Sanaa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village
*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review as well as two gluten free reviews.
Ah, Sanaa. Many of you know this is one of my favorite restaurants on property. I adore the Indian and African inspired flavors, the decor, and well...just about everything that this restaurant has to offer. I recommend this restaurant a lot to Disney guests looking for a great special diets meal that is just a little different than burgers and fries. It's so friendly for many special dietary needs - gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and more. Plus, they have gluten free & dairy free menus which is pretty awesome!On this particular visit, I was joined by my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Jennifer Harris from Gluten Free Go-to Guide. We were all really hungry after a busy day at Blogger U for the Gluten-Free Living Conference in Orlando. So, this was definitely a much needed meal. We were greeted by Chef Carroll who really took the time to go over the special diets offerings, as well as how the restaurant prepares special diets dinners. And then something funny happened. She asked if I was Sarah and explained that she had actually been one of the Disney's Catered Events teams that worked on the Special Diets Dessert Parties that I host at Disney. How cool is that? She said she worked on the menu development but didn't get a chance to be at the tastings or the event. So, it was really neat to meet her in person. She's now moved on from catering to work in Sanaa, and I'm looking forward to seeing a familiar face the next time I go in to dine.
The group decided to order drinks - white & red sangrias for both Alexis and Jennifer (which looked fabulous) and an African Starr Mint Mojito for me. Yes, I'm totally addicted to these. One thing I will say is that the bartender didn't do quite as good of a job on my drink. It wasn't as balanced as it could have been and almost seemed like it was missing something. For our appetizers, we all chose different items. Alexis got the Butternut Squash Soup which looked good, but very dairy filled. Jennifer got the salad sampler which has one of my favorite lunchtime salads - the chickpea and cucumber salad. I usually get it with the turkey sandwich and it's delicious. For my appetizer, I restrained myself from the bread service (which I normally get) and ordered the Chana Tikki - chickpea cakes. I have been eyeing them for a while, and decided to switch it up.
Taste-wise, these were very good. I really enjoyed the taste of the cake - though I will say the texture was a little "mushy." I think they could have been a wee bit more textured or crispier and that would have worked better. The accompaniments were spot on. I never met a chutney or coriander sauce I didn't like and both were fabulous. For entrees, I was torn. I really love the sustainable fish entree, but I also loved the curry/gravy dishes. I still really really miss the green curry shrimp because it was the perfect balance with Durban chicken. Chef Trish recreated it for me the last time I had dinner there, but it's not the same without it on the menu. I opted for the Durban chicken and spicy Goan Fish Curry. Now, this seemed like it may not be a good decision on my part - so much spiciness, but I decided to be a gambling lady that night. Both Jennifer and Alexis ordered the lamb dish and both raved about it. 
The Durban chicken was spicy but flavorful as it always is. I really do love this dish. There's a lot of complexity to it, and the flavors (though spicy) meld really well together. The Goan Fish was actually not at all spicy like it had been the time before. The last time it was practically nuclear and my mouth was on fire for what seems like forever. But, this time it was pleasantly spiced and seasoned and the mahi mahi was excellent in it. If it stays like this, I'll readily order it again.Alexis also ordered dessert, while the rest of us were too stuffed to attempt it. You can read Alexis's full review of Sanaa from that visit on her website Gluten Free in Orlando.Overall, it was a fantastic meal with great company and ambiance. I love sharing new Disney restaurants with friends, and it was great to hear what Jennifer thought of it as well. I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10. Have you been to Sanaa recently? What are your favorite dishes there?
Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside
*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.
I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright's Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it's quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!Boatwright's culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines -- something I'm always a fan of. It's definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He's also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright's before. Well, you know that I had to change that!We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright's, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I'm not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!
While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I've probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.
Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it's pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn't?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce...and you just can't go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me...I honestly could have eaten them both myself!As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po'Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!
It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.
My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish - which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets - Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.So, I have to say....I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I'm probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it's traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn't sound appetizing, but if you're a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!Note to self...next time order this dish!Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie "fondue" of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. 
Despite the awful picture that I took - this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don't think he talked the entire time he ate it...it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it's a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright's is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.I can't thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I'm looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I'm already planning my next visit).I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!Have you been to Boatwright's? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?
Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in October 2013 and includes a gluten free & vegan dining review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. This review includes my comments, as well as comments from Laurie Sadowski, the Allergy-Free Cook, who accompanied me on this meal! Laurie's comments are in green! Kouzzina is one of those locations that I often visit for breakfast. I really enjoy the Mediterranean inspired food, and they have some of the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (the key is the crispiness)! But believe it or not, I had never dined there for dinner. So, you can imagine how excited I was to finally be heading to Kouzzina for dinner. During the special diets dessert party weekend, I got the chance to enjoy a celebratory meal with fellow dessert party weekend collaborator, Laurie Sadowski. I knew that Kouzzina was one of her favorite places, so it was exciting for me to dine there with her and enjoy some of the dinner recommendations that she had.Wait a moment here… One of my favourite places? Definitely my favourite! (So sad to hear about this closing, though - see post on the closing HERE). But the key is in the chefs—in the process of dining many (many) times here, I’ve become friends with a couple of the chefs, and even when they’ve moved on, I still get those Mediterranean-inspired meal. The highlight of my nights here definitely have included the multi-multi-course dinners, including the Koranation Room (IE Chef’s Table). Alas, onto the review!Laurie had contacted the restaurant prior to our visit, as Laurie is gluten free & vegan. She is definitely a Kouzzina pro, but it’s always good to double-check as restaurants frequently change menu items. When we arrived, we were greeted by the enthusiastic Chef Miguel. I instantly recognized him as a chef I’d seen briefly at Kona, but he’s based at Kouzzina now. He quickly let us know what options were available for us and was ready to make our meal extra special.Chef Miguel and I had been in contact via email, and I set out a couple of requests. Certainly nothing over the top—just a few things that I’d enjoyed in the past with when dining with my mom at Kouzzina. His responses via email were friendly and easy-going, so I knew a fantastic meal was to come.
First up was the appetizer. Holy moly! Laurie & I split the Kouzzina Sampler which includes marinated olives, dolmades, tzatziki (which we had replaced with an eggplant spread) hummus and pita (which was replaced by Ener-G rolls jazzed up—more on this in a minute!). It also normally comes with a choice of two of the following: Spicy Gulf Prawns, Greek Lamb Meatballs in sauce, or Pork Souvlaki. What we ended up having was sweet cipolini onions for Laurie and spicy gulf prawns on the side for me. This was an amazing appetizer I have to say. The dolmades were a huge hit – so flavorful and had a terrific dill flavor. We liked them so much we ordered another order of them!Mom and I always get the Kouzzina sampler, so I’m glad that Sarah obliged when I told her this was a must-have! Dolmades are a long-standing favourite of mine, and among the many I’ve tried in my life, Kouzzina’s are my favourite. I’m not sure if they have a specific sous-chef on Dolmade duty, but each time I’ve gone, they’ve been consistently wonderful—never a stray dill piece, loose grape leaf, or mushy rice in sight. And for those who’ve ever bought dolmades in the store (which are often in a mixture of olive oil and soy oil), these are completely soy-free, if you’re a soy-free diner.The platter also included cardamom-spiced cashews, which I can’t lie – I’ve been recreating ever since. I also got a glass of wine, and although it took awhile to hunt down one completely casein-free (and vegan) on Barnivore, I finally found one and it definitely fulfilled my merlot love.The marinated olives were also quite delicious, and the hummus was unique as they don’t use tahini in it. It was nice to try a different version of hummus. I also really adored the eggplant spread. It was spicy and earthy and just plain delicious.The eggplant spread was (and still is) my favourite of the dips. For those familiar with babaghanouj, it’s not the same at all. Instead, it is slightly acidic with a hint of smokiness, but a little sweeter from (likely) slow roasting the eggplants. Really smooth, and not much garlic, too—a plus for me.There were also some spiced nuts on our appetizer plate and those were amazing. So many spices, both sweet & spicy really complemented the nuts.Yes! So good.I also really loved the shrimp and found the charred grill flavor to be just perfect.My onion skewers were done similarly the shrimp; Chef Miguel said he didn’t want me to be “without my own”. If you’re not familiar, cippolini onions are super naturally sweet, so they harbour their own dominance of flavor without needing much else to round it out.And then there were those Ener-G rolls. I don’t know what they did to these—call it Disney magic if you will—but they were awesome! Garlicky and delicious, almost like a garlic round. Perfect for spreads and dips. We may have asked for more……And more. Previously at Kouzzina, the chefs have always thinly sliced the rolls, spread them with olive oil and Mediterranean herbs, then toasted them… so really, wouldn’t you have pre-requested that, too?
For my entrée, I chose the Fisherman's Stew, which came with Scallops, seasonal Fish, Shellfish, Fennel, Grilled Bread, and Ouzo Butter. Chef Miguel replaced the Ouzo “butter” with Earth Balance. I had heard such great recommendations on this dish, both from Laurie’s mom & blog reader Linda T., so I was very excited to try it. I had heard it might be spicy, but I didn’t find it to be spicy really for my tastes (maybe I was still used to the high spice from the Goan Curry at Sanaa!). But, it was extremely flavorful. The seafood was perfectly cooked and the broth was well seasoned. Instead of regular bread, I got more of those delicious Ener-G rounds. Um, double yum!Mom has definitely been a fan of the stew on multiple occasions, and knowing what Sarah loves, I was pretty certain she’d love it.
Chef Miguel put together a vegan sampler platter for me. Some of it included side dishes or variations of side dishes from the current menu, and other things were specially created. One of the “special” items was a white corn polenta, made with sandlewood corn, fresh oregano, and topped with a peppadew relish. Beside it was a menu mainstay: Brussels sprouts with capers, then finished with a splash of balsamic. Another one of my top dishes made the platter: those oh-so-coveted gigantes beans with sautéed escarole and a lemon oil sauce. Definitely had the rosemary fingerlings, and I also had a sauté of briami (it was currently on the menu), which was finished with a rosemary truffle oil. And because I have an appetite of gargantuan proportions, I also had another side order of dolmades.
And just when we thought we couldn’t eat any more…it was time for dessert!“We” thought? I’m a bottomless pit over here! :)Chef Miguel had the pastry department whip up something special for us. We both got a coconut milk rice pudding with pistachio crumble and a spiced apple sorbet. First off, the presentation was gorgeous. It really reflected seasonality and just was so delicate in its presentation. Surprisingly, the rice pudding was not hot, it was cold. Which sounds strange. But, it was just perfect. The rice pudding was so flavorful and tasty, it could have been hot or cold and it would have been delicious. The pistachio crumble below the pudding was exactly what the dish needed for texture. Wow! I also really, really loved the apple cider sorbet. It was completely refreshing and truly a palate cleanser which worked really well given the rest of the meal. Plus, how often do you get to have sorbet that isn’t some traditional fruit flavor like strawberry, raspberry, and mango? So delicious!
Like Sarah said, we got a special dessert. I hadn’t asked for anything out of the ordinary in the email, but did ask if we could have something other than the “usual” allergy-free desserts. I really enjoyed the rice pudding—something I do normally love, but much prefer warm (I prefer pretty much all desserts warm!). But it was so good, and the spice of the crumble—like Sarah mentions—was a perfect topping.The sorbet was really good, but not really my thing… however, this is coming from someone who isn’t keen on sorbet and has a pretty strong distaste for apple juice. That being said, there was a hint of spice and, topped on the pudding, it rounded it out into something good. We also had a drizzle of a lovely raspberry syrup, which cut the sweetness of the rest of the dessert. And don’t get me wrong about the sorbet…I mean, I still ate it (not surprisingly)!Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Chef Miguel and the meal that we enjoyed at Kouzzina. Not only was it delicious but the flavor profiles were really terrific. There was a lot of depth of flavor in simple dishes. I liked it so much that I ended up making an ADR to go back with my family! I’m so glad Laurie suggested that we head to Kouzzina for dinner!There was no other option. Just kidding!It was the perfect way to end a wonderful weekend celebrating special diets. This was a hands down 10 out of 10 for me on this visit!
Sanaa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village
*This dining experience took place in October 2013 and includes a gluten free & vegan dining review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. This review includes my comments, as well as comments from Laurie Sadowski, the Allergy-Free Cook, who accompanied me on this meal! Laurie's comments are in green! Ah Sanaa… This continues to be one of my hands down favorite restaurants on property. I adore the Indian & African inspired flavors and the variety in which I can get as a gluten free & dairy free diner. I don’t think I could ever get bored eating at this restaurant! Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, this restaurant is often seen as a “hidden gem,” which always surprises me given it’s wonderful food, service, and location. But then again, it is off-the-beaten-path if you don’t have a car or don’t want to resort hop. For me, I will always go out of my way to visit Sanaa.On this particular occasion, I was lucky enough to be heading to dinner with my friend and food allergy cookbook author, Laurie Sadowski. If you attended the dessert party weekend festivities, you’ll likely met Laurie! This was a great place for us to relax and enjoy a meal as we prepped for the weekend festivities.Before we visited this location, I contacted Chef Trish ahead of time, not only to see if she was going to be on-duty that night, but also to check in with her on options for Laurie & I that might be slightly “off the menu.” Normally, I don’t do this, but this was a special occasion, and we were really looking forward to the meal. Laurie jokingly mentioned samosas (which are definitely not gluten free) to Chef Trish, and little did we know we would be in for a treat when we arrived.I, too, love Sanaa, and my top dish there is their tomato soup. When Sarah and I were choosing our weekend restaurants, we decided to each pick our favourites, and I was happy to oblige when I discovered Sanaa is hers.Our server was Brenda, and she’s taken care of my tables in the past. She’s always very good and knowledgeable. Chef Trish came out to greet us, and boy was she prepared for us! She had decided to make something special - a gluten free & vegan version of a “samosa.” Instead of a pastry dough, she created a pastry type coating out of quinoa which she ground and left some coarse to provide texture. Inside were potatoes & peas. Then she lightly fried them in a pan and garnished with a mint chutney and tamarind sauce (which normally is not GF but was for us!) and a mango chutney along with micro-greens. Though the texture wasn’t really samosa like, the taste profiles were nice & very samosa reminiscent.
The tamarind sauce had a lovely flavor to it, with a hint of coriander spice, it had fresh cilantro and mint, a squeeze of lemon and lime and was finished with coconut milk. The samosa, topped on the same had flavors that were good, though more of a quinoa patty, rather than the pastry. It was fried in a Tunisian olive oil, which was a nice way to complement it as a whole. Topped on it was the mango chutney, which included creamed papaya, achar spice, and the microgreens. Big, big fan of this. The balance of flavors with the spice of the samosa and the creamy tamarind sauce was spot on.Believe it or not, I’d never had the tomato soup at Sanaa -- one thing that surprises most people, especially since they have a reputation for making wonderful soups (my mom says the tomato soup here is the best tomato soup she’s ever had!).My mom and I will second this!Chef Trish made a nice option for me, a gluten free & dairy free tomato soup made creamy with coconut milk. YUM! This was amazing. It had a nice coconut foam on top and was topped with arugula which is a nice peppery green. There was a lot of depth of flavor to this, and this was easily one of the best soups I’ve ever had GF/DF or not! I also got the chance to try out Laurie’s version of the tomato soup which had no coconut milk in it and spinach. This was also divine, though I admit, I preferred the coconut milk version (I’m a sucker for coconut milk).
The version that I had is the one that I always get, and my top favourite. The traditional tomato soup on the menu contains slow-slow-slow (as in multi-day) cooked tomatoes, which gives it the richest flavor. It generally includes paneer (cheese), which isn’t dairy free, but the same base is used for the dairy-free (as well as soy-free and vegan) version on the menu, with spinach instead. I could eat my life in this!
Laurie & I also shared the bread service with lentil pappadum and several dipping sauces. We picked the coriander chutney, red bell pepper hummus, and mango chutney. All three are my hands down favorite dipping sauces. Of course, at this point I was feeling very full, but we hadn’t even received our entrees yet!Full? What’s that?
For my entree choices, I ordered the Goan Fish Curry and Chef Trish said she could re-create my favorite dish Green Curry Shrimp which is no longer on the Sanaa menu. I was so excited that she could re-create it!The green curry shrimp was very close to the version that used to be on the menu. It wasn’t quite as spicy (which wasn’t very spicy at all to be fair) as the original, but the flavor profile was very close. Next up was the Goan Fish Curry. It featured mahi mahi which is a nice firm fish and worked perfectly with the goan curry. Fair warning, this was spicy! And I mean spicy! I think it was almost more spicy for me than the Durban chicken. Yikes!! I enjoyed the flavors, but spice intensity wise, it was a bit much for me. I ended up picking out the fish and eating the fish with rice just because the sauce was a little too much on the spice scale. I would go with the Durban chicken next time.
Sarah was sweatin’ a little, but definitely talking about how good the dish was. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it! Too bad we can’t have that milk and white bread to mop up the intensity. Thank goodness for rice!My entrée was done off the cuff, which is my favourite way to dine at Disney World. I didn’t want to have the sampler—I’ve had it in the past many times, since it’s pretty much the only option—so Chef Trish put together a mash-up of other things that were on the menu.The appetizers on the menu included (not gluten-free) tikki chickpea cakes, and she made me a version of these. She asked if I liked the mango chutney from the appetizer (yes!) because she said the flavors went really well with what she had in mind. I ended up getting a version of the chickpea dish, sitting on a mango, papaya lime juice “sauce”. It was topped with a shaved fennel salad that included red onions and fresh cilantro.One nice thing I also ordered was the African Starr Mojito which was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. It was so refreshing and filled with fresh mint. This is perhaps now one of my favorite Disney World cocktails. I’ll definitely be ordering that again.
By the time dessert came around, I was just way too full to order any. Though it was nice to see Laurie’s rice pudding that she got. It looked divine!Oh, and it was. It was a warm bamboo rice pudding, cooked to perfection, and topped with fresh berries. Nice and simple, both in presentation and flavor, but just the right amount.Overall, I very much enjoyed this meal. I was so stuffed by the end of it but everything was so flavorful and delicious that it was worth it. I can’t thank Chef Trish enough for providing that lovely samosa treat and the special soup. I would definitely request both of those again for a special occasion.I’d give this meal a solid 9 out of 10 for delicious food & terrific gluten free and dairy free options.
Olivia's -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Old Key West
*This dining experience took place in April 2014.
When it comes to a relaxing destination on Disney property, Old Key West resort can’t be beat. It’s one of my favorite Disney resorts to “get away from it all.” I frequently find myself wanting to stay at this Disney Vacation Club resort just to relax and skip the parks. Whenever I visit, I’m immediately transported to Key West, Florida – with the low-key vibe and frequent sounds of Jimmy Buffet. Add in some terrific Key West inspired food from Olivia’s and your vacation is complete.On this particular occasion, I stopped by Olivia’s for breakfast during my weekend stay for the Gluten Free Living Conference held in Orlando. I knew that I had a busy day ahead of me, and I wanted a solid breakfast before I hit the expo and conference (and all the sweets that awaited me there).
On the last visit to Olivia’s I had been pretty impressed with my breakfast – it had been the best one I’d had at the restaurant to date. I was looking forward to an equally good meal this time. I have to say that one of the things that I love about Olivia’s is that the cast members totally remember you here. Even though I’m not really a regular, they do seem to recognize familiar faces and address those guests by first name when they’ve been there a lot. I also really enjoy the atmosphere too. It’s very relaxed and casual. Our server this visit was Jerry, who has assisted us before. My family joined for coffee and some fresh fruit but didn’t order anything else because they had reservations that day at Kouzzina (lucky ducks). I wanted something different, and I was very curious about the sweet potato hash that was on the menu.Chef Paula who was a culinary intern, assisted me on this visit. I asked if the sweet potato hash entrée was safe, and she said it was – minus the hollandaise sauce. It was served with poached eggs (which I really love) and toast. I was able to get Udi’s white sandwich bread toast and Earth Balance vegan margarine with the hash. 
When I got my entrée, I have to say, it looked great. The hash has regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and ham in it. Now that’s my kind of hash! The poached eggs on top were cooked perfectly. I find that getting perfectly poached eggs is a bit of a gamble sometimes, so I was very pleased to have well poached eggs. If you’re an egg yolk kind of person like me, you know how important it is and how delicious runny egg yolk is over hash or any type of breakfast potato (and if you’re not an egg yolk fan, you don’t know what you’re missing!). The hash was outstanding. It was a little onion heavy, so if you’re not an onion person, you’ve been warned. But, I thought it balanced really well with the potatoes and ham. Add in the toast, and this was a very hearty breakfast. I’m going to say that this was officially my favorite breakfast item at Olivia’s. It was really excellent. Even minus the hollandaise, it was a great choice. I’m pretty sure this is what I’ll be ordering again next time. It was that good!If you get the chance to pop by Olivia’s, I would highly recommend it. The food tends to be a bit basic at breakfast time, but this sweet potato hash with poached eggs will knock your socks off! I give this visit a solid 8 out of 10 for an excellent entrée, great service and terrific atmosphere.Have you been to Olivia’s? What was your favorite item to order for breakfast?
Captain's Grille -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club
*This dining experience took place in March 2014.
Ahoy matey's! The nautical theme of Captain's Grille may make you want to say "Shiver me timbers" but you won't feel "out to sea" with the atmosphere and food offerings of this table service. Sure, I can't help myself with the sea-inspired references but really this is a nice option for guests looking for breakfast near the Epcot resort area.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for an early breakfast as we were headed to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival that day. We wanted to get a good meal in us before we spent the day touring. It's been a while since we've been to Captain's Grille, and I will say that it's not usually my first choice for a breakfast option. However, it sure fits the bill nicely when we go. I really love the quiet atmosphere here. It's always so calm and relaxing. One of my favorite things about it really.
The restaurant has a breakfast buffet and also an a la carte option. I had the breakfast buffet back in January 2013 but this time I decided to just get something off the menu. The chef here was really eager and nice. He gave me some suggestions, and I decided to go for a custom omelet with ham, onions, and asparagus (one of my favorite veggies) along with some Udi's toast and Earth Balance. Nothing too crazy but filling and tasty.
My toast was great as always. I gotta admit, I really love Udi's white sandwich bread. It's just homey and nostalgic for me. I also like the texture a lot - just reminds me of glutenous filled bread. The Earth Balance vegan margarine is my go-to. I use it at home and in all of my cooking & baking when it calls for butter. This stuff is amazing, and I'm always glad when a Disney restaurant carries it. Never underestimate the power of butter flavor!
I have to say, I love it when I get breakfast potatoes that are just a bit different, and these definitely were. They included shredded potatoes, sweet potatoes (my favorite) and onions with salt and pepper. My only complaint was that the onions were a little raw but otherwise, these were really good. You can't screw up a breakfast potato that much in my opinion. The omelet would have been great except for two things: 1) It was overcooked and 2) they only gave me the ends of the asparagus.Overcooked eggs are a personal pet peeve and the omelet was too badly overcooked but enough that I could tell. The thing that was really disappointing was the asparagus. Who gives you asparagus with only the ends?! The tips are the best part! It's really a good thing I like asparagus because I could still eat my omelet missing tips or not. Note to self...ask about that next time.Overall, despite the weirdness with asparagus, I really enjoyed the breakfast. The combination of all of my breakfast options made it a really tasty meal. My family, who don't have special diets, really enjoyed both the buffet and the a la carte options. We all said we'd go back again as an alternative breakfast place. I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10 for good service, great atmosphere and decent offerings. I'd bump it up to an 8 if they gave me asparagus tips!! I also want to pop by here sometime for dinner, especially after hearing about their gluten free angel food cake!Have you dined at Captain's Grille? What did you think of this restaurant?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in March 2014. It includes my gluten free & dairy free review and a gluten free & yellow food coloring review. 
'Tis the luck of the Irish that I had a chance to visit Raglan Road Irish Pub during the Mighty Festival celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Downtown Disney. Not only were the festivities really fun but it gave me an opportunity to enjoy one of my favorite restaurants at Disney.Raglan Road Irish Pub is known for their pub fare and especially for their gluten free offerings. In fact, they have continuously been voted one of the best places in Orlando for gluten free offerings. Their fish & chips are probably their most well-known gluten free dish, but they can easily make most of their fried options gluten free!On this particular occasion, I joined my friends for a meal to celebrate their birthdays. Having dietary needs as well, it worked out that they chose Raglan Road for the celebration. One thing we didn't realize though was that it was Mighty Festival in Downtown Disney and so that meant it was very busy. Add that together with the fact that Downtown Disney is under massive construction AND it was a Saturday. Well, it was nearly impossible to park here. Note to self. Do not drive to Downtown Disney any time soon.Once we got to Raglan Road though, we were able to quickly get in, despite the crowds. Of course, after all that parking and crowd navigating, a cold pint of Magners sounded perfect. I grabbed a pint of Magners Pear Cider which was newly added to the tap at Raglan Road. I'm a huge fan of the pear cider, so I was so glad to see it added. It's a little more mild and tart than the traditional hard cider and it's a nice variation. I would definitely recommend it. Ask your server for a small sample if you aren't sure you'll like it!
After ordering drinks, we moved to appetizers and we split the gluten free onion rings. Super yummy as always. And even better if you ask for a side of the sweet chili jam. You know me and my dipping sauces! I gotta have them! My friends all really liked that pairing and said the onion rings definitely needed a sauce to go with them.
I have to say that our server was probably the least on top of things Raglan Road server we've ever had. I'm not sure if it was just too busy or if he didn't feel comfortable with the menu but he didn't seem to be as adept at the gluten free offerings as most servers are there. My friend kept asking him questions and he really didn't seem to know (thankfully, I've dine there enough that I could sort of help navigate through the options). One thing the server did mention which I want to check the next time I go is that the calamari is the only gluten free fried dish that is not dairy free because they soak the calamari in buttermilk. He also said that the sausages can be made gluten free (no one's ever offered this so I'd like to check it out). If they are, I know what I'll be trying next time! Our friends got the regular version at the table and they all raved about them.
For my main dish, I got the fish and chips. You know I can't resist them. Really no complaints here. They were just as good as they always are. And that tartar sauce. Oh that tartar sauce. I wish I could bottle it and take it home with me. It's so good.
My friend go the Shepherd's Pie (which is not dairy free). And I have to say, I was surprised by the presentation. I expected something more homier looking. This was a bit "fancier" in terms of the presentation. Taste-wise two people at the table got the dish and both said it was just OK. Both agreed that the dish needed more sauce. So, it seems like this dish might just be mediocre. It's a shame because I've had some pretty stellar dishes (not just fried ones) here.While we waited for our entrees, we also took the chance to watch some of the Irish dancing. Wowie, those dancers are fast! It's really impressive to see these dancers on stage. I have several videos here that I took that night.[embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/NljlZR" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGoqLmgqWd8?fs=1" vars="ytid=sGoqLmgqWd8&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=" id="ep3056" /] [embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/NljWdZ" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/IZxYJ_kuy90?fs=1" vars="ytid=IZxYJ_kuy90&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=" id="ep9343" /]Overall, we had a good meal and a great time at Raglan Road. They sure know how to celebrate for St. Paddy's Day! A rollicking good time was had by all topped off by great fish and chips and a Magners Irish Cider.I give this visit a 7 out of 10, mostly for the lack of knowledge by the server.
Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
When it comes to breakfast options at Disney World, Kouzzina has to be one of my favorites. Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, this restaurant (owned by celebrity chef Cat Cora) has bright and bold flavors and dishes that are totally different from many dishes you'll find on Disney property for breakfast (or dinner too, for that matter). As a gluten free & dairy free diner, the amount of options I have to choose from are pretty amazing....and delicious too.On this particular occasion, my family stopped by after the Royal Family 5K runDisney race held at Epcot. We were all wearing our race shirts and medals afterwards, so it was fun to go celebrate at one of our favorite breakfast spots. That being said, this restaurant is usually slow to moderately busy for breakfast and this morning it was slammed. And I mean slammed. I guess every runDisney racer decided to head here! It does actually have some great fuel options for runners (turkey sweet potato hash anyone?)Chef Sergio, who I haven't seen in forever, was working the breakfast shift. And the poor guy was running around like mad. I guess everyone in the restaurant had a special diet that day! I saw several different Disney friends (who also have dietary needs), so I knew it would be more of a leisurely meal. And it was. It took quite a long time for Chef Sergio to come over but when he did, he was very apologetic. I felt bad for the guy. It was a zoo in there.Thankfully, I've been there so many times that I knew exactly what I wanted: The American breakfast option with eggs over-easy, sweet potato hash (my weakness), bacon, Udi's gluten free/dairy free toast and a side of allergy Mickey waffles with real maple syrup. Oh yeah, I was about to get my carbs on!
One thing I love about Kouzzina are the eggs are always cooked in high quality extra virgin olive oil...and so good. They also carry Nueske's bacon here which is not that stringy bacon you get at Disney. I mean it's bacon and all, but it's nothing like the thick cut Nueske's. The sweet potato hash was excellent. Perfectly cooked (the last time I got it it was crunchy so I'm glad that didn't happen again), and so good after a race. The Udi's toast dunked in the egg yolks (sorry for those who think that's gross) is one of my favorite things. So good.
And of course, those allergy Mickey waffles. I just adore these at Kouzzina. Perfectly crunchy and delicious. The best! And you better believe I scarfed every bit of them down. Sorry Mickey!Overall, despite the long wait times here, this continues to be one of my favorite breakfast spots. It's just that good.I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10.Have you been to Kouzzina? What's your favorite breakfast option on the menu?
Sanaa -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
Sanaa means work of art, and there's no shortage of art in this restaurant -- from the decor to the food. I still consider this restaurant a hidden gem on Disney property. Guests who might be apprehensive about the Indian & African inspired fare need not be worried. Sanaa has some of the most delicious and approachable fare that even the most skeptical of diners will love (and I hear regularly from guests who consider this a new favorite restaurant).On this particular occasion, I stopped by during my pre-runDisney race day festivities. I popped in for a carb filled lunch after coming back from the expo to pick up my race bib. As always, Sanaa did not disappoint both in options and in price.
I was greeted by Chef David, who has assisted me before. Prior to chatting with Chef David, I received two special diets menus from the cast member who seated us. The menus have slightly changed (but not much) and mostly in the area of pricing. Yikes! I long for the days when many of these dishes were under $20! You can find the updated menus on the menu page.I actually decided to order something not listed on the special diets menus. I ordered the Roasted Turkey Sandwich - served on ciabatta with avocado, smoked bacon, pickled red onion, lemon mayonnaise and choice of chickpea salad or fruit ($13.99). It can easily be modified by using a gluten free/dairy free bread (in this case Udi's Gluten Free). I also really like the chickpea salad which is fresh and filling (and great for a pre-race meal).
As always, this is a great sandwich. It's one of my favorites and really quite affordable as far as Disney table service lunches go. The turkey is roasted in house using some African spices and is very mild and tender. The avocado goes perfectly with the turkey and bacon. My favorite parts of this sandwich are the lemon mayonnaise (so fresh) and the pickled onions. The pickled onions totally make this dish. And the chickpea salad is a winner hands down. Even my mom who isn't a huge fan of cucumbers and other veggies that are in this dish really likes it.Overall, I'm always pleased after eating at Sanaa. The food can't be beat, as far as quality, and who can dislike dining at a restaurant overlooking the Savanna with all of the amazing animals. It's a hands down favorite and a must-do for Disney special diets diners. If you're vegetarian or vegan, this is definitely a place to go!I give this a solid 9 out of 10 for great meal and service, especially for special dietary accommodations.Have you been to Sanaa? What are your favorite dishes here?
Spice Road Table -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase
*This dining experience took place in February 2014.
Spice Road Table, located in Epcot's Morocco Pavilion in the World Showcase, is the newest restaurant to open at Disney World. Set to reflect a Tapas style restaurant, it features small plates in appetizer sized portions. The food is inspired by Spain and the Mediterranean and is a bit different from the fare you'll get at Restaurant Marrakesh or Tangierine Cafe in the same pavilion. This location has been open for about a month now, and I had been wanting to stop by sometime and check out the food.Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando was at Spice Road Table on opening day, and since I read her review, I've been really hoping to check it out because so many options seemed to be gluten free. The menu itself for a Tapas restaurant is pretty limited (I've been to Tapas restaurants where they have 50+ menu items) with only 10 items. I'll be curious to see if they add more items later!
After we were seated (note they aren't taking reservations at this time, only walk-ups), I told the server that I had a special diet and he said he would get the chef. The person who came out seemed a wee bit more like a line cook than a chef. (*Note: This is a non-Disney owned restaurant, so they may or may not adhere to the same Disney standards for special diets accommodations). He was perfectly lovely but he really didn't seem to know the menu, though I'll cut him some slack since he said that he'd just returned from vacation and they had changed the menu up some.Of the options that were gluten free & dairy free he said I could have the following:
- Fresh Mussels Tagine (without the butter)
- Spicy Garlic Shrimp (without the crouton/bread)
- Mediterranean Omelet
- Moroccan Lamb Sausage
- Hummus and Imported Olives (with GF/DF bread)
- Lamb Slider (without the bun)
- Rice Stuffed Grape Leaves - this was a maybe because he said they changed the recipe and didn't want to say for sure it was safe. Alexis had it and they told her it was GF, so I'm fairly sure it was OK, but you'd want to check when you order.
So, there were some decent options. I don't eat lamb, so both of those were out. I was debating between the shrimp and the hummus and olives. I ended up going with the hummus and olives figuring the bread along with the dish would be filling.Before our food came out though, I did order a drink. I went with something not on the menu - a mojito. It's one of my favorite refreshing drinks, and I figured that they would have fresh mint on hand (given they had mint tea). The server wasn't sure at first if they could make it, but they happily obliged at the bar. It is a full bar, so sky's the limit with drinks -- well within reason, I suppose. As far as mojitos, it was OK. It wasn't my favorite which is the African Starr Mint Mojito at Sanaa, but still pretty good. It also was very weak for a $10 drink.
When my hummus and olives arrived, I was surprised they gave me one piece of bread. I was also surprised by the texture of the bread. It sure didn't look like Ener-G to me. I asked the server if he could check with the "chef" to see if this was gluten & dairy free. He said he was told it was. I really didn't feel comfortable, so I did ask if they could send someone from the kitchen out to confirm. When the "chef" came out, he said it was a new product from Ener-G and that they had changed the rolls. I explained to him that I would be very sick if I consumed a regular roll, and he swore up and down that it was safe. Maybe I am just paranoid, but I really wanted to make sure.
As far as the hummus goes, I liked them both, but they weren't anything of note. The regular hummus had a ton of tahini in it, which I love. The other has a nice tomato salad on top (though it was not properly salted). The winner on the plate were the olives and cornichons. So yummy! Much better than any of the other olives you get in the Morocco pavilion.
My overall impressions of Spice Road Table are this - it's a gorgeous restaurant with amazing views of the World Showcase Lagoon. The decor is really lovely. The food...just so-so. I also think the price is really expensive for the portions. They wouldn't even bring me extra bread. I would have had to pay $2.99 for another piece. Egads! For that, I'll head back to Sanaa for the amazing bread service for $10 with tons of sauces and free-flowing pappadums!
It's a great place for appetizers and drinks, especially before IllumiNations, but for a full meal? Not so much. We ended up going to Sommerfest later to get a snack because we were still hungry!I'd give this visit a 6.5 out of 10 for lackluster food but gorgeous atmosphere.
Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside
*This dining experience took place in February 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review, a gluten free & yellow food coloring review, and a vegan review.
Located near the lobby of Port Orleans Riverside lies Boatwright's Dining Hall, a hidden gem of Disney restaurants. Serving New Orleans/Cajun inspired fare, I have long been wanting to dine at this location for dinner. I hadn't been to this resort or the restaurant since 2006, when I made a Mother's Day trip to Disney with my mom. We loved the charming and relaxing atmosphere of the resort, and we also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Boatwright's (which is no longer served).When I was deciding where to go for my birthday celebration dinner, I immediately thought of Boatwright's. I have been spending entirely too much time lately at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory next door at Port Orleans French Quarter getting those fantastic gluten free, dairy free, egg free (and vegan) beignets. But, it had been prompting me to want to try dinner at Boatwright's. So, my birthday dinner celebration was set. Friends and family joined in on the fun, including Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Tony from Disney by the Numbers. Both of them have special dietary needs too, so it was cool to see what they ordered on the menu.First up, I have to apologize that I didn't take any photos of the restaurant. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take photos. But, it's an impressive and cozy restaurant -- built a bit like a shipyard. We had nice seating on the top level of the restaurant, near the warm fireplace (very appreciated after a cold rainy day) -- with a roaring fire, it was the perfect back drop.Chef's Tony & Paul took care of our table during the meal, and let me tell you they did a stellar job. This was one of the best meals I've had at Disney in a very long time. First up, they went over the menu offerings. For appetizers, gluten free (and some modifications for dairy free) included: shrimp and grits (not dairy free), the French onion soup (minus the crouton & cheese - this one might still not be dairy free), the house salad minus the croutons (not dairy free - this one has a green goddess dressing - which looked fantastic), and spinach salad (minus the crouton). These also sounded great, but as soon as I heard that they could make the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites gluten free & dairy free...well, you know which one I chose!
Normally, the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites are not gluten free & dairy free - but if you contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department ahead of time, they can arrange to make it safe for you. Of course, you now I couldn't pass up something battered and deep fried and smothered in remoulade sauce (we'll get to that momentarily). I have to tell you, this appetizer is hands down one of my favorites on property now. These were outrageous. First up, it's a huge portion (which I had no problem scarfing down), second it was piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Fried foods really need to be salted properly, and I can tell you the balance on this dish was perfection. Both Alexis & I ordered this and I think neither of us spoke for a good several minutes other than to say "oh my gosh, these are amazing."I adore remoulade sauce and this version was divine. The perfect combo of spice along with the crawfish. I may also have dipped some bread in the remoulade sauce too!! (heck, you could dip an old booth in this remoulade and it would probably taste amazing). Speaking of rolls, we were served GNI brand rolls along with Smart Balance (which is GF and vegan) for me and regular butter for everyone else. 
For dinner options, we had an impressive amount - and many didn't even need dairy free modifications which was great. Here are the gluten free options:
- Jambalaya
- New York Strip
- Voodoo Chicken (with some modifications)
- Vegetarian Jambalaya (also vegan)
- Andouille-crusted Catfish (with some modifications)
- Slow Roasted Prime Rib
- Blackened Fish
- Sweet Tea Brine Pork Chop (with some modifications)
- Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib (with some modifications)
With so many choices, most of us were having a hard time choosing. And wouldn't you know it we all got something different! (on a side note, I kind of would love a sampler platter entree here - like a Taste of the Bayou with small portions - or I just need to go back soon so I can try other dishes).Alexis chose the Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib which looked fabulous. You can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. Tony got the vegetarian jambalaya which looked delicious as well. I know he really enjoyed the dish. And my other friend ordered the Voodoo Chicken. The red beans & rice and collard greens are not currently gluten free, so he got green beans and potatoes instead. He kindly shared it with both Alexis and I, and wow! The sauce on the chicken was terrific. It was a peach marmalade and totally sweet and spicy.
For my entree, I went with the Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop. I have to admit, what got me was the onion straws. The same batter for the cajun spiced crawfish bites was used for the onion straws and they were amazing. They aren't normally GF/DF, so this is another one you'll want to contact Special Diets ahead of time if you want. 
I have to tell you, this entree was amazing. It exceeded my expectations and then some. The pork itself had a subtle sweetness from the brine and a great grill flavor. Add in the bacony, smoky, sweet potato hash and the fried onion straws...well, it was the perfect dish. It was also huge (side note, if you go to Boatwright's be prepared for massive portions - seriously, the prices and portions at this place are a steal). I had leftovers and they were fantastic the next day too. I admit, that I might have a hard time ordering other dishes at the restaurant after this one -- even though I do want to try others!If you're looking for gluten free dessert options (and yes, believe me we somehow managed to make room for dessert), Boatwright's currently has butterscotch creme brulee, bananas foster angel food cake without the cake, ice cream, or OMG...It's Gluten Free cookies and brownies. They also have Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes on hand. Chef Tony jazzed up one for me with a chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries (my favorite), and vanilla Rice Dream. Oh yeah...about that candle. I also got a restaurant serenade to help celebrate the occasion. Perfect way to end the meal! 
Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the food. Honestly, this is a hidden gem of a restaurant, and I can't believe more people haven't discovered it yet. Everyone at the table (and there were 11 of us!) raved about the meal and really enjoyed it -- special diets or not. I can tell you, I will certainly be back to try out new dishes...but those cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, they're totally going to be a permanent fixture on my visits. They were to-die-for!Thank you again to Chef Tony & Chef Paul for making this a memorable and delicious birthday dinner. This restaurant was a solid 9 out of 10 for me!Have you been to Boatwright's before? What are your favorite dishes?
Be Our Guest Restaurant -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in January 2014. It also contains a vegan dinner review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.
Bonjour! It has been over a year since my last dinner review of Be Our Guest Restaurant. With Advance Dining Reservations being incredibly hard to get, it's no wonder that it's taken me so long to get back to this table service location in the Magic Kingdom. My last visit was during the Tables in Wonderland preview before the restaurant officially opened, and I was looking forward to checking out the new menu changes.I was so excited when my friend Krista Joy from Disneyways.com sent me a message that she got a last minute ADR and asked if I would join her. How could I say no to the good company and the chance to go to Be Our Guest?! The dinner was set for 8:30 p.m. which was a wee bit late considering I was running a 5K early the next morning (4:30 a.m. wakeup call), but I was up for the challenge! In addition to Krista, I was also joined by Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers who also happens to be vegan, so you'll see some of the photos from his meal here as well. I have to say that the castle is so pretty at night, and the interior is even more impressive when visiting in the evening. When we got in line to be seated, a cast member brought us out something I'd not seen before -- our very own table candelabra. Why it was our very own Lumiere! We were given it and were asked to bring it with us to our table. Pretty cool! Don't believe us? Well..you know the rest!
We were then greeted by our server who was quite lovely (and who's name I can't remember) who then said she would notify the chef. The chef then came out and she seemed...well, a bit perplexed by me. She looked at Tony and immediately said, "Oh vegan, I've got you covered." and then sort of looked at me. She went over options, and it seemed strange that some might have dairy. When I double checked that there was no dairy in certain dishes, she said, "OH, you can't have dairy either. Well that changes everything." Oh boy, statements like that always worry me!The pork, shrimp and scallop dishes were completely out, but she said she could do most of them gluten free & dairy free modified. She tried to sell me on the Layered Ratatouille which is their vegan & vegetarian dish. She said this was gluten & dairy free, but I really wanted something more substantial. I ended up going for the Pan Seared Salmon minus the leek fondue. She said she would serve it with roasted potatoes and some type of seasonal vegetable. I was given several options, and I asked her to choose what she thought complimented it best and was seasonal. She also offered me gluten free rolls with Earth Balance.While I didn't get an appetizer, Tony did, and surprisingly the French Onion Soup is gluten free (without the crouton) and dairy free and vegan without the cheese. They use a vegetable broth base instead of beef broth, which is what French Onion Soup is traditional made with. Who knew?! He did say it was quite good.
While appetizers were served our rolls also came out. They were the Ener-G rolls which is surprisingly uncommon these days on Disney property, so I'm always surprised when I see them and that they were still at Be Our Guest. I will say, they were very hot when they came to the table, but as with most Ener-G rolls, they get hard quite quickly. Eaten hot though, they really aren't bad.
Our entrees came out fairly promptly, and I will say that mine had a nice presentation.
Here's Tony's vegan (and gluten free) Layered Ratatouille
Tony said his dish was good, and it looked nice. I'm not sure I personally would have been satisfied by the entree, but I'm glad that the restaurant created a vegetarian dish that was also vegan. Still, Disney seems to be on a quinoa kick lately. I wish they'd offer some variety of vegan & vegetarian dishes that weren't quinoa based.For my dish, I thought it was just OK. First off, I find the portions at this restaurant strangely small given the price. Second, this fish was not the greatest. It didn't taste as fresh as I would have liked and hoped. It was cooked medium, which was not told to me. Thank goodness I don't mind it cooked this way, but I could have been quite off put by semi-raw salmon if I didn't like it in general. The sear on the skin was not good at all, which means the skin and anything touching it was not particularly tasty (more fishy and not in a good way). The roasted potatoes were good but not very hot. Honestly, my favorite thing about the dish was the brocollini which accompanied my salmon. It was the only thing properly cooked on my plate (in my opinion) and was bursting with garlicky flavor and sauteed well. It can get bitter if over sauteed, and this was just perfect.Both Tony and I did not get desserts, though we were both offered sorbet and fruit (and Rice Dream for me).After our meal, we did get a chance to explore and also see the Beast who was walking through the restaurant and posing for photos.
Overall, I love the ambiance of Be Our Guest. It's just a gorgeous restaurant. And I like the food for lunch, but dinner I find to be underwhelming. The meal should have been fantastic but instead it just wasn't. If there had been some tweaking and better preparation it could have easily been an awesome meal. I hope that in the future, they'll continue to work on making their menu the best it can be and work on the food timing. I'll definitely try again, but I have a feeling it will be a while before I go again for dinner (especially considering how hard it is to get ADRs). I'm so glad though that Krista & Tony joined me at dinner -- their company made this a great meal experience.I'm giving this restaurant a 6 out of 10 for lukewarm and mediocre food.
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in January 2014.
Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney is truly not just a great restaurant, but it's also a terrific and authentic Irish pub. With a variety of drink options to choose from and the full menu to order while you grab your pint, it's the perfect place for a proper meal or some quick pub grub.On this particular occasion, I visited not for dinner but for drinks and some snacks. The pub has an extensive drink menu, and while there are certainly some great options for gluten free & dairy free guests, I went with my tried and true gluten free Irish pub standby: Magners Irish Cider. This is hands down a must-do for a pub visit. Not only is it authentically Irish, but it's also delicious! With a mildly sweet taste and a crisp finish, it's the perfect accompaniment to some gluten free onion rings.
And yes, there were onion rings on this visit. Our group decided to get an order of the gluten free onion rings and chips (aka French fries). I made sure to let the bartender know that we needed them to be gluten free, and he did a great job at making sure that was noted. When the servers brought out the onion rings & chips, they said immediately that these are the gluten free & allergy order. We also asked for some of the sweet chili jam and tartar sauce that I love (both gluten free & dairy free).The others in the group said they all though the sweet chili jam was perfect with the onion rings but that they could understand why it was paired normally with the scallops. This was a big winner and the jam was quickly devoured along side the crispy onion rings.
The chips were also well received, and I may or may not have slathered them in tartar sauce (hey, what can I say, I like their version!?). So good! The group all liked that they were big steak fries and not the wimpy versions you find throughout the Disney parks & resort.Overall, this was a great place to grab a drink and just relax. We visited in the afternoon so it was quite calm but I can imagine this place is packed on a weekend evening. I wouldn't hesitate to drop in sometime for a good pint of Magners & some traditional Irish atmosphere!Have you been to Raglan Road for drinks? What were your favorites?
Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney
*This dining experience took place in December 2013
Raglan Road Irish Pub has quickly become a favorite dining place for many gluten free diners. Well known for its simple & fresh Irish flavors and ingredients, while providing safe gluten free options, it's no wonder Raglan Road was voted one of the best gluten free restaurants in Orlando in 2013. As a frequent visitor to the Walt Disney World Resort, this has also become a fast favorite of mine as well.On this particular occasion, I visited with my family in the afternoon on the day after the 2013 Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. We were all a bit tired and really wanted to just relax after a morning of shopping and packed evening the night before. As you can see, we visited in December and the restaurant was festively decorated for the holiday season.
Our server immediately asked if anyone in our party needed gluten free or food allergy accommodations, which I love. It's really a nice touch that the servers are well equipped and prepared to assist with special dietary needs. Because I've been to the location several times, I more or less knew many of the options available to me. I also knew that there was one thing I really wanted to try...the Scallop Forest: Georges Bank scallops in a a golden batter served with citrus lime dipping sauce and sweet chili jam. I also decided to go with a salad for something lighter after eating deep fried appetizers. We also ordered gluten free onion rings, so I really didn't want to push it by ordering Fish and Chips too. That being said, I love their fish and chips!
First up were the scallops. Wow, these were really good. I actually prefer these to the onion rings hands down. The scallops were of high quality and the breading, which is the same that they use on all of their deep fried products (made with a Domata Flour base), was crisp and flavorful. The server said both sauces were gluten free & dairy free, but I skipped the citrus lime dipping sauce just to be on the safe side. The sweet chili jam was out of this world. Sweet and spicy all at the same time. It was the perfect accompaniment for seafood. You can actually purchase this sauce in the Raglan Road store as well! My only complaint for this dish was that I thought the scallops were slightly overcooked, but given the taste of these I'm not going to complain too loudly!
In my hunger, I managed to forget to take a photo of the onion rings, but you can see a recent photo of them in a guest review here on the blog. These were nice and crisp and the onions were well cooked. They were slightly underseasoned, but luckily I still had some sweet chili jam to smother them in. That jam works on everything!For my entree, I ordered the new salmon salad: Citrus Salmon - Grilled fillet of Atlantic salmon with mixed greens, carrots, orange segments & toasted almonds tossed in a citrus herb vinaigrette. It replaces the "Slim Salmon" salad and I think based on the taste of this one, it's an improvement. The portion of salmon was huge, very high quality and perfectly cooked. The salad itself was delicious - well dressed and seasoned. The citrus herb vinaigrette was so flavorful and the addition of fresh fruit and almonds really accented the dish. I would not hesitate to order this one again. It balanced out my deep fried indulgences at the beginning of the meal nicely.
Overall, I continue to impressed by Raglan Road. As I begin to branch out into ordering other dishes, I'm really appreciate the fresh flavors, seasonal and quality ingredients. In addition, the staff is really knowledgeable about gluten free offerings and worked well to make sure everything was dairy free too.I would give this visit a solid 9 out of 10. The meal was divine, the service terrific and the special diets accommodations excellent.Have you been to Raglan Road? What do you think of their gluten free offerings?
Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian
*This dining experience took place in December 2013.
Disney's Grand Floridian Cafe offers guests a chance to enjoy a refined meal in a casual setting. Located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, it's one of the few locations in the resort that offers an affordable a la carte meal. One of my favorite meals here is the low-key breakfast. Guests with special diets will be treated to a variety of breakfast staples, including the allergy friendly Mickey waffles found on property.On this particular visit, I dined here for a late breakfast at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (see a recap HERE). It has been a while since I visited the Grand Floridian Cafe, but I knew I wanted to get something pretty standard. Eggs, maybe some Mickey waffles, nothing too fancy. But what I love about this place isn't necessarily the food (which is good) but the atmosphere. It always seems really calm and relaxing in here. It never seems super busy and it's a bit removed, which I like. It's certainly crazy busy like 1900 Park Fare!
I opted to get eggs over-easy, hashbrowns (which were yummy), and bacon. The chef was extra generous with the bacon on this visit! All of these were good. I wouldn't say anything spectacular, but still good nonetheless.
The chef was also generous with the bread too--three slices! I asked for Earth Balance vegan margarine but instead he gave me Smart Balance. It is vegan (and incidentally also owned by the same company that owns Earth Balance), but I'm really not a fan. I prefer Earth Balance all the way.
Overall, I like the Grand Floridian Cafe. It provides a solid meal in a charming restaurant. I really enjoy getting a nice seat by the windows and looking out at the Grand Floridian grounds.I'd give this particular visit a 7 out of 10. It's nothing fancy, even though the restaurant has a certain fanciness about it, but the food is solid. The chefs seem willing to make me potatoes which doesn't always happen at some restaurants, and the breakfast was tasty overall. Next time I'd like to see if they can make their cranberry orange pecan pancakes sauce gluten & dairy free for the allergy Mickey waffles. The sauce/topping looked amazing!Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What do you like to order there?
Plaza Restaurant -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom
*This dining experience took place in December 2013.
The Plaza Restaurant holds a nostalgic place in many Disney visitors’ hearts. Located at the very end of Main Street U.S.A., this restaurant is reminiscent of a turn-of-the-century ice cream parlor. There are two sections of the Plaza – the ice cream parlor itself and the table service location just around the corner. Both options allow guests to order various special diets related ice cream. From a non-dairy banana split to lots of topping options, there are a lot of options to choose from.On this particular occasion, we visited before Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Typically, we eat at Liberty Tree Tavern before a holiday party at the Magic Kingdom, but this year we had a slight change of plans, and so we ate at the Plaza which was about the only option available besides Tony’s Town Square other than quick service. I had visited the Plaza last in November 2012 and didn’t have a great experience (read that review HERE.) I was hopeful that I had one bad experience and that this one would be great, given I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Chef aka Cousin Ken and the restaurant in general.
It was a slow afternoon at the Plaza and we were seated promptly. I was told they would bring an allergy binder but they never did. I have to say, this is a weird restaurant. It sort of straddles quick service / table service. It’s not really quite either. This is also the only restaurant that I know of Disney property table service wise where they bring out an allergy binder (unless you specifically asked for an ingredients list, etc.). Chef Guerrin came out to assist me before an allergy binder ever came out. The last time I had gotten the Club Sandwich, so I decided to go for it this time. I remembered that I liked the griddled bun and I was kind of hoping I’d get it again (I didn’t). I also asked if they had a dedicated fryer for the fries, and he said, “Don’t worry about it. I’m not going to make you sick.” Um, OK. Well, I appreciate his dedication in saying it will be safe, but I kind of wanted to hear the statement, “Yes, we have a dedicated fryer.” And he just wouldn’t say that. Every time I asked him something (and I asked in multiple ways), he would say “It’s fine. Trust me.” This chef really needs to learn to interact with special diets folks. It’s not that I’m distrusting but a little information about your process makes me feel a lot safer.I also ordered a sundae with Rice Dream vanilla non-dairy ice cream and Chocolate Tofutti with strawberry sauce, pineapple sauce, chocolate syrup (which he kept saying was fudge and I kept telling him no syrup, fudge has dairy), and nuts.
My sandwich came out pretty late compared to the other meals, not anything unusual given that it often takes longer for my food at quick service locations. When the sandwich came out, I noticed it was Udi’s bread. Thank goodness that Udi’s can be eaten cold without any needing to be toasted or heated up. Because this would have been a rough sandwich otherwise. I admit, I personally would have like to have seen it toasted or griddled. But, that’s just me. I couldn’t confirm if they still had GNI buns on hand, though my guess is they do. The fries were nothing to write home about – basic steak fries. My sandwich was also just so-so. It tasted like something I can make at home. For the price, it’s not a terrible deal but really, I should have just gone to Columbia Harbour House for allergy chicken tenders!Once it was time for the sundae, again I had a considerable wait time. As in, my family finished their dessert before I got mine. Once mine came out, I quickly noticed it was minus the chocolate sauce. I asked if they didn’t have safe chocolate sauce then anymore? The chef then quickly ran to the back and brought out a container with sauce. It seemed thick. Thicker than Hershey’s chocolate syrup. Given there were so many confusions about the syrup already, I asked the server to please get the chef so I could talk to him. Again, I got the “the chef brought it out so it is safe” statement, but I insisted that they get the chef.
When he came out, he basically told me it’s the right thing and just trust him. I explained to him that I would get very sick if I consumed dairy and that I really wanted to make sure it wasn’t the wrong thing. I asked if he could just please bring out the binder and/or packaging of what he served me. He then went back and got the “hot fudge” sauce to compare. They looked fairly similar but not quite the same. I still explained that I wanted to know if this was OK but it wasn’t Hershey’s. Holy moly; he was not getting this. In the meantime, my mom tried it and said it tasted like syrup to me. Finally, he brought out the ingredients binder, which confirmed it was Mrs. Richardsons sauce which explained the difference. All I honestly wanted was confirmation that I wasn’t going to get dairy. Chef Guerrin was not at all happy with me by the time we went through all of this. But honestly, I felt like he didn’t take this or me seriously at all. I understand he has a busy kitchen to run and that it’s crazy. But it certainly wasn’t what I expected from Disney in terms of handling special dietary needs.In general, I think I might be done with the Plaza for a long time. It just seems like every time I go I get less than stellar food accommodations and very little information about what I’m consuming. This last one just really gave a sour taste in my mouth on the Plaza; especially after he made me feel so bad after the whole chocolate syrup ordeal. The sundae, which was actually good but not great, wasn’t really worth the hassle. In fact, I’d rather just go to 50’s Prime Time for their brownie sundae (soooo good!) or Beaches n’ Cream. And given the quality of the food, it’s not worth it as a table service for me.I’m giving this particular experience a 4 for mediocre food but mostly because of the whole chef interaction from start to finish. I know that lots of you really love the Plaza, but the chefs I’ve had here haven’t really made my experiences good.Have you been to the Plaza? What has your experience been?
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Five
This morning, we are having breakfast with our friends, Mark and Louise Mullen, at Kona Cafe.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I’m the only one of the 4 of us to have eaten here before (it’s one of my favorite breakfast spots!)My sister always, always gets the Tonga Toast and I always, always get the Big Kahuna or the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes. But I’ve come across something in all my internet research the last few weeks – I saw a blog somewhere (and cannot figure out where exactly now) that said you could get Tonga Sliders here that are made with GF rolls! I decided that if I could get those, I’d go with that instead of one of my usuals.Chef Josh comes to the table and there’s some small talk while Ethan orders the Big Kahuna modified to be GF (allergy Mickey waffles instead of the pancakes and French toast). Chef Josh looks at me and I say “I heard a rumor that there’s something called Tonga Sliders?…” and his mouth fell open! He asks where I heard it. I incorrectly credit (blame?) Sarah since that’s where I got most of my GF info on eating at WDW. He says only he does them and he only started doing it 3 weeks ago and he can’t believe how fast that information traveled! (Sarah's note: I knew they used to be able to make a gluten free version and that they can make a vegan version with advance notice, but I had been told they stopped making these, so it's neat to see that they are starting them back up. Jaime's correct that I hadn't heard this!) -- UPDATE 3/2014 - The Tonga Toast Sliders are NO LONGER available. The restaurant stopped serving them due to cost.Here’s Ethan’s modified Big Kahuna:
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And here’s my GF Tonga Sliders:
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And for comparison – this is what the real Tonga Toast looks like:
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. (Sarah's note: This is NOT gluten free) |
I’m in heaven! I traded Ethan one Mickey waffle for a Tonga Slider. Chef Josh comes out during the meal and is checking on us. I ask about the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes being modified and they don’t have a dedicated griddle, just the waffle iron. I asked, for future reference, if they’d do the allergy Mickey waffles with the pineapples and macadamia butter, because I really love them. He said yes, and then ran into the kitchen to bring me some of each! It was amazing! I put it on my waffle and on the Tonga Slider!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
This was an even better breakfast than I’ve had there before! I can’t say enough about Chef Josh or the Tonga Sliders!Lunch was at EPCOT today before we have to head back on the road to go home – what a fast weekend! We end up at La Cantina de San Angel since Mexican food is one of the easier ones to work around being GF. We were extremely hungry by the time we stopped, so I didn’t even bother with the manager, I just made sure the chips were corn, not flour. And I have no idea what anyone else ordered… (Sarah's note: the corn tortilla chips are not made in a dedicated fryer the last time I checked and were not gluten free. :( Ask a manager on-hand to make sure when you visit, as this may or may not have changed)
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I ordered the Nachos - corn tortilla chips with ground beef, nacho cheese, fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, black beans, and sour cream.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
It was fine, basic nachos… we were also very tired and bummed that we were leaving right afterwards.All in all, I was very impressed with the Disney training for counter service locations: every cast member we encountered was very knowledgeable about handling an allergy situation for a guest. As for the table services, it seemed hit or miss on whether you got a chef who enjoyed what he did or was just accommodating you.We’re going back in February and will go back to a few of these (Be Our Guest for lunch and dinner, Kona for breakfast, Mara for breakfast) and we’ll add some new places to Ethan’s list (Prime Time, Boma, Chefs de France). It will be interesting to compare the experiences since we were there over a holiday weekend vs. a slow week of crowds!Thank you so much Jaime for all the awesome reviews!! Do you have a trip report with a special diet that you'd like to share? Let me know by emailing me!
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Four
Friday, November 29, 2013Today is Ethan’s first day ever in the Magic Kingdom! I’m not sure who was more excited!Breakfast was granola bars in the car because we wanted to go to Be Our Guest for lunch, which meant getting in line early and eating an early lunch. I went picture crazy just standing in line!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan found a Hidden Mickey on the last suit of armor on your right!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
It took about 15 minutes to get up to a cashier. I had been hoping for one of the self-order kiosks, but it wasn’t a big deal. We told him there was a wheat allergy and he listed the 5 items on the menu that were safe or modified to be safe. He rattled them off very quickly I might have gotten 1 or 2 wrong (I believe he said “tuna, quinoa, ham, roast beef, turkey”). (Sarah's note: See Sarah's post with some of the gluten free options listed HERE) I ordered the roast beef; Ethan got the turkey. We don’t normally get desserts, but I just had to try the lemon and raspberry cream puff. Because we had Magic Bands, they scanned that instead of giving us a rose tracker. We were free to find a table and get drinks (and wander and snap photos!).
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
We were served fairly quickly – but no trolley for us! Our food came out on a human!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I’d seen photos of other gluten free sandwiches here and they always came out on bread, so we were really surprised to see the buns! And, I don’t know if it was the ambiance or the company or the food, but this is the best roast beef sandwich I’ve ever eaten…
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The only thing that made this lemon raspberry cream puff “raspberry” was the single raspberry sitting on top. It’s just lemon flavored otherwise, but it was still very good!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan and I agreed that if every meal at Be Our Guest was this good, we don’t want to ever eat anywhere else again!Dinner is at Tony’s Town Square.I haven’t eaten here in probably 10 years, but I kept seeing good review after good review for their GF pasta, so here we are. We checked in and found a seat in the waiting area (no pager, they call your name) where there’s a TV for the kids playing what appeared to be an endless loop of the movie Lady and the Tramp. One of the waitresses was coming around with a tray of tiny hot cups – they were handing out hot chocolate since it was really, really cold out (the low was supposed to be 37!)We were seated fairly quickly and the waitress was wonderful. She went to get the chef who was out extremely fast (I really wish I could remember his name) and was very helpful and friendly. We both ordered spaghetti and meatballs. He said he’d send out rolls first.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
These rolls were HOT! They were also very good and didn’t even last until the pasta came out! Bonus points on your rolls, Tony’s!Then there was the pasta and meatballs.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan proclaimed the meatballs bland. I thought the whole dish was just so-so. I can make GF pasta at home better than this. (Now I remember why we didn’t come here for 10 years.) It wasn’t “bad”, just not anything you can’t do yourself.Now I know I said we don’t do desserts, but the waitress tells us the crème brule is GF – the Pistachio crème brule… we decide we can split it. It was fantastic.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
So aside from rolls and dessert, I’m done with Tony’s Town Square… again…Stay tuned for Day 5 of Jaime's trip report!
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Three
This series of guest reviews comes from blog reader Jaime. Her enthusiasm, excitement and love for Disney just shine through in her trip report, and I think you'll agree when you read them. Speaking with her before her vacation, I was just so excited to hear her recap when she returned. Jaime provided a thorough trip report, so I have broken it up by days. You'll want to make sure to read them all (I'll link to them in each post)! Thank you again, Jaime, for your awesome reviews!
Thursday, November 28, 2013Happy Thanksgiving!We spent today at Hollywood Studios. We just missed rope drop, so we need breakfast. The only place I know that serves breakfast is Starring Rolls (it was also the only place listed in the Times Guide). We got to the bakery case and I asked about GF. All they had was some kind of strawberry parfait. Not very breakfast-y… so I asked about other places. She told me Fairfax Fare served breakfast also.The manager here tells us they can do the breakfast sandwiches on buns, but she’ll need to run and get them, so it’ll take a few minutes. No problem. I ordered egg, cheese, and sausage. Ethan ordered egg and sausage.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I was excited about a breakfast sandwich – it’s been a while! This was a longer wait than we’d been having, but not anything to complain about. We could see the manager making our food when she got back. Ethan was just eating his, I was enjoying mine.Cross section of the egg, cheese, and sausage – anyone know what brand of buns these were? (Sarah's note: These are GNI Brand Buns)
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Lunch ended up being at Backlot Express.I wanted a hot dog and knew they had Udi’s buns here. Our manager was Dan from WI. He was one of the best! He came out from behind the counter and really talked with us about our choices. He went over the whole menu before asking if we had any thoughts or questions. He brought the cashier into the conversation when it was time to place the order and told us he’d be back – DO NOT TAKE FOOD FROM ANYONE BUT HIM! Wow! We could see him in the back making everything, too.It took a very long time to get the food, but it was totally worth it for the service Dan provided. He handed us the food with the last warning of DON’T EAT THE BAR-B-Q SAUCE FROM THE CONDIMENT MACHINE! Flame Tree should have told me that the other day…
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
You know that hot dog bun has already fallen apart, don’t you? I didn’t care; it was a hot dog ON a bun!Ethan ordered Grilled Turkey & Cheese - multigrain ciabatta with arugula and red peppers served with French fries or carrot sticks. He said it was very good.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Thanksgiving Dinner was at the Sci-Fi. I had been thinking about this meal for months now. I wanted the spinach-artichoke dip and chips and a specialty shake.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The chef said I couldn’t have the spinach dip and I was so crushed, I didn’t even ask why – I don’t know if it was the dip or the chips! (UPDATE: My daughter asked on her trip – it’s in the dip mix). He was pushing the steak and the ribs. The voice in my head that says things that shouldn’t be spoken out loud was noticing the price tag on the “suggested” items.We both ended up getting the Build-Your-Own Angus Chuck Burger - Flame-broiled Beef Patty with Cheddar or Swiss, crispy Bacon, Lettuce, and Vine-ripened Tomatoes; choice of Cucumber Salad or French Fries. The hamburgers were wrapped in pizza crusts, I believe. It was tasty and I liked the texture of the crust with the burger. But I was really bummed about the spinach dip.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I did get a specialty shake, just not the one I planned on – tonight (for the holiday) they had a pumpkin pie shake. It was amazing!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And Ethan ordered a glass of wine. (sorry, so not a wine expert here)
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The movies and clips are always fun to watch. It was a lovely Thanksgiving, but we won’t be back for a while – just not enough variety on the menu to try.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day One
BackgroundHi, I’m Jaime. I’m 45 and live just outside of Chicago. Thanksgiving, 2013, found my new husband, Ethan, and I driving to Walt Disney World for our first Gluten-Free trip. I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy in June and, in a huge show of support, Ethan went GF with me. While I’m extremely lucky that my allergy is minor (it was only discovered because I was having a contact allergy to something else), the other benefits of being GF were a surprise to us both: my migraines are gone, my PMS symptoms have almost completely vanished, and both our ragweed allergies have diminished significantly! Plus we both felt this odd sense of being ‘clear’, physically and mentally… it’s a strange sensation to describe.I’m a WDW Vet – this was trip #39. Ethan has spent a total of ONE DAY in a Disney park in his life (I took him to EPCOT over a quick Super Bowl Weekend trip earlier this year), and he had never been to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios. I have a lot to show him!After being diagnosed with the wheat allergy, I scoured the internet for advice. I made ADRs and changed ADRs and read more dining reviews and made more changes. We packed GF snacks and food for the car ride (I made tuna salad sandwiches for dinner – you have to love how GF bread doesn’t get soggy!) I also made one of my (not so) Famous Peanut Butter and Swedish Fish Sandwiches! Don’t judge – it’s like a portable peanut butter & jelly!Day 1: Tuesday, November 26, 2013We arrived in Orlando and headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I wanted to show Ethan around (this is where we’re staying on our next trip) and grab lunch at The Mara Food Court.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Ethan and I perused the menu for a few minutes while in line (and came up with a couple of possibilities) and when it was our turn to place our order, I just said “We have a food allergy.” The cast member immediately asked us to hold on one second, she was going to call for a chef. It took a few minutes for him to come out, but he was full of apologies (it wasn’t that long!). He asked what the allergy was and said there was a lot we could do. He mentioned the fries were GF. He asked what we were thinking about and mentioned that they keep Udi’s pizza crusts in back for the flatbreads. We had both decided we didn’t want to go too basic by ordering a burger or chicken nuggets this early in the trip (and we had dinner scheduled in 3.5 hours, so we were going to split this meal).I decided to push it a little and asked if he could do the chicken pita sandwich: chicken breast served on a warm pita with sun-dried tomato hummus, cucumber, tomato, and mixed greens with mint yogurt sauce with choice of Couscous or French Fries.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
The chef looked up at the menu, tipped his head back and forth while he thought, and announced “Yes, I can do that!”We were given a pager, got our drinks, and headed outside to a table. It took 7 minutes total for the pager to go off! I really thought it would have been longer. I went back for our tray and it was on a separate surface than someone else’s – I shouldn’t have been shocked by the care they took, but I was!The sandwich was delicious (the sauce was a little spicy) and, with the fries, plenty to share!
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Dinner tonight is at The Wave in the Contemporary Resort.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
There were many things on the menu that looked good to me: Herb-salt Seasoned Beef Tenderloin - with tomato-green bean salad with Cypress Grover Creamery Lamb Chopper Cheese and citrus-herb butter, Thompson Farms Pork Tenderloin - soy-pineapple honey marinade, pineapple salsa, bonito and cauliflower mash, and the Dry-rubbed Flat Iron Steak - au gratin potato and winter vegetables.The waitress (Diane) took our drink order and said a chef would be right out. About 5 minutes later, she came back and asked if anyone had come out. Um, no.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
I didn’t think the restaurant was all that busy, but when Chef Tom came out, he appeared rushed and stressed. He apologized for the wait, but was looking around the restaurant as we talked, so the sincerity of it fell kind of flat. He checked what the allergy was and asked if we had anything in mind. I said I had heard good things about the pork and the flat Iron Steak. He said the pork was out because of the sauce, but he could do it plain. So I chose the flat iron steak. Ethan chose the beef tenderloin.Chef Tom called Diane over and gave her our orders within earshot. After he left, she went over them one more time to make sure. I appreciated her care with the order. She left to go get GF rolls for our bread service. I have to admit to being surprised, and I can only attribute that to the fact that neither of us has had more than 2 hours of sleep in the last day and a half. Of course, when the bread service comes, they were out of rolls and we got GF bread.
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Is that Udi’s? It doesn’t look like it to me, but I’m not good at telling the different breads yet. And the butter was yummy!We were exhausted and famished and finished the bread and butter off very quickly. The entrees took about 10-15 minutes.Ethan’s beef tenderloin:
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
And my flat iron steak:
 |
| Photo copyright Jaime J. |
Both were cooked perfectly and this would have been an amazing dinner if we weren’t so tired. The au gratin potatoes were fantastic. It turns out I’m not a fan of winter vegetables. We will go back, just not anytime soon.Stay tuned for Day 2 of Jaime's review!!