Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.As many of you know, Kouzzina is closing permanently on September 30, 2014. It's sad to see one of my favorite breakfast spots going away, so you know that I have to visit as many times as I can before the restaurant officially closes. I love the Mediterranean inspired food, and the breakfast is simply one of the best on property. From the turkey sweet potato hash to the glorious allergy Mickey waffles, there is something for everyone. Whenever I have visitors come in to town, I take them here (and it's always a hit!). On this particular occasion, I stopped by with my family for breakfast before the first Star Wars Weekend event. We needed to get a hearty breakfast in before we headed to Hollywood Studios for a very busy day. Our server, Amy, was fabulous and very nice. She took our drink orders and then Chef Sergio came out to take my order. You know you dine someplace often when the chefs know you and your special dietary needs. It also helps that I know the menu pretty much inside & out and what I like to order. I asked Chef Sergio if they still had the Bob's Red Mill pancake mix because it is being phased out and replaced with Cup4Cup (*Note: You can still get allergy Mickey waffles made with Namaste mix - The Cup4Cup mix used at Disney contains dairy). I was so excited when he told me they still had it. I venture to say that I think they have the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (they have got the perfect crispy outside & chewy inside). I ordered the American breakfast entree with scrambled eggs, bacon, sweet potato hash and replaced the toast with allergy Mickey waffles. I have to say that this breakfast, as usual, did not disappoint. The scrambled eggs are made here using a high quality extra virgin olive oil. The bacon is Nueske's which is thick cut and applewood smoked - none of that stringy bacon! And the sweet potato hash is divine. Add in the Mickey waffles, well, it's just a perfect breakfast. The waffles are served with real maple syrup, which I promptly smother them in.One of the things that makes me happy is that while Kouzzina is closing, much of the staff will still remain. As regulars here, we're pretty used to seeing all of them. As our server put it, "Everyone here seems to know you all." Yep, we like Kouzzina for breakfast...just a smidgen! I'm told there will still be breakfast served here as well - thank goodness! I need my Boardwalk breakfast spot! I'm looking forward to hearing announcements about the new restaurant and seeing what they come up with. Will you get a chance to dine at Kouzzina before it closes? What will you miss the most from this popular Disney restaurant? 

Star Wars Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine 2014 -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. Note: The Star Wars™ Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine is a special character dining experience that took place during the 2014 Star Wars™ Weekends.A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I got a chance to enjoy the first Star Wars™ Weekend  festivities with a character meal dinner at Hollywood & Vine in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Meeting Jedi Mickey and the rest of the gang, it was a chance to have a galactic meal to commemorate the special event weekends.When Disney first announced special character meals during Star Wars™ Weekends, I knew I had to try them at least once. Hollywood & Vine hosted a dinner with Jedi Mickey, the rest of the Fab Five (in Star Wars costumes) and Chip & Dale as Ewoks (how you could not see these cuties!?). This was my first visit ever to Hollywood & Vine; however, I was able to connect with the chefs from 50's Prime Time who also work at Hollywood & Vine (they share a kitchen) and check with them on food offerings for gluten free & dairy free diners. Before my visit, they shared with me a lot of the options available to me, and I was looking forward to checking them out.When we arrived for dinner, it wasn't too crowded, though we planned for an early dinner. I tend to make early dinner reservations for buffets, so that I can ensure I get to make a big pass through the buffet before as many other people do, to help with cross contamination risks (chefs will bring you food from the back typically, but in some instances they aren't too keen to do so, so I always prepare just in case). We first got in a line to check in. The kiosks set-up for the event made the check-in process go quickly & smoothly.Once we got checked in, we were sent to another line near the entrance. There, we waited for a few minutes before taking photos with Chip & Dale dressed as Ewoks. Can I just say how adorable these two are? I mean, seriously. Adorable. They had the best costumes of the entire meal. Chip & Dale should dress as Ewoks all the time.Once we got seated were were given our Fantastmic Dining package vouchers (which was a $4 upcharge to the meal) and paper light saber cutouts. Fun!As you can see from our photos, the restaurant was pretty quiet once we got in. Hollywood & Vine has a retro diner theme, and you can see the touches throughout the seating area.Once our server took our drink order, we were greeted by Storm Trooper Donald. He was awesome. The photo we took came out really dark, but trust me. It was good! Once Donald moved along (nothing to see at our table), out came Chef Eugene. He took me around the buffet and showed me what were safe options - which were plentiful. He also offered to bring me back rolls as well. I had pre-ordered dairy free mashed potatoes but that memo didn't get to him. He offered to make me some in the back (more on this later).Here are some of the gluten free & dairy free options. And check out the names. They are totally Star Wars™ inspired. From what I understand, this is the regular menu just with Star Wars™ names. Get ready now for the onslaught of pictures...These photos don't include all the choices but there were definitely a lot. I will say though, that if you are a vegetarian or vegan, this might not have the best offerings. It's very meat protein heavy, as you'll see by the photos of my buffet plates.One strategy I use when buffet dining is getting all of my food at once. I load up multiple plates so that I don't have to go back to the buffet again and I have lots of food. As you can see here, I loaded up quite well. I do this in case the chefs don't want to bring me food from the back, which happens on occasion. I feel more comfortable getting items straight from the buffet, when it's early (i.e. restaurant just opens) or a fresh plate has been added with new serving spoons. On this occasion, only some items were brought from the back for me. First up were the cold salad options. I love peel & eat shrimp, so I got a lot of these. I also got the mussels, potato salad, a slaw with soy nuts and cocktail sauce. My favorite thing on this plate was the slaw with soy nuts. Really quiet delicious, and I loved the various textures in the slaw. The potato salad was pretty plain, so I wouldn't probably get that again, but the shrimp & mussels were good.As you can see by this plate, I wasn't kidding when I mentioned there were lots of meat options. Most of this was just OK - I wouldn't say it was the best buffet options but not the worst either. My favorite thing on the buffet was hands down the Chipotle BBQ chicken thighs with citrus. This was fantastic and a real standout for the meal. I am really glad I got a bunch of this too. The only thing on my plate I really didn't enjoy was the plantains. I'm not a huge fan of them to begin with mostly because of the texture, so that's a bit of a personal dislike.With my dinner I had GNI brand rolls. They were heated fairly well, but did not come with any accompaniment (Earth Balance or extra virgin olive oil). Next time I'll be sure to ask for some.Remember those dairy free mashed potatoes I mentioned? I have to say that I really appreciated that Chef Eugene offered to make them for me; however, something got lost in the translation of making these. They used to be made at 50's Prime Time with extra virgin olive oil and were amazing. These were made with Soy Milk & Earth Balance - which would have been OK except that the soy milk was vanilla flavored. I don't know about you but vanilla & mashed potatoes just don't go together. My whole family tried them and everyone agreed these weren't very yummy. Next time, I think I'd skip these unless I knew they were made with EVOO ahead of time.When it came to dessert, I wish there had been some options on the buffet safe for gluten free & dairy free diners; however, there were none. That being said - that was one impressive buffet. Check it out!I was glad to hear that I did have a dessert option that I enjoy - the allergy house-made brownie with non-dairy ice cream. And I was even more excited when I learned it was So Delicious vanilla ice cream. Holy moly, you have no idea how excited that made me! I am a huge So Delicious fan, so knowing it's now on property just made me so giddy. Sure, it's currently only the vanilla flavor, but that's fine by me!This was so amazing. The combination of a rich brownie and coconut milk ice cream with Hershey's syrup makes me happy. It's the little things! Of course, I was so stuffed by the meal's end I'm surprised I got the whole thing down...but of course, I did.Overall, I thought that Hollywood & Vine offered a lot of options which is great. It was nice that there were so many items that were gluten free & dairy free on the buffet line. I also really love the dessert here which makes me happy. As far as a buffet goes, it's certainly not my favorite. I would likely choose to go to 50's Prime Time over Hollywood & Vine if it were between the two or another Hollywood Studios restaurant. For the event, the price was really high - high enough that I wouldn't do it again next year if it's offered. That being said, the character interaction was really good here, and I felt like we had ample time to see characters if we wanted.I'd give this experience a 6.5 out of 10.Have you been to the Star Wars™ Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine this year? What did you think of the special diets offerings?

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

*This dining review took place in May 2014.Ok, you guys, I have a problem. And it's name is Cooke's of Dublin. I have been to this quick service restaurant at Downtown Disney kind of a lot lately. Um, it's that good. As you know, I'm a sucker for great gluten free and dairy free fried foods, and this place fits the bill more than nicely. What can I say? I like great places like this that give me variety. On this particular visit, I stopped by on my lunch break during a work conference. The good news is my conference was at a hotel in Downtown Disney. That bad news...I wanted to eat at Cooke's of Dublin for every lunch (ok, maybe that's not bad news, but I wanted to go here a lot). On a side note, go to Downtown Disney in business attire and see the funny side looks you get from Disney guests. It's rather hilarious. I looked a wee bit out of place. But I digress.Back to the awesomeness that is Cooke's of Dublin. As you can see from my previous post, the offerings available at Cooke's of Dublin fried gluten free & dairy free is pretty vast. Where else can you get fried scallops, shrimp, fish, chips, chicken tenders, and onion rings? (OK, with the exception of chicken tenders & scallops, you can get these all next door at Raglan Road too!)On my previous visit, I got the shrimp & chips which is my favorite so far at Cooke's of Dublin. This time, I really wanted to try the scallops. I had them at Raglan Road over the holidays and while expensive, they were divine and also got me fully addicted to the best condiment there - sweet chili jam. Order this when you go. You'll thank me for it.The scallops & chips is a reasonable $12.95 (or maybe it was $13.95 with an upcharge. I was too excited to pay attention). The scallops are only available at Raglan Road as an appetizer and are $15, so this was a bargain in my opinion. Not only did you get the same condiments as you get at Raglan Road but you also get chips. Win and win. The scallops were really well cooked - not rubbery at all. The chips were also well cooked. I just love that they cook all the fried items to order. Nothing's getting soggy and your food comes out piping hot. The way fried food should be! Again, my only slight complaint is a common theme of undersalting, but I think salting is problem subjective here. I also think it's a bit of an art (see my dinner review of Boatwright's for perfectly salted crawfish bites). I always add a bit of salt to mine as soon as I get an order at Cooke's of Dublin. My meal came with sweet chili jam and a lime cilantro mayonnaise. When I had it at Raglan Road, I didn't eat the mayonnaise because I didn't know the ingredients. This time I asked, and they said it was just mayo no dairy ingredients like sour cream or milk. Yay! You know I love my condiments. I admit, I didn't love the lime cilantro mayonnaise. It just wasn't my favorite. It was good but not great. Now that jam. Oh the sweet chili jam. That stuff is amazing. Next time I may just ask for two containers of it instead of the mayo.Overall, I was very pleased with my choice of lunch that day. The scallops are a fabulous option, and I have to say, between the shrimp & scallops is a tough choice. I'll probably order these two exclusively at Cooke's of Dublin when I visit. I think the scallops really are a great money saving option at Cooke's of Dublin versus Raglan Road.I'm taking a bit of a Downtown Disney break during the Disney Springs construction this summer, but if I find myself there, this will likely be my lunch spot of choice! I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great food and special diets accommodation...and sweet chili jam! Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What's your favorite fried thing to order there GF/DF?

Shutters -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Caribbean Beach

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. It includes a vegan review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. Tucked away in the corner of Old Port Royale at Caribbean Beach Resort lies Shutters the resort's table service location. With a quiet atmosphere, dim lighting, and a view of the lake, it's a welcome respite amidst all the park & resort hubbub. Having not stayed at Caribbean Beach since 2008, I really hadn't visited the resort for food options since then.On this particular occasion, I met up with my friend Tony from Disney by the Numbers for dinner at Shutters. This is the only meal in which Shutters is open, which is a shame because I'd love to see a table service breakfast option here!Tony & I were greeted by Chef Bruce who was very nice. He asked if there was anything that we were interested in, and I had been eying the Pan-seared Jerk-rubbed Mahi Mahi which came with Caribbean Yellow Rice, Green Beans, Ancho Barbecue Sauce, and Vegetable-Pineapple Salsa. Chef Bruce said they could do everything except the rice which would be subbed out for a rice pilaf and the barbecue sauce. Tony opted for the Vegan Pasta Piquant. We also got an order of the GNI brand rolls with Smart Balance margarine (it is vegan & gluten free).Our rolls were fairly well cooked, and a lot better than the last rolls we got when Tony, Krista from Disneyways.com, and I had dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Those Ener-G rolls sometimes turn into hockey pucks once cooled. These were well heated, though I have to admit, I'm not a fan at all of the Smart Balance margarine. It tastes super fake and not at all like Earth Balance. I would prefer extra virgin olive oil over this any day. I was really looking forward to my entree, but I honestly can't say I was blown away. It was just meh. The fish wasn't bad but I didn't love the jerk seasoning on it. The rice tasted a bit like it was out of a box. The green beans were plain and nothing special, and I didn't get that wow factor from the pineapple salsa that I hoped I would. Was it a terrible meal? No. Was it an amazing meal. Not really. If I had my choice, I would head over to Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside (which I did the next evening) and order the fish dishes with the dirty rice & seasonal vegetables. Now that's a fish dish! Tony's pasta dish was a bit spicy but as he noted nothing special either. He did have a generous amount of veggies and the portion was quite large. I think we both agreed that this was a place we wouldn't probably frequent but wouldn't be the worst place to dine either. The prices were fairly reasonable for Disney ($16.99 for the pasta dish!). Overall, I give this a 6.5 out of 10. The atmosphere was charming but the food was lackluster. I appreciated all that Chef Bruce did to make sure we had a great meal and thought the chef interaction was great. I was just a wee bit underwhelmed by the food options.Have you been to Shutters? What did you order while there? 

Old Port Royale Food Court -- Breakfast

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Set amidst the tropical paradise that is Caribbean Beach is Old Port Royale, home to the food court, Shutter's table service restaurant, and a gift shop. It's a one-stop shop as you relax and enjoy all that the resort has to offer. Island inspired, you'll feel like you stepped into a Caribbean dream. While staying at Caribbean Beach recently, I stopped by two mornings for quick service breakfast offerings. This review combines both visits and includes what I ate both days.One of the first things that you notice when you head to Old Port Royale is that it's setup like an outdoor market (only inside). Each area houses a different type of food - pizza, sandwiches, etc. at lunch and dinner and different breakfast entrees during the morning hours. Because I needed to speak with a chef about the offerings, I popped into the first area I saw with breakfast options. It happened to be the section that served the Bounty Platters which you can find at every resort quick service location on property and includes: Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, French Toast, and Biscuit all for around $8.99.I spoke with the chef and asked for scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes and toast. They carried Udi's Gluten Free bread on hand. I also asked if they carried the allergy Mickey waffles (they do - see my list of Mickey waffle locations) with the Namaste & Bob's Red Mill combination mix being what they are currently using. I opted to get the Mickey waffles on morning #2.The wait wasn't very long, and soon I was eating in a very quiet area of the food court (with a nice view of the lake). Ahhh, relaxing! My breakfast was really pretty good. The eggs weren't anything special per se, but they were tasty and free of dairy. The bacon is that thin stringy bacon commonly found on property (again nothing special) but the breakfast potatoes here were the big winner. I don't know what they seasoned it with (seemed like just salt and pepper) but they were roasted perfectly. They were delicious! The bread didn't come with any Earth Balance but was fine with the other accompaniments.Day #2 was an early morning for me. I was at the food court at 6:30 a.m. Yes, you read that right. 6:30 a.m. Not my most favorite time to be up while at Disney. I was at a work conference, and had to present at that conference at 8:30 a.m. so no time for me to dilly dally. I literally was the 1st person in the food court that morning. Yeah...that's early.I met with the chef and asked for the allergy Mickey waffles and a side of scrambled eggs. I knew I needed something protein based along with my sugar.I have to say that the Mickey waffles weren't the best I've had, nor were they the worst. They were good but nothing special. The eggs were way overcooked but still edible. Overall, I preferred my entree from Day #1 over the Mickey waffles, but that's just me.In general, Old Port Royale Food Court had nice options for gluten free & dairy free breakfast diners like me. I found my meals to be perfectly adequate and safely prepared. Sure, it wasn't my favorite place on property, but if you're staying at Caribbean Beach this is a great option for a meal.I'd give these visits a 7 out of 10. Solid quick service meals with good special diets accommodations.Have you been to Old Port Royale Food Court? What meals did you enjoy there?

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

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.When it comes to fried food, you know that I'm a total sucker. I adore chicken tenders, fish and chips and just about anything that comes out of Cooke's of Dublin. This is a brief post, as I popped by recently to meet up with a friend and her family while they were vacationing at Disney. She's also gluten free and dairy free, and let me tell you sharing this restaurant with her was so exciting. She & her family liked it so much they came back that evening for dinner! (never underestimate the power of gluten free & dairy free fried foods!)On this particular visit, we stopped by right at 11 a.m. when they open. I like doing this because this place gets super packed at lunch time. I ordered my new favorite - shrimp & chips and my friend ordered the gluten free fish & chips. For a full list of gluten free & dairy free options, see my previous post about Cooke's of Dublin.I think the only thing I can say is that this restaurant consistently under-salts their food. I try to make sure I get a packet or two of salt and put it on as soon as I get my hot fried food. Salting is key with fried foods for me. Add in some cocktail sauce, and you're good to go.Overall, I always enjoy my visits to Cooke's of Dublin, and it has become one of my go-to spots at Downtown Disney for quick service. It's fast, delicious, and affordable.I give this experience a 7 out of 10.Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What is your favorite thing to order there?

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.It doesn't happen often that I eat at a Disney restaurant this closely together, but this lunch was a last minute meal. My family had made ADRs here, and I joined them unexpectedly for lunch (they were in the parks & I met them there). I never turn down an excuse to enjoy the Polynesian, although I have to say the current construction makes it a bit more challenging to visit. I also had to take photo of the water feature in the middle of the lobby. It's being removed for the new refurbishment of the resort, and I have to say I will miss it!But back to the food! While waiting for my family, I noticed the dinner menu was up for display. It looks like there are a few changes with the recent April 30th menu switchover in the parks & resorts. The lunch menu has virtually no changes, so I pretty much knew it was between a salad, sushi, or my favorite Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.We were greeted by our server, and I mentioned that I didn't see the sushi menu (we got one last week for lunch), and he said they are no longer serving sushi at Kona. Say what?! He said it was just a test, and that they decided to remove it for now. Well, that was a bummer. I wanted something light and had been hoping for some sushi. Which meant option #2 was on the table...salad.After a few minutes we were greeted by Higgins who is the manager at Kona. I was surprised to see him with the special diets yellow pad. He explained that they were short staffed that day and the chef was unable to come out and assist me. A first for me at a table service. I know this menu really well so I asked if I could have the Grilled Steak Salad with chicken instead of steak. He said that he was pretty sure that was possible, and he said he'd take this meal request to the chef and make sure that everything was safe. I will say that I didn't see a chef once during my meal (and it was a bit lengthy), so it sounds like they were a bit busy. This salad comes with mixed greens tossed with grilled chicken, vegetables, and cashew-lime vinaigrette. I have to say, the chicken was grilled perfectly and the salad itself was very fresh. It had sesame oil in the dressing, which was light and flavorful. I am a big fan of vinaigrettes so this worked perfectly for me. I will say, flavor wise, the steak is the better protein option with the vegetables served here, but chicken does work well too. I just don't really steak, so chicken tends to be my go-to protein.My only complaint would be that I think the price and portion ratio was a bit off. This salad is $15.99, and I would order the cobb salad at the Brown Derby any day over this. That salad is huge and this one is just a bit small (it looks bigger in the picture). As a light meal though, it was absolutely perfect for me. I just wouldn't want to order it if I were really hungry!Overall, I found the salad to be a good meal choice. The experience here was a bit mediocre this time. Our server was nice but we have found the last few lunch visits to be extremely slow paced. I hope that having a manager come out and speak to a guest isn't a normal occurrence here now. The manager was great but his knowledge of the food options is a bit more limited.Overall, I'd give this experience a 6.5 out of 10 for this visit to Kona Cafe. 

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.Aloha! It's been a while since I've dined at Kona Cafe for lunch. It's long been one of my favorite spots for a quiet and low-key table service lunch option, with one sandwich being a staple in my lunch rotation - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch with my mom in between a visit to the salon (Bamboo Salon - close to Disney with great service & rates) and shopping in Orlando. While there are fabulous restaurants in Orlando (and you can see many of them listed on sites like Gluten Free in Orlando, Celiac in Orlando, and Eating Out Without), I tend to make a trip to Disney because I know that I'll have a safe meal.When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Brett, who has assisted me before. I already knew that I wanted the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich, so that was the easy part. I asked him if I could have a combination of both sweet potato and regular fries. It's a combination I love with a bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to fries. I also always ask for the curry mango mayonnaise that is typically on the sandwich to be served on the side. As you know, I'm the condiment queen, and I will dip my fries in the curry mango mayo. It's amazing (and highly recommended!).The sandwich typically comes with fried onions and cheese, both of which are removed. Sometimes they can make me grilled or sauteed onions but this time Chef said he was unable to do it. Onions don't make or break the sandwich so that was OK with me (if it had been the curry mango mayo, well...that might have changed my mind!).I also asked about the bun. I knew that Disney was beginning to transition into a new bun from a company called Local Oven. Chef Brett said he thought that they had GNI still but as it turned out, they ended up with Local Oven. He also mentioned that my food was going to take a bit longer to prepare, as they were down a dedicated fryer and he would have to fry them in a pot.My sandwich looked great, though I noticed that I was missing bacon (which it comes with). This was quickly rectified and my bacon made the perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. The French fries were excellent as always, and made even better by the delicious curry mango mayonnaise. I should have asked for more because it's great slathered on your sandwich and with fries.I was surprised to see how big the new Local Oven buns were. They seem to be somewhere in the middle texture wise to Udi's & Ener-G. A bit soft but somewhat spongy in texture. The taste was actually quite pleasant. I think it might have needed to be heated up just a bit, but otherwise, I could definitely seem myself eating these readily the next time I visit. I was never a big fan of the GNI buns which were very small and had a really weird texture. I still prefer Udi's buns but I'm glad these are available. Local Oven buns are gluten, dairy, soy, and corn free. They contain egg whites, so they are not egg free.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. There was a lengthy wait time due to the frying but that was to be expected. The service was a little off that day but the restaurant was a bit busier than normal.For this visit, I would rate the experience a 7 out of 10.

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

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review as well as two gluten free reviews.Ah, Sanaa. Many of you know this is one of my favorite restaurants on property. I adore the Indian and African inspired flavors, the decor, and well...just about everything that this restaurant has to offer. I recommend this restaurant a lot to Disney guests looking for a great special diets meal that is just a little different than burgers and fries. It's so friendly for many special dietary needs - gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and more. Plus, they have gluten free & dairy free menus which is pretty awesome!On this particular visit, I was joined by my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Jennifer Harris from Gluten Free Go-to Guide. We were all really hungry after a busy day at Blogger U for the Gluten-Free Living Conference in Orlando. So, this was definitely a much needed meal. We were greeted by Chef Carroll who really took the time to go over the special diets offerings, as well as how the restaurant prepares special diets dinners. And then something funny happened. She asked if I was Sarah and explained that she had actually been one of the Disney's Catered Events teams that worked on the Special Diets Dessert Parties that I host at Disney. How cool is that? She said she worked on the menu development but didn't get a chance to be at the tastings or the event. So, it was really neat to meet her in person. She's now moved on from catering to work in Sanaa, and I'm looking forward to seeing a familiar face the next time I go in to dine.The group decided to order drinks - white & red sangrias for both Alexis and Jennifer (which looked fabulous) and an African Starr Mint Mojito for me. Yes, I'm totally addicted to these. One thing I will say is that the bartender didn't do quite as good of a job on my drink. It wasn't as balanced as it could have been and almost seemed like it was missing something. For our appetizers, we all chose different items. Alexis got the Butternut Squash Soup which looked good, but very dairy filled. Jennifer got the salad sampler which has one of my favorite lunchtime salads - the chickpea and cucumber salad. I usually get it with the turkey sandwich and it's delicious. For my appetizer, I restrained myself from the bread service (which I normally get) and ordered the Chana Tikki - chickpea cakes. I have been eyeing them for a while, and decided to switch it up.Taste-wise, these were very good. I really enjoyed the taste of the cake - though I will say the texture was a little "mushy." I think they could have been a wee bit more textured or crispier and that would have worked better. The accompaniments were spot on. I never met a chutney or coriander sauce I didn't like and both were fabulous. For entrees, I was torn. I really love the sustainable fish entree, but I also loved the curry/gravy dishes. I still really really miss the green curry shrimp because it was the perfect balance with Durban chicken. Chef Trish recreated it for me the last time I had dinner there, but it's not the same without it on the menu. I opted for the Durban chicken and spicy Goan Fish Curry. Now, this seemed like it may not be a good decision on my part - so much spiciness, but I decided to be a gambling lady that night. Both Jennifer and Alexis ordered the lamb dish and both raved about it. The Durban chicken was spicy but flavorful as it always is. I really do love this dish. There's a lot of complexity to it, and the flavors (though spicy) meld really well together. The Goan Fish was actually not at all spicy like it had been the time before. The last time it was practically nuclear and my mouth was on fire for what seems like forever. But, this time it was pleasantly spiced and seasoned and the mahi mahi was excellent in it. If it stays like this, I'll readily order it again.Alexis also ordered dessert, while the rest of us were too stuffed to attempt it. You can read Alexis's full review of Sanaa from that visit on her website Gluten Free in Orlando.Overall, it was a fantastic meal with great company and ambiance. I love sharing new Disney restaurants with friends, and it was great to hear what Jennifer thought of it as well. I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10. Have you been to Sanaa recently? What are your favorite dishes there?

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

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright's Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it's quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!Boatwright's culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines -- something I'm always a fan of. It's definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He's also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright's before. Well, you know that I had to change that!We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright's, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I'm not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I've probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it's pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn't?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce...and you just can't go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me...I honestly could have eaten them both myself!As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po'Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish - which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets - Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.So, I have to say....I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I'm probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it's traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn't sound appetizing, but if you're a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!Note to self...next time order this dish!Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie "fondue" of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. Despite the awful picture that I took - this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don't think he talked the entire time he ate it...it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it's a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright's is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.I can't thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I'm looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I'm already planning my next visit).I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!Have you been to Boatwright's? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?

Kouzzina -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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.