The Mara -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

*This dining review took place in August 2013.

Mara is located by the Pool at AKL Jambo House

Jambo everyone! The Animal Kingdom Lodge consistently remains one of my favorite resorts on property, not just because of the amazing location but also because of the wonderful restaurants located at this resort. Not only do they provide great African inspired meals, but they also are terrific at accommodating for gluten free & dairy free diners. The Mara is the Animal Kingdom Lodge's quick service location, and I have eaten here many times for lunch & dinner; however, I'd never eaten here for breakfast. On this particular occasion, I had the opportunity to grab a quick breakfast here and see the great offerings they provide. I was thrilled to have a really tasty breakfast here and found it to be one of my favorite QS locations for breakfast on property!One of the things that you should know about the Mara is that it can be challenging to find, if you don't know what you're looking for. Tucked outside on the ground floor, you'll want to head past the pool area to find this location. If you take the elevators to the ground floor, walk past the Boma & Jiko entrances and head outside.

 You'll find that the Mara offers traditional fare, as well as lots of African inspired options, as well. This is true for both breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's great to see that even for the quick service meals, the offerings are really unique to this location.For breakfast, they have a lot of your traditional fare--from the Mickey waffle to the Bounty Platter (which is pretty much at every quick service location). Of course, they do have some unique offerings like Bobotie platter; however, Bobotie has tons of dairy in it, and needs to be specially prepared well in advance if you wanted a GF/DF version (I did this once at Boma. Chef Amber who is now at Kona Cafe made me this amazing dish. See the review HERE). There is also an African Inspired Breakfast Platter which is pretty much GF/DF (depending on how they prepare the pap, etc.).When I arrived, I asked the cast member on duty for a chef. While I waited, I explored the restaurant--noting that some of the old standbys like the Special Diets stand are no longer there. That's a bummer! I also didn't see any Babycakes in the refrigerated section either (I was hoping they might be there). It seems like they have reduced some of the offerings.

 Chef Chris from over at Boma came over to assist me. I think he thinks I stalk him! He was like, "I know you" Yep. I come here waaaay too much. He asked what I was in the mood for, and I mentioned I thought the Bounty Platter, mostly because I wanted allergy Mickey waffles (what can I say, you all know I'm a sucker for them!). He said something about being able to make the African Inspired Platter as well. The good news is that I'm really familiar with the Boma menu and I know the scrambled eggs are safe and that often the pap is dairy free. The chakalaka and grilled tomatoes are also great GF/DF, vegetarian and vegan choices. The only thing I didn't know about was the Merguez sausage which I didn't ask about. Basically, I knew I wanted the regular platter so I didn't investigate too much (sorry!). Also, if you like quinoa, you can get hot quinoa here that is also gluten free & dairy free. Just avoid the "toppings" out in the main condiment and drink area--always ask for those from the back. I didn't take a photo but let's just say that area was pretty cross contaminated! Chef said it would take about 5-8 minutes.It all came out pretty quickly, and I will say, I felt like he just went to the Boma kitchen and grabbed and/or made stuff! It was all very Boma like!

Now this is a bounty platter I can get on board with!

Having had my share of bounty platters throughout the resort, I will say hands down this is the best one I've ever had. I think it was the combination of both AKL prepared food & it being very fresh. But, seriously, this was amazing. The scrambled eggs were very yummy. Perfectly cooked. The bacon seemed a little meatier (does that make sense?) from the stringy bacon you usually get, though I'll say I've been seeing some bacon improvements lately. I skipped the sausage on this platter because sausage and I are not friends. The best part were the breakfast potatoes which have the same seasoning as the ones at Boma (soooo good!) and the Mickey waffles. I definitely scarfed all of this down.Overall, I plan to go back to the Mara for breakfast again. I get all the flavor of Boma at half the price! Of course, there's lots of Boma faves you can't get here, but if you want a quick fix, this is excellent. I also like Chef Chris a lot. He's pretty goofy, but he always makes sure I get what I need for a safe meal. And of course, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my favorite resorts for theming.Definitely a solid 9 out of 10 for this particular meal. Overall, I'd give it an 8 but I can't complain for breakfast at all. I would highly recommend this quick service location!

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Salad

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

 

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

 

Chicken wings

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

Vegan sushi

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

 

Chicken & Pork with stir-fry vegetables and sticky rice

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

 

Tofu stir-fry

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

 

Grilled shrimp

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Yes, you read that right.

 

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

 

Apple blueberry cobbler with pecan crumble & Rice Dream

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

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

Big Kahuna indeed!

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

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Cape May Buffet stations getting set up before opening

You'll feel like you're at a real New England clam bake when you dine at Cape May Cafe. From the steamed clams, mussels, and crab legs to the steamed red potatoes and the fresh corn on the cob, you'll be treated to some delicious seafood fare. Cape May has remained of my staple favorite buffets for their variety and their plentiful gluten free & dairy free buffet options.The last time I dined at Cape May Cafe was well over a year ago. That visit proved to be disappointing compared to all of my other experiences there. The seafood was overcooked and the options weren't as exciting. Our family decided to give it a try, since it had been so long since most of us had dined there. My brother had been in recent months and had said that the quality was still very good.

Seating area

It's funny because we almost always get the same booth whenever we come to Cape May! And this time, we got the same booth. I think they should put our family's name on it! It is conveniently located to the buffet and means we don't have to go far to get our crab leg fix on!

The feasting begins as guests head to the buffet stations

Chef Allison assisted me on this trip, and she has helped me in the past. She's friendly and helpful and seems to be pretty knowledgeable about special diets. One thing I will say is that she wasn't very forthcoming about foods that I could have from the back. I knew the drill, but if I hadn't asked she might not have offered me rolls or made a salad in the back for me. The nice thing about this buffet is that there are plenty of gluten free & dairy free options--many of them conveniently located next to each other which always makes me feel more confident in cross contamination standards. I personally like to visit a buffet right at opening b/c I can get all my plates quickly and try to avoid that as much as possible and also arrange for the chefs to make me items in the back. Cape May though has so many options that I feel slightly less worried about getting sick.Probably the area that has the most potential for cross contamination is the salad area. They have a huge cheese board now (just stay away dairy free diners!) which is on a corner. They now have kalamata olive and roasted red pepper hummus (my weakness), and it's next to some baked or fried lavash. I grabbed that immediately when no one had looked like they'd gotten any which was good. I would have asked for it from the back otherwise b/c later I saw people slathering the hummus directly on their bread (ay yi!!). Some of the salads have dairy in them. They have balsamic glazed asparagus which is not dairy free b/c evidently the glaze had dairy in it. Bummer because I'm a huge asparagus fan. The peel and eat shrimp are safe, as is the seafood salad, and cocktail sauce. Neither of the salads are safe as is, but I always ask for the Cape May House salad to be prepared in the back. It's made with candied walnuts, cranberries, and an orange citrus vinaigrette and it's amazing! One of my favorites on property. Usually the soups aren't safe but they had a sausage kale soup that was made gluten & dairy free. Happy day!As far as the other buffet components go, stick to the far left side (you can get crab legs on both sides of the buffet) b/c almost everything is GF/DF all the way down the row. Crab legs, clams, mussels (in a sambuca sauce), steamed red potatoes, baked beans, on the cob, and chicken cacciatore were all safe. On the other side of the buffet, stick with the clams, crab legs, and vegetable medley. Pretty much everything else is a no-go (they put dairy in their paella). On the kids buffet, you can score some roasted chicken drumsticks. The carved beef is also safe. My strategy for buffet dining is to get all of my plates at once, which looks a little crazy but makes me feel more confident throughout the meal. Let's just say, I had a LOT of plates!

Cape May House Salad

Chef Allison brought out my salad and some GNI rolls. The salad was amazing as usual. Love the walnuts, love the cranberries, love the vinaigrette! The GNI rolls were really really tough (like overheated tough). But, I added tons of hummus to them and they tasted just fine.

GNI brand rolls

Up next was the soup. It was really good. Very flavorful and perfectly seasoned. I love kale so I enjoyed all the greens in this. The diced potatoes were also nicely cooked. The chorizo was a little too spicy for me to eat but the flavor it added to the broth was just perfect.

Sausage and Kale soup

Then it was onto the appetizer plate. I grabbed tons of peel and eat shrimp (my favorite) and some seafood salad. The peel and eat shrimp are now being prepared differently than they used to be. They now cook them in some type of seasoned water (taste slightly resembled old bay but very mild). They were excellent. I may or may not have gone back for seconds on these... :) The seafood salad was a huge winner. I loved the big pieces of crab, bay scallops, and shrimp. This also had some type of citrus marinade to it. Another one I may have gone back for seconds on! The other big win was the olive medley. Omigosh, these were amazing. I love olives and these were marinated perfectly. They kind of kicked the ones from Tangierine Cafe's butt!

From left to right: Peel and Eat Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce, Seafood Salad, Marinated Olives, Kalamata Olive & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Then it was onto the crab and clams. Steamed to perfect and both quite delicious. Clarified butter for this is soooo overrated! You don't need the dairy!

Steamed deliciousness!

Up next, I went for the other buffet items

From left to right: Baked Beans, Steamed Red Potatoes, Roasted Chicken Drumstick, and Vegetable Medley

As you can imagine, I was getting pretty full by this time. But, I soldiered through! The food is so good, I couldn't pass it up. The baked beans I liked a lot. They could have been cooked a little longer but otherwise sweet and tasty (note these are not vegetarian friendly beans as they contain some type of pork). The red potatoes here are so good. Steamed to perfect and extra salty. The chicken drumstick was surprisingly flavorful. The vegetables? I'll be honest, they were a bit of disappointment. Very bland. I'd skip that the next time.

Remains of the day...Let's just say we ate a lot of crab and mussels!

By the time dessert rolled around, I was pretty sure I needed to be rolled out of the restaurant. I ate a shameless amount of food. But, it was all so good. Chef Allison had told me that they carried Babycakes desserts here, and that was music to my ears!! I knew they had their mini cupcakes in the quick service location at Beach Club but not at Cape May! She brought out a big platter of four mini cupcakes and two chocolate chip cookies. This was a welcome treat compared to the OMG It's Gluten & Dairy Free Cookie they usually serve (and that I don't really like). I ended up taking the cupcakes home because I couldn't even eat them I was so full. Of course, I managed to get the cookies in my tummy (yes, there's always room for a little dessert).

Mini cupcakes and cookies from Babycakes

As far as other allergies or special diets go, I'm not sure this would be a really great option for guests who are vegetarian or vegan but maybe they can prepare some dishes I'm not aware of. Also, if you have a fish or shellfish allergy, I would just avoid this restaurant. There seems to be a high risk of cross contamination from the buffet, so I'd either have them prepare all your items separately or just look for another restaurant.Overall, I found this be vastly improved for over a year ago. There are some new menu changes that are OK and some old ones that I miss (oh the sauteed cabbage and bacon), but in general I found the menu to be really good.I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this visit, and I hope to visit again much sooner than one year later!

Tangierine Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Morocco -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Counter at Tangierine Cafe

Visiting the Morocco Pavilion is like visiting an oasis. It's a welcome spot to rest and relax, as well as enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes of Morocco. I am a huge fan of Restaurant Marrakesh and Tangierine Cafe provides a taste of Marrakesh in quick service location and half the price. The meals here are often light, flavorful, and affordable.One of the things that often varies at this location is the choices. The menu has changed some in the past few years and also the ways in which the chefs interact with you can vary from visit to visit. Sometimes, they give me a binder but lately, they've been calling a chef who doesn't really confer with you per se, but rather tells you this is what you can or cannot eat. Sometimes, they are more willing to talk to you about things but often there is a slight language barrier that makes this a little difficult. On this particular visit, I knew that I wanted the Chicken Shawarma Platter. It's what I got on the last trip, and I really enjoyed it. The chef told me that this was still safe, as well as Morrocan Kefta Sandwich which is seasoned ground beef patties that are grilled. Of course, you would need this modified because it comes in a wrap. I rarely eat beef, so I went with the chicken. The chef stayed out in the front and directed the cast member serving what they should and shouldn't include on my plate, as well as arranging for an Ener-G roll to be served. For those folks looking for Ener-G rolls/buns, check here because they have them! (and have carried them consistently for a long time).

Chicken Shawarma Platter

The Chicken Shawarma Platter is a decent portion. I love love love their hummus (and always wish I could have more), the olive salad is good, as is the lentil salad. The chicken is a bit spicy, so be forewarned if you do not like spicy food. The Ener-G roll is still not my most favorite roll because it gets Styrofoamy really quickly, but if you add enough hummus, it's perfectly fine. If I were vegetarian or vegan, I'd get the vegetable platter with all of the sides above.

Ener-G Roll/Bun

Overall, I find that Tangierine Cafe is a really nice quick service for something different. I've never disliked any of the food here although I wish they had more options. Of course, if you're looking for more options, I would say head to Restaurant Marrakesh for a slighter larger variety.For me, this is another 7 out of 10 for flavorful food, though I wish they had more options and the chef/manager interaction was a little better. And check out the hummus. It's the best!

Everything Pop! -- Quick Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Entrance to the gift shop and food court

Groovy! Pop Century Resort is all about the retro vibe. From the 1950's all the way to the 80's there is something nostalgic for everyone in your family! Pop Century holds a special place in my heart as one of the resorts I spent vacation with my brother at. We used to take brother and sister trips back in the day and it's a nice reminder of the fun times we had! The last time we stayed there was back in 2005 when Pop Century was new! It was great to head back here and check out the great food court. One of the things that I've consistently heard about Pop Century is its ability to accommodate special diets and on this occasion, they proved to do just that.

View of the food court. It was pretty quite at 1 p.m.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I took a stroll around to see what they offered. They have a lot of sandwiches, burgers, and fries, as well as a custom pasta bar. They also have a lot of comfort food type dishes. I was craving a sandwich and I saw one that stuck out to me that sounded like a Cuban sandwich (you know I'm a fan from my breakfast Cuban at Old Key West). When the chef came out, he asked me what I wanted and I wasn't sure really, even though I was leaning towards the pork sandwich. The chef said he could pretty much make me whatever I wanted or was in the mood for. I was debating between a tuna salad sandwich (boring, I know) and the roasted pork. I ended up choosing the roasted pork sandwich and french fries. The pork sandwich typically comes on a sub roll with cheese and pickles. The chef said he'd remove the cheese and use the Udi's buns (which turned out to be Udi's bread). Fine by me. I wish I would have asked for more options, but I was really hungry after a blog meetup over at Babycakes (I was too busy gabbing to eat much there--though their donuts are fantastic!)While I was waiting with a pager, I saw the chef come out and bring a lady an allergy meal which was a plain grilled chicken sandwich on an Udi's bun with fries. Good to know you can get the chicken sandwich too.Once my meal came out, I discovered that the Udi's bun was now replaced with Udi's bread. Fine by me, though I think it would have been tastier with the bun. I think they used the bread b/c it gave you more room to add the meat in it.

Roasted Pork Sandwich Modified

One thing I will say is that this portion was huge! The sandwich, which I thought just had roasted pork on it, actually had a lot of different kinds of pork. This can be a good thing and bad thing depending on your opinion but was def. worth the price. (*Note: If you have Tables in Wonderland, you can get 20% off at this restaurant!) It contained roasted pork tenderloin, sliced deli ham and pulled pork (without the BBQ sauce). Holy smokes! It was topped with a spicy brown mustard. I admit, this was entirely too much pork for me. The roasted pork was excellent and I would have preferred the entire sandwich be made of this. The deli ham was also good. The pulled pork was just too greasy and fatty for me. I pulled most of it off the sandwich and skipped eating it. I will say, some pickles would have been a good touch to the sandwich. The french fries weren't anything unusual--the standard Disney french fry.

Here's a view of the layers without the bun. As you can see, very generous portion.

After my meal, I wandered about to see what special diets offerings they had pre-packaged in the food court. They didn't have what I consider to be a huge amount of options out in the front, but my guess is you can ask for some additional products in the back. Pretty much everything in the photo is gluten free, but most contain dairy. I believe they also had the OMG It's Gluten Free and Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookie here as well.

Slightly limited offerings

Overall, I was pleased with my meal, though I wish I would have asked for more options. I do know though, as I mentioned, that Everything Pop! is a terrific place for special diets and there are some great chefs there. I hear tons of first-hand reports from other guests who just rave about their level of special diets accommodation.I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this particular experience but am looking forward to checking back in again and seeing what else they have to offer.Have you been to Pop Century with a special diet? What have you ordered there? Any good recommendations for guests planning to dine there?

Columbia Harbour House -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

 Hear ye, hear ye! If you visit the Magic Kingdom, you've probably seen Columbia Harbour House located in Liberty Square. Situated across from the Haunted Mansion, Columbia Harbour House offers quick service that proves to be more than just burgers and fries. With lots of New England inspired dishes, you'll see chowder and lobster rolls as well as fried fish on the menu. You might assume that guests with special diets won't be able to get much here; however, they carry one of my favorite quick service options on property: allergy friendly chicken tenders and french fries in a dedicated fryer!I decided to go to Columbia Harbour House on a whim while visiting the MK one day. The chicken tenders sounded like a good idea, and I will say I've always had a particular fondness for the ones prepared at this location. Even though they are the same chicken tenders served across property for special diets, there's something about the way they fry them at CHH.It was lunch time when I arrived here, so it was slightly busy but not as bad considering how busy the park was. I was greeted by a manager who brought over the famous allergy binders. She showed me the chicken tenders as one allergy option. The only other allergy option they had was Amy's mac & cheese--yeah that wouldn't quite work for me! I asked her if other options like the Lobster Roll had GF/DF alternatives. She let me look at the ingredients, but said they didn't have any buns. Well that's a bummer! It looked like the lobster salad was safe for GF/DF based on the ingredients I saw. The manager said they could serve it on a bed of lettuce, but I went with the allergy chicken tenders. On another note, it looked like the salmon served without the couscous might also be a safe option.

Seating in CHH

The seating at this quick service is located on two floors. The cool thing is there are lots of nooks and crannies and places to find quiet spots. I recommend heading to the second floor if you're looking for a quieter meal.

Allergy Chicken tender yumminess!

As you can see from the photo, the portion is quite large. They charged me for the tenders and fries separately. I believe the tenders were a little over $5 and the fries were around $2.75. All in all, I found them to be just as delicious as ever. The tenders were extra crispy and piping hot, as were the fries. From start to finish, they take 8 minutes to prepare according to the manager. The only downside is that they don't have any individual packets of ketchup or other condiments. Besides being a cross contamination risk, they also don't list what company or ingredients are in the sauces, so I ate everything plain. This wasn't a huge loss, as they both were quite delicious!Overall, I still think Columbia Harbour House prepares the best version of the allergy chicken tenders. There's just something about them! As far as other options, they are more limited than say Cosmic Rays or Be Our Guest. If you're looking for allergy chicken tenders this is the place to visit, but look elsewhere if you want other options. I give this a solid 7 out of 10.Have you been to Columbia Harbour House with a special diet? What did you get?

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

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

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

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

Dining area

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

Beignet gloriousness!

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

Beignets take 2!

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

La Hacienda de San Angel -- Dinner -- Table Service -- World Showcase

*This dining review took place in July 2013 and includes a gluten free and yellow food coloring allergy review.

View of the Mexico Pavilion

Let's take a trip to La Hacienda de San Angel at the World Showcase in Epcot. With authentic food and decor, it's easy to think you've traveled to Mexico. La Hacienda de San Angel is a great option for guests who are gluten free & dairy free. As I discovered there are tons of choices and the menu is almost completely gluten free naturally! On this particular visit, I enjoyed the Pollo al Pastor, chips and salsa and other authentic accompaniments.When we arrived at the restaurant, we were surprised to see how quiet it was. The last time I went there (see my first review HERE) it was quite bustling. It was actually nice to have it be quiet and low-key. We were seated at a really nice table right by the windows. It had a terrific view of the World Showcase Lagoon! This would have been an awesome view for IllumiNations!Our server came over to discuss the menu options with us. I was also dining with another special diets diner. My friend is gluten free and also allergic to yellow food coloring. Both of us had dined at La Hacienda before, so we were looking forward to the meal and also felt comfortable that we knew the menu. Since this location is non-Disney owned the chefs do not come out and talk to you (something that can be a little bit of a bummer). Most of the servers are really knowledgeable and can help you with options, but be prepared to ask a lot of questions. And don't hesitate to ask for a chef or manager if you do not feel comfortable with your server's knowledge or suggestions. This location seems to be a decent one for gluten free diners, as everything on the menu is said to be gluten free (by both servers I've encountered) except the shrimp tacos which can be made gluten free by using corn shells and grilling the shrimp instead of frying them. We also double-checked again and the server said they use dedicated fryers for the chips. She also said both salsas were safe (which they said the last time I was there too).I decided to try the Pollo al Pastor dish which is Achiote marinated chicken served with roasted vegetables, beans and pineapple relish. My friends ordered the La Hacienda Parrillada which is the similar to the Del Mar platter that I ordered last time. It came with Mixed grill offering New York strip, chicken al pastor, chorizo and vegetables, served with beans and fresh salsas.First up were the chips and salsa. I'm a fan. I really like the salsa verde which isn't too spicy at all. The salsa roja has quite a kick (pretty sure it has chipotle in it), so I stayed away from that one.

Salsa and chips

Up next came our entrees. My chicken al pastor was sooooo delicious. The chicken was really nicely marinated and very tender. I am also a huge fan of squash and zucchini, so I loved having that as the veggie. And the pineapple relish/sauce was amazing. Sweet and spicy. Perfect with the chicken. I would say that it wasn't a huge portion by any means. It was a just right portion for me, especially after having the parrillada the last time.

Pollo al Pastor

The platter that my friends ordered was HUGE! Just as huge as the platter I had the last time with seafood. It's a lot for two people. In fact, they had leftovers of everything and were able to take them to-go.

La Hacienda parrillada

As you can see, it's a big meal. Overall, I'd say it was another hit for me. This is the 2nd time I've been there in the past two months, and I've really enjoyed it a lot. The only downside for me is that they don't take Tables in Wonderland which would be a nice thing, especially if you order a drink.

Orange Mango Fire Margarita on the rocks

This is definitely a nice gluten free friendly restaurant, and pretty good for dairy free diners too. I was able to get a lot of the options with the cheese and/or sour cream removed. I love that. In addition, if you are a vegetarian or vegan diner, there are some choices for you, and I believe they have a separate menu for those choices. Here's the listing that I saw:

• Empanadas de Queso - cheese empanadas served with rice and beans
• Tacos de Vegetales - grilled vegetables and queso fresco on flour tortillas, served with esquites (roasted corn)
• Ensalada de la Casa - spinach salad with queso fresco, tomatoes, pomegranate, pine nuts, and avocado, with mustard vinaigrette dressing
• Enchaladas de Vegetales - corn tortillas filled with vegetables, served with salsa verde, rice and beans 

I think you could easily remove the queso fresco and make thinks dairy free (with the exception of the empanandas). Additionally, blog reader Jenn notes that the rice made at La Hacienda is made with chicken stock. I would contact Special Diets in advance to see if vegetarian/vegan stock could be used as an alternative.Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10 for good service, great food and decent gluten free & dairy free offerings.

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Boma: Flavors of Africa

Jambo and welcome to Boma: Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge! It feels like it's been forever since I've been to this restaurant. Recently named in U.S.A. Today as the number one Theme Park Restaurant, it's no wonder why Boma consistently has ranked high on my list of favorites and a great option for gluten free, dairy free and other special diets diners. On this particular visit, we went for breakfast to enjoy the African-themed food.Our breakfast was really more like brunch, as we had a 10 a.m. reservation. When we arrived, we were quickly seated and found the restaurant to be very quiet considering it was 4th of July. Holidays can be a mixed bag at Disney--sometimes really busy and sometimes very quiet. Boma, was the latter. (On a side note, if you are a Tables in Wonderland card holder, 4th of July is a blackout day on the card, so you can't use it for discounts. Lesson learned first-hand. Always read the fine print!)

Nice quiet view by the window

Once seated our server brought over drinks including the famous Jungle Juice. From the recipe's I've seen, Jungle Juice is a combination of pineapple juice, mango juice (which is a prevalent flavor), orange juice, and lemonade. It is delicious--and very sweet! I can usually only muster a cup of it. I always get unsweetened ice tea, since I don't drink coffee anymore, but when I did, Boma was the place for coffee. The regular coffee is great, but if you want to have an extra treat, try the pressed pot coffee (it's an extra upcharge).After we got our drinks, Chef Chris (oh crazy Chef Chris!) came over to meet me. I don't go enough that he completely knows me, but I been there enough when he is that he recognizes that he's helped me before, which was the case this time. He asked if I needed him to walk the buffet with me, which of course is a no brainer, even if I have a good idea. If you ever meet Chef Chris, he's a bit of a jokester, so be prepared. Sometimes, he's kidding (like the millions of remarks about adding extra cheese to everything). I like a sense of humor, but not necessarily when it comes to my food prep!We walked the buffet, and pretty much everything was the same as usual. In terms of omelets, if you want a custom omelet the chef will make it in the back. I chose a ham and onion omelet. In addition, I asked for Allergy Mickey waffles (made on a dedicated waffle maker), donuts (Kinnikinnick) and muffins (Udi's blueberry) from the back. What can I say? I like carbs! From the buffet, the fruit station is safe, as is the carving station (except the Boma mustard--this has soy sauce in it), the veggie station is good (more on that later), the quinoa is also safe, and if you want gluten free oats, they carry Bob's Red Mill GF oats which are prepared specially in the back. The oatmeal on the buffet is not certified GF. You can have regular scrambled eggs, but I personally find that station to be heavily at risk for cross contamination and ask for eggs in the back. Potatoes, breakfast meats are also OK but do let the chef know if you are uncomfortable with any cross contamination risks.I also looked for some good vegan options, as I think Boma has a good variety for breakfast goers who are vegan or vegetarian. Here are some photos and a list of good choices that are vegan specific:

Completely vegan and vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, egg free & more!

First up is the veggie station:

• Grilled asparagus
• Chakalaka
• Pap (made with water)
• Grilled tomatoes

Fresh fruit

Fresh fruit station:

• Grapes
• Pineapple (my personal favorite)
• Honeydew
• Canteloupe

Hot Cereal Station: Vegan, Vegetarian, Not completely GF (ask for GF oats in the back)

Hot cereal station:

• Quiona (made with water)
• Oatmeal (made with water--not certified GF oats, ask for them to be made in the back)
• Raisins 

*ask for a brown sugar supplement for vegans (it might not be vegan) or for those worried about cross contamination.

Quinoa with brown sugar and raisins

I also didn't ask, but I'm betting that they have tofu on hand and could make a tofu scramble or something vegan friendly.Here's what I got as a gluten free & dairy free diner:

Carb plate!

First-up I got the Kinnickinick glazed donuts, the Udi's Blueberry muffin and allergy Mickey waffles. All yummy. The waffles weren't the best in terms of crispiness and texture, but hey, a Mickey waffle is a Mickey waffle, right?! I also had pure maple syrup for the waffle (no Earth Balance this time).

Care for some maple syrup with your omelet?

The ham & onion omelet was very un-hammy (is that a word?). They definitely skimped on the ham. Otherwise, it was a good omelet. A little overcooked but good.

Fresh fruit

The fruit was a great palate cleanser at the end of the meal and very good. Love their pineapple.

Buffet plate

For my buffet plate, I grabbed some meat from the carving station which was outstanding that day. The ham and turkey were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The turkey was really moist! The pap was great as usual, as were the breakfast potatoes. The asparagus was just so-so. It's not in season in Florida, so it's the "wimpy" asparagus. You can always tell really fresh asparagus from the not so fresh stuff. Still, the grill flavor is excellent with it.Overall, I ended up really stuff at my meal. I never go hungry at Boma, and what I love is that I can really enjoy a lot of great goodies. The buffet really lends itself to a lot of special diets, which is important. Plus, it's just plain delicious! For me, this is a solid 8 out of 10 for great food and service. U.S.A. definitely picked one of my favorite choices for great Disney food!

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show -- Table Service -- Polynesian Resort

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

This way to Luau Cove!

Talofa! That's "hello" in Samoan! It's one of the many things I learned from my first visit to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (SoA) at the Polynesian Resort. As a first timer for any dinner show at Disney (can you believe that?!), I wasn't sure what to expect, so this was completely new territory for me as a Disney vacationer and a GF/DF diner. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the way Disney handled my food and the options that I had. It was also a really fun experience for the whole family.When I first found out that my family was booking the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, I really had no idea what to expect. I also didn't really find any other reviews out there for gluten & dairy free--other than people mentioned that they had been. So, I was really interested in seeing what they would have available. When we booked the reservation (we did it in person at the concierge desk at the Polynesian), they noted my special dietary needs. However, one thing they didn't mention was that I needed to contact Disney no later than 48 hours in advance. Thankfully, I had emailed the Special Diets Department and they let me know that I needed to let the SoA catering kitchen know ahead of time. They said I could call them or have them call me. Knowing how that can go, I had them call me by giving Special Diets my reservation information. Two days later, they called and we discussed the menu. Now, I will say, the CMs were very nice but unless you talk to a chef, they may or may not know all of the complete details for what you'll get for dinner. They noted that I needed to have gluten & dairy free items, but they really only knew much about the gluten free. They said that the chicken was marinated in gluten free soy sauce and that they had it available. They also noted that they would have rolls. They mentioned brownies but as I discovered when I arrived, the brownies are gluten free but not dairy free (I think they are the OMG It's Gluten Free brand). 

Keep walking past the marina to Luau Cove!

So, once we were set ahead of time, it was a matter of waiting. We made our reservations a week in advance which is pretty late considering, but we were OK with that. We also booked a category 3 which are essentially the "cheap seats in the back." Note if you are using the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), the dinner show will require 2 TS credits per person for Categories 2 and 3 only. For guests not using the DDP, tickets range from $73.99 to $58.99 per person for adults and $39.99 to $29.99 for children ages 3 to 9 depending on the seating category purchased. Categories are based on seating areas in the theater. Category 1 seating is located on the main floor and lower level. It offers a premium view and is also the closest to the performers. Category 2 also offers a small amount of main floor and lower level seating (located to the right and left of the Category 1 seating area). It also offers seating on the upper level with a direct view of the main floor and stage. Category 3 offers tables on both the lower and upper level that are to the extreme right and left of the stage. None of us personally felt the need to do the category 1 or 2 (at that time only 2 was available).

We were in a Category 3 seating area--in the far left, close to the SoA sign on this image.

Shows are held Tuesday through Saturday with shows at 5:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pre-payment for the dinner show is required and includes all tax and gratuity. Refunds are given if cancellations are made 48 hours before the show. We chose the 8pm show because it had a Tables in Wonderland Discount. 20% off the entire bill including tax and gratuity. For us, we had a party of 5 in a Category 3 seating area and it cost:$314.95 with tax and gratuity. With a 20% discount it is $251.96. That’s a savings of $62.99 which is the cost of 1 ticket! So, it really pays to ask about discounts. Depending on the season, you can get Annual Passholder, Disney Vacation Club or even Disney Visa Card discounts in addition to TIW. It's not a bad deal!

 Another important thing to think about is the weather. If it's summer time or even winter--you'll want to check to see if they are going to cancel. They don't usually b/c the theater is covered, but still. Better to be safe than sorry. They do give you a full refund if they cancel for any reason. But then you have no reservations and that could be a tricky thing. We had rain that day but it had stopped thankfully by the time 8 pm came around.

 Before you go to the show, you get your tickets from the Concierge desk. Then you check in to the show 30 minutes prior to the show and dinner starting. We ended up there around 7:40 pm. After checking in, we ducked out of any photo opportunity (they do Photopass there--you've been warned!!) and waited. Then they start seating. You have assigned seating, so there's no need to bomb rush the front of the line. We saw a lot of people doing that thinking they'd get a better seat--yeah not so much. 

Seating area--we were all the way in the back.

Once you get find your seat, you'll notice that they have food already set up. And at our table, I noticed that there was a special section for me. You can always tell the special section when you see those GNI rolls! I had GF tamari (San-J), a salad with honey lime dressing (hallelujah, I missed this from Ohana!!) and two GNI rolls. My family's salad was segregated in another area (they had pasta salad and slaw, etc.)

Mine is the plate in the front.

The person who seated us was not our server, but they noted my allergy and explained that our server would bring the other items out. This was good. I forgot to mention that when we arrived, they actually walkie talkied the kitchen who told them I had a dietary restriction and then they stamped my ticket. Good that they check in even before you ask. But back to the food. I knew immediately that this was the true Honey Lime Dressing from Ohana. Oh how I've missed that honey lime dressing. It's seriously addicting. And yes, I have the recipe to make it at home :) I was so glad they were extra generous with it too. This meant dipping those poorly heated GNI rolls in lots of dressing. Yum!

Closeup of my salad, rolls, and tamari

Our server, Manny, came out and greeted us. He then talked about my dietary needs and explained that the kitchen had it all prepared on a separate plate. He also mentioned dessert which was going to be a fruit plate b/c of the dairy issue. He also took our drink orders and off he went. I will note, I've heard a lot of people say that their server wasn't very attentive or good on refills. Ours was the bomb! Manny kept our drinks rolling in (and only my brother ordered a specialty drink and that was later in the night) and offered refills on the food, so we had a great server.In the meantime, we were busily taking pictures and hanging out while some of the intro entertainment began. Here are some of the funny gems from the meal. My mom took a lot of the pics with my iPhone and it was pretty hilarious to see some of the ones that came out.

This is me, trying to explain how to use the iPhone!

So half of the family isn't looking!

Self-portrait...err not much better!

View of the stage

So onto the main dinner! Our food came out fairly quickly, I must say. I had a plate that had plain white rice, roasted chicken on the bone, BBQ pork ribs, pulled pork, and veggies. Then I had the GF tamari to add to the rice and such.

My dinner plate

As far as taste-wise, it actually wasn't bad at all! I still prefer Ohana when you get right down to it, but this really wasn't bad. I think it kind of gets a bad rap. I also know that they've changed the menu recently, so maybe things are improving for the better. The rice was actually cooked really well. Last time I had rice at Ohana it was really gummy. The veggies were also really good. They were really garlicky which is how I liked them! A little crunchier than I would have liked for my Crohn's but really good. The chicken was probably my favorite thing on the plate. It was really well cooked and super seasoned. Delicious!! I also like the pulled pork as my second favorite thing. The ribs? I could have done without those. Mine wasn't sauced like everyone else's so maybe the sauce helps, but I found them way too fatty and bland tasting. The rest of the table got those.For dessert, I got the fresh fruit plate, plus Manny brought out a sugar free fruit bar. It is sweetened with splenda though and I avoid artificial sweeteners so I shared that with the family. I personally loved the fruit though. I could eat pineapple for days and it was really ripe and delicious!! The grapes and strawberries were also good. Melon isn't my fave so I didn't really eat that much.

Fruit platter

Not my cup of tea, but at least nice they offered an alternative!

Once dinner is over the show begins. It's a little corny, but you expect that from Disney. It gets really cool once they start the traditional Hawaiian dancing. The best part was probably the fire dancers. And if you go at the 8pm show, it's even better because it looks really cool in the dark!!Meanwhile, my brother got himself a little coconut monkey friend that I thought I would share for those who like cocktails. If you order the Pele's Fire Punch, you can get a real honest to goodness coconut monkey!! that you get to take home!! Pretty cute, and efficient, they add a plastic cup with your drink in the monkey so he doesn't get all nasty! And I believe it doubles as a coin bank. Gotta hand it to Disney for the inventive marketing. My brother had been wanting one for a long time, so this was his opportunity at the bargain price of $18.95! My brother named is Manny in honor of our server...go figure!

Isn't he cute?!

When you're done with the dinner show, if you time it right, you can go right out on the beach and watch the MK fireworks. It's an amazing spot to watch them, if you've never done it.Overall, we had a really fun time and with the discount I think it wasn't a terrible price. To have a show and a meal, it wasn't really that bad. If you can have wine to drink, you can score with the unlimited wine refills (same with beer but that really is a GF no-no, and I don't think they had Redbridge--though I may have missed it). We talked about the DDP, and I don't think any of us would have wanted to part with two credits, so that would be something to consider. The show was definitely not 100% authentic, but it wasn't bad either. It was def. a Luau Disney style, but we still loved it.As far as the allergy accommodation, I was also surprised. Not only did I get a fair amount of food, but it also was pretty good. It definitely is important to follow through and contact them ahead of time; otherwise you might not be eating much or have limited options. Also, for vegans and vegetarians, I'm not sure what options would be open, but I would hope that they could accommodate by adding in some other interesting dishes with some protein sources like tofu. If anyone has been vegan or vegetarian, I'd love to hear what you got!Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10! I wouldn't expect everyone to like this but for our family, we enjoyed it.Have you been to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show? How did it go for you?

Pecos Bill's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

 Howdy partners! This here is the wildest meal in the wilderness! Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe proves to be a rootin' tootin' good time, every time I visit it, and the food isn't bad either. On this particular visit, my family and I stopped by Pecos Bill's for lunch. Known for it's burgers and fries, this restaurant offers quality Angus burgers and a variety of other sandwiches. Many of you know that I'm not really a beef eater (I eat about 1 or 2 hamburgers a year and that's about it), so I headed here hoping to grab a chicken sandwich.

 We arrived at Pecos Bill's around 1 p.m., which on a June afternoon was still particularly busy. In looking at the menu, I noticed it wasn't a very big one. Items include:

• BBQ Pork Sandwich
• 1/3lb Angus Cheeseburger
• 1/3lb Deluxe Angus Cheeseburger 
• Veggie Burger
• Chicken Sandwich
• Taco Salad

When I arrived at the cash register station, I asked for a manager and the CM paged one. When the manager arrived, we went over the allergy ingredients book. I really wanted a chicken sandwich but the manager said that the chicken sandwiches were taking a really long time to prepare and would probably take 10-20 minutes longer than the other sandwiches. Wow, that's a little crazy! Does everyone want chicken sandwiches?! Feeling saucy, I decided to get a burger. One of the big reasons I did this was because I noticed that the beef appears to be locally sourced (from Lakeland, FL which is about 30 minutes away). That always is an important thing for me, especially since I don't eat beef much. I noticed that they had Udi's buns, and the manager confirmed that this was the case. Is it me or is Udi's making a comeback? I still think they should carry both options (one that is egg free like GNI) for guests who have multiple allergies, but am personally glad to see Udi's buns back. I also got french fries which are made in a dedicated fryer. You can also get pre-packaged carrots and grapes.I also asked if I could have some condiments from the back and toppings from the back. If you have never been to Pecos Bill's before, there is actually a toppings bar that is out front that people can use to get lettuce, grilled onions and mushrooms, cheese sauce, etc. However, as a gluten free/dairy free person, you would be best to steer clear of this area. It's a free-for-all and often heavily cross-contaminated. If you're interested in certain items, just as the manager and they will bring you some from the back that are safe. Some managers may offer to grill onions and peppers for you and others might not. On this particular occasion I was offered raw onion (which I don't mind). I also got shredded lettuce and pickles. You can also find lots of pre-packaged ketchup (Heinz), mayo and mustard available (I also steer clear of the self serve condiments).

Toppings bar in all of its cross contamination glory--stay far away partners!

Once I completed my order, the manager gave me a pager and they stamped my receipt with a boot...ha, they literally gave me the boot!! (ok, sorry the western humor was too tempting) Then he told me to meet him near the fireplace when the pager went off. I will note that it did take a bit to prepare. Also, one important thing to consider. They monitor seating at Pecos Bill's. You need to be with your party when you find your seats. That can be a little tricky when you have dietary needs. We ended up having my family go find seats and I waited in the main area and then found them once I got my food. The staff were actually very helpful with this. Just something to keep in mind if you have a hungry group.

I got the boot!

Once my food arrived, I headed over to meet the family. First thing I noticed was that they were very generous with the toppings. That was nice! The hamburger itself was a little thin looking for a 1/3lb burger. It could have been a little bit bigger if you ask me. The bacon was the typical "stringy" bacon you get at Disney. I'm sort of used to it, so it wasn't a big deal. I added a little ketchup, mayo and mustard to the burger and topped with the extra toppings. Yum!! Taste wise, the burger was actually good. I didn't find it overly greasy at all. It was a little on the dry side, but not bad. The extra fat from the bacon and the accompaniments helped. The fries were nothing special. Same fries you get anywhere else. But still good. I mean, where else can you get french fries?! I was very excited to see the Udi's bun. It's just plain tasty and it makes the hamburger, if you ask me.

Extra toppings--not from the topping bar!

Burger and fries--yeehaw!

Overall, I thought the meal wasn't bad. The burger had a nice grill flavor and was probably one of the better quick service burgers around. My family who isn't GF/DF all really enjoyed them. My one gripe is that they don't really have great vegetarian options (a veggie burger does not count as a variety!) or options in general. It really is a burgers and fries joint. If you're looking for locations that have more varied options, check out Cosmic Rays or Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom. But, if you want a burger and fries, this is the place to go!I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this trip.

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

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

Aloha yet again! As you can tell, I have a serious love for Kona Cafe. I recently stopped here with my mom and stepdad for breakfast, and as always Kona did not disappoint. I really thought about getting a different breakfast option that morning but wouldn't you know it, I ended up getting the same thing as always! Hey, you gotta stick with what's good, right?!

 After we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Amber (formally of Boma) who famously made me a GF/DF Bobotie (check HERE for the review from 2010). She had recently transferred to Kona, and I caught up with her on my last visit when Chef Brett introduced her (at lunch time). It's funny, you know when you go places a lot because the chefs start to know you. It's actually really a great thing because they usually know my special diets and what kinds of foods I usually order. When we started talking, she immediately said: "gluten and dairy free, right?" Love it!I decided to go for my traditional standby of a modified Big Kahuna. We got the eggs scrambled, ham and bacon (no sausage), breakfast potatoes, and allergy Mickey waffles with a side of Earth Balance and maple syrup. Yum!!When the food arrived, I saw Chef Amber had been EXTRA generous. I got 4 Mickey waffles. Holy smokes!! She actually came back out later and asked how things were, and I mentioned that she was really generous. Her rationale was that you normally get french toast and pancakes with the Big Kahuna, so you should get 4 waffles. I think I like her thinking!

That's a lot of Mickey waffles!!

We also got to talking about California Grill and how the chefs from CG are over at Kona right now. Chef Kevin who helped me on my recent dinner was a CG chef. I also asked her if she knew when they were opening back up. She said she thought it would be by late July or August sometime. Well, let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope that's true! I'd love to see it opened up before the fall.On a side note, the menus slightly changed in the past few months. Not really much to report in terms of entree choices, but the look is different.

 Overall, I have to say Kona Cafe remains a favorite breakfast spot. A solid 9 out of 10!

Captain Cook's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience too place June 2013.

Arggh mateys!!

Ahoy! Captain Cook's located in Disney's Polynesian resort offers casual pan-Asian inspired quick service fare. This was the first time I had eaten a meal at this location, and I wanted to see if they would be as good at gluten free/dairy free meals as the rest of the Polynesian restaurant. While I can't say it was the best meal I've ever had, they were able to provide me with a meal that proved to be just a little different than burgers or fries.When I arrived at the restaurant, I wasn't sure how to order. The restaurant is really small by many quick service standards. It has a large menu above the ordering area, which consists of several self-service ordering kiosks (similar to those in Contempo Cafe or many new restaurants like Be Our Guest). I tried using the kiosk first, and it didn't have special diets options, so I asked a cast member working the register. She then paged someone to come talk to me. I was greeted a by a manager who seemed rather frazzled. I told her that I couldn't have gluten or dairy and expressed interest in a children's meal because it was later in the day and I had already had a bratwurst at Sommerfest as a snack. She that was fine and then gave me some options.

Ordering stations--that guy doesn't know what he wants either!

She had I could have a kid's hamburger meal, the seasonal fish, and the chicken and pineapple skewer (which I should have ordered). I ordered the fish because I'd seen a couple of kids with it and thought it looked good. Turns out they had ordered the adult version but more on that later. I mentioned that I would like some gluten free soy sauce for the rice and she said "Oh no problem." I sort of don't think she heard me or understood me because the meal didn't actually come with rice.Once I had my order, she gave me a card that said "STOP" food allergies for the cashier and then my order. Once I paid, I waited for my meal. And waited...and waited. It took an incredibly long time to make make considering. Granted, I always would rather wait than have something brought out quickly and incorrectly. Once my food came out, I noticed there was no rice. The same manager was there, and she said "Oh it doesn't come with rice." To which I replied, "Oh, but you said I could have soy sauce for the rice." Well, whoops. It was later in the day, so I just took the meal as it was and will remember to get the adult version the next time or the chicken and pineapple skewer.

Fish, vegetables and mandarin oranges

As far as the dish goes, it wasn't bad really. I think they must have seasoned the fish for me because there's no way that they could have served something that spicy to a kid. It had a rub on it and was quite peppery. The vegetables were nice and mild--It had bok choy which is one of my favs in it! And the mandarin oranges were a nice touch to the end of the meal--a little sweet treat. The portion size was great for a kid and worked well for me eating later in the evening.

Seating area--still quite busy at 7:30 pm

Beverage station

Overall, I found the food to be decent. I wouldn't say the menu is very extensive and so doesn't have a huge variety, but they seem to have some options that are easy to modify or are naturally safe. I also like that they have less burgers and fries options. I wish I would have gotten the chicken and pineapple skewer because I'm pretty sure that would have been a winner! On a side note, if you like Pineapple Dole Whips, they have a dedicated self serve station at Captain Cook's. This would be a delicious dessert option if you're in the mood for an "ice cream" treat (it's still gluten free & dairy free according to the site and allergy books).

Dole Whips coming right up!

I wasn't wowed by Captain Cook's but I didn't think the food needed to "walk the plank." :) I'd give it a 7 out of 10 for this experience. I might go back and try the other options or stick with the table service here over this location. However, I know a lot of people who have been here a lot on their vacations and love the chefs and have had great meals there. On the fly, it was just sort of so-so.Have you been to Captain Cook's? Would you say Aye or Nay to their food?

Sommerfest -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.Forget the pretzels und beer! A visit to Sommerfest will make you forget about those glutenous treats. The menu is extremely limited, but those who are gluten free & dairy free will rejoice in being able to enjoy a bratwurst or frankfurter on a GF/DF bun.

Entrance to Sommerfest

This was my first visit to Sommerfest. I had never thought of going because it didn't seem like they'd be able to really accommodate or even have GF/DF buns. I had heard though that GF/DF diners would indeed be able to get a GF/DF bun and that the bratwurst and frankfurter, as well as the sauerkraut were naturally GF. On a whim, my brother and I decided to go there for a snack.

Limited menu

When you enter the pavilion, you expect a larger QS but really it's more like a kiosk with tables. It's located close to Biergarten, so it can often get busy in there with folks waiting for their ADRs. When I was at the cash register, I said that I was gluten free/dairy free. The CM said that the bratwurst and frankfurters were safe as was the sauerkraut and that they bring out an allergy bun. She said it might take a bit for the bun, as she paged someone--it turned out that they get their buns, etc. from Biergarten.While I waited, I observed how the kiosks runs. I would say if you are a Celiac, you may want to clear your choice with the chef and make sure it comes out from a safe area. I didn't think too much about it, until I realized there are pretzels in the same area, and of course, regular buns. When the chef came out from Biergarten, I confirmed with him again that these options would be safe, and he said "yes."

Bratwurst with sauerkraut on an Udi's GF/DF bun

I have to say, I've been really scoring with the Udi's buns lately. It seems like they are at more locations than I previously thought, or I've just been going to a lot of places where the GNI buns have replaced the Udi's. Man there's a big difference. For those who can have eggs, they are a different world from the GNI buns. I was really glad to see them at Sommerfest because for a bratwurst and sauerkraut you need a sturdy bun.Taste-wise, I found both the bratwurst and sauerkraut to be really mild in flavor. I'm not a big 'kraut fan, but this I could totally eat easily and really enjoyed. They have plain mustard, but make sure to ask for some from the back b/c they are at self serve stations and cross contamination could occur.While this is a pretty basic kiosk, it was great to try something different. I really liked the bratwurst. It was the perfect evening snack. And of course, I was glad to have that Udi's bun!There aren't a lot of options at this location, so I wouldn't consider this a great place for allergies. I'd say it's good for what it is, but not a great spot for a meal. A solid 7 out of 10 for this experience.Have you been to Sommerfest or Biergarten? What was your experience?

Be Our Guest Restaurant -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

 Bonjour mademoiselles and messieurs! I've once again returned back to Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom for another quick service lunch experience. I recently went there and enjoyed lunch for the first time (see review HERE). On my second visit, I opted to be more adventurous on my food choices, as well as explore all of the gluten free & dairy free options available to me both on the adult and children's menus.When I arrived this time, it was a weekday (I normally go on weekends) and right around the noon time frame. Because it had been quite busy the few days earlier, I expected it to be really busy at noon. The line itself was longer than it was that previous Saturday, but it seemed like there were more cast members working to ensure people were hydrated and had umbrellas. Have I mentioned how much I really want one of those umbrellas?! Those Disney golf umbrellas are quite sturdy--perfect for Florida rain! I have to admit our wait time outside was actually shorter than it was that Saturday (even though the line was longer).

That's a lot of umbrellas! Or should we call them parasols?

Once we got in the building, we followed past the suits of armor and onto the rose distribution station. For some reason, I never seem to get the self service station. I ended up going to a cast member manned cash register. When I told the CM that I was gluten and dairy free, she added it to the computer, and then told me I could come around and look at the screen. Of course, I didn't get any pictures but I did make sure to note all of the options both on the adult and children's menus. Here's what is available GF/DF:Adult Menu:

• French Onion Soup (without the cheese and crouton)
• Tuna Nicoise Salad (no modifications needed)
• Quinoa Salad (no modifications needed)
• Carved Turkey Sandwich (on an Udi's bun)

Children's Menu:

• Carved Turkey Sandwich (with french fries and peach applesauce on an Udi's bun)
• Slow-cooked Pork (with green beans and NO mashed sweet potatoes) 

I was a bit surprised at the few options available. Of course the menu itself isn't huge, but still. In any event, I ended up deciding on the Tuna Nicoise Salad. It was really humid that day, so I wanted something light and cool.

Ordering Station

RFID Rose & receipt

 

We ended up in the main ballroom to eat, but the rose gallery was by far the calmest room to enjoy lunch in. In fact, we ended up going there to get our drink refills!

Drink station

The food is delicious! Don't believe us? Ask the dishes!

Tuna Nicoise Salad

I very much enjoyed the salad--it was the perfect kind of food for a hot summer day. The tuna was seared well and was good quality. The egg was hard poached and the veggies on the salad were good but a little stingy on the amount. I would say for the price ($17 with a drink), it wasn't very much food. I could easily get a decent salad at a table service location for that price. I'm thinking I'd get the cobb salad at the Brown Derby any day over this! It's a much better bargain!Overall, I enjoyed the lunch and as always the ambiance is unparallelled. I wouldn't say it's the best food ever, but it's one of the better options in the Magic Kingdom and it's a good alternative to burgers and fries. My one disappointment is that there is a major lack in variety for multiple allergies. I think gluten free folks have better options that those of us who have multiple special dietary needs. I was a bit bummed by the kids choices alone!

I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great atmosphere and good food.

Be Our Guest -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

Check out those lines...

"Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, put our service to the test..." Why that's just what I did recently when I finally made it over to Be Our Guest (BOG) for lunch service. I've been trying to visit this location for lunch for what seems like forever (really just a few months), and I was thrilled that I finally had the opportunity to enjoy lunch during their fast casual service.As a general tip, plan ahead if you are hoping to dine at this location. For lunch BOG is a quick service location, meaning there are no reservations. It is a very large restaurant; however, it's also hugely popular and popular means long lines and wait times. Additionally, when you come to this location, you will line up outside of the restaurant (which is slightly different from many locations that have indoor lines that accommodate huge crowd) until they clear you to come into the ordering lines. If you're really hungry, you might want to find another location unless you're ok with waiting. It also pays to get there earlier or later in the day if you're hungry. My family and I showed up, for instance, at almost 1 pm and were told the wait time was 35 minutes. Yikes!! Fortunately, our wait time was more like 15 minutes, but still. If you're hungry, you could have a very rumbly tummy by the time you get in and eat. Also, if you're heading out during the summer months, it is HOT out there. And I mean hot. Fortunately, Disney is prepared. As of June 2013, they were handing out large Disney golf umbrellas and cold ice water. That's good because I'm pretty sure suffering from heat stroke does not make a magical vacation or lunch for that matter!

I'm one hot chickadee in the summer sun!

Once you are cleared to enter the building, you proceed to another queue. There, you walk past suits of armor that actually talk! You also see the menu displayed on screens between 2 rows of line queues. This is good because it gives you an idea of what's available while you wait. You can also ask a Cast Member for a paper menu, and they should be able to give you one.

Menus

We are the knights who say "Nii!" Ok, they didn't say that, but it would be cool if they did!

Once you get further up in the line, you are met by a cast member who asks you how many in your party. They then give you a plastic RFID rose (love the theming of this) to hold on to while you order and then find a table. Now comes the interesting part for special diets. You are either taken to a Cast Member manned station or a self serve station to order. In both cases, you either tell the CM your special diet or you select it on the screen. At anytime you can ask for a manager and they will come out. But, still...it's a little strange. It's rather like what they did for a while at Hollywood Brown Derby, where they used iPads to make interactive menus. In this case, once the special diets are entered, the menus then display what you can and can't have. For me, I wanted to order one of the kids meals because I wasn't overly hungry. I wanted the mahi mahi but evidently it's not safe for one of my dietary needs (I was at a CM booth, I'm hoping to go to the self serve station next time because I actually want to see all the choices). Boo! So, I ended up with the Carved Turkey Sandwich on a GF bun. It was supposed to come with Sweet Potato Wedges and Peach Applesauce. Th e sweet potato wedges are not safe (probably gluten is my guess), so I couldn't have those but the applesauce was. I ended up getting regular fries...sorry, Pommes Frites, n'est-ce pas?!

Cast Member manned station

More of the menu--the screens cause too much glare with a camera!

Next up, it was on to find a seat. At lunch, it's pretty much a free-for-all. There are 3 rooms in which you can dine. The main dining area - ballroom (which is hugely popular) and also the West Wing and the Rose Gallery. Personally, I'd avoid the ballroom unless you are there for dinner. It's 1) highly crowded and 2) ridiculously loud. It's much better at dinner, imo. The West Wing is quite dark and some younger children may find it scary. The Rose Gallery is bright and lively and where we ended up--and thankfully not that crowded!!As we waited, we helped ourselves to the drink station and to the silverware (no plastic forks here! Only the real stuff!).

View of paintings and the drink station

Centerpiece in the rose gallery

You keep your roses on the table with your receipts and the cast members bring the food to you. They use the same carts that they use for desserts at dinner. In one respect, I'm actually glad that they bring the allergy food in person outside of those carts, because those things carry a LOT of glutenous desserts in them. And while I'm sure they are well cleaned, I just don't love the idea of it. But that's just me. And interestingly enough, my food came out really quickly compared to the rest of the family's! Sometimes, it's good to be the food allergy person! :)

My receipt, so you can see how it rings up

Carved turkey sandwich with fries

What I love about this location is that everything is served on real dinnerware. It's like Landscape of Flavors--which has that fast casual vibe. Very nice! I will say, that I was shocked at the portion of my meal. It was quite generous and really almost the same size as the regular adult meals. I liked it especially because I got dessert and a drink included. That's a bargain!! I'm going to start doing this more..sheesh! First up were the fries. Yes, they were nothing to write home about. They are the regular fries you get at Disney. Good...yes. Special...err not so much. The turkey sandwich came only with tomato and turkey. I imagine this is partially due to the fact that this is a kid's meal and those usually are filled with tons of condiments. We asked a CM by the drink station for plain mayonnaise which they were happy to oblige. The turkey was the real star of this sandwich. In fact, it was quite moist and flavorful. I was surprised by it. But the thing that made me the most happy....it was an Udi's bun! hallelujah!!! It seems like they have a variety of bread products at BOG because I've been served Ener-G rolls for dinner. So, this was great to have at least variety. And, I personally love Udi's buns. They even toasted it a little. Overall, the sandwich would have been better with a little bit of greens (like some arugula) and/or some Dijon mustard. Maybe that's what the adult version includes!Another fave of the meal was the peach applesauce. Yummy. I'm a huge applesauce fan and this one was delicious. It was really peachy in flavor, and the texture was quite nice. It was the perfect "dessert" after the meal.

Serving carts

Peach applesauce--looks bland but was delicious

Busy ballroom

Beautiful snow in the windows

While, I wouldn't say my meal was anything overly spectacular, I would say that for a quick service it was quite good. It was so much better than typical burgers or fries. And my family really enjoyed their non-special diets entrees (they got the croque monsieur & the steak sandwich). My hope is to go to a self serve kiosk the next time so that I can actually see more of the menu. I also want to try something different. I hear rave reviews about the quinoa salad as a great gluten free option.Also, as an adult ordering the kids meal, why you couldn't beat the portion or the price. They had some really good healthful options and the applesauce made for a great addition. Also, where else can you get a complete meal at Disney with a drink for $9?! Love it!I'm giving this a solid 8 out of 10 for this experience and hope to be back soon to get more details and try something new. Also, gluten free diners will have a lot more choices. Let's just say dairy free and French food don't always mix so well!!In the meantime, what do you recommend? Is there something there I simply must try?For a full review of dinner (on the opening menu): Check here!

Brown Derby -- Table Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.

View from our booth...such a glamorous location!

Lights! Camera! Action! Welcome back to the glamorous Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. This has become a recent favorite of mine, and I was happy to head back here again for their famous cobb salad. It was a perfect meal for a hot summer day.On this particular occasion, I brought my mom and stepdad with me as they had never been before. They also wanted to check out the cobb salad. Once seated, we waited for quite a long time (the longest I've ever waited in this location) for a server, let alone a chef. It was reasonably busy in there, but I'd been during busier times, so I was surprised at the lack of service. The server finally came over and said that he was waiting for the chef to come which is why he didn't come over. Not perhaps the best thing to do, considering it was hot and we sure could have used a beverage, but no matter. At least the chef came out promptly after that and we were in business! Since I knew what I wanted, there wasn't much discussion about the menu. I ordered the cobb salad with no blue cheese. The chef also asked me if I wanted to have the GNI brand rolls with olive oil. Since they know how to properly heat them at this location, I was happy to get them.

Back of the menu

While we waited for our drinks and rolls, we enjoyed looking around at the various caricatures. My mom was trying to find Lucille Ball (one of her favs), but we couldn't find her. It is really cool to see all of the unique decor and it really feels like you are sitting in an old Hollywood restaurant.

The chef was extra generous with the rolls that day, so I had a lot to eat. I've never turned down a carb! They are very good with the extra virgin olive oil and thankfully, they stay nice and warm.

I can eat a lot of bread, but I couldn't make it through 4 rolls!

Up next were our salads. Yum!! As usual, this was excellent. As someone with Crohn's disease, I often have to avoid or limit my amount of fresh fruits and veggies and salad especially. But, the great news is that because this is so finely chopped up, my stomach doesn't freak out when I eat it. That is excellent for me because I often crave salads and this one is one of my hands down favorites of all time. I love the avocado and the turkey and I especially love the dressing (which is naturally GF/DF!).

Delicious Cobb Salad

In addition to the cobb salad, the Brown Derby can also make lots of other great dishes gluten free & dairy free. It's a wonderful location for special diets. Overall, I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. It continues to be one of my favs. I really adore the salad and it's reasonably priced too ($15). In the future, I hope to come back and try out some of the other dishes and seeing what wonderful dishes the chefs can whip up! This is a great place for a special occasion too!A solid 8 out of 10 for this visit!

Kona Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Mahalo to Kona Cafe for being one of my favorite places to eat on WDW property. It's one of my go-to places for breakfast and lunch; however, I rarely go for dinner. On this particular occasion, I had the pleasure of visiting with my friend Krista from Disneyways to grab a light meal.

Check out that view from the balcony by Kona!

We were greeted by Chef Kevin, who I have never met before. He was very friendly and helpful. Since he didn't know me, he didn't know I knew the "spiel" and most of the menu offerings, but I wanted to hear his take on things, so I sat back and listened. He told me a few items that would be easiest GF/DF. TheTeriyaki Style New York Strip is the best choice (personally, I don't eat steak so no go for me) and the Pan Asian Noodles were the second best choice (they use rice noodles for GF) and you get your choice of protein: tofu, chicken, shrimp. I thought about the noodle dish but then decided to ask if I could get sushi and a salad with protein added to it (this turned out NOT to be cost effective but more on that later).The sushi is made in-house and I've had it before, specifically the California Luau Roll. I decided I wanted that again (gotta love Cali Rolls that have no crab with a K!) which was still deemed safe. I'm sure they can make other rolls (blog readers have mentioned the cucumber roll), especially since the sushi folks from California Grill are currently over at Kona Island Sushi Bar! But, I stuck with the California Roll. I made sure to ask for GF soy sauce (that's important with sushi!!) and then I ordered the Kona Salad without the blue cheese. I realized later I should have opted for the Spinach Salad which sounded like it had more too it. Chef Kevin did say the Kona Salad was more plain...should have listened to him. I asked him if he could add some protein and I asked for shrimp.While we were waiting for our meals, Chef Kevin brought out the GNI rolls and some Earth Balance (and I didn't have to even ask for the EB--love that!). I will say, the rolls appeared to be heated well until I bit into one. This was the first time one was what I consider to be overheated meaning they were just a little tough/chewy. Well, you stick enough EB on it and it tasted ok to me.

GNI Brand Rolls & Earth Balance Vegan Margarine

I asked for both the salad and sushi to be served as an entree together. It was great to go back and forth between the two. It was also a nice light meal, which was much needed after a hot afternoon in the park--summer had officially arrived!The sushi was delicious as always. What I like about theirs is they use premium ingredients and I love the pineapple addition to the California Roll--it adds a nice bit of sweetness that marries well with the sweetness of the crab and the creaminess of the mayo and avocado. I also like the touch of sesame seeds on the outside. I admit, I'm not a big fan at all of fish roe and many California Rolls or sushi rolls in general have them, so I appreciate that it hasn't been added. I also love that I get GF soy sauce. Thank you San J Tamari! (that's the brand Kona uses) The sushi isn't the cheapest thing in the world $12.99 for the roll with 8 pieces. But it's also a great option as an appetizer or something to share.

California Luau Roll

My salad was good but it really seemed under-dressed--like a lot. It had a citrus vinaigrette but I'll be honest, I didn't taste it much. The smoked almonds in this salad were excellent (I picked through and ate a lot of them), the red onion was nice and the Asian pear was a delicate touch. It would actually be perfect with the blue cheese. The shrimp was very well cooked and very large. At least they weren't skimpy! They were nice although maybe in hindsight chicken would have played better with the ingredients in the salad.

Kona Salad with shrimp added on

I really should have gone for the Spinach Salad - with Heirloom tomatoes and duck prosciutto. It also had candied walnuts too. It came with a hoisin dressing which I did not clarify if I could have it or not (would need to be made with GF soy sauce) because I knew I didn't want to get it. But, maybe next time. The idea of duck prosciutto sounds interesting...

My dinner--love the cute chopsticks and the bowl behind the salad has the GF soy sauce in it!

Overall, I really enjoyed the dinner. It was a great light meal, perfect for summer. It also goes to show you that you can pick and choose and really make a meal out of various components rather just ordering an entree. The only downside was that I got upcharged for the protein - $7.00 so a salad & sushi cost $29 with tax and tip included. Had I ordered the noodle bowl, it would have been $16.99-$17.99 and around $20.00 with tax and tip. Whoops! I wouldn't do it all the time, but it was nice to have the option.I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10!

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop -- Snacks -- World Showcase -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Bonjour from the France Pavilion! I had the opportunity to check out L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop which just opened at the end of May 2013 in the France Pavilion at Epcot. I tend to avoid the France Pavilion as it has a reputation for being horribly unaccommodating for special diets, but I decided to give it a chance since it had been a while. As a writer over at Chip & Co., I reviewed this with my friend Krista from Disneyways, who thankfully was able to review it from a non-allergy perspective which was great. I was hoping that since they had sorbet, I'd at least be able to have one dessert option there (which wasn't necessarily the case). Here's what I discovered when I went.

Entrance

The Good:  First off, the setting is beautiful. I love the decor and the entire setting in the pavilion makes you feel like you are in France. The decor inside the shop is charming and so well done. Imagineers did a great job at paying attention to every detail--from the milk jar chandelier to the pitchers for milk--it was all perfect. The colors in the shop are gorgeous pastels, very soothing and make for a pleasant almost rustic environment. Also, there is a fair amount of space in there, which I can imagine with summer crowds will be much appreciated (especially since there's no indoor seating). If you don't have a food allergy this is a great new place to visit and one to make a new tradition.

What a cute chandelier!

Glass cases as you enter the shop

In terms of the desserts, I was happy to see that there were several flavors of sorbet: Strawberry, Mango, Melon, Lemon, Pomegranate, and Mixed Berries.

 When you want to get dessert, you have to go to a counter to pay per scoop (one or two at a whopping $3.99 to $6.10), then you go to another station to pick either a cup or cone and then your flavors. Weird. So, what I decided to do was go to the order station and ask about the sorbet. I explained that I can't have dairy or gluten and the cashier brought out an allergy book. (*Point of clarification. I asked the cast member if I could take photographs from the allergy binder) From there, I was able to look at the sheets. Unfortunately, I was only to get 2 very bad photos before I got yelled at to stop taking photos. Whoops! Just call me a gluten free/dairy free renegade!! Here are the two I was able to get:

Here's where things went downhill...The Bad:The cashier snatched the book from me, and yes I wasn't able to look at it again (there I am again with this GF/DF renegade thing!). *Point of clarification: this was a secondary cast member who took the binder from me. There were two cast members at the cash register area, as there are two point of sale machines. He explained to me that while the sorbet was technically dairy free, they use the same machines to make it. He said they wash it well, but that traces of dairy could still exist. Wait? What?! Seriously...after all the time to make this location, they couldn't be bothered to have a dedicated sorbet machine? Sighs... On top of that, some of the ice cream contains gluten in it (profiterole flavor has pretzels in it), so it's not even a 100% safe place if you're just GF. Double sighs...

Sorbets are located in the middle...

 And finally... The UGLY:Worse yet, they keep everything together in the front (sorbets are in the middle surrounded by all the dairy). When asked if they used dedicated spoons, they said no. They use the same spoons for everything and just dip them in water to clean them. I asked if they could use a fresh scoop and fresh batch of sorbet from the back to serve to me. This did not go well. The server literally argued with me for many minutes and told me it didn't matter it was all the same. Holy smokes!! Way to exceed my customer service expectations in France...yet again. :(

 And then I did something that I have no clue what possessed me to do (other than sheer blind judgement), I actually decided to try a scoop and see if another server would accommodate my request. Well, she did. Iwent for a flavor that I figured wasn't that popular--strawberry (people seemed to be going for the other flavors). And so I got my first and only scoop of sorbet at L'Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop.In terms of the taste, it was nothing special. It was good but the flavor wasn't out of this world. I will say it had great texture. Very smooth and creamy. So that was where the sorbet here would stand out. The other strange thing was that it sort of tasted freezer burnt. I asked Krista who got the profiterole ice cream and she said it didn't taste like that to her, so maybe it was my taste buds or just the sorbet.

Strawberry sorbet...

While I think this is a terrific place for guests without special diets, it's not the place to go if you are gluten or dairy free. In the beginning I thought maybe GF folks would be ok; however, I would avoid this place big time. If they use the same spoons and argue about getting fresh scoops from the back, it's not worth it. Trust me. If you have a dairy allergy do not waste your time here. Thank goodness my dairy issues are less about an allergy and more about an autoimmune response with Crohn's because I would have been in serious trouble. On top of everything, the CMs were extremely rude and unaccommodating here. They were perfectly lovely to people without special dietary needs but really not very nice to me.Save your time, money, and effort and go to someplace Disney owned where you can get terrific desserts and safe ones too. The Sanaa raspberry mint sorbet and the strawberry / mango sorbet from Brown Derby blow this sorbet out of the water. Yes, it's a great addition to Epcot but it's just not a great place for folks with special needs.While I can't really recommend this location for special dietary needs, I will say (despite the rotten service), I had a terrific time with Krista. We felt like we were in Paris strolling through the streets and enjoying an afternoon snack. We had a blast but that was only because I enjoyed hanging out with a friend and didn't let the crummy allergy accommodation ruin my time (besides I had sushi that night, so I didn't miss out on enjoying great food!). Overall though, I give this a big fat 2 out of 10 for special diets.