't looking for a big meal and was hoping that I could get a reasonable option. On this visit, I was greeted by Chef David who went over the menu with me. Luckily, upon arrival I was given both the gluten & dairy free menus for the restaurant. This is one thing that I love about Sanaa--actually custom menus that I can cross-reference and consult before the chef comes to the table! You can actually see the gluten free menu HERE and the dairy free menu HERE.Of course, the menu item that I was interested in trying was not listed on either of the menus. It was the Turkey Club Sandwich - served on multigrain bread with turkey, avocado, bacon, pickled onions, and lemon mayonnaise plus choice of chickpea salad or fresh fruit. I asked Chef David about this and he told me that everything was actually safe, except the bread, but that they carried the Udi's sandwich bread on hand and I could have it if I wanted. Yes!! I love it when things work out like that. And it's a lesson that it doesn't hurt to ask, even if you don't see it listed on the menu. He told me that they roast the turkey in-house and make the lemon mayo in house as well. It sounded delicious. I also opted for the chickpea salad instead of fruit, mostly because the fruit was a lot of melon and I'm not a melon fan.

Two small sandwiches turned out to be one huge meal!

Close-up of the sandwich inside

First things first, I wish Disney got the commercial Udi's sandwich bread at all of their locations. Some (like Kouzzina) have it but most have the wimpy small sandwich bread. I mean, I guess it works out because I end up getting a lot of food, but still! I'd like a regular sized sandwich sometimes!First up, this sandwich was excellent. The roast turkey was all turkey breast meat, very moist and nicely seasoned. The bacon was of good quality. The avocado was perfect on this. And the two best parts: the pickled onions (which they also make in house) and lemon mayonnaise. Both divine! Everything really complimented the sandwich. I also adored the chickpea salad. It had cucumbers and tomato in it and was a really fresh, light side.Overall, I really enjoyed this lunch. It was really affordable (somewhere around the $15 mark with tip!) and delicious. This to me was a hands down winner, and a much better option since I was over at the Animal Kingdom Park and don't always love the QS offerings there. I'd definitely get this for lunch again.I'd give this a solid 9 out of 10 as usual for amazing food, service, and customization. This continues to be an outstanding restaurant!

Sci-Fi Dine In -- Table Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

 Sci-Fi Dine In at Disney's Hollywood Studios offers guests a chance to go back in time to 1950's drive-in theatres. Complete with tables that look like cars and screenings of old B film movies, you will definitely feel transported. The entire menu also fits the drive-in vibe and includes milkshakes, burgers, fries and all those things you'd expect from a typical drive-in. The great thing is that as a gluten free & dairy free diner, I have quite a few choices, including non-dairy milkshakes!On this particular visit, I went with my family before the DHS Villians Bash (which was crazy busy). Dining at Sci-Fi was a welcome retreat before the crowds. Before we waited to be seated, we took the time to look around that the interior design. I love the theming of this restaurant.

Need to make a phone call?!

Finally, our table was ready, and we headed in to the main dining area. I will say, be warned this place is dark. It is exactly like dining out at a drive-in. Of course, it's all in good fun and lends to the great atmosphere. And you'll be busy watching those classic films like "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" and "The Cat Woman from Mars" (yes, these are actual film titles!). There's lots to look around at and see. You'll be greeted by a car-hop who will take your order!Once we met with our car-hop, he went to get the chef who came out and went over a few options. I will say, every time I go here the chefs always seem a little ambivalent about assisting me. It's not that they are bad, but I always feel like I need to know pretty much what I want to order. One of the things that I wanted was a non-dairy milkshake. I had a chocolate one the last time and it was good. I will say that I've been told that they don't use dedicated equipment, so they will clean everything well, but there is always the chance for potential cross contamination. I've been lucky that I personally haven't been sick, but I go in knowing that is a potential risk.

 I liked my milkshake as I did the first time. It wasn't quite as soupy as the first one I had but not quite as solid as a regular milkshake is. Still to get a non-dairy milkshake out is a rarity, so I really enjoyed it.

Car hop attendant area in the back of the theatre/dining room

Totally cool atmosphere!

Up next came my entree. This was a new one for me. I ordered the Salmon BLT which came on Udi's pizza crust which had been turned into a wrap type sandwich. First up, it is hard to see in this restaurant, so I literally had to take a photo of my food to see what it looked like!

Salmon BLT with Fries

Overall, it was a good sandwich, except I would have removed one thing from it--the sweet chili sauce on it. It was a little too spicy for me. It was basically a spicy mayo but I didn't think the sandwich needed it. Actually, I would have preferred regular mayo on it. The Udi's pizza crust/flatbread was not bad. It needed to be grilled a little more or something similar in nature (it was a little tough). The salmon was cooked beautifully and was very flavorful as were the other accompaniments. The fries were nice thick cut fries which I like (and are different than the regular wimpy Disney fries). The sandwich itself was a bit messy to eat, especially in the dark!My family seemed to like their meals. The reuben, onion rings, and the burger with a hot dog & sauerkraut on it were all choices they ordered. The shakes were a bit hit!We all liked this location a lot. I think it gets a bad rap in terms of the food, but overall I found it to be much improved and a step up from a fast food burgers & fries joint. I wouldn't say it's gourmet by any means, but it's not terrible either. As a gluten free/dairy free diner, I have a fair amount of choices, which is nice. I will note that this has not been a very soy free friendly place, as you can read in a previous review with my friend who's gluten, dairy and soy free (review is HERE). Overall, I give this a 7 out of 10 for this visit. Next time I might modify my sandwich to remove the sauce or try something else. But, I really enjoy this restaurant for its atmosphere and those non-dairy milk shakes! Totally out of this world!

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining review took place in September 2013.

 Kouzzina is as always one of my most favorite breakfast spots on property. I just adore the food, the atmosphere, and did I mention the food? It's a hands down winner. And whenever I have friends & family in from out of town, this is where I take them. I've not heard a bad review from anyone yet :) This review is mostly just an update, as it's the same Turkey Sweet Potato Hash that I got the last time. And to give a shout-out to the Kouzzina staff, including Chef Brad who was on hand to assist me.On this particular visit, I went with my friend Krista from Disneyways. She had never been, so this was great to share Kouzzina with her. When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Brad, who has helped me numerous times before. I don't usually see him though because I'm typically there on the weekends and on this trip, I was there during the week for the Give Kids the World Blogger Bowl. I didn't have him go over any options, mostly because I know the breakfast menu by heart and also because I knew I wanted the amazing Turkey Sweet Potato Hash. I will probably surprise some of you in that I did not order allergy Mickey waffles (I know, a rarity!!) I did get some Udi's toast & Earth Balance Vegan Margarine for the meal.

My breakfast in all its glory!

I will say that I just adore this breakfast entree. I love the eggs (nice and poached with ooey gooey yolks, perfect for dipping in toast), the delicious arugula with olive oil, and of course the turkey sweet potato hash. The turkey is all white meat diced and the sweet potatoes are nicely tossed in along with onions and sweet peppers. It's just a really good combination!

Before digging in...

And mid-way through so you could see what the hash looked like

Many people asked what the hash itself looked like, so I decided to take a pic part way through eating (sorry it's a little messy, but I was hungry!!).Overall, I can't say enough good things, as always about Kouzzina. It's a hands down favorite place to dine for breakfast. A solid 9 out of 10!Have you been to Kouzzina? What do you order for breakfast?

Splitsville -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in September 2013 and includes a gluten free & dairy free review and a vegan dining review.

 Splitsville in Downtown Disney is a retro themed bowling alley which offers not only bowling, pool, and other recreational activities but also a variety of food options as well. Since it has opened, Splitsville has been extremely popular and often hard to get into. On this particular occasion, I was able to visit as a part of the Attractions Blogger Bowl for Give Kids the World Village (stay tuned for an upcoming post about this amazing event!). I was able to contact GKTWV ahead of time and they contacted Splitsville to arrange for food for both myself and my friend Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers who was on my bowling team. I was glad that they had several gluten free options and a few dairy free options as well.

 When we arrived, the first thing I will say is that this place is really neat. If you've ever been to Lucky String or King Pin bowling, you'll have an idea of what this kind of a bowling alley is like. I will say, that this place is sort of oddly set-up. It's very tiny compared to many other big retro bowling alleys. There are two levels and the blogger bowl took place on the 2nd floor. While we waited I got to look around and check out the sushi bar.

Lots of great folks here including Steve Barrett the Hidden Mickey Guy, Allison from Destinations in Florida, Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers, Krista Joy from Disneyways.com, yours truly & Ramon Rodriguez from Theme Park Concierge!

 Once we checked in at our lane, I asked a Splitsville representative about special dietary arrangements. Now, when I had arranged food with GKTWV, they asked me to give them several options from the menu that I might be interested in. Thankfully, I had some idea of what might be safe gluten free wise thanks to my friend Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando! She has a terrific review with a photo of the menu HERE. I had requested, based on her experience, three options: the mahi mahi with voodoo shrimp, the grilled salmon with brocolli, and the Tijuana chicken sandwich all of which were on the Splitsville GF list (one of them isn't anymore but more on that later). I also requested that they make a vegan dish for Tony.Now, the Splitsville representative who helped us (I will assume a manager) told me that my sandwich needed to be re-made because they didn't know it needed to be dairy free too and had been prepared with cheese on it. They asked Tony if he was OK with a stir-fry, which he was. When the items came out, I saw that my sandwich was on a bun that looked very similar to Udi's. I asked what kind of bun it was, if it had dairy, etc. The manager radioed the kitchen and they said it was just "tapioca and water." Now if you look at this picture, this is definitely more than just tapioca and water. I make Chebe buns all the time and they are totally different. *I later learned that I consumed a regular bun that was not gluten free. Well, that does explain why I got sick.

Spicy Veggie Bowl

Tony got the spicy veggie bowl, and I have to say it looked good. He seemed to like it, and it looked fairly substantial of a meal overall. Honestly, I could have gone for something similar but with chicken or shrimp. The fresh avocado looked delicious! Later I discovered they can do GF rice bowls, which would have been good to know!

Tijuana Chicken sandwich on an "unnamed bun"

To me, this sandwich was OK. The chicken was nothing special and the salsa on it was just OK. The broccoli was just plain steamed broccoli. I'm not sure I'd order it again based on taste. But, I definitely won't be ordering it again based on my stomach afterwards. I definitely got glutened. I had massive stomach pains about 30 min - 1 hour after eating. Not good!!I also discovered after looking at a newly released menu from Splitsville indicating GF options today that the Tijuana Chicken is not listed as Gluten Free. That is not comforting considering that I was sick. Now, it may be that they can easily modify it GF but it's certainly not listed on their standard menu as GF. *I later learned that the rest of the sandwich minus the gluten filled bun can be made GF just with a lettuce wrap.You can see the Splitsville menu HEREOverall, I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant and bowling alley, but I found the food to be pretty mediocre and the GF offerings sparse. Adding in a second dietary need seemed to really put a wrench in the wheel too. They also didn't seem to have much in terms of vegan options either. Overall, I'd give this a 3 out of 10, considering that I got sick. I think it will be a while before I eat at Splitsville, though I would happily go bowl there again especially if it were for a great cause like the blogger bowl! Great for entertainment, just maybe not the best food option for a special diet given this experience.

 

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

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

 I always eat breakfast at Olivia's Cafe when I stay at Old Key West Resort. There's just something about it's relaxing vibe & charming atmosphere. I always feel like I am at Key West, just relaxing and listening to Jimmy Buffet. One of the great parts about Old Key West is that everything is tailor made for Key West living and Olivia's is no exception. I always enjoy grabbing breakfast here.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for a late breakfast. One thing I will say is that I never feel like this place is busy. Is it just that people don't know about it? I don't know, but it always seems rather low-key. I like this but I also don't want it to ever close, so I hope that maybe they're busier at different times of the day. I've had lunch here and I remember it being much busier then. The other thing I always notice is there are either big groups or just groups of 2 scattered through the restaurant. Kind of funny how it's not much in between.

 I was greeted by Chef Julie, who I'd seen the day before at Good's Foods to Go (I needed to grab some allergy chicken tenders, of course). Chef Julie used to be at the Polynesian and has a real reputation for being very accommodating for special diets, so I'm always glad to see her. She, of course, recognized me from the day before. The last time I'd visited I'd had the breakfast Cuban, which I liked (see review HERE), but this time I decided to go for the modified version of the Pancakes & Eggs entree. I asked for the allergy Mickey waffles (Bob's Red Mill version, thank goodness), scrambled eggs, and ham.

Look at all those Mickey waffles!

This was by far the best breakfast that I've had at Olivia's. Not only were the eggs really cooked well, but the ham was nice and tender and the allergy Mickey waffles were the best I've had there as well. Really crispy. The way Mickey waffles should be! I also got REAL maple syrup, not that terrible corn syrup maple syrup they had at Contempo Cafe recently. I will say, it was a lot of food, though apparently I was very hungry, as I quickly devoured it all (minus 1/2 a Mickey waffle that I gave to my mom, who really loves them).While I wouldn't say that the food at Olivia's is spectacular, I will say that it's good solid, tasty food. I always feel satisfied after my meal and will continue to keep this as an Old Key West tradition. Overall, I give this visit a 7 out of 10. A definite OKW tradition!

Restaurant Marrakesh -- Dinner -- Table Service -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in August 2013 and includes a gluten free & yellow food coloring review.

Inside Restaurant Marrakesh

Dining at Restaurant Marrakesh in the World Showcase at Epcot makes you feel like you've been transported to the Middle East. From the decor to the food and even the live entertainment, it's not hard to see why. This restaurant is tucked away in the back of the Morocco Pavilion and is often one of the most overlooked restaurants in the World Showcase. You can easily get in to dine at this location, even without a reservation. On this particular visit, we found the restaurant to be very quiet (even for a Saturday evening).I had not been to Restaurant Marrakesh in several years, so I was excited to head back. Some of my friends had been several times recently (one of whom is gluten free & also allergic to yellow food coloring), and they had been really enjoying it. So, I joined them one night for dinner. One of the things that had changed from the last time that I went from this time is that the chef did not come out, but rather the server worked with you on special dietary information. While I always prefer to speak with a chef, this actually was fine because the server seemed very knowledgeable and was willing to get the chef if we needed to speak with him. I will say that the first time I went, I had some difficulties with the chef due to a language barrier and I often find this to be the case at Tangierine Cafe (you can read a recent review of the quick service location HERE). The good thing is that most Middle Eastern food options have gluten free counterparts or are naturally GF. And they don't really use dairy either.

Live entertainment at the restaurant. Traditional music & belly dancing

Both my friend and I chose the lemon chicken (I almost got the kebobs but decided to try something different). Our table also shared the Moroccan Salad Combo For Two - which contains green pepper and tomato, marinated olives, carrots, potatoes, and cucumber salad. Of course, this was enough for the 3 of us at dinner, so it was great. Both my friend and I got the Ener-G rolls (one of the few locations on property that still carries them) with it. Overall, my favorites were the marinated olives (the same ones at Restaurant Marrakesh), the carrots--surprisingly flavorful and very tender, my body can't handle crunchy carrots in large amounts--and the potatoes. The cucumber salad was very bland. It needed salt (which my friends tried and said made all the difference). The green pepper & tomato was a bit like a tapenade but just not my favorite, really. If I were a vegan or vegetarian, this would be a terrific option as an appetizer or even an entree with some other sides!

Moroccan Salad Combo: from L to R Green Pepper & Tomatoes, Marinated Olives, Carrots, Potatoes, and Cucumber Salad with Ener-G rolls

One of the other things I got was the mint tea. Omigoodness!! This was THE.BEST.MINT.TEA.EVER! Can you tell I really liked it? Also, the way they serve the tea is a show in and of itself. Truly. Here's a little video clip showing you what I mean (It's a wonder they don't spill the tea from that distance!)[embedplusvideo height="380" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/1cuScME" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/c5FcanViq58?fs=1" vars="ytid=c5FcanViq58&width=700&height=380&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep4121" /] And, of course, I somehow managed to not get any pics of the mint tea by itself; however, here's a great photo (thanks to my friend's layout) of the appetizer, Ener-G rolls & the tea. You can get this tea hot or cold (I asked for cold but got hot, which was fine) It uses green tea and fresh mint. So amazing. Can't get any better than that! And you get as many refills as you want--that's a win!

Perfect meal, if you ask me! I might just go and order this next time!

Then it was onto the entree. Since both of us got lemon chicken, I'll add his thoughts in this too. First off, the presentation was lovely. It was a 1/2 of a chicken (bone in), which looks gorgeous on a plate. Personally, I am not a huge fan of bone-in chicken just because it's more difficult to cut, etc. but it does make the chicken more flavorful and tender.

Lemon Chicken - braised half chicken with garlic, green olives, and preserved lemon

As you can see, it was a rather large portion. Yes, we were full by the end (and we got dessert!). Overall, we both liked the dish but I personally thought it needed more lemon flavor. I found the lemon flavor a bit sedate in this dish. We both agreed that the dish needed more olives (I only had 3). The potatoes were very well cooked. The white meat was a little dry, but the darker chicken meat was fall off the bone tender. The biggest win was the sauce. It was soooo delicious. We both felt the flavors needed a little oooomph but overall found the sauce delicious (just not really lemon chicken sauce). In general, we both thought this was a good dish (he's ordered it before and really loved it). Personally, I might go for the kebobs the next time. I think the kebobs, rice, and hummus are more up my alley of flavor profiles (I remember the kebobs to be very flavorful). I do think this was a good dish though and would def. order again. It just probably wouldn't me my personal first choice.Up next, was dessert. My friend keeps raving about this fruit dessert with orange blossom water, so I had to try it. The dessert is a variation of the: Marrakesh Delight - fresh fruit salad topped with mint ice cream, toasted almonds and orange blossom water. My friend can't have the mint ice cream either because it contains gluten, so we both had the fruit. Wow! This was delicious!! And huge! They were very generous with the fruit. My favorite part was the orange juice and orange blossom water combination. To die for! Here's a tip. You can re-create it at home yourself by using orange juice and orange blossom water, which you can purchase at the Morocco Pavilion! (Be warned a little bit goes a LONG way!). I believe the bottles of Orange Blossom Water are $8.99 but will last a very long time.

One of my favorite ways to have fruit now! Very unique and delicious!

Overall, I'm giving Restaurant Marrakesh a solid 7 out of 10. I find the food to be fairly good and the GF/DF even vegetarian and vegan offerings to be decent. It has terrific atmosphere which is a huge plus for this restaurant, and I wouldn't hesitate to come back. It's a wonderful place for families, adults, kids...really anyone wanting a nice meal in the World Showcase!Have you been to Restaurant Marrakesh? What did you think?

Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, Red Food Dye, Peanuts, and Tree-Nuts

*This Guest Review comes from Julie W. and contains a comprehensive look at her family's trip to WDW from the point of view of Julie & her daughter Naomi-Ruth, who has endured food allergies and intolerances to gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, red food dye, and most recently life-threatening reactions to peanuts and tree nuts. Thank you Julie & Naomi-Ruth for this lovely review!

 “Does that have Gluten in it? Or dairy, eggs…”

Going out to eat on vacation is certainly a highlight for most people. However for my daughter Naomi-Ruth (6) it can be a bit confusing and scary. You see since birth she has endured food allergies and tolerances to gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, red food dye, and most recently life-threatening reaction to peanuts and tree nuts. Needless to say, dining out for her requires a lot of planning and knowledge. 

 

It does seem more and more that local restaurants have gluten or dairy free options, and many places will let you look at the ingredient listings. Just going to McDonald's is a small feat, but imagine being away from home on vacation for over a week? 

 

This is one reason why my family continually travels to Walt Disney World in Florida. This place gets it and caters to children and adults like my daughter with such ease and knowledge it can be a little less stressful figuring out what she can eat while we are there.

 

Just recently we went to Walt Disney World in June for a week. Before we went, I checked menu lists on allears- dining menus and checked the allergy reference lists from Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW's reference sheets.

I made lists of brands that I knew she could have and jotted down items that we could order off the straight menu or would need to get specially prepared. In an attempt to help another guest who may be curious about how to order and what are the options but not to overwhelm you with EVERYTHING...below is a small review in my daughters perspective, with descriptions from myself and pictures too. 

 

"I love going to Disney World! I like Its a Small World, the Haunted Mansion, and the Ariel Ride (the new Under the Sea ride in the Fantaslyland Expansion)."

[when asked what do you like to eat there?] 

 

"Mickey waffles, fruit, fries, and treats. Disney makes me my own special food [big smile]

We ate in Italy for lunch and the nice cooker [chef] made me my own pasta and I had the best rolls ever!" 

 

 

So how does one go about ordering a special allergy free meal at a Table Service Restaurant at Disney? The first thing to do is INFORM. You can either note the allergy needs online or over the phone when you make your dining reservation and/or inform your server upon being seated. Next step EXPLAIN (in detail) before you order your meal, either the head chef or manager of the restaurant will come to your table and go over what food items the person in need CAN NOT have. They will describe what offerings they do have and you can decide on a meal together. Sometimes it is a completely custom made meal or a version of an item on the existing menu.

 

At Via Napoli in Epcot, we were able to get pasta that was gluten, dairy and egg free, sauce on the side, diced plain chicken, and her own rolls made with tapioca.As you can see in the picture above the portions were quite generous and my daughter was beyond delighted.  

"I also got to eat in Belle's ballroom and had steak and green beans, fries too!" 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't eat the grey stuff so I fed it to my Mom, she said it was delicious

Again at Be Our Guest restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, we INFORMED our server, and the chef came to our table and we went over her needs and ordered the perfect meal. She even received her own basket of tapioca rolls. She couldn't drink the fancy juice fizzy drink, but our server was able to give her same plain juice to drink in that fancy light-up cup her grandmother bought her.

 

"My favorite dessert was the Mickey sundae, it had two cookies. I didn't have to share with anyone!"

 

 

This dessert was presented to her at O'Hana in the Polynesian resort after our dinner there. It was a huge scoop of dairy free ice cream (they had chocolate or vanilla) and two Enjoy Life chocolate brownie cookies, plus special chocolate sauce. I was quite impressed. 

 

"I like smoothies, I got a blue one while we watched the fireworks."

 

 

One night in the Magic Kingdom we stopped for dessert at the Counter Service stop called Sleepy Hollow. We ordered her the Liberty Swirl Slush-a combination of Fanta strawberry and blue raspberry NOTE: yes this most likely has red food color #40 in it, but it was shortly after this trip that we realized this dye was causing a skin irritation for her, I think she drank a gallon of red Kool-Aid at my Aunt's).

 

"I like hamburgers especially when I get a bun! it was the best bun ever. I even told the food person that."

 

 

On our first day, we had lunch at Contempo Cafe inside the Contemporary resort. At this Counter/Quick Service location there are ordering kiosks, where the guest handles the ordering process themselves. Typically at at Counter Service when you need a special order item, the guest needs to speak with the manager first, in which you would INFORM your order taker. At this place you can go up to the pick up window and let them know. Sometimes this process can take awhile, depending on how busy the restaurant is. Luckily for us, the manager was right there. We INFORMED and EXPLAINED to the manager we'd like to order a hamburger NO bun unless they could accommodate Naomi-Ruth's allergies. And as you can see in the picture above they could. Her order took no longer than the rest of our food. 

 

Another quick service example I had in ordering for her was in Epcot at the Liberty Inn. Our family had started out late that day and decided to eat in the park unplanned, not a bad idea but tricky for Naomi-Ruth. I asked her what she wanted to eat and I'd try and find it. She said she really wanted a hot dog. I used my iPhone and quickly brought up the menu list via allears again. I saw they had hotdogs with toppings on the adult menu, so I kept my fingers crossed and headed over there, while the rest of the family was eating in France.

Luck was on my side as the ordering lines were short and I asked to speak to a manager to order an allergy free meal. I told the cast member what I was looking for "a hot dog meal" and what the allergies were. She basically put together a custom order for me of a plain hotdog, tapioca hamburger bun (since they didn't have gluten, diary AND egg free hotdog ones...and I knew Naomi-Ruth wouldn't mind) plus some sides, which included fries in a dedicated fryer. I probably waited less than 10 minutes for my order to be up, which resulted in one happy girl.

her response:

"This is a weird hotdog bun, but I like it, thank you Mommy I love you!"

 

In the end, we had no complications with ordering for her, with a little pre planning and know how, you can do this too. Naomi-Ruth's next Walt Disney World trip is coming up very soon in September and we are already making her food wish list. Oh and she did get those Mickey waffles, a special plate of her own was delivered to our table by the head chef at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort (please note Mickey didn't actually bring the waffles)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, Julie! 

 

Thanks, Julie & Naomi-Ruth for this delicious review! I can't wait to hear how your next trip is and what delicious treats you get to enjoy!

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in August 2013.

Kouzzina menus

Kouzzina at the Boardwalk Resort remains one of my top restaurant recommendations for breakfast, regardless of whether you have a special diet or not. This restaurant, owned and operated by celebrity chef Cat Cora, offers a taste of the Mediterranean. Breakfast continues to remain a big hit with special diets diners. From allergy friendly Mickey waffles to unique Mediterranean inspired fare, it's sure to please any palate.As a GF/DF diner, I adore Kouzzina. The food quality is just a notch above many TS breakfast locations, and I love some of the unique dishes that they serve. In fact, it's my go-to  place to take family & friends when they visit, and always one of my first recommendations for 1st time Disney goers. It's just that good! And can you believe I've never been to dinner here?! That's something I hope to remedy soon.But onto breakfast! I went with family that morning resolved to order something other than my usual standard which is the American entree modified to include allergy friendly Mickey waffles. My family had been raving about the breakfast skillet entree so I was contemplating that.

Quiet day! I love this dining room. So cozy.

Now, Chef Sergio has been the morning chef for a while. You might recall him from the day I had the worst Mickey waffles ever (not his fault; I just didn't personally like the Namaste mix for those waffles). He's very nice and always very helpful. I had heard from reader Linda T. that he was moving from the weekend am shift to pm for a while. I was a bit sad to see another one of my familiar chefs move shifts! Now I just need to go to dinner :) I was greeted on the morning I went by Chef Paul who was very nice. I told him that I was contemplating both the breakfast skillet & the turkey-sweet potato hash and he said that both of these were available GF/DF. I was very excited about this. I decided to go with the turkey-sweet potato hash on a whim because 1) it sounded good and 2) if I ordered Mickey waffles with it, it would be close to the same price as the other dish. You guessed it, Mickey waffles won out. So I ordered the hash with eggs over-easy and the side of allergy Mickey waffles. I was very surprised and thrilled to see Chef Paul bring out my dish with Udi's toast as well! (hey, I love my carbs!) I hadn't asked for toast, so I was very surprised to see it come with my dish. I'm sure they serve a regular non-GF bread with the traditional version, so it was nice to have. I didn't get any Earth Balance with it, but I decided not to ask because I had so much to top the toast with in terms of what was on my plate.

Udi's Toast, Turkey-sweet potato hash topped with eggs over-easy and arugula salad.

First off, this was just a gorgeous plate of food. The colors are all so vibrant. The first thing you get on the plate is the arugula salad. Delicious! It's tossed with very flavorful extra virgin olive oil and perfectly seasoned. The eggs are also cooked in high quality EVOO. Underneath this is a mixture of sweet potatoes, sliced/diced white turkey breast meat, onions, and some peppers. Just delicious. Everything balanced perfectly, and I found it to be one of those really hearty breakfast options. This is sooo going to be a RunDisney breakfast for me! I've had the sweet potato hash before, but I will say the turkey in this dish really made the hash. This may be one of my new favorite breakfast options! What I love is that it's tasty and different. It's not the same old same old, which is what many of us with special diets get. Hands down big winner.

Mickey waffles - YUM!

And of course, I can't do a breakfast review here without briefly mentioning the allergy friendly Mickey waffles. I adore them. What can I say?! They are very delicious at Kouzzina and probably some of the best on property.

 Overall, I can never say enough good things about Kouzzina. It continues to stand heads and tails above the rest when it comes to delicious gluten free & dairy free breakfast options. I know that many of my friends with special diets have enjoyed meals here too. They are very accommodating. A solid 9 out of 10, as always!! Best breakfast EVER!

'Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in July 2013 and includes a gluten free & dairy free review and a vegan review. I'm pleased to be sharing this review with you. It is the first dual review I've ever shared. You'll hear my perspective, as well as that of my friend and gluten free & food allergy cookbook author Laurie Sadowski. You can check out more about Laurie and her books at: http://theallergyfreecook.com/ You'll find my review in black and Laurie's in orange. :)

 

‘Ohana means family. And that means the restaurant ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort is a terrific place to visit with family and friends. Which is exactly what I did recently! My friend Laurie was in Orlando for the weekend, and we decided to head to ‘Ohana for a late dinner. (On a side note, Laurie is a fantastic gluten free, vegan, and allergy-friendly cookbook author, whose recipes are especially wonderful. Seriously, check out her books at: http://theallergyfreecook.com/ You won’t be sorry!) Laurie has celiac disease so she is gluten free, and she is also vegan, so she took care of the special diets arrangements for the meal!

 

Aw, well, thanks, Sarah! It was awesome being able to meet up with Sarah at ‘Ohana, and it was a good choice, too -- we were famished! Before we headed over, I sent along the special diets request, and the chef emailed me beforehand to discuss a few details. I had a few questions, and wanted to see what they thought. You’ll read about these below!

 

When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see Chef Johnny who used to be the regular morning chef at Kona Cafe. I knew that he had moved over to ‘Ohana, but I thought he was only covering the mornings. It was great to see him there for dinner! It’s been awhile since we’ve crossed paths, so I think he was a little surprised to see me. Yep, you know you go to Disney too much when chefs recognize you!

 

Well, some of us don’t have the luxury of living so close to Disney! But I do find that some chefs do recognize you when you come, especially if it is a restaurant that you frequent when you head down. When my mom and I head to Disney, we get recognized by a lot of the Table Service chefs, but I think that is because of our specific allergies and having the wheelchair in tow.

 

I was really surprised to hear all the amazing things that they had planned for Laurie as a vegan. Honestly, ‘Ohana isn’t one of those places I immediately think of as vegan friendly, but it seems like they were nicely able to accommodate her. Her sushi looked amazing as did her tofu stir-fry. This is definitely one of those places that made me rethink the type of dishes I could get.

 

This past year when my mom and I went to Disney (which I am still so late to post up!), we went to ‘Ohana, and the chef brought me sushi as my appetizer. I wanted to see if that could happen again, so that was one thing I had emailed chef Johnny about. Similarly, the default gluten-free/vegan dish is a tofu stir-fry with a very rich sauce, and I asked if he could make it without the sauce (which he did).

 

First up though were the “appetizers.” Both of us were able to have the GNI brand rolls. Unfortunately, they were totally improperly heated and were nice and warm on the outside....not so much on the inside. I think we both sort of picked at these. No matter, there were tons of other food options. We also could both have the salad which is now a papaya-mango salad. Very delicious, but of course it’s no honey lime dressing (which unfortunately would not be vegan)! Still, ‘Ohana definitely provides a nice salad course. I always feel bummed because I have to limit my salad intake because of the Crohn’s. But it was definitely enough to satisfy my salad craving. 

 

Salad

Like Sarah, salad and I aren’t always the best of friends with the whole celiac disease, but I really enjoy the one at ‘Ohana. The rolls weren’t the worst round of GNI that I’ve had, but we picked at the edges and it seemed like enough for us. They also gave us some soy-based Earth Balance with them. If you’re soy-free, they give you a saucer of olive oil.

 

As the appetizer course went on, this is where things began to vary. I had the chicken wings, which this time were dipped in sweet and sour sauce. Quite tasty. I asked for a small amount of these because it never fails that they bring me a ton of them, and I can’t finish them. This was the perfect amount. I was wowed by the vegan sushi! Talk about a really nice appetizer offering! 

 

Chicken wings

Sushi is one of my favourite things, and though I’d like to say you can’t really mess up a veg-based sushi, well, you can. I’ve had sushi with terrible rice and brown avocado... not exactly fresh something to write home about. The rice was cooked perfectly, and it was loaded with veggies that were in a good ratio with one another. Served with pickled ginger (my favourite! Could eat jars of this all day), wasabi (which I love), and gluten-free tamari.

Vegan sushi

As our main dishes came it was time to really dig in. I had rice, stir fry vegetables and grilled chicken and pork. I was also able to get the shrimp from the grill. As a gluten free & dairy free diner, I could also have the beef, but since I don’t really eat beef that one was out. I was also able to get the gluten free teriyaki sauce and sweet and sour sauce upon request. Chef Johnny was very accommodating at our table. One of the things I noticed about my shrimp was that they weren’t as spicy as they normally are. In fact, they were more “sweet and sour” than anything. After we left, I noticed that there have been some menu changes, and it looks like the grilled meats have been changed slightly. For example, the marinated sirloin steak (which is gluten free & dairy free) has now been changed to a Szechuan steak (which based on that evening, also safe). None of the others are considered safe, except the shrimp, but if you’re dining with others who don’t have a special diet, it’s good to note some of the changes. 

 

Chicken & Pork with stir-fry vegetables and sticky rice

My main course was a lot of food -- but I can’t say I was complaining! I had a huge, whopping bowl of stir-fried vegetables (and I eat a LOT of food... so anything I think is big, well, is huge. Trust me.) Chef Johnny said, “Your sticky rice is coming.” And I responded, “So wait, it isn’t under here?” gesturing to the vegetables... because it was so massive. The vegetables included broccoli, peppers, carrots, onion, baby corn, mushrooms, potatoes (which is always weird to me that they put them in, but taste good), and water chestnuts. The tofu is soft but flavorful, with a hint of meaty texture. The dish overall was just lightly seasoned--which is what I wanted--but generally can be served with a sweet sauce (likely the teriyaki sauce that Sarah mentioned). This photo does not do it justice--this was huge!

 

Tofu stir-fry

Overall, I liked my main course. I thought the veggies had decent flavor and were good well (and a little more “overcooked” which always appeals to my stomach with Crohn’s). The rice wasn’t a gummy mess like the last time I was there, so that was an improvement. I’m really liking that they are grilled the meats--they used to pan fry them. The grill really imparts some nice flavor. And of course, the shrimp were excellent, even if they were more sweet and sour like. 

 

Grilled shrimp

I enjoyed my dish a lot, but it also isn’t anything special or upscale. I’m pretty sure that the veggies are a frozen mix from a bag, which is fine, since they weren’t overcooked. If you go into ‘Ohana with fine dining expectations, you won’t get it. But it definitely satisfied exactly what I wanted out of my dinner (after all, that’s why we chose ‘Ohana!)

 

I was seriously stuffed by the time I finished my entree. But, I was excited to hear there was a surprise for our dessert. Both Laurie and I were hoping for something different and exciting--more than just some Enjoy Life Cookies & Rice Dream.

 

This was something I requested in the email. I had specifically requested no Tofutti, so that was my main concern (for multiple reasons), and he had emailed me back and said that he could do a sundae with Enjoy Life Cookies and Rice Dream. But, you know, I’ve had experience with chefs who love to do more, so I figured... doesn’t hurt to try. I basically said, “We’d be great with that! Or... if you want to get creative and do something fun, we’re totally open to that, as well.”

 

And Chef Johnny definitely delivered. He brought out this delicious apple & blueberry cobbler with a pecan crumble and Rice Dream non-dairy ice cream.

 

Yes, you read that right.

 

This was soooo good. I loved the flavor combination, and the Rice Dream was perfect on top. I will say, it was a little sweeter than I would have liked (there was a lot of sweet syrupy goodness in it) but overall, this was a welcome treat compared to so many of the same boring desserts you get at Disney. I wish I could have finished all of mine, but my stomach was plum full! 

 

Apple blueberry cobbler with pecan crumble & Rice Dream

It was really sweet, so the Rice Dream was the perfect way to offset it. But man, it was so good and a perfect, warming way to end our dinner together.

 

Not only was this a terrific meal but it also brought some unique experiences. It also gave me some great insight to the vegan offerings available there. In the future, I wouldn’t hesitate to contact them ahead of time to see if they could make some type of dessert like this again too. That was perhaps one of my most favorite parts of the meal! Thank goodness Laurie did!

 

Well, I do what I can to please! The truth is, I had one night in Disney and I was spending it with dinner with my friend... go big or go home, right?

 

I’d give this visit a solid 8 out of 10. Though I will say we had a quite terrible server for the meal--thank goodness Chef Johnny was very attentive.

 

Oh, yeah! I forgot. She certainly needs to be revaluated. My meal? Nine out of 10 based on it being ‘Ohana and not comparing it to other restaurants... losing a point for that server, but getting a bit of an edge for the company!

 

Yet again ‘Ohana reminds me of why I love visiting. Good fun, good friends, good times! Mahalo!

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

This will be a very brief review, as I come to Kona a lot, and you can see lots of recent reviews here on the site for Kona Cafe for breakfast. It's just one of my favorites, plain and simple. Although I will say that I think Kouzzina has overtaken Kona as my favorite table service (non-buffet) breakfast choice. But, Kona does a terrific job of offering tasty breakfast options at a reasonable price. They are terrific and they have some of the best allergy friendly Mickey waffles!On this particular visit, I was greeted by Chef Miguel, who I've not met before. He seems like a new Disney chef. He was very nice, and I sort of just told him what I wanted because I knew I wanted the modified Big Kahuna, which I always get. I went for scrambled eggs, bacon, ham--no sausage, potatoes and allergy Mickey waffles. YUM! It's my usual order, so nothing too fancy.I will say that he was really up on his game that morning. He gave me Earth Balance, ketchup and my own maple syrup. Plus, he came back later to check on things and make sure it was all OK.

Big Kahuna indeed!

As usual, this was all very good. I'm digging that they are giving me extra portions of those Mickey waffles. Chef Amber was right--Mickey waffles are better in 4s! :)One thing I will say, is that if you ever just want pancakes, they can make them here. I was toying around with the idea of allergy friendly pancakes that morning with blueberries but opted for my Big Kahuna. But, you could easily get pancakes and maybe even add the pineapple sauce (it's GF/DF). The chefs are great here and willing to really help make a great meal.Overall, as usual, I give this a solid 8 out of 10. Love the breakfast here!