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

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

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

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

Look at all those Mickey waffles!

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

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

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

 There's nothing quite like a beignet. Deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, they are truly a decadent treat for breakfast and a great dessert in the evening. For many guests with a special diet, these treats have been a no-go but at WDW and specifically at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter this has become a reality! They have become one of my most favorite sweet treats on property!You may recall that a reader tipped me off to these delicious beignets a while back, and I was finally able to check them out (you can read the first review HERE). When I went, I had to contact the WDW Special Diets Department well in advance to make sure they had these on hand. As it turns out, they've become so popular that now you don't need to call in advance--just head on over to Port Orleans French Quarter, grab yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy these treats! Chef Tony and the rest of the culinary team at POFQ have now made these an everyday occurrence, so you are sure to be able to enjoy no matter when you go! This just makes me so excited because now make an impromptu visit whenever I'm craving beignets.On this particular occasion, I stopped by before making the trek back home to get some beignets for the road (well, more before the road...they didn't make it out of the restaurant). My family hadn't tried them either, so it was a great time to see what they thought. The ordering couldn't have been simpler. I just walked up to the counter that makes beignets and asked for them specifically. The cast member went back and got the chef. Chef Paul came out to assist me, and Chef Tony also popped out to chat quickly. He mentioned that they have tweaked recipe for the beignets just slightly (replacing some of the water with club soda, etc.). I really love that they are striving to make things better for those of us with special diets. It's just another example of the magical Disney touch! We also talked about how much of the menu can be easily made GF, so that's excellent news! I totally want to stop by and grab lunch or dinner here soon!Once we got our beignets (which really didn't take long at all--maybe 5-10 minutes), we headed over to dig in! I will say, I could tell immediately that they had modified the recipe some because they were much puffier than the last ones I had.

I never saw a GF/DF beignet I did not love!

Anything smothered in powdered sugar makes me happy!

And let me tell you, I didn't think they could make these beignets any better, but they did! I will say that they chewiness that the previous version had is literally gone. These are much lighter and fluffier and well...just delicious! The texture has definitely hit the beignet texture that I remember from the glutenous ones. And my family really enjoyed these! Let's put it this way, I think they finished theirs before I did!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Chef Tony & the rest of the culinary team at Port Orleans French Quarter. The time, dedication and care they have put into these beignets are so evident. And the fact that you can now get them anytime, just like you can allergy Mickey waffles, is just amazing to me! I'm thinking of hosting a breakfast meetup in the next few months here! It will be a beignet bonanza!To me, the beignets on this trip were 9 out of 10--my only complaint? I should have ordered more!! Thanks again to Chef Tony and all at Port Orleans French Quarter for making these delicious treats available to those of us who normally can't have things like this!Have you tried the special diets beignets at POFQ? Do you love them as much as I do?

Contempo Cafe -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Contemporary

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

 The Contemporary to me is classic Disney. It's really an iconic resort and truly gives you a feel of nostalgia. With the monorail whizzing through the resort, it's hard not to love everything about the Contemporary. Their quick service location, Contempo Cafe is right in the center of it all. It's located near the monorail station and directly next to Chef Mickey's. In general, it's a great quick service spot to grab a quick bite for special diets.

 On this particular visit, my family and I grabbed breakfast here before heading to the Magic Kingdom. Now you know I'm a big fan of table service breakfast, but I will say that quick service can be really quick and efficient. I adore the Mara for example (see review HERE); it's probably my hands down favorite quick service breakfast spot. Contempo Cafe offers a hearty breakfast, though perhaps not quite as good as others. It's not bad if you're at the Contemporary though.When you order with a special diet here at the Contempo Cafe, you head to the pick-up station, which is rather small. Check with a cast member and explain that you have a dietary need. For me, I usually have a good idea what I want here, but it's always good to check with the cast members. The manager met me and she was fairly new (she just moved from Michigan, my home-state, less than 2 months ago), so she wasn't completely sure of everything and had to check. I told her I wanted the bounty platter because I could get allergy Mickey waffles (my weakness!). The eggs she said are usually dairy free (scrambled eggs that is) and that the potatoes and other items except the biscuit would be OK as well. So I waited and checked out the restaurant. It was quite busy!

Dining area--I love the view of the artwork

I also noticed while waiting that Rapid Fill (the new refillable mug program) was installed and available for purchase, though it didn't look like the machines were actually working like they were supposed to yet (i.e. they were installed and you could use them but they weren't fully functioning). I also noticed that Rapid Fill is only on the soda machines, not coffee and tea.

 Finally my food was ready, and I went to pick it up. I noticed right away that there was a nice "hidden" Mickey on my lid. Can you spot it?

No so hidden Mickey!

Most of my breakfast was just fine. I liked the eggs, but they were nothing to write home about. The bacon was also good. The turkey sausage...not my cup of tea. I found it too spicy and really thin and weird tasting. I think I recall not liking this before, but it had been so long I thought maybe they had changed it. The potatoes are the exact same ones next door at Chef Mickey's--a little spicy though! Now the Mickey waffles...uggg...this was a fail. 1) They used straight Namaste which to me doesn't taste as good and 2) they didn't cook them all the way through. They were a gummy, nasty mess. Also, the only syrup they had was the corn syrup based kind and not the real maple syrup. Yuck!! I can handle that if the Mickey waffles are at least good to begin with. But both? No thank you.

Next time I will head to the Mara!

Overall, I feel sort of so-so about this breakfast. Some things were good and others, just mediocre at best. Those Mickey waffles were cold and gummy. Not the way I envision my beloved allergy Mickey waffles! Right now, I think I'd skip this for breakfast unless I was staying at the Contemporary (and even then I might think of other options). I'm giving this a 6 out of 10. Just so-so.

Roaring Forks -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Wilderness Lodge Lobby--One of my favorite resorts!

Anytime you visit the Wilderness Lodge, you're bound to experience the joys of this resort and really feel like you're transported to a turn-of-the-century national park lodge at the Grand Canyon. Every dining experience gives you that feeling from Whispering Canyon Cafe with its family style meals to the grandeur of Artist Point and its Arts & Crafts movement inspiration. Roaring Forks is the quick service location at the resort, and you will feel like you're saddling up for a day of exploring after you fuel here for a meal. Each time I've been I've been pleasantly surprised by the special diets offerings.On this particular occasion, we stopped by to grab a late lunch/early dinner. It was actually quite bustling in the restaurant which was surprising at 2:30 p.m. We'd spent the day in the Magic Kingdom, so it was a nice place to take a break and rest from it the busy day. I love that going to the lodge makes you feel completely removed from the theme parks. In fact, I spent my 30th birthday week here and it's one of my favorite places to relax!

Self portrait while relaxing in the big chairs in the lobby

Roaring Forks is located near the pool area of the resort (if you see Artist Point keep going down the long corridor and turn left). It's a bit of a tiny quick service location with a small ordering and dining area. It gets really busy in the mornings!

 I will say that the menu isn't super big for this location, so we didn't have a ton to choose from overall, but there were a few good choices. I am a big fan of the Wilderness Salad which comes with grilled chicken, walnuts (plain, not candied), diced apples, and an apple vinaigrette. It also has cheese and croutons but can be easily made GF/DF without them. So, I knew I wanted to get the salad. We also decided to try the Grilled Pacific Northwest Chicken Sandwich which sounded intriguing. It's grilled chicken, Canadian bacon, wilderness sauce (which I assumed was not safe) and cheese (omitted for me) and fries.When I got up to the ordering station, I asked for a manager who came out and spoke with me. He said both of these options would be good and the salad was very easy. He then asked what kind of bun I wanted. I was surprised and delighted to hear that they carry both Udi's AND GNI buns! See that's what I'm talking about--carry both; this is a win-win for guests and the kitchen! I prefer the Udi's since I can have egg, so I asked for an Udi's bun. It was nice to know though that they would ask my preference and carry both. Love that! The manager said he'd have to check the Wilderness Sauce ingredients. While I waited, I looked around and checked out some of the great authentic decor.

Part of the Ordering Area

And the other part--very small!

Who's ready to go exploring?

I will say that this manager was very conscientious. He had the cast member assisting him make my salad in a completely separate area with clean dishes, utensils and gloves (it was open so I watched). They opened everything fresh and not at the salad station. The manager prepared my sandwich in the back as well. He came out and showed me the ingredients for the Wilderness Sauce (which is a concoction of mayo, cranberry sauce, mustard, etc.) which looked say to me based on the ingredients. It did say that it contained egg and soy.Then it was off to the dining room to dig in. The family split the meals because we'd eaten at Columbia Harbour House earlier for the allergy friendly chicken tenders! First up was the salad. This was the big hit. My mom said she loved this and would get it again. I also really enjoy this salad. It's fresh, crisp, tasty and great on a hot day. And huge! You get a ton of food.

 Then it was onto the chicken sandwich. I'm gonna say this was OK but a little weird. I liked the chicken. I liked the Canadian bacon and I liked the Udi's bun. But the Wilderness Sauce?! That just seemed weird for the dish. Maybe the cheese would have given it more of a complete dish vibe. We had the sauce on the side--it was good to dip fries in! lol I'm not sure the chicken sandwich would be my top choice but it wasn't terrible either. I'd get the salad over the sandwich hands down.

Wilderness Sauce

Overall, I'd give this location a 7 out of 10. Not quite as many options as I would like but what they did have was nice. They were also very accommodating. The manager even came out to our table in the dining room to make sure it was all OK and that I liked the food. I really appreciated that, and it's nice to see that he was so diligent and wanted to make sure I was satisfied and comfortable with the food. Definitely someplace I'd go back to, especially if I were staying at the lodge!

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

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

Inside Restaurant Marrakesh

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

Live entertainment at the restaurant. Traditional music & belly dancing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Artist's Palette -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Saratoga Springs

*This dining experience took place in August 2013.

Busy ordering area in Artist's Palette

Nestled far in the back of Saratoga Springs lies Artist's Palette, the quick service location for this resort. Inspired by the actual Saratoga Springs, this location offers a lot of "standard" old New York State flair. You'll of course find Saratoga Chips (or just regular potato chips essentially) with all of the meals. As a quick service location, I was interested in trying many of their sandwiches which sounded both delicious and easily made GF/DF.If you have never been to this resort, Artist's Palette seems like a weird location. It's sort of in the back, as is Turf Club Bar & Grill (which I love as a GF/DF dinner option). I always feel like I'm parking out of the way and find it very hidden. If you know where the boat docks are at this location, then you are fairly familiar with the restuarant locations. The first thing you'll notice about Artist's Palette is that it's small. I mean small. Tiny compared to most other quick service locations. There is limited seating inside & some outside. There's also an alcove by Turf Club that can be used as additional seating which is where I ended up. Lovely actually but kind of out of the way (we'll get to why in a minute).

Formal, yet informal eating area

When I got to the ordering station, I noticed there is one main line. Yikes! That means it's hard to navigate for starters and also a big difficult with a special diet. I basically waited in long line, so I could wait some more for a chef. But, that's something good to know if you are dining there. Off-hours are probably less difficult. There are a lot of different types of sandwiches here and I was sort of eyeing:Italian Hoagie - Salami, Mortadella, Ham, Provolone, Mixed Greens, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Red Onions, Pepperoncini, and Black Olives on a grilled Ciabatta Roll with House-made Chips or Vegetable SlawLobster Club Sandwich - Lobster Salad, Smoked Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Lemon Mayonnaise with House-made Chips or Vegetable SlawI figured that either one might be able to be easily modified GF/DF. I was leaning towards the Lobster Club because I'd been craving one since I went to Columbia Harbour House and they mentioned that the lobster salad there was safe (just no bun options!). When the chef came out, she seemed a bit ambivalent. She was like, "We can make you flatbreads." Really, I was not in the mood for a flatbread and let her know the sandwiches I was looking at. I told her that the lobster club sounded really good. She said they had Udi's on hand and that they could give me potato chips but not house-made ones. She really wanted to push me along, so I didn't get much out of her in terms of other options. But, I can imagine with the right kind of chef here, you could get a fair amount of interesting choices.Once I ordered, I was given a pager, which all guests are. You also get a number placard, this way servers can bring the food to you. I thought this was a very interesting route. I thought it was especially interesting because I couldn't find a seat in the main room and had to go way down the hall to Turf Club. I was like, "um how are they going to find me?" and a cast member assured me it would be fine. However, I ended up coming back up to the front because I was nervous they wouldn't find me. Thankfully, this worked out ok because the cast member brought my food out fairly quickly. I was glad to see it marked "Allergy" on the box so that cast members were aware this was a special diets meal.

 Once I got settled, I opened up my box. And I was surprised to see not one but two sandwiches. That was a surprise! Holy smokes! I also have a really big bag of pre-packaged chips, as they house-made chips were not safe. This was definitely going to be a lot of food.

Not what I was expecting!

I have to say that this sandwich...or should I say sandwiches were not was I was expecting. I expected something a little lighter and a little more lobstery (in taste not necessarily portion). What I found was that the flavor you tasted the most was Old Bay Seasoning. Don't get me wrong, I like Old Bay (and it's GF!) but it really overpowers and this was almost a little too much. I found that had they just used a little it would have gone a long way. I mean, I really couldn't taste lemon mayonnaise. Overall, though I did like it. And two sandwiches was a lot. I def. was full. The one disappointment was that they couldn't make the chips GF/DF. Or at least some fries. It may be that they can do the fries but I wasn't able to get them because of the chef interaction. Either way, the chip option was just OK.

 Overall, I wasn't wowed by my lobster club sandwich, but I didn't hate it either. I think if I were to visit this location again that I would probably go during an off time. I'd give this a 6 out of 10. Lackluster food & so-so service and accommodation.

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

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

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

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

her response:

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading, Julie! 

 

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

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in August 2013.

Kouzzina menus

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

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

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

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

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

Mickey waffles - YUM!

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

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

Pepper Market -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Coronado Springs

*This dining experience took place in August 2013.

Entrance to Pepper Market

Coronado Springs has always been one of those resorts that I haven't spent much time in. This visit, I checked out Pepper Market which is the quick service location at this resort. This is a non-Disney owned restaurant and run by the same company that owns & operates La Cantina & La Hacienda de San Angel. While the theming proved to be quite nice in this location, the gluten free & dairy free accommodations were less than stellar. In fact, this proved to be a restaurant that I will not go back to again.When we arrived at this location, we noticed that it is set up very differently than other quick service locations (which I did know about ahead of time). You are seated by a hostess at a table where you have an actual server. You are given "menus" which give you an idea of dishes available and a ticket sheet for you to get stamped (a bit like a passport). Our server, who was the bright spot of this dismal meal, came over and cheerfully greeted us. She went over the restaurant concept, telling us that we go to the station we want. Choose the items we want. Get our passport stamped and then pay at the end like you would at a table service location (including gratuity). I told her that I had special diets and would need to speak with a chef or manager.

You take this ticket to the kiosks & get it stamped based on what you order. Um, weird.

Once the chef came over, he talked to me briefly about the options. Basically, he told me I could have nachos with no cheese and my choice of the beef, pork or chicken. I could also have a "deconstructed" burrito with corn tortillas, the same proteins, beans, and the rice pilaf because the Spanish rice contained wheat. I could also have the carved roast of the day (which was something beef), fresh fish, or burgers with no buns. They said they had a fryer that they could use that was cross contaminated. It seemed like I had fairly limited choices. The chef also didn't seem too thrilled with helping out. In fact, he pretty much took off once we went to the stations. I told him I wanted the "deconstructed" burrito with chicken. He went and got rice and had the cast member at the station take care of the rest.

 One of the things that he told me I could have was all the toppings were OK (guacamole, salsas, etc.) but as you know they are not great for cross contamination!

Cleaner than most fixins' bars but there was cheese in most of the condiments

I really wanted guacamole, but it had cheese all in it. So, I asked for that and some salsa verde (as with cheese in it). They weren't too thrilled about getting it but they did from the back. One of the things I noticed while waiting was how "pre-packaged" everything looked.

I thought the green sauce with meat was chicken but it was pork. Also, yuck to the nacho cheese!

Once I got my food I went back to sit down. I will say that the restaurant itself is nice and open and spacious.

 Then we got to my food. Blech. This didn't look that appealing to begin with. Maybe it was just me. You be the judge.

 In general, I just thought it didn't taste very good. It was 1) very bland and 2) very pre-packaged "out of the box" tasting. Even the guacamole tasted like that. The chicken was rubbery & bland. The rice was so plain. The guacamole was watery and barely seasoned. The beans were just blah. And the veggies were not fully cooked as they should be for fajitas. The corn shells were also griddled but as you can see don't really looked griddled.

Close-up of my meal

I didn't take a pic of the salsa verde but it was horrible. I love salsa verde & I barely at any of this. It was just a bummer overall. I would have rather have eaten at Chipotle any old day over this. This was bar none the worst Mexican food I've had on property or anywhere for that matter in a long time. Just boring and unappetizing. :(I was so shocked that the company that runs La Cantina & La Hacienda would run this. I love La Hacienda (La Catina is good but I'm sad they have no safe tortilla chips anymore). Just crazy! Perhaps Maya Grill next door has better quality food but overall I found this very unappealing. I mean, honestly, I can handle less than stellar experiences if the food is decent but this was just nasty.I'm not planning on going back any day soon, and I certainly can't recommend it to anyone in good conscience. Yuck, yuck and double yuck. This may officially be my least favorite place on Disney property (that I've eaten at).Overall, I'm giving this a big fat 3 out of 10. The only reason it gets a 3 for me is because our server was so nice & they at least had a few GF options (mind you not tasty ones). Unfortunately, I was just not a fan of this place.

ABC Commissary -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in August 2013.

You'll feel like you're on a movie lot

If you ever wondered what it might be like to eat on a movie lot's commissary, ABC Commissary located in Disney's Hollywood Studios gives you a peek into that experience. In fact, you'd expect your favorite tv & movie stars to be seated next to you, grabbing lunch in between takes! ABC Commissary offers fairly standard quick service fare at WDW but also easily accommodates gluten free & dairy free diners.When I arrived at this location, I knew that I wanted the allergy friendly chicken tenders and French fries, having eaten them here before. I also knew that they had a dedicated fryer, so that I could have them fried, not baked (which also cuts the waiting time by half). I recalled that there were several other options as well, though they were fairly standard. I will say that the Studios were very busy that day and even though it was 2:30 p.m. It took a while in line, particularly because my line had one very annoying party that couldn't decide what they wanted to eat (side note, as a courtesy I always recommend you have a good idea of what you want to eat because it streamlines the process for everyone involved not just your family!). Though, I suppose it gave me a good opportunity to look at the decor of ABC Commissary. I will say, I do love the trees inside the restaurant. It just adds a little extra touch (I do however think they need to rethink the covers for the trees, because I tripped on a couple of them!).

You can tell everyone is hot & tired. You can catch a glimpse of those palm trees though!

Once I met with the manager, she asked about my special dietary needs. It was really interesting because she actually asked when I said gluten & dairy, if they were allergies, Celiac disease or intolerances. On the one hand, I really loved that she asked this. I hate saying "I have allergies" when I have gluten and dairy intolerance. On the other hand, her tone indicated to me that she didn't seem to think intolerances were as valid as Celiac disease or a dairy allergy. That is frustrating to me, particularly as I react quite severely to gluten &amp my dairy reactions are also quite unpleasant and similar to an allergic reaction (I get scratchy throat, migraines, etc.). So, it was interesting to have this discussion with a CM. I do think it's nice to have people ask about what it is, on the other hand, I don't want that to mean that they take it less seriously, if that makes sense. But in any event, we went through the typical procedure where she wrote up the special diets on the yellow notepad that many QS diners will recognize. She also went through the binder with me. She mentioned that I could have a variation of the Chicken Blue sandwich (sort of a buffalo chicken sandwich, which had been offered to me on previous occasions) and a hamburger minus the cheese. I decline and opted for the allergy-friendly chicken tenders. She also showed me the ingredients. I didn't grab a picture but for those that recently asked, the brand is Allergy Free Foods (check out their website HERE) and the tenders were rice flour, tapioca flour based. She gave me a pager and I was off to grab a seat and wait.Once the pager went off, I ran back up to the counter and met the manager who brought out my chicken tenders. Then it was time to dig in!!

Yum! My fav!

I will say that the chicken tenders, despite the fact that they use the same brand, are different depending on the location. I think it's how they fry them. I don't know what Columbia Harbour House does but those things are soooo addicting there. It's almost like they double-fry them or fry them for a specific time that gets them really crispy. These were good but really could have used a couple more minutes in the fryer in terms of crispiness. Still tasty, yes. Crispy...eh, not so much. The french fries were good as usual, nothing too special about regular Disney fries.I like that I have a few options here. I also love that it's air conditioned which was a huge selling point in August (my other choice was Backlot Express and it is not air conditioned). I like that I can get the allergy friendly chicken tenders here. I just wish they had a few more options. Overall, I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this experience.

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!