4/15/14 4/15/14

Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in October 2013 and includes a gluten free & vegan dining review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. This review includes my comments, as well as comments from Laurie Sadowski, the Allergy-Free Cook, who accompanied me on this meal! Laurie's comments are in green! Kouzzina is one of those locations that I often visit for breakfast. I really enjoy the Mediterranean inspired food, and they have some of the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (the key is the crispiness)! But believe it or not, I had never dined there for dinner. So, you can imagine how excited I was to finally be heading to Kouzzina for dinner. During the special diets dessert party weekend, I got the chance to enjoy a celebratory meal with fellow dessert party weekend collaborator, Laurie Sadowski. I knew that Kouzzina was one of her favorite places, so it was exciting for me to dine there with her and enjoy some of the dinner recommendations that she had.Wait a moment here… One of my favourite places? Definitely my favourite! (So sad to hear about this closing, though - see post on the closing HERE). But the key is in the chefs—in the process of dining many (many) times here, I’ve become friends with a couple of the chefs, and even when they’ve moved on, I still get those Mediterranean-inspired meal. The highlight of my nights here definitely have included the multi-multi-course dinners, including the Koranation Room (IE Chef’s Table). Alas, onto the review!Laurie had contacted the restaurant prior to our visit, as Laurie is gluten free & vegan. She is definitely a Kouzzina pro, but it’s always good to double-check as restaurants frequently change menu items. When we arrived, we were greeted by the enthusiastic Chef Miguel. I instantly recognized him as a chef I’d seen briefly at Kona, but he’s based at Kouzzina now. He quickly let us know what options were available for us and was ready to make our meal extra special.Chef Miguel and I had been in contact via email, and I set out a couple of requests. Certainly nothing over the top—just a few things that I’d enjoyed in the past with when dining with my mom at Kouzzina. His responses via email were friendly and easy-going, so I knew a fantastic meal was to come.First up was the appetizer. Holy moly! Laurie & I split the Kouzzina Sampler which includes marinated olives, dolmades, tzatziki (which we had replaced with an eggplant spread) hummus and pita (which was replaced by Ener-G rolls jazzed up—more on this in a minute!). It also normally comes with a choice of two of the following: Spicy Gulf Prawns, Greek Lamb Meatballs in sauce, or Pork Souvlaki. What we ended up having was sweet cipolini onions for Laurie and spicy gulf prawns on the side for me. This was an amazing appetizer I have to say. The dolmades were a huge hit – so flavorful and had a terrific dill flavor. We liked them so much we ordered another order of them!Mom and I always get the Kouzzina sampler, so I’m glad that Sarah obliged when I told her this was a must-have! Dolmades are a long-standing favourite of mine, and among the many I’ve tried in my life, Kouzzina’s are my favourite. I’m not sure if they have a specific sous-chef on Dolmade duty, but each time I’ve gone, they’ve been consistently wonderful—never a stray dill piece, loose grape leaf, or mushy rice in sight. And for those who’ve ever bought dolmades in the store (which are often in a mixture of olive oil and soy oil), these are completely soy-free, if you’re a soy-free diner.The platter also included cardamom-spiced cashews, which I can’t lie – I’ve been recreating ever since. I also got a glass of wine, and although it took awhile to hunt down one completely casein-free (and vegan) on Barnivore, I finally found one and it definitely fulfilled my merlot love.The marinated olives were also quite delicious, and the hummus was unique as they don’t use tahini in it. It was nice to try a different version of hummus. I also really adored the eggplant spread. It was spicy and earthy and just plain delicious.The eggplant spread was (and still is) my favourite of the dips. For those familiar with babaghanouj, it’s not the same at all. Instead, it is slightly acidic with a hint of smokiness, but a little sweeter from (likely) slow roasting the eggplants. Really smooth, and not much garlic, too—a plus for me.There were also some spiced nuts on our appetizer plate and those were amazing. So many spices, both sweet & spicy really complemented the nuts.Yes! So good.I also really loved the shrimp and found the charred grill flavor to be just perfect.My onion skewers were done similarly the shrimp; Chef Miguel said he didn’t want me to be “without my own”. If you’re not familiar, cippolini onions are super naturally sweet, so they harbour their own dominance of flavor without needing much else to round it out.And then there were those Ener-G rolls. I don’t know what they did to these—call it Disney magic if you will—but they were awesome! Garlicky and delicious, almost like a garlic round. Perfect for spreads and dips. We may have asked for more……And more. Previously at Kouzzina, the chefs have always thinly sliced the rolls, spread them with olive oil and Mediterranean herbs, then toasted them… so really, wouldn’t you have pre-requested that, too?For my entrée, I chose the Fisherman's Stew, which came with Scallops, seasonal Fish, Shellfish, Fennel, Grilled Bread, and Ouzo Butter. Chef Miguel replaced the Ouzo “butter” with Earth Balance. I had heard such great recommendations on this dish, both from Laurie’s mom & blog reader Linda T., so I was very excited to try it. I had heard it might be spicy, but I didn’t find it to be spicy really for my tastes (maybe I was still used to the high spice from the Goan Curry at Sanaa!). But, it was extremely flavorful. The seafood was perfectly cooked and the broth was well seasoned. Instead of regular bread, I got more of those delicious Ener-G rounds. Um, double yum!Mom has definitely been a fan of the stew on multiple occasions, and knowing what Sarah loves, I was pretty certain she’d love it.Chef Miguel put together a vegan sampler platter for me. Some of it included side dishes or variations of side dishes from the current menu, and other things were specially created. One of the “special” items was a white corn polenta, made with sandlewood corn, fresh oregano, and topped with a peppadew relish. Beside it was a menu mainstay: Brussels sprouts with capers, then finished with a splash of balsamic. Another one of my top dishes made the platter: those oh-so-coveted gigantes beans with sautéed escarole and a lemon oil sauce. Definitely had the rosemary fingerlings, and I also had a sauté of briami (it was currently on the menu), which was finished with a rosemary truffle oil. And because I have an appetite of gargantuan proportions, I also had another side order of dolmades.And just when we thought we couldn’t eat any more…it was time for dessert!“We” thought? I’m a bottomless pit over here! :)Chef Miguel had the pastry department whip up something special for us. We both got a coconut milk rice pudding with pistachio crumble and a spiced apple sorbet. First off, the presentation was gorgeous. It really reflected seasonality and just was so delicate in its presentation. Surprisingly, the rice pudding was not hot, it was cold. Which sounds strange. But, it was just perfect. The rice pudding was so flavorful and tasty, it could have been hot or cold and it would have been delicious. The pistachio crumble below the pudding was exactly what the dish needed for texture. Wow! I also really, really loved the apple cider sorbet. It was completely refreshing and truly a palate cleanser which worked really well given the rest of the meal. Plus, how often do you get to have sorbet that isn’t some traditional fruit flavor like strawberry, raspberry, and mango? So delicious!Like Sarah said, we got a special dessert. I hadn’t asked for anything out of the ordinary in the email, but did ask if we could have something other than the “usual” allergy-free desserts. I really enjoyed the rice pudding—something I do normally love, but much prefer warm (I prefer pretty much all desserts warm!). But it was so good, and the spice of the crumble—like Sarah mentions—was a perfect topping.The sorbet was really good, but not really my thing… however, this is coming from someone who isn’t keen on sorbet and has a pretty strong distaste for apple juice. That being said, there was a hint of spice and, topped on the pudding, it rounded it out into something good. We also had a drizzle of a lovely raspberry syrup, which cut the sweetness of the rest of the dessert. And don’t get me wrong about the sorbet…I mean, I still ate it (not surprisingly)!Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Chef Miguel and the meal that we enjoyed at Kouzzina. Not only was it delicious but the flavor profiles were really terrific. There was a lot of depth of flavor in simple dishes. I liked it so much that I ended up making an ADR to go back with my family! I’m so glad Laurie suggested that we head to Kouzzina for dinner!There was no other option. Just kidding!It was the perfect way to end a wonderful weekend celebrating special diets. This was a hands down 10 out of 10 for me on this visit!

4/13/14 4/13/14

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

*This dining experience took place in October 2013 and includes a gluten free & vegan dining review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. This review includes my comments, as well as comments from Laurie Sadowski, the Allergy-Free Cook, who accompanied me on this meal! Laurie's comments are in green! Ah Sanaa… This continues to be one of my hands down favorite restaurants on property. I adore the Indian & African inspired flavors and the variety in which I can get as a gluten free & dairy free diner. I don’t think I could ever get bored eating at this restaurant! Located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, this restaurant is often seen as a “hidden gem,” which always surprises me given it’s wonderful food, service, and location. But then again, it is off-the-beaten-path if you don’t have a car or don’t want to resort hop. For me, I will always go out of my way to visit Sanaa.On this particular occasion, I was lucky enough to be heading to dinner with my friend and food allergy cookbook author, Laurie Sadowski. If you attended the dessert party weekend festivities, you’ll likely met Laurie! This was a great place for us to relax and enjoy a meal as we prepped for the weekend festivities.Before we visited this location, I contacted Chef Trish ahead of time, not only to see if she was going to be on-duty that night, but also to check in with her on options for Laurie & I that might be slightly “off the menu.” Normally, I don’t do this, but this was a special occasion, and we were really looking forward to the meal. Laurie jokingly mentioned samosas (which are definitely not gluten free) to Chef Trish, and little did we know we would be in for a treat when we arrived.I, too, love Sanaa, and my top dish there is their tomato soup. When Sarah and I were choosing our weekend restaurants, we decided to each pick our favourites, and I was happy to oblige when I discovered Sanaa is hers.Our server was Brenda, and she’s taken care of my tables in the past. She’s always very good and knowledgeable. Chef Trish came out to greet us, and boy was she prepared for us! She had decided to make something special - a gluten free & vegan version of a “samosa.” Instead of a pastry dough, she created a pastry type coating out of quinoa which she ground and left some coarse to provide texture. Inside were potatoes & peas. Then she lightly fried them in a pan and garnished with a mint chutney and tamarind sauce (which normally is not GF but was for us!) and a mango chutney along with micro-greens. Though the texture wasn’t really samosa like, the taste profiles were nice & very samosa reminiscent.The tamarind sauce had a lovely flavor to it, with a hint of coriander spice, it had fresh cilantro and mint, a squeeze of lemon and lime and was finished with coconut milk. The samosa, topped on the same had flavors that were good, though more of a quinoa patty, rather than the pastry. It was fried in a Tunisian olive oil, which was a nice way to complement it as a whole. Topped on it was the mango chutney, which included creamed papaya, achar spice, and the microgreens. Big, big fan of this. The balance of flavors with the spice of the samosa and the creamy tamarind sauce was spot on.Believe it or not, I’d never had the tomato soup at Sanaa -- one thing that surprises most people, especially since they have a reputation for making wonderful soups (my mom says the tomato soup here is the best tomato soup she’s ever had!).My mom and I will second this!Chef Trish made a nice option for me, a gluten free & dairy free tomato soup made creamy with coconut milk. YUM! This was amazing. It had a nice coconut foam on top and was topped with arugula which is a nice peppery green. There was a lot of depth of flavor to this, and this was easily one of the best soups I’ve ever had GF/DF or not! I also got the chance to try out Laurie’s version of the tomato soup which had no coconut milk in it and spinach. This was also divine, though I admit, I preferred the coconut milk version (I’m a sucker for coconut milk).The version that I had is the one that I always get, and my top favourite. The traditional tomato soup on the menu contains slow-slow-slow (as in multi-day) cooked tomatoes, which gives it the richest flavor. It generally includes paneer (cheese), which isn’t dairy free, but the same base is used for the dairy-free (as well as soy-free and vegan) version on the menu, with spinach instead. I could eat my life in this!Laurie & I also shared the bread service with lentil pappadum and several dipping sauces. We picked the coriander chutney, red bell pepper hummus, and mango chutney. All three are my hands down favorite dipping sauces. Of course, at this point I was feeling very full, but we hadn’t even received our entrees yet!Full? What’s that?For my entree choices, I ordered the Goan Fish Curry and Chef Trish said she could re-create my favorite dish Green Curry Shrimp which is no longer on the Sanaa menu. I was so excited that she could re-create it!The green curry shrimp was very close to the version that used to be on the menu. It wasn’t quite as spicy (which wasn’t very spicy at all to be fair) as the original, but the flavor profile was very close. Next up was the Goan Fish Curry. It featured mahi mahi which is a nice firm fish and worked perfectly with the goan curry. Fair warning, this was spicy! And I mean spicy! I think it was almost more spicy for me than the Durban chicken. Yikes!! I enjoyed the flavors, but spice intensity wise, it was a bit much for me. I ended up picking out the fish and eating the fish with rice just because the sauce was a little too much on the spice scale. I would go with the Durban chicken next time.Sarah was sweatin’ a little, but definitely talking about how good the dish was. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it! Too bad we can’t have that milk and white bread to mop up the intensity. Thank goodness for rice!My entrée was done off the cuff, which is my favourite way to dine at Disney World. I didn’t want to have the sampler—I’ve had it in the past many times, since it’s pretty much the only option—so Chef Trish put together a mash-up of other things that were on the menu.The appetizers on the menu included (not gluten-free) tikki chickpea cakes, and she made me a version of these. She asked if I liked the mango chutney from the appetizer (yes!) because she said the flavors went really well with what she had in mind. I ended up getting a version of the chickpea dish, sitting on a mango, papaya lime juice “sauce”. It was topped with a shaved fennel salad that included red onions and fresh cilantro.One nice thing I also ordered was the African Starr Mojito which was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. It was so refreshing and filled with fresh mint. This is perhaps now one of my favorite Disney World cocktails. I’ll definitely be ordering that again.By the time dessert came around, I was just way too full to order any. Though it was nice to see Laurie’s rice pudding that she got. It looked divine!Oh, and it was. It was a warm bamboo rice pudding, cooked to perfection, and topped with fresh berries. Nice and simple, both in presentation and flavor, but just the right amount.Overall, I very much enjoyed this meal. I was so stuffed by the end of it but everything was so flavorful and delicious that it was worth it. I can’t thank Chef Trish enough for providing that lovely samosa treat and the special soup. I would definitely request both of those again for a special occasion.I’d give this meal a solid 9 out of 10 for delicious food & terrific gluten free and dairy free options.

4/12/14 4/12/14

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

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.I love meeting up with Gluten Free Friends and even better...meeting up with friends and getting amazing food. I recently attended the Gluten-Free Living Conference in April and had the chance to share the Disney special diets love with several friends visiting from out-of-state.And you know we had to go to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. It's become a must-do to take my GF friends there whenever they visit the area. On this visit, I met up with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and she brought along our friends Jennifer from Gluten Free Go-To Guide and the one and only Jules from GF Jules.I arrived just a wee bit late for our morning beignet stop before the conference because I was at an earlier breakfast over at Olivia's (yes, this girl needs some extra protein in the morning or I would have been in a sugar coma). The nice part is that they had already ordered the beignets and were waiting for them to be done. Yep, these ladies were on a beignet mission!Chef Tony brought these out for us, and I loved seeing them in some updated packaging - a to-go box with the allergy pick placed in them. This is a really nice touch because it does help ensure that no kitchen mishaps occur. I always feel reassured when I see an allergy notification.I'm not gonna lie...we ordered a lot of beignets. And we devoured each and every one of these powdered sugar gems.One of the cool parts of this visit is that we got to check out the recipe for the beignets. I admit, I'm only slightly tempted to make them at home. I'm just glad I have a place where I can get these to order - no muss, no fuss! But, if I ever want to make them...the recipe is waiting for me.Alexis & I also took a picture with Chef Tony. Yep, he's a total rockstar in my book!Thanks again to Chef Tony & the team for always taking care of us. It was a lot of fun to share the beignet love with some gluten free friends and to share with them the amazing dedication to special diets that Disney has -- all while enjoying some delicious eats!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets?

4/7/14 4/7/14

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

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.When it comes to a relaxing destination on Disney property, Old Key West resort can’t be beat. It’s one of my favorite Disney resorts to “get away from it all.” I frequently find myself wanting to stay at this Disney Vacation Club resort just to relax and skip the parks. Whenever I visit, I’m immediately transported to Key West, Florida – with the low-key vibe and frequent sounds of Jimmy Buffet. Add in some terrific Key West inspired food from Olivia’s and your vacation is complete.On this particular occasion, I stopped by Olivia’s for breakfast during my weekend stay for the Gluten Free Living Conference held in Orlando. I knew that I had a busy day ahead of me, and I wanted a solid breakfast before I hit the expo and conference (and all the sweets that awaited me there).On the last visit to Olivia’s I had been pretty impressed with my breakfast – it had been the best one I’d had at the restaurant to date. I was looking forward to an equally good meal this time. I have to say that one of the things that I love about Olivia’s is that the cast members totally remember you here. Even though I’m not really a regular, they do seem to recognize familiar faces and address those guests by first name when they’ve been there a lot. I also really enjoy the atmosphere too. It’s very relaxed and casual. Our server this visit was Jerry, who has assisted us before. My family joined for coffee and some fresh fruit but didn’t order anything else because they had reservations that day at Kouzzina (lucky ducks). I wanted something different, and I was very curious about the sweet potato hash that was on the menu.Chef Paula who was a culinary intern, assisted me on this visit. I asked if the sweet potato hash entrée was safe, and she said it was – minus the hollandaise sauce. It was served with poached eggs (which I really love) and toast. I was able to get Udi’s white sandwich bread toast and Earth Balance vegan margarine with the hash. When I got my entrée, I have to say, it looked great. The hash has regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and ham in it. Now that’s my kind of hash! The poached eggs on top were cooked perfectly. I find that getting perfectly poached eggs is a bit of a gamble sometimes, so I was very pleased to have well poached eggs. If you’re an egg yolk kind of person like me, you know how important it is and how delicious runny egg yolk is over hash or any type of breakfast potato (and if you’re not an egg yolk fan, you don’t know what you’re missing!). The hash was outstanding. It was a little onion heavy, so if you’re not an onion person, you’ve been warned. But, I thought it balanced really well with the potatoes and ham. Add in the toast, and this was a very hearty breakfast. I’m going to say that this was officially my favorite breakfast item at Olivia’s. It was really excellent. Even minus the hollandaise, it was a great choice. I’m pretty sure this is what I’ll be ordering again next time. It was that good!If you get the chance to pop by Olivia’s, I would highly recommend it. The food tends to be a bit basic at breakfast time, but this sweet potato hash with poached eggs will knock your socks off! I give this visit a solid 8 out of 10 for an excellent entrée, great service and terrific atmosphere.Have you been to Olivia’s? What was your favorite item to order for breakfast?

3/20/14 3/20/14

Captain's Grille -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Yacht Club

*This dining experience took place in March 2014.Ahoy matey's! The nautical theme of Captain's Grille may make you want to say "Shiver me timbers" but you won't feel "out to sea" with the atmosphere and food offerings of this table service. Sure, I can't help myself with the sea-inspired references but really this is a nice option for guests looking for breakfast near the Epcot resort area.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for an early breakfast as we were headed to Epcot for the Flower & Garden Festival that day. We wanted to get a good meal in us before we spent the day touring. It's been a while since we've been to Captain's Grille, and I will say that it's not usually my first choice for a breakfast option. However, it sure fits the bill nicely when we go. I really love the quiet atmosphere here. It's always so calm and relaxing. One of my favorite things about it really.The restaurant has a breakfast buffet and also an a la carte option. I had the breakfast buffet back in January 2013 but this time I decided to just get something off the menu. The chef here was really eager and nice. He gave me some suggestions, and I decided to go for a custom omelet with ham, onions, and asparagus (one of my favorite veggies) along with some Udi's toast and Earth Balance. Nothing too crazy but filling and tasty.My toast was great as always. I gotta admit, I really love Udi's white sandwich bread. It's just homey and nostalgic for me. I also like the texture a lot - just reminds me of glutenous filled bread. The Earth Balance vegan margarine is my go-to. I use it at home and in all of my cooking & baking when it calls for butter. This stuff is amazing, and I'm always glad when a Disney restaurant carries it. Never underestimate the power of butter flavor!I have to say, I love it when I get breakfast potatoes that are just a bit different, and these definitely were. They included shredded potatoes, sweet potatoes (my favorite) and onions with salt and pepper. My only complaint was that the onions were a little raw but otherwise, these were really good. You can't screw up a breakfast potato that much in my opinion. The omelet would have been great except for two things: 1) It was overcooked and 2) they only gave me the ends of the asparagus.Overcooked eggs are a personal pet peeve and the omelet was too badly overcooked but enough that I could tell. The thing that was really disappointing was the asparagus. Who gives you asparagus with only the ends?! The tips are the best part! It's really a good thing I like asparagus because I could still eat my omelet missing tips or not. Note to self...ask about that next time.Overall, despite the weirdness with asparagus, I really enjoyed the breakfast. The combination of all of my breakfast options made it a really tasty meal. My family, who don't have special diets, really enjoyed both the buffet and the a la carte options. We all said we'd go back again as an alternative breakfast place. I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10 for good service, great atmosphere and decent offerings. I'd bump it up to an 8 if they gave me asparagus tips!! I also want to pop by here sometime for dinner, especially after hearing about their gluten free angel food cake!Have you dined at Captain's Grille? What did you think of this restaurant?

3/16/14 3/16/14

Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in March 2014. It includes my gluten free & dairy free review and a gluten free & yellow food coloring review. 'Tis the luck of the Irish that I had a chance to visit Raglan Road Irish Pub during the Mighty Festival celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Downtown Disney. Not only were the festivities really fun but it gave me an opportunity to enjoy one of my favorite restaurants at Disney.Raglan Road Irish Pub is known for their pub fare and especially for their gluten free offerings. In fact, they have continuously been voted one of the best places in Orlando for gluten free offerings. Their fish & chips are probably their most well-known gluten free dish, but they can easily make most of their fried options gluten free!On this particular occasion, I joined my friends for a meal to celebrate their birthdays. Having dietary needs as well, it worked out that they chose Raglan Road for the celebration. One thing we didn't realize though was that it was Mighty Festival in Downtown Disney and so that meant it was very busy. Add that together with the fact that Downtown Disney is under massive construction AND it was a Saturday. Well, it was nearly impossible to park here. Note to self. Do not drive to Downtown Disney any time soon.Once we got to Raglan Road though, we were able to quickly get in, despite the crowds. Of course, after all that parking and crowd navigating, a cold pint of Magners sounded perfect. I grabbed a pint of Magners Pear Cider which was newly added to the tap at Raglan Road. I'm a huge fan of the pear cider, so I was so glad to see it added. It's a little more mild and tart than the traditional hard cider and it's a nice variation. I would definitely recommend it. Ask your server for a small sample if you aren't sure you'll like it!After ordering drinks, we moved to appetizers and we split the gluten free onion rings. Super yummy as always. And even better if you ask for a side of the sweet chili jam. You know me and my dipping sauces! I gotta have them! My friends all really liked that pairing and said the onion rings definitely needed a sauce to go with them.I have to say that our server was probably the least on top of things Raglan Road server we've ever had. I'm not sure if it was just too busy or if he didn't feel comfortable with the menu but he didn't seem to be as adept at the gluten free offerings as most servers are there. My friend kept asking him questions and he really didn't seem to know (thankfully, I've dine there enough that I could sort of help navigate through the options). One thing the server did mention which I want to check the next time I go is that the calamari is the only gluten free fried dish that is not dairy free because they soak the calamari in buttermilk. He also said that the sausages can be made gluten free (no one's ever offered this so I'd like to check it out). If they are, I know what I'll be trying next time! Our friends got the regular version at the table and they all raved about them.For my main dish, I got the fish and chips. You know I can't resist them. Really no complaints here. They were just as good as they always are. And that tartar sauce. Oh that tartar sauce. I wish I could bottle it and take it home with me. It's so good.My friend go the Shepherd's Pie (which is not dairy free). And I have to say, I was surprised by the presentation. I expected something more homier looking. This was a bit "fancier" in terms of the presentation. Taste-wise two people at the table got the dish and both said it was just OK. Both agreed that the dish needed more sauce. So, it seems like this dish might just be mediocre. It's a shame because I've had some pretty stellar dishes (not just fried ones) here.While we waited for our entrees, we also took the chance to watch some of the Irish dancing. Wowie, those dancers are fast! It's really impressive to see these dancers on stage. I have several videos here that I took that night.[embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/NljlZR" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/sGoqLmgqWd8?fs=1" vars="ytid=sGoqLmgqWd8&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep3056" /] [embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/NljWdZ" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/IZxYJ_kuy90?fs=1" vars="ytid=IZxYJ_kuy90&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep9343" /]Overall, we had a good meal and a great time at Raglan Road. They sure know how to celebrate for St. Paddy's Day! A rollicking good time was had by all topped off by great fish and chips and a Magners Irish Cider.I give this visit a 7 out of 10, mostly for the lack of knowledge by the server.

3/6/14 3/6/14

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.When it comes to breakfast options at Disney World, Kouzzina has to be one of my favorites. Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, this restaurant (owned by celebrity chef Cat Cora) has bright and bold flavors and dishes that are totally different from many dishes you'll find on Disney property for breakfast (or dinner too, for that matter). As a gluten free & dairy free diner, the amount of options I have to choose from are pretty amazing....and delicious too.On this particular occasion, my family stopped by after the Royal Family 5K runDisney race held at Epcot. We were all wearing our race shirts and medals afterwards, so it was fun to go celebrate at one of our favorite breakfast spots. That being said, this restaurant is usually slow to moderately busy for breakfast and this morning it was slammed. And I mean slammed. I guess every runDisney racer decided to head here! It does actually have some great fuel options for runners (turkey sweet potato hash anyone?)Chef Sergio, who I haven't seen in forever, was working the breakfast shift. And the poor guy was running around like mad. I guess everyone in the restaurant had a special diet that day! I saw several different Disney friends (who also have dietary needs), so I knew it would be more of a leisurely meal. And it was. It took quite a long time for Chef Sergio to come over but when he did, he was very apologetic. I felt bad for the guy. It was a zoo in there.Thankfully, I've been there so many times that I knew exactly what I wanted: The American breakfast option with eggs over-easy, sweet potato hash (my weakness), bacon, Udi's gluten free/dairy free toast and a side of allergy Mickey waffles with real maple syrup. Oh yeah, I was about to get my carbs on!One thing I love about Kouzzina are the eggs are always cooked in high quality extra virgin olive oil...and so good. They also carry Nueske's bacon here which is not that stringy bacon you get at Disney. I mean it's bacon and all, but it's nothing like the thick cut Nueske's. The sweet potato hash was excellent. Perfectly cooked (the last time I got it it was crunchy so I'm glad that didn't happen again), and so good after a race. The Udi's toast dunked in the egg yolks (sorry for those who think that's gross) is one of my favorite things. So good.And of course, those allergy Mickey waffles. I just adore these at Kouzzina. Perfectly crunchy and delicious. The best! And you better believe I scarfed every bit of them down. Sorry Mickey!Overall, despite the long wait times here, this continues to be one of my favorite breakfast spots. It's just that good.I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10.Have you been to Kouzzina? What's your favorite breakfast option on the menu?

2/25/14 2/25/14

Mara -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.The Mara is perhaps one of my favorite quick service locations on Disney property and easily one of my tops for a resort quick service restaurant. I love the African inspired food and the quality of food that is served at this location. This location is also extremely special diets friendly and has a ton of options for guests who are gluten free and dairy free.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for dinner on the evening before my last race of the 2013-2014 runDisney race season - the Royal Family 5K. I didn't want to order anything too complicated or outside of my normal realm of food choices, especially so I didn't upset my stomach for race day.I will say that this restaurant was packed (around 6 p.m.) that night and there were a ton of other racers also dining there. Of course, there was pasta as a pre-race special but I'm not a huge GF pasta fan, so I skipped that option. Once I got to the front of the line, I asked for a chef and they quickly brought out one to chat with me. I forgot to write down his name, but he was a very friendly older gentleman who was very willing to go over options with me. Here are some options he gave me:

Angus Bacon Burger with fries (on a GF/DF bun)
Allergy chicken tenders with fries
Flatbread minus the cheese
Oak-smoked Rotisserie Chicken substitute something else for the mashed potatoes
Mara Salad with Chicken
African Stew
Harissa Salmon (with some substitutions - can't remember what though)

There were a few other options that I can't recall, but ultimately, I decided to go with the allergy chicken tenders and fries. I know, I know...kinda boring, but I knew they wouldn't upset my stomach, plus they are just darn delicious!While I waited for my food I got a chance to check out the restaurant to see if there were any special diets options available, and wouldn't you know it I found the Babycakes NYC cupcakes. They are the mini cupcakes in a 4 pack, and it's great that you can find these here.I also noticed that they had boxes out for runners with bagels, etc. I have to say that it would be really great if they offered some alternatives for guests who have special dietary needs too. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to accommodate!Once I got my chicken tenders (which came out faster than some other people's non-special diets meals!), I headed back to my villa at Kidani Village. I got to rest up and enjoy my dinner while watching the Must Do's on TV. The must do's are simply a must do!As usual, the allergy chicken tenders were perfect. They actually did a great job frying these (almost as good as Columbia Harbour House!) - though the fries were a little soggy by the time I got back to my room. Either way, it was exactly what I wanted before my race and quite delicious.Next time I visit the Mara, I'll have to try something else. It's been forever since I've had the African Stew and the Mara Salad also sounded interesting.I'd give this experience an 8 out of 10.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite dishes here?

2/24/14 2/24/14

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

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Sanaa means work of art, and there's no shortage of art in this restaurant -- from the decor to the food. I still consider this restaurant a hidden gem on Disney property. Guests who might be apprehensive about the Indian & African inspired fare need not be worried. Sanaa has some of the most delicious and approachable fare that even the most skeptical of diners will love (and I hear regularly from guests who consider this a new favorite restaurant).On this particular occasion, I stopped by during my pre-runDisney race day festivities. I popped in for a carb filled lunch after coming back from the expo to pick up my race bib. As always, Sanaa did not disappoint both in options and in price.I was greeted by Chef David, who has assisted me before. Prior to chatting with Chef David, I received two special diets menus from the cast member who seated us. The menus have slightly changed (but not much) and mostly in the area of pricing. Yikes! I long for the days when many of these dishes were under $20! You can find the updated menus on the menu page.I actually decided to order something not listed on the special diets menus. I ordered the Roasted Turkey Sandwich - served on ciabatta with avocado, smoked bacon, pickled red onion, lemon mayonnaise and choice of chickpea salad or fruit ($13.99). It can easily be modified by using a gluten free/dairy free bread (in this case Udi's Gluten Free). I also really like the chickpea salad which is fresh and filling (and great for a pre-race meal).As always, this is a great sandwich. It's one of my favorites and really quite affordable as far as Disney table service lunches go. The turkey is roasted in house using some African spices and is very mild and tender. The avocado goes perfectly with the turkey and bacon. My favorite parts of this sandwich are the lemon mayonnaise (so fresh) and the pickled onions. The pickled onions totally make this dish. And the chickpea salad is a winner hands down. Even my mom who isn't a huge fan of cucumbers and other veggies that are in this dish really likes it.Overall, I'm always pleased after eating at Sanaa. The food can't be beat, as far as quality, and who can dislike dining at a restaurant overlooking the Savanna with all of the amazing animals. It's a hands down favorite and a must-do for Disney special diets diners. If you're vegetarian or vegan, this is definitely a place to go!I give this a solid 9 out of 10 for great meal and service, especially for special dietary accommodations.Have you been to Sanaa? What are your favorite dishes here?

2/19/14 2/19/14

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

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Contempo Cafe, located in Disney's Contemporary Resort, offers fast and convenient fare for guests who are in the resort. Set right in the hustle and bustle of the fourth floor, guests dining at Contempo Cafe can enjoy the sights and sounds from Chef Mickey's and watch the monorail whiz by. On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick breakfast. Having had less than stellar breakfast here before (yuck, horrible allergy Mickey waffles), I decided I just wanted a side of eggs and a side of the famous Disney stringy bacon.It took quite a while for the manager to come by; in fact, they had to page her multiple times. When she arrived, I knew what I wanted and let her know that it was just basic scrambled eggs and bacon. Easy enough. She took care of that while I paid, and in fact, my food was ready before I had even paid - so I guess that makes up for the long wait time beforehand.Taste-wise, these were nothing to write home about. The eggs were fine, if not a little bland, and the bacon was the same bacon you can get pretty much anywhere at Disney. It certainly wasn't memorable, but it was solid and my stomach thanked me for having something in it. I will say that I'm not a fan of their breakfast potatoes here (the same ones as next door at Chef Mickey's) and their breakfast turkey sausage is really not great either. But, if you're looking for a quick basic breakfast, this place has got you covered.I'd give this experience a 6 out of 10. Nothing of note to report. Just blah and bland.

2/19/14 2/19/14

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

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Sometimes you just want a quick bite to eat and Sommerfest, located in the Germany pavilion in the World Showcase, fits the bill nicely. Offering a limited quick service menu, guests can order bratwurst and frankfurters gluten free. On this particular occasion, I stopped by to get a bratwurst on a gluten free and dairy free bun.Prior to Fall 2013, Sommerfest was carrying the Udi's Gluten Free buns; however, they are not carrying these anymore, but rather the Ener-G buns. The unfortunate part is that they don't seem to know how to heat them properly and 9 times out of 10, they are cold, which makes for a rather unpleasant and almost styrofoamy texture. Still, smother anything in enough sauerkraut I suppose and it won't taste too badly? (That is if you like sauerkraut!)In the past, they also used to get the buns from Biergarten located next door; however, the last two times they have carried the buns in the kiosk itself. In fact, I watched the person preparing the food in the back, and they actually changed gloves and then went into the refrigerator to get my Ener-G bun. Again, the heating factor seemed to be missing on these.As far as taste goes, the bratwurst and the sauerkraut are great. The bun...again not so much. Please heat these guys...I'm begging you! Special Diets people like decent buns too!On a side note, the curry ketchup they serve is supposed to be gluten free & dairy free, so double-check and you might be able to replace that with regular ketchup when enjoying a Frankfurter. I might do that the next time I'm there myself!As always, this location has OK fare - it's something just a little different than burgers. I would rate this particular experience a 6 out of 10. Really because of that darn bun!Have you been to Sommerfest?

2/16/14 2/16/14

Spice Road Table -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.Spice Road Table, located in Epcot's Morocco Pavilion in the World Showcase, is the newest restaurant to open at Disney World. Set to reflect a Tapas style restaurant, it features small plates in appetizer sized portions. The food is inspired by Spain and the Mediterranean and is a bit different from the fare you'll get at Restaurant Marrakesh or Tangierine Cafe in the same pavilion. This location has been open for about a month now, and I had been wanting to stop by sometime and check out the food.Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando was at Spice Road Table on opening day, and since I read her review, I've been really hoping to check it out because so many options seemed to be gluten free. The menu itself for a Tapas restaurant is pretty limited (I've been to Tapas restaurants where they have 50+ menu items) with only 10 items. I'll be curious to see if they add more items later!After we were seated (note they aren't taking reservations at this time, only walk-ups), I told the server that I had a special diet and he said he would get the chef. The person who came out seemed a wee bit more like a line cook than a chef. (*Note: This is a non-Disney owned restaurant, so they may or may not adhere to the same Disney standards for special diets accommodations). He was perfectly lovely but he really didn't seem to know the menu, though I'll cut him some slack since he said that he'd just returned from vacation and they had changed the menu up some.Of the options that were gluten free & dairy free he said I could have the following:

Fresh Mussels Tagine (without the butter)
Spicy Garlic Shrimp (without the crouton/bread)
Mediterranean Omelet
Moroccan Lamb Sausage
Hummus and Imported Olives (with GF/DF bread)
Lamb Slider (without the bun)
Rice Stuffed Grape Leaves - this was a maybe because he said they changed the recipe and didn't want to say for sure it was safe. Alexis had it and they told her it was GF, so I'm fairly sure it was OK, but you'd want to check when you order.

So, there were some decent options. I don't eat lamb, so both of those were out. I was debating between the shrimp and the hummus and olives. I ended up going with the hummus and olives figuring the bread along with the dish would be filling.Before our food came out though, I did order a drink. I went with something not on the menu - a mojito. It's one of my favorite refreshing drinks, and I figured that they would have fresh mint on hand (given they had mint tea). The server wasn't sure at first if they could make it, but they happily obliged at the bar. It is a full bar, so sky's the limit with drinks -- well within reason, I suppose. As far as mojitos, it was OK. It wasn't my favorite which is the African Starr Mint Mojito at Sanaa, but still pretty good. It also was very weak for a $10 drink.When my hummus and olives arrived, I was surprised they gave me one piece of bread. I was also surprised by the texture of the bread. It sure didn't look like Ener-G to me. I asked the server if he could check with the "chef" to see if this was gluten & dairy free. He said he was told it was. I really didn't feel comfortable, so I did ask if they could send someone from the kitchen out to confirm. When the "chef" came out, he said it was a new product from Ener-G and that they had changed the rolls. I explained to him that I would be very sick if I consumed a regular roll, and he swore up and down that it was safe. Maybe I am just paranoid, but I really wanted to make sure.As far as the hummus goes, I liked them both, but they weren't anything of note. The regular hummus had a ton of tahini in it, which I love. The other has a nice tomato salad on top (though it was not properly salted). The winner on the plate were the olives and cornichons. So yummy! Much better than any of the other olives you get in the Morocco pavilion.My overall impressions of Spice Road Table are this - it's a gorgeous restaurant with amazing views of the World Showcase Lagoon. The decor is really lovely. The food...just so-so. I also think the price is really expensive for the portions. They wouldn't even bring me extra bread. I would have had to pay $2.99 for another piece. Egads! For that, I'll head back to Sanaa for the amazing bread service for $10 with tons of sauces and free-flowing pappadums!It's a great place for appetizers and drinks, especially before IllumiNations, but for a full meal? Not so much. We ended up going to Sommerfest later to get a snack because we were still hungry!I'd give this visit a 6.5 out of 10 for lackluster food but gorgeous atmosphere.

2/13/14 2/13/14

Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in February 2014.I have a confession to make....I really like gluten free & dairy free fried foods. Well, who can blame me right? Anything that is safe for me to consume that's fried is a rare treat, and that's probably why I love these kinds of food so much. And the items at Cooke's of Dublin fit the bill nicely.Located in Downtown Disney, Cooke's of Dublin is the quick service version of Raglan Road Irish Pub which is located next door to this location. They do, in fact, use a lot of the same recipes for their gluten free & dairy free fried items, but they are a little more affordable and fast on the service. This means they are a great quick service spot in Downtown Disney for special diets diners.The last time that I visited, I enjoyed their fish and chips which are essentially the same as the version you can get at Raglan Road (though I do think a teensy bit greasier). I like them a lot but what really caught my attention was that they could make quite a few gluten free & dairy free options. They include:

The Original One & One – Fish & Chips $10.95
Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops $12.95
Cold Water Shrimp $11.95
Battered Chicken Tenders $9.95
Double Dipped Onion Rings $5.00
Fresh Chips $5.00

I knew I just had to have the fried shrimp because, well...why not? I had tried the scallops, fish and chips, and onion rings all next door and as much as I love chicken tenders I figured shrimp was the way to go. And I was not at all disappointed!First off, the shrimp portions were really good. I figured I might just have a few but there were quite a lot in this serving. They were piping hot and really delicious. The shrimp were definitely of a high quality and were well fried. Again, a little greasy, but heck I'm not complaining. The fries were equally good. The cocktail sauce at the restaurant perfectly accompanied the shrimp. They still need to salt their fried foods just a wee bit more, but again nothing some sauce won't cure.Overall, I was super pleased with this lunch, and I really enjoyed the shrimp. I'm fairly certain I didn't talk for a while during that lunch! I would order this dish again easily. And I would actually order this over the fish and chips any day. I like my fish and chips better next door at Raglan Road, but for shrimp - this place has got me covered. I'm very curious about the scallops here portion wise compared to next door at Raglan Road as well as the chicken tenders. They all sound great!For a quick service, this still is my favorite Downtown Disney location for reasonable prices and excellent GF/DF offerings.This visit was a solid 8 out of 10 for me.Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What's your favorite gluten free/dairy free fried dish?

2/9/14 2/9/14

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in February 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review, a gluten free & yellow food coloring review, and a vegan review.Located near the lobby of Port Orleans Riverside lies Boatwright's Dining Hall, a hidden gem of Disney restaurants. Serving New Orleans/Cajun inspired fare, I have long been wanting to dine at this location for dinner. I hadn't been to this resort or the restaurant since 2006, when I made a Mother's Day trip to Disney with my mom. We loved the charming and relaxing atmosphere of the resort, and we also enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Boatwright's (which is no longer served).When I was deciding where to go for my birthday celebration dinner, I immediately thought of Boatwright's. I have been spending entirely too much time lately at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory next door at Port Orleans French Quarter getting those fantastic gluten free, dairy free, egg free (and vegan) beignets. But, it had been prompting me to want to try dinner at Boatwright's. So, my birthday dinner celebration was set. Friends and family joined in on the fun, including Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Tony from Disney by the Numbers. Both of them have special dietary needs too, so it was cool to see what they ordered on the menu.First up, I have to apologize that I didn't take any photos of the restaurant. Apparently, I was too busy having fun to take photos. But, it's an impressive and cozy restaurant -- built a bit like a shipyard. We had nice seating on the top level of the restaurant, near the warm fireplace (very appreciated after a cold rainy day) -- with a roaring fire, it was the perfect back drop.Chef's Tony & Paul took care of our table during the meal, and let me tell you they did a stellar job. This was one of the best meals I've had at Disney in a very long time. First up, they went over the menu offerings. For appetizers, gluten free (and some modifications for dairy free) included: shrimp and grits (not dairy free), the French onion soup (minus the crouton & cheese - this one might still not be dairy free), the house salad minus the croutons (not dairy free - this one has a green goddess dressing - which looked fantastic), and spinach salad (minus the crouton). These also sounded great, but as soon as I heard that they could make the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites gluten free & dairy free...well, you know which one I chose!Normally, the cajun-seasoned crawfish bites are not gluten free & dairy free - but if you contact the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department ahead of time, they can arrange to make it safe for you. Of course, you now I couldn't pass up something battered and deep fried and smothered in remoulade sauce (we'll get to that momentarily). I have to tell you, this appetizer is hands down one of my favorites on property now. These were outrageous. First up, it's a huge portion (which I had no problem scarfing down), second it was piping hot and perfectly seasoned. Fried foods really need to be salted properly, and I can tell you the balance on this dish was perfection. Both Alexis & I ordered this and I think neither of us spoke for a good several minutes other than to say "oh my gosh, these are amazing."I adore remoulade sauce and this version was divine. The perfect combo of spice along with the crawfish. I may also have dipped some bread in the remoulade sauce too!! (heck, you could dip an old booth in this remoulade and it would probably taste amazing). Speaking of rolls, we were served GNI brand rolls along with Smart Balance (which is GF and vegan) for me and regular butter for everyone else. For dinner options, we had an impressive amount - and many didn't even need dairy free modifications which was great. Here are the gluten free options:

Jambalaya
New York Strip
Voodoo Chicken (with some modifications)
Vegetarian Jambalaya (also vegan)
Andouille-crusted Catfish (with some modifications)
Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Blackened Fish
Sweet Tea Brine Pork Chop (with some modifications)
Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib (with some modifications)

With so many choices, most of us were having a hard time choosing. And wouldn't you know it we all got something different! (on a side note, I kind of would love a sampler platter entree here - like a Taste of the Bayou with small portions - or I just need to go back soon so I can try other dishes).Alexis chose the Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib which looked fabulous. You can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. Tony got the vegetarian jambalaya which looked delicious as well. I know he really enjoyed the dish. And my other friend ordered the Voodoo Chicken. The red beans & rice and collard greens are not currently gluten free, so he got green beans and potatoes instead. He kindly shared it with both Alexis and I, and wow! The sauce on the chicken was terrific. It was a peach marmalade and totally sweet and spicy.For my entree, I went with the Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chop. I have to admit, what got me was the onion straws. The same batter for the cajun spiced crawfish bites was used for the onion straws and they were amazing. They aren't normally GF/DF, so this is another one you'll want to contact Special Diets ahead of time if you want. I have to tell you, this entree was amazing. It exceeded my expectations and then some. The pork itself had a subtle sweetness from the brine and a great grill flavor. Add in the bacony, smoky, sweet potato hash and the fried onion straws...well, it was the perfect dish. It was also huge (side note, if you go to Boatwright's be prepared for massive portions - seriously, the prices and portions at this place are a steal). I had leftovers and they were fantastic the next day too. I admit, that I might have a hard time ordering other dishes at the restaurant after this one -- even though I do want to try others!If you're looking for gluten free dessert options (and yes, believe me we somehow managed to make room for dessert), Boatwright's currently has butterscotch creme brulee, bananas foster angel food cake without the cake, ice cream, or OMG...It's Gluten Free cookies and brownies. They also have Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes on hand. Chef Tony jazzed up one for me with a chocolate sauce, fresh raspberries (my favorite), and vanilla Rice Dream. Oh yeah...about that candle. I also got a restaurant serenade to help celebrate the occasion. Perfect way to end the meal! Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality of the food. Honestly, this is a hidden gem of a restaurant, and I can't believe more people haven't discovered it yet. Everyone at the table (and there were 11 of us!) raved about the meal and really enjoyed it -- special diets or not. I can tell you, I will certainly be back to try out new dishes...but those cajun-seasoned crawfish bites, they're totally going to be a permanent fixture on my visits. They were to-die-for!Thank you again to Chef Tony & Chef Paul for making this a memorable and delicious birthday dinner. This restaurant was a solid 9 out of 10 for me!Have you been to Boatwright's before? What are your favorite dishes?

1/26/14 1/26/14

Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.If you're craving a taste of the Mediterranean and more specifically Greek food, then you simply must head to Kouzzina located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. This restaurant is celebrity Chef Cat Cora's collaboration with Disney World, and there's certainly no shortage of Greek inspired fare at this restaurant.As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Kouzzina for breakfast. I adore their allergy Mickey waffles and think they are some of the best on Disney property (they have that whole crispy waffle thing down to an art), and I also really love that they use great olive oils in their breakfast offerings. And don't get me started on their turkey sweet potato hash! I have a slight addiction to that breakfast entree! However, what many of you probably don't know is that I hadn't been to Kouzzina for dinner until October 2013 with my friend and special diets collaborator Laurie Sadowski. She is a huge, and I mean huge fan of Kouzzina, and it only seemed fitting that I dine there for dinner my first time with her. And stay tuned for our combined dinner review - Laurie & I will be sharing that review together with her gluten free & vegan offerings and my gluten free & dairy free offerings. If you haven't checked out our combined review of Ohana, you'll want to check it out!But back to this dinner review! After such a wonderful experience the first time, I wanted to stop back again and get something different with my family who also had never been for dinner. And the perfect time to visit was during my pre-race dinner for the Jingle Jungle 5K race.One thing I love about Kouzzina at night is that it totally transforms, and this evening was no different. And it smells amazing in here! Like seriously, amazing. The open fire is just ridiculous, and makes the entire restaurant smell of whatever deliciousness comes out of it.Upon being seated we were greeted by a bit of an overzealous server. He really really tried to sell just about every upcharge thing he could think of to us. I appreciate that he's trying to make a living, but sheesh. I was really glad when Chef Miguel came out to the table to assist me because it got our server to settle down a bit.Chef Miguel is super nice and having met him before, I was glad he was on hand for the meal. I knew he would make sure I got great offerings. This time, I knew I wanted something different but not super spicy. I learned my lesson after a little bit of a spicy meal at Jiko before the Happy Haunted 5K. This time - go mild! I decided that I wanted to get some dolmades (which are grape leaves stuffed with rice), a salad, and the Kouzzina Appetizer Sampler as my entree.Before the appetizers and entrees, Chef Miguel brought me an olive medley with two kinds of extra virgin olive oil along with Udi's pizza crust cut into wedges and heated.I adored the olive medley here (and as you will see I didn't suffer from a lack of olives at this restaurant). I love the variety of them and the high quality. These are not your typical canned olives! The Udi's pizza crust is probably one of my least favorite Udi's products interestingly enough. I just find them really tough (as in chewy and not in a good way). Still, you top anything from Kouzzina on it and it's OK. As you can see, Chef Miguel was extra generous. (hello, carb loading!)Up next came the House-made Dolmades - rolled grape leaves with rice, dill and lemon. Oh my god these are amazing. Like seriously. Amazing. If you've ever had dolmades, you'll know that they are typically filled with rice and often times are bland. These are filled with lemon and dill and the rich flavor of the dill really comes through. They top them with olive oil and some type of crisped nut mixture. Oh and more olives. Nothing wrong with that.Up next was my House Salad -seasonal lettuces with vine-ripe tomatoes and cucumbers in a thyme-honey vinaigrette. This was really light and fresh but very flavorful. I'm not a huge raw tomato fan, but they worked well with the rest of the salad. The mixed greens were nice and I adored the thyme-honey vinaigrette. It married well with the ingredients and really brought out the essence of Greek flavors.For my entree I ordered the Kouzzina Sampler. It typically comes with the choice of two (spicy gulf prawns, Greek lamb meatballs in sauce, or pork souvlaki), along with marinated olives, dolmades, tzatziki, hummus and pita. I chose the gulf prawns and the pork souvlaki. Since I couldn't have the tzatiziki, Chef Miguel brought out the eggplant dip instead. It the sampler also has some marinated nuts as well.I really love this appetizer sampler either as an entree or appetizer. It's phenomenal. The hummus is made in a really unique way (no tahini) and the eggplant spread is spicy and savory. I love the unique spices on the nuts. You can't go wrong with more Dolmades (you know I pigged out on those) and the two meat options were really well done. The pork was actually my favorite and the marinade used on it was awesome. The shrimp has a spicy marinade and was perfectly cooked. This is a hands down favorite dish for me.Overall, I can't say enough good things about Kouzzina. For dinner or breakfast it's fantastic. I just wish they served lunch. That would be so amazing!For this dining experience I'm giving it a 9 out of 10, despite our server who basically ignored us for the duration of our meal after we told him we weren't ordering wine or lots of extra dishes. It's still a fantastic restaurant with amazing food, especially if you have a special diet.

1/21/14 1/21/14

Be Our Guest Restaurant -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in January 2014. It also contains a vegan dinner review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.Bonjour! It has been over a year since my last dinner review of Be Our Guest Restaurant. With Advance Dining Reservations being incredibly hard to get, it's no wonder that it's taken me so long to get back to this table service location in the Magic Kingdom. My last visit was during the Tables in Wonderland preview before the restaurant officially opened, and I was looking forward to checking out the new menu changes.I was so excited when my friend Krista Joy from Disneyways.com sent me a message that she got a last minute ADR and asked if I would join her. How could I say no to the good company and the chance to go to Be Our Guest?! The dinner was set for 8:30 p.m. which was a wee bit late considering I was running a 5K early the next morning (4:30 a.m. wakeup call), but I was up for the challenge! In addition to Krista, I was also joined by Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers who also happens to be vegan, so you'll see some of the photos from his meal here as well. I have to say that the castle is so pretty at night, and the interior is even more impressive when visiting in the evening. When we got in line to be seated, a cast member brought us out something I'd not seen before -- our very own table candelabra. Why it was our very own Lumiere! We were given it and were asked to bring it with us to our table. Pretty cool! Don't believe us? Well..you know the rest!We were then greeted by our server who was quite lovely (and who's name I can't remember) who then said she would notify the chef. The chef then came out and she seemed...well, a bit perplexed by me. She looked at Tony and immediately said, "Oh vegan, I've got you covered." and then sort of looked at me. She went over options, and it seemed strange that some might have dairy. When I double checked that there was no dairy in certain dishes, she said, "OH, you can't have dairy either. Well that changes everything." Oh boy, statements like that always worry me!The pork, shrimp and scallop dishes were completely out, but she said she could do most of them gluten free & dairy free modified. She tried to sell me on the Layered Ratatouille which is their vegan & vegetarian dish. She said this was gluten & dairy free, but I really wanted something more substantial. I ended up going for the Pan Seared Salmon minus the leek fondue. She said she would serve it with roasted potatoes and some type of seasonal vegetable. I was given several options, and I asked her to choose what she thought complimented it best and was seasonal. She also offered me gluten free rolls with Earth Balance.While I didn't get an appetizer, Tony did, and surprisingly the French Onion Soup is gluten free (without the crouton) and dairy free and vegan without the cheese. They use a vegetable broth base instead of beef broth, which is what French Onion Soup is traditional made with. Who knew?! He did say it was quite good.While appetizers were served our rolls also came out. They were the Ener-G rolls which is surprisingly uncommon these days on Disney property, so I'm always surprised when I see them and that they were still at Be Our Guest. I will say, they were very hot when they came to the table, but as with most Ener-G rolls, they get hard quite quickly. Eaten hot though, they really aren't bad.Our entrees came out fairly promptly, and I will say that mine had a nice presentation.Here's Tony's vegan (and gluten free) Layered RatatouilleTony said his dish was good, and it looked nice. I'm not sure I personally would have been satisfied by the entree, but I'm glad that the restaurant created a vegetarian dish that was also vegan. Still, Disney seems to be on a quinoa kick lately. I wish they'd offer some variety of vegan & vegetarian dishes that weren't quinoa based.For my dish, I thought it was just OK. First off, I find the portions at this restaurant strangely small given the price. Second, this fish was not the greatest. It didn't taste as fresh as I would have liked and hoped. It was cooked medium, which was not told to me. Thank goodness I don't mind it cooked this way, but I could have been quite off put by semi-raw salmon if I didn't like it in general. The sear on the skin was not good at all, which means the skin and anything touching it was not particularly tasty (more fishy and not in a good way). The roasted potatoes were good but not very hot. Honestly, my favorite thing about the dish was the brocollini which accompanied my salmon. It was the only thing properly cooked on my plate (in my opinion) and was bursting with garlicky flavor and sauteed well. It can get bitter if over sauteed, and this was just perfect.Both Tony and I did not get desserts, though we were both offered sorbet and fruit (and Rice Dream for me).After our meal, we did get a chance to explore and also see the Beast who was walking through the restaurant and posing for photos.Overall, I love the ambiance of Be Our Guest. It's just a gorgeous restaurant. And I like the food for lunch, but dinner I find to be underwhelming. The meal should have been fantastic but instead it just wasn't. If there had been some tweaking and better preparation it could have easily been an awesome meal. I hope that in the future, they'll continue to work on making their menu the best it can be and work on the food timing. I'll definitely try again, but I have a feeling it will be a while before I go again for dinner (especially considering how hard it is to get ADRs). I'm so glad though that Krista & Tony joined me at dinner -- their company made this a great meal experience.I'm giving this restaurant a 6 out of 10 for lukewarm and mediocre food.

1/20/14 1/20/14

Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Lunch/Dinner -- Port Orleans French Quarter

*This dining experience took place in January 2014.Nothing says New Orleans like beignets and Po'Boys. They are simply iconic New Orleans fare, and thankfully, Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory, located at Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter can supply these gluten free and dairy free.On this particular visit, I stopped by for lunch after the Family Fun Run 5K during Marathon weekend. I had not eaten lunch or dinner at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory before, so I was excited to check it out.I got the chance to say see Chef Tony & Chef Raphael, both of whom are so nice and always willing to make guests great special diets meals. They told me that they can make a lot of the quick service options GF/DF which is great (and including pasta which was hugely popular during the race weekend). I decided that I really wanted to try one of the Po'Boys. How could you not at a New Orleans inspired restaurant?! Not all of the Po'Boys can be made GF/DF - any that are fried (like the shrimp) are not going to be safe, but the beef and pork ones are OK. I asked if I could get chicken by chance, and yay, they could make me a chicken Po'Boy. I was very excited to hear that there was no hidden dairy in the remoulade sauce, as there have been a few instances on property where they've added sour cream or other type of dairy. The meal comes with chips or a bean salad. The house made chips are not GF but they have pre-packaged chips (much like you can find throughout Disney property) and the bean salad is GF/DF. I was feeling like chips that day, so I went with those.Now, if you're familiar with Po'Boys you know that they are traditionally served on a sub (i.e. hoagie, grinder) roll. They currently don't have a safe option at this point at the restaurant but they do carry the Udi's bread. This actually works well, so the only downfall is that these sandwiches are turbo messy. Bring extra napkins (and really this isn't a bad thing!). My was loaded with grilled chicken (nicely seasoned), lettuce, tomato, and of course that remoulade sauce. The remoulade is what makes it uniquely New Orleans, and this version was stellar. I really enjoyed this condiment and man, I think it would be a really good dip for French fries (just saying!). You know me....I gotta have dip for fries! The chips were a nice accompaniment to the sandwich, though I might get the bean salad next time. It sounds intriguing!Overall, I really enjoyed the sandwich and I wouldn't hesitate to get it again. It would also be nice to try out some of the others too. What I most appreciated were the bright fresh flavors and that the sauce was clearly made in-house. Remoulade French fry dip...yep, I'm gonna make this a thing!Of course, I couldn't go to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory without getting beignets. And having just finished a 5K that day, well, it was a nice treat! (of course I had them pre-race too). And holy moly - as always these were amazing but these were extra piping hot and delicious. I love extra hot deep fried beignets and these totally hit the spot. Seriously, I may have a beignet addiction!Overall, I really enjoyed the lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. I would like to pop by for dinner sometime because they do have some options not available at lunch. I really love that this location is taking the extra steps to make gluten free options that are unique to the location and also something different from just burgers and fries (though, of course, you can get them there as well). And of course, any place that serves GF/DF beignets and Po'Boys is my kind of place!I'd give this a solid 9 out of 10 for this visit for great food and options.Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for lunch or dinner? What were your favorite special diets options?

1/14/14 1/14/14

Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in January 2014.Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney is truly not just a great restaurant, but it's also a terrific and authentic Irish pub. With a variety of drink options to choose from and the full menu to order while you grab your pint, it's the perfect place for a proper meal or some quick pub grub.On this particular occasion, I visited not for dinner but for drinks and some snacks. The pub has an extensive drink menu, and while there are certainly some great options for gluten free & dairy free guests, I went with my tried and true gluten free Irish pub standby: Magners Irish Cider. This is hands down a must-do for a pub visit. Not only is it authentically Irish, but it's also delicious! With a mildly sweet taste and a crisp finish, it's the perfect accompaniment to some gluten free onion rings.And yes, there were onion rings on this visit. Our group decided to get an order of the gluten free onion rings and chips (aka French fries). I made sure to let the bartender know that we needed them to be gluten free, and he did a great job at making sure that was noted. When the servers brought out the onion rings & chips, they said immediately that these are the gluten free & allergy order. We also asked for some of the sweet chili jam and tartar sauce that I love (both gluten free & dairy free).The others in the group said they all though the sweet chili jam was perfect with the onion rings but that they could understand why it was paired normally with the scallops. This was a big winner and the jam was quickly devoured along side the crispy onion rings.The chips were also well received, and I may or may not have slathered them in tartar sauce (hey, what can I say, I like their version!?). So good! The group all liked that they were big steak fries and not the wimpy versions you find throughout the Disney parks & resort.Overall, this was a great place to grab a drink and just relax. We visited in the afternoon so it was quite calm but I can imagine this place is packed on a weekend evening. I wouldn't hesitate to drop in sometime for a good pint of Magners & some traditional Irish atmosphere!Have you been to Raglan Road for drinks? What were your favorites?

1/13/14 1/13/14

The Mara -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

*This dining experience took place in January 2014.The Mara at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge offers African inspired quick service fare at a reasonable price with a nice variety for guests craving more than just burgers and fries. Nestled near the pool area of Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, this is the only quick service location at the resort.On this particular occasion, I stopped by the Mara the day before my runDisney Marathon Weekend Family Fun Run 5K and I wanted to grab something before my dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. I didn't want anything substantial, just a little something to tide me over. When I arrived, I notified a cast member who then got the chef. Once the chef came out, he asked me what I wanted. I told him that I wanted probably a kids meal - something lighter. He said I could have a burger and fries, which I did not want, a pizza, which I also did not want (sorry but Disney & pizza just do not mix!), a turkey sandwich, and chicken tenders. I asked if I could get the chicken tenders as a kids meal and he said yes; however, he did not prepare a kids meal and I was charged for an adult meal. Ah well, you win some you lose some. I should have gone with the turkey sandwich, and in the future I may grab that when I visit the Mara. The chef also offered me French fries with my chicken tenders but I opted for green beans instead.The allergy chicken tenders are the same that you will find throughout Disney property. I like them a lot, though I think some locations are better at frying than others (for example Columbia Harbour House has frying down to an art!). I'm so thankful that Disney has dedicated allergy fryers, that I can't really complain even when they aren't as crispy as I would like. These were fairly well done and quite delicious. I do kind of wish locations like this would make their own dipping sauces. I could imagine a really tasty African inspired BBQ sauce with these tenders.The green beans were good but spicy. Almost a little too spicy for me. I thought the spices on them were a little too heavy and that they could have scaled back a little. I really enjoyed the sauteed onion in the green beans and the beans were cooked down well for me -- which is helpful when you have Crohn's. I'd get these again but might check to see if they are pre-made or they could scale down the seasoning.Overall, this was a nice quick meal for me and satisfied my hunger in between breakfast and my big dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. I'd give this a 7 out of 10. The food was not bad but not amazing either. A middle of the road experience.Have you been to the Mara for lunch or dinner? What do you recommend readers order?

1/11/14 1/11/14

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

*This dining experience took place in January 2014.What better way to start the day than with a breakfast at the Mara in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. For a unique and delicious quick service breakfast, the Mara can't be beat. Serving up classic American breakfast fare to Africa inspired options, there is certainly a lot of variety for guests visiting the Mara.On this particular occasion, I visited post-runDisney race. Having just finished the Family Fun Run 5K during the Marathon Weekend events, I was ready for a hearty meal and of course, those allergy friendly Mickey waffles. A girl's gotta get her carbs in after a tough race!Upon arrival, I notified a cast member that I had a special diet. They then got Chef Vickie, who assisted me not that long ago at Boma post-Jingle Jungle 5K, so I knew she would be able to provide me with a great breakfast. I told her that I was interested in the bounty platter but no sausage (typically it comes with bacon and sausage) and asked if I could make a strange request. I was really craving the Boma grilled asparagus and I asked if it was possible to swap that sausage out for asparagus. I was surprised when she said yes! I also got two allergy Mickey waffles.It did take a little bit for the food to come out, and when it did it was missing Mickey waffles. Chef Vickie explained that they had to make a batch for me and it might take a few minutes. She did offer me Kinnikinnick muffins and/or donuts in exchange (which I love) but you know me, I gotta have my Mickey waffles!I have to say that the Mara consistently has one of the best quick service breakfasts on property. 1. Their scrambled eggs are always made fresh for me and they don't taste like they've been made in a giant batch. 2. The breakfast potatoes are amazing. I love the seasoning on them. They are also the same ones you can get at Boma. 3. They have a good variety of options. I could order quinoa or even the pap & chakalaka for my breakfast. I love that. Of course, there are many more reasons why I love the Mara, but these are just a few!The breakfast I had that morning didn't disappoint. As always, the eggs were well cooked and the potatoes were excellent. I also was so excited to add in the asparagus. It's one of my favorites. I will say, it wasn't cooked as much as I would have liked, but still it had great grill flavor.Last but not least were the Mickey waffles. Chef Vickie brought these out to my table when they were done. I will say they were extra crispy and piping hot! This was the perfect way to end my breakfast. And thank goodness she only gave me two. I might have eaten a lot more at that point in time!Overall, I can't say enough good things about the Mara. It continues to surprise me, especially for breakfast. Of course, you know I'm a big breakfast person so I'm partial to their breakfast offerings but still it's a great quick service location on property and one of the best in my opinion! A solid 9 out of 10 for this visit!Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite dishes here?

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW