10/25/14 10/25/14

Enchanted Garden -- Embarkation Buffet -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Day 1 of my vacation on the Disney Dream began with lunch at Cabanas. While the meal itself wasn't anything spectacular, I was able to find some options to fill me up before I began exploring the cruise ship. I also wanted to find the elusive Special Dining Session supposedly found on the ship for guests with special diets.None of the staff seemed to know where it was, so my mom and I ventured to Enchanted Garden (after exploring the ship for a while) to see if we could find it. Enchanted Garden is located on deck 2 of the ship (where our stateroom was located, so it was convenient).My friends, the Disney Hipsters, had suggested an elevenses lunch while on the cruise ship, and my mom and I thought that was a great idea!The restaurant is set to resemble the gardens of Versailles, and it's a quaint and beautifully decorated restaurant. From the charming booths to the fountain in the middle of the restaurant, there were an impressive amount of small details and touches in this restaurant.Like Cabanas, lunch on embarkation day at the Enchanted Garden was a buffet. However, at this location, you were seated and had a server who took your beverage order.Before being seated, I let Rexon, our server, know that I had special dietary needs. He said this was not a problem, and he said he would walk with me through the buffet to see what I might be interested in. He also let me know that all of the food for my meal would be brought from the back and to not take anything off the buffet to avoid cross-contamination. I really appreciated this and found my experience at the Enchanted Garden vastly different from the chaos at Cabanas (understandable, as the only restaurant open at the time).There were some items that looked interesting, including a grilled chicken with a pineapple salsa and salmon wrapped in ham that I had seen on Gluten Free in Orlando's Disney Dream review. I asked about those, and I also requested some asparagus (which I adore) and some antipasti.On my way back to the table, I did take a bit of time to take photographs and look around the restaurant. I loved this restaurant's decor and wish I had enjoyed another meal there.Once I got back to our table, the assistant server (usually in charge of beverages at your table) took my drink order. I ordered unsweetened iced tea, and as I learned, they do not use Gold Peak tea like Walt Disney World does. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I drank a lot of water on this cruise!It didn't take long at all for my food to come out. Rexon brought all of my food and included a couple of desserts for me as well.I was a bit bummed to see plain chicken and plain salmon, having asked for the versions on the buffet. As I learned throughout the cruise, being very specific in your requests is important, as the restaurants will typically serve you the plainest food possible to ensure safety (at least in my experience on this cruise).My guess is as long as the sauces were safe, they would have served me the versions on the buffet instead of making me new items, but I do truly appreciate that they wanted to make me safe options. And for those wondering, they do cook items for special diets guests in a separate area of the kitchen on separate equipment. I was very glad to hear of that!The salmon and chicken were both fine; nothing special. The asparagus was dynamite, having been sauteed in extra virgin olive oil with some garlic.The antipasti was definitely my favorite part of this meal. The prosciutto and olives were the perfect light lunch (considering I was on lunch number 2!) The beef was not my favorite cured meat, so I didn't eat much of that one.For dessert, Rexson brought me Enjoy Life Snickerdoodle cookies (love them!) and the dreaded Jell-O. I'm not a huge Jell-o fan to begin with and especially not since there was a period during my initial Crohn's diagnosis where Jell-o and liquids were the only things I could eat. Add in that it's green Jell-o (gross) with fruit in it (double-gross) and meringue. Um, no thanks. I tried one bite and promptly decided that this Jell-o was not for me.But, I really appreciated that Rexson brought me some options! And I was very glad to see Enjoy Life cookies on board the ship.Overall, I thought Enchanted Garden was a much better option as an embarkation lunch than Cabanas. It was much quieter and definitely easier to navigate. The buffet itself was almost identical to the one in Cabanas (just smaller) and the staff went above and beyond to assist me with safe options.As I later learned from my friends, the special dining session on our ship was located at the Royal Palace restaurant. I never did get a chance to go there but I'm glad to have learned where it was held. I hope that the Disney Cruise Line does a better job in the future of keeping their staff up-to-date on these and where they are located (especially, since I was encouraged to attend it).With my stomach full from lunch number 2, my mom and I settled into our stateroom on deck 2 and then went to the DVC Member Welcome Reception. We sure kept ourselves busy until dinner the first night which was at Remy, one of the adult dining locations on the shipHave you been on the Disney Dream? What did you think of the Enchanted Garden?

10/25/14 10/25/14

Enchanted Garden -- Embarkation Buffet -- Disney Dream 2014

10/24/14 10/24/14

Cabanas -- Embarkation Buffet -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Cabanas is the Disney Dream's buffet style dining option for guests looking for breakfast or lunch options. Located on Deck 11 (near the top of the ship), it has incredible outdoor seating (as I found out while enjoying breakfast outside on my Castaway Cay day) and a fun beach vibe inside.During embarkation, Cabanas was the first restaurant open for dining when we boarded the ship. I was accompanied on my cruise by my mom and was also lucky enough to have some fellow GF friends also on board the ship. Before boarding the Disney Dream, we met up with my friends and all went to Cabanas together, particularly as we had heard from the Disney Cruise Line that there was a special dining session available on the ship (more on that later).When we arrived at Cabanas, we asked a cast member for a chef or someone we could discuss special dietary needs with. We also asked about the special dining session set to take place during embarkation, but no one on staff seemed to know about it (and it wasn't in our personal navigator i.e. the cruise ship daily program).Chef Christopher came out and spoke with my friend and I briefly, stating that we would be taken care of and that Dogan, the Head Server, would assist us. This began our first experience with Disney Cruise Line special diets accommodations, which I will be honest in saying is a bit confusing compared to Disney World's standard practice of handling special diets. Essentially, here's what happened to both myself and my friends (and we didn't dine together except this one meal) throughout the trip.You, as the special diets guest, consults with what's known as a head server (or the lead server over the restaurant and/or designated tables in a restaurant). The head server asks you what kinds of food items you would like (this can be something you saw on the buffet line or on a menu or something off-menu). They then take this to the chef who then confirms if what you requested is safe, then they relay this to the head server who then tells you if what you requested is OK. It's a bit of a telephone game but worked better once I figured out this is what was happening. Day 1? not so much!After Dogan took our requests (I asked for seafood, chicken, and a starch; my friend ordered chicken and gluten free mac & cheese for her daughter and chicken for herself), we took a look at the regular buffet.To me, the buffet seemed like a terrible cross-contamination nightmare. We were one of the first groups at the restaurant but by the time we walked by the buffet it had already been ravaged. As I learned later, the smaller restaurants are definitely the way to go (more on that when I review Enchanted Garden for Embarkation Lunch Round 2!).Dogan came back with chicken and French fries for me, but I was told that I should get my seafood (mussels, crab claws, and shrimp) from the buffet. I found the station that seemed the least likely to cause cross-contamination and used a fork to grab items from the back of the seafood presentation. I did not get any sauces and opted to eat everything plain (good thing, as I saw Chef Christopher, and he told me not to consume any of them because of cross-contamination).Later at Enchanted Garden, they told me that they would get everything from the back for me, so lessons learned - go with the smaller buffet (which opens about 30 minutes after Cabanas does).I can't say that the seafood was anything exciting. The shrimp were pretty bland as were the mussels. I enjoyed the crab, but they are a lot of work to eat. It's too bad that they couldn't get any safe cocktail sauce from the back at Cabanas.The chicken had some salsa-type marinade on it. It was a little spicy, almost like fajita-type chicken. The French fries were thick cut steak fries. Not particularly my favorite, especially without a dipping sauce.My friend's daughter also got the same chicken served alongside Amy's gluten free mac & cheese. She seemed pretty excited about this, as I know she was getting hungry while we waited.Cabanas and several stations on deck 11 are the only places with self-serve drink stations. I brought along my Tervis Tumbler (shout out to my local running store Fleet Feet!) and a Disney refillable mug to keep myself stocked in beverages. It's a long ways to travel from your room to deck 11 typically, so filling up refillable glasses while at Cabanas is a very good idea.I dined at Cabanas one other time during the trip for breakfast and will be recapping that here on the site. I can't say Cabanas was my favorite restaurant by any means while on the cruise. Given the choices, I would pick any of the other smaller rotational dining locations over Cabanas. My meal options definitely improved a lot as the cruise went on!My friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando has also been on the Disney Dream and she shares her experiences her blog. I highly recommend checking out her site for Disney Cruise Line tips too!Stay tuned for all of my dining reviews from my Disney Cruise Line vacation. I'll also be sharing a tips and tricks post too!Have you been on the Disney Dream? What are your tips for vacationing on the Disney Cruise Line with a special diet?

10/24/14 10/24/14

Cabanas -- Embarkation Buffet -- Disney Dream 2014

10/14/14 10/14/14

La Hacienda de San Angel -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.La Hacienda de San Angel is my go-to for Mexican food in the Disney Parks and Resorts. I'm not as much of a fan of San Angel Inn, but I find the food at La Hacienda to be bright, fresh, and plentiful. Nestled on the World Showcase Lagoon, it has terrific views and is gorgeous when visiting around sunset. On this particular occasion, I stopped by the evening before the Happy Haunted 5K race. This seemed like the perfect pre-race dinner spot. I was pretty keen to order one of the platters available here because I've had them several times, and they are delicious!Once seated, our server took our drink orders and go the chef for me. That was a La Hacienda de San Angel first, as usually the server works with you on your order. I was pleasantly surprised and really appreciated that the chef came out to chat with me. He let me know that both of the salsas along with the chips were safe for me to consume, which is great. A few years ago only 1 salsa in the chips and salsa duo was safe so I'm glad they've maintained the safe options lately. For my entree, I ended up splitting the seafood platter which needed no modifications (the spicy mayo on the corn is mayonnaise based), except for the removal of the cheese on the corn and beans. I love the chips and salsa here, although be warned the red salsa is sweet, smoky, and spicy! I am a big fan of salsa verde which always hits the spot. Every time I eat here and get chips and salsa, I wish that La Cantina de San Angel would still serve safe gluten free chips. I haven't dined there since that happened, and I miss that as a good quick service option. Both of these locations are non-Disney owned, so they don't have to adhere to all of Disney's special diets policies. The view from our table was lovely. It's a great spot to catch IllumiNations or have a nice sunset dinner. The platter itself has changed ever so slightly since last year. Gone are the griddled onions (which I loved) and the corn now has a spicy mayo (delicious). Otherwise, most components are still the same. I love the zucchini and squash and the corn. All 3 of the seafood components were well cooked, though I have to say the scallops were my favorite. One other slight change was the rice. Gone is the red/salsa based rice. And thank goodness. I loved this version which was much lighter and matched the main entree so much better. The black beans are fantastic and great to dip your extra chips in! Served with corn tortillas, this was a huge meal. We did have second helpings of the rice and beans, but couldn't manage another bite by the time we finished. I definitely did a good job carb-loading that night!Overall, La Hacienda de San Angel is still a great table service location in the World Showcase. You can tell they've become more popular because the prices have raised and the portions have diminished slightly. Still, the platters are your best bang for you buck with tons of food to share among the table! Have you been to La Hacienda de San Angel? What do you recommend ordering there?

10/14/14 10/14/14

Flying Fish Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in October 2014. Hard to believe that after not visiting the Flying Fish Cafe ever, I've now been there twice in a span of a few weeks. My first visit was during their regular dinner, where both Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and I got to enjoy their gluten free menu offerings. On this visit, I was checking out their new (and temporary) breakfast which started on October 1st. The menu, as I learned from Chef Brad while dining at Kouzzina recently, was a preview of the new breakfast menu available at the soon to be opened Trattoria al Forno (replacing Kouzzina). With a decidedly Italian theme, I was curious to see what options would be available to be as a gluten free and dairy free diner. As you can see from the menu itself, it is limited. I'm told there will be a few more dishes on the breakfast menu when it's moved back to Trattoria al Forno, but by and large it won't be expanded too much.We were greeted by Chef Sergio who is a chef I chat with frequently at Kouzzina. They were extremely busy that morning (it was just after the Happy Haunted 5K run, and the restaurant was quite full), but I did get to go through all of the options with him.By and large, this menu is very dairy heavy. Gone is my beloved turkey sweet potato hash, and there really is no equivalent to that or any of the skillets that I used to enjoy. Chef Sergio was honest in that some dishes like the one with polenta were pretty full of dairy.I decided to go with the two eggs entree, which is roughly the equivalent of the "American" breakfast entree that most breakfast locations have. I opted for allergy Mickey waffles instead of toast. I also asked if there was any way I could try the fennel sausage used in the polenta dish. It sounded really good, and Chef Sergio said he could make that happen. I certainly didn't go hungry at this meal. The scrambled eggs were good, and I enjoyed the breakfast potatoes which were pan fried for me to avoid cross-contamination. The bacon is still Neuske's which is delicious. The stars of my breakfast were the fennel sausage and the allergy Mickey waffles. Even if they aren't in Kouzzina, I still contend that this team cooks up some of the best allergy Mickey waffles on property! The fennel sausage was fantastic. Super flavorful and delicious. Chef Sergio said they buy the pork in bulk and blend their own fennel spice mix in-house. Yum and yum! I would definitely ask for this again. My family tried all the regular, non-allergy versions of the dishes, and they raved. The polenta dish was a hit as was the scrambled eggs with fresh mozzarella and basil. Oh if only they weren't dairy-filled! Overall, I thought the new menu was interesting but not particularly dairy free friendly. There are definitely some options and modifications that can be done, but it's not the menu that I know and loved from Kouzzina which was so dairy free friendly for me! Have you had a chance to try out this new temporary breakfast at Flying Fish Cafe?

10/13/14 10/13/14

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

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.The Mara, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, is one of my favorite quick service locations at Disney. Where else can you get African stew and gluten free (not dairy free) zebra domes?Because I have Disney Vacation Club, I often stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge when I'm at the parks and resorts for a long weekend, especially during holiday events and runDisney races. This visit timed up with my first runDisney race of the season, the Happy Haunted 5K during the Tower of Terror 10 Miler race weekend. Sure, I don't really need to carb-load before a race, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a few pre-race treats.I decided to stop by the Mara for lunch and was greeted by Chef Frank, who recently made me some amazing allergy Mickey waffles with toppings at Boma. Good thing I'm going to visit there for a post-race breakfast after the Jingle Jungle 5K!On a previous visit to the Mara, Chef Chris made me the Barbecue Bacon Burger, and it was outstanding, especially the barbecue sauce. When I arrived a the Mara, I saw it was back on the menu. Yep, that sounded like the perfect lunch to me. Chef Frank asked if I wanted to try it on an Udi's Pizza Crust, as a bit of a twist along with some additional toppings. Always one to try something different, I told him I was game.What he presented to me, was a beautiful (if that's the right word for a burger) presentation. It just looked delicious! The burger was topped with barbecue sauce, sauteed peppers and onions, cucumber slices, fresh tomato and lettuce -- all wrapped neatly in an Udi's Gluten Free pizza crust that was perfectly heated. On the side, Chef Frank added extra barbecue sauce for the French fries. Talk about a condiment upgrade!The burger itself was delicious and the accompaniments were a nice twist. As much as a loved the regular barbecue bacon burger, this was as equally delicious. I would definitely order it again jazzed up this way.Chef Chris also popped by during my lunch and brought me a nice treat - an OMG It's Gluten Free (and dairy free) chocolate chip cookie. You know, to keep my race strength up!As always, the Mara continues to be a delicious quick service option. If you're staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (either Kidani Village or Jambo House), this is the place to go.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite offerings there?

10/13/14 10/13/14

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

*This dining experience took place in September 2014. When it comes to good fish and chips and a pint of cider, there's no place better than Raglan Road Irish Pub, located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs). With dedicated fryers and proper fried fish and chips (and more!), there's a reason Raglan Road has been voted as one of the best gluten free places in Orlando. It's my restaurant of choice, whenever I visit the Downtown Disney area, not only for great food but also for great entertainment.On this particular occasion, I stopped by on a mid-week evening for a quick bite. I had originally planned to go to Cooke's of Dublin for their delicious shrimp and chips (also gluten free and dairy free fried wonderfulness) but the quick service location was beyond packed. I was with my brother and his wife, and we quickly headed back to Raglan Road to see if they had any bar seating open. Thankfully, they did!Of course, the first thing I did was order a Magners Irish Cider. I asked for their pear cider, which is my favorite, but they were out. So, plain cider it was. Not really needing to go through the menu, I quickly ordered the gluten free (and dairy free) fish and chips and onion rings to split with the group. I always double-check with the server or the bartender to confirm that the ingredients are still safe for me to consume. I have to say, sitting at the bar with a proper pint of Magners is pretty much my idea of heaven after a long day (especially, after a long day of conferencing, which I was doing for the next several days). I love Raglan Road's onion rings. They are fried well and are nice and crispy. They are not overly battered which I really appreciate. My only slight complaints are that the gluten free fried items tend to be under-salted (which is a matter of opinion, but I don't consider myself one to be adding salt frequently) and that they need to have a sauce to accompany the onion rings. My vote? The sweet chili onion jam. It's so good! I do usually ask for it on the side but just forgot that night.My fish and chips were delicious as always. If you're not a big steak fry fan, you may want to ask for Skinny Chips as a substitution or on the side. I know Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando is a big fan of these! I absolutely adore their house-made tartar sauce which is just fresh and delicious. I think I need to do a top 10 condiments list one of these days. This would surely make the list (along with the sweet chili jam). Overall, Raglan Road continues to be the best non-Disney owned restaurant on Disney property (with Cooke's of Dublin being the best non-Disney owned quick service). Their attention to special diets and consistent offerings make this a location I will go to again and again!If you're not craving fried food, don't worry. They have plenty of non-fried options. I'm a huge fan of their citrus salmon salad, and their shepherd's pie has a huge gluten free following. Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What's your favorite dish to order?

10/13/14 10/13/14

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

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.When it comes to my favorite restaurants on Disney property, I have to say it probably boils down to two. These are the two that I consider the ones I could eat at nightly and not be bored or disappointed. One is Sanaa and the other is Boatwright's Dining Hall. Both have decidedly unique culinary themes and both are a bit spicy (and condiment heavy, which I adore). I also consider both of them to be a bit of hidden gems on property; both very affordable and delicious. And they are equally popular with my family and friends. Case in point? This meal was requested by my friend for his birthday! Yep, people love Boatwright's. What I love most about it is the food is excellently prepared and delicious. Port Orleans resort restaurants in general are all about real food. Boatwright's, to me, is pure comfort food, with a Cajun and Southern twist. And they have crawfish bites and remoulade. Enough said.On this particular occasion, we were greeted by Chef Tony. He had been making up a beignet storm at the August Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW meet-up that afternoon; let's just say the meet-up and the beignets were very popular! It was a terrific meet-up, and I'm so glad the team at Port Orleans really worked to accommodate our group.At dinner, one of the first things that Chef Tony did was bring me out a basket of GNI rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. This is, as it always is here, a perfect combo. The GNI rolls were heated really well (more bonus points for Boatwright's!) and I love having some variation with the olive oil. Of course, I really can't go to Boatwright's and not get crawfish bites. I think it's literally impossible. Chef Tony served them up with a huge serving of remoulade (ah, the culinary team here knows me all too well). Our group shared these, and everyone agreed they are delicious.Every time I eat these, I have visions of a crawfish Po' Boy made at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory using these in my head. That would be so amazing. For my entree, I ordered the sweet tea brined pork chop with sweet potato and bacon hash. The onion straws do normally contain gluten and dairy, but with advance notice (2 weeks through Disney's Special Diets Department), they are able to make these along with the crawfish bites gluten free and dairy free. I've had this dish several times, and this is officially my favorite dish on the menu. Those onion straws are my culinary jam. Breaded in Namaste pancake and waffle mix with some spice added to it, these were heavenly. And, as you can see from the photo I was not lacking in the portion department with these either. They truly add a nice crunch to the dish, and I'm so grateful that the team can make them for me here. Onion straws for the win!The sweet potato hash is excellent. Combined with the flavors from the pork chop and the onion straws, the dish just is perfection. And the portions are huge! One thing I know, you will never leave hungry at Boatwright's!Boatwright's continues to impress me. I can't believe it took me until this year to dine there. It has quickly come up the ranks as one of my favorite places to dine, and yes, I'm quickly going through the menu options! With big flavors and comforting dishes, I look forward to my next meal and more to come!Have you been to Boatwright's? What dishes do you order there?

10/13/14 10/13/14

Ravello -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Four Seasons Orlando

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.

*If you are looking for a more recent review of Ravello, including their character breakfast options, check out the review written by our friend Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust.

Ravello located at the newly opened Four Seasons Orlando Resort (located in Walt Disney World in the Golden Oak community), is a modern Italian restaurant that recently opened this fall. I was lucky enough to attend the preview dinner of Ravello and was blown away by the level of service, attention to detail, and special diets offerings. It's not often that I get such a lovely meal outside of Disney World, and I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by the preview dinner. So much so, in fact, that I wanted to go back again after the menu had fully launched to try some of the other offerings. Both Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi and Executive Sous Chef Samuel Faggetti have mentioned rumblings of house-made gluten free pasta and pizza dough (made in dedicated areas of the kitchen), and I was hoping that they would have some on hand.

On this particular visit, I was joined by Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. We had spent the day visiting Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and attending the Back to Basics sessions offered for free during the festival. We had been busy at the parks, and we were ready for a nice relaxing meal.

We dined here early in the day (5:30 p.m.) and found the restaurant to be quite quiet. I adore the decor in this restaurant and love the modern contemporary feel. I like the touch of upscale, and I think it would be a great place for an adults only dinner or for date night.

When we were presented with the menu, we could see it had been expanded from the preview dinner, which was terrific. There were many more appetizers which also made me very excited, as I love ordering interesting starters to a meal. Our server, went over some of the options with us and did go back and forth to the kitchen to assist us with our questions. I didn't get a chance to say hello to Chef Fabrizio or Chef Sam, but our server did work to answer questions promptly for us.

For my appetizer, I ordered the grilled radicchio salad that came with pancetta, beets, and capers in a vinaigrette. To be honest, it wasn't what I pictured in my mind, but it was delicious regardless. It was very earthy, highlighting the beets and the grilled radicchio. As you can see, it was also gorgeously presented.

For my entree, I ordered the shrimp and lobster pasta. Ravello is not currently making house-made gluten free pasta (darn!) but they did have Italian imported gluten free pasta on-hand. I have to say that Italian gluten free pasta is ever so much better than some of the brands you buy here stateside. Some are great but others? Not so much. This dish normally comes with a pappardelle pasta but this came with penne. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly al dente and was delicious. The sauce was rich and flavorful, as was the seafood. I think my only complaint is that the portion was a wee bit on the small side for a $35 entrée. Still, the components were very fresh and well cooked. I'm glad I got to try this dish, though next time I may go back to the chicken dish I had on my first visit (which was beyond amazing) or another non-pasta dish.

Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Ravello. The food quality is exceptional and the service is excellent. It may not be a restaurant for everyone, although I saw many families and children dining there, enjoying pizza, pasta, and the like. You can read Alexis review of Ravello on Gluten Free in Orlando .I can't wait to check out the breakfast. As a brunch fan, I'm dying to check out their gluten free section of the buffet. If you're looking for something more casual, head over to PB&G for excellent barbecue! If you do dine there, be aware that the resort is valet parking only. You can get parking validated when you dine at Ravello, making the cost $5 plus gratuity (at the time this article was written).

*If you are looking for a more recent review of Ravello, including their character breakfast options, check out the review written by our friend Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust.

10/13/14 10/13/14

Riverside Mill -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, at least that's what this brunch junkie thinks! I am always looking to try new breakfast options at the Disney parks & resorts restaurants, and recently I got a chance to visit Riverside Mill not once but twice for breakfast. Work conferences sure have their advantages some time!On my first visit, I met Chef Ron. He asked me what I was interested in for the day, and I decided to go with a modified version of the adult Bounty Platter which normally comes with scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage and a biscuit. I switched out the sausage for more bacon and added in Udi's Gluten Free toast with Smart Balance vegan margarine. The bounty platter is more or less the same at most quick service locations with slight variations of the breakfast potatoes. I enjoyed the spicy (but not too spicy) breakfast potatoes at Riverside Mill. Overall, a very solid meal. For breakfast number 2, I went a little more sweet with allergy Mickey waffles. Culinary intern, Chef Emma, greeted me. I know her well from my copious amounts of gluten free, allergy friendly beignet orders and it was great to catch up with her. I ordered the allergy Mickey waffles (made here with Namaste pancake and waffle mix) and a side of scrambled eggs. I have to say, these were the crispiest Namaste waffles I've ever had on Disney property. I usually find these are less crispy than Bob's Red Mill allergy Mickey waffles, but these were outstanding on crispiness. I still prefer Bob's Red Mill pancake mix (personal opinion, not based on the quality of the product) but these were very well done. The side of strawberries was another sweet treat and ordering a side of scrambled eggs really balanced out the sweetness nicely.Overall, I found Riverside Mill to have excellent special diets breakfast options. Everything was well cooked and seasoned and easily modified. If you ever get a chance to visit Port Orleans Riverside Mill for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend it. I've had lunch here several times, and they have both been terrific and unique dishes. Have you been to Riverside Mill for breakfast, lunch or dinner? What are your favorite dishes here?

10/13/14 10/13/14

Flying Fish Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in September 2014. If you can believe it, there are actually some restaurants on Disney World property that I have never dined. Flying Fish Cafe, located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, is one of them. I've always been interested in the seafood-filled menu, but always skipped it for more affordable locations or for Kouzzina, my favorite Boardwalk restaurant. As a signature dining location, Flying Fish Cafe has a reputation for excellent seafood options. Admittedly, it's not a restaurant that I often hear much about, other than it has expensive but delicious seafood. Recently, I attended the Florida Bloggers Conference and had a post-meal dinner with Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and her family. We were both curious about the new gluten free menu available at Flying Fish Cafe for dinner and wanted to check it out. Perfect excuse to finally visit this restaurant! Upon arrival, the restaurant confirmed that we would both need gluten free menus and said that as a dairy free person I could also talk to the chef. It would have been awesome if they also had a dairy free menu, and I hope they will consider adding those in the future. As far as the gluten free menu itself. Wow! It was huge! There were tons of choices both for appetizers and for entrees (even sides). There were no desserts listed, but the chef did go over dessert options with us in person. I was also impressed with the amount of gluten free fried items available. You simply must check out Gluten Free in Orlando's review of the Old Bay Scented Crispy Calamari and Rock Shrimp. This looked to die for! Chef Tim went over options with me, and I decided to forgo the appetizer and go with dessert base on his suggestion that he would whip up something different for me. I will say that in the future I'd probably go for the appetizer, as the ones on Flying Fish Cafe's menu looked really good. While waiting for appetizers, bread and drinks, I got a chance to look around the restaurant which is quite beautiful. I love the mobiles and art-work. It really feels refined, yet whimsical at the same time. I also got a chance to meet blog reader Bonnie who was there with her husband for dinner and stopped by to say "hi." I love it when readers catch up with me! It's always so nice to meet everyone in person. After dinner, I checked in with them, and they enjoyed the meal as much as our group did! Fair to say, Flying Fish Cafe was quite good.The rolls brought out to our table were Ener-G. It's been a while since I've seen those on property. While I can't say these are my favorite rolls, they were well heated and tasted fine with the accompanying olive oil (which was very good).For my entree, I ordered the Oak-grilled Organic Scottish Salmon served with Spanish chorizo, marble potato, carrot, tomato, and Sweety Drop Pepper “hash,” Serrano ham crisp, Catalan-style lemon and garlic aioli and an aromatic saffron-heirloom tomato caldo. The aioli was removed from my dish (darn!) but otherwise, the dish required very little modification which was great.The picture really doesn't do this dish any justice, but suffice it to say, it was really very good. There were a lot of flavors going on - though I wouldn't say any were really that overpowering in considering how many bold flavors were present. The salmon was delicious though a bit overcooked. The vegetables were fantastic. Very well cooked and seasoned. And the broth was just delicious!For my dessert, Chef Tim brought out a variety of fruits with Tofutti vanilla ice cream and orange blossom honey. He must have read my mind, as the fruits were all my favorites - peaches, apricots, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. It was fantastic to top the fruit with the honey and ice cream. And it was huge! I shared some with the table because there was so much left. Very delicious and a nice variation on fresh fruit that I'm often given.Overall, I really enjoyed my first dining experience at Flying Fish Cafe. The menu is what you would expect from a signature location, and the prices do indeed reflect that. It's not a restaurant I would go to all the time, but on occasion, definitely. I'm glad I finally added this to my Disney dining restaurant list!Have you been to Flying Fish Cafe? What do you think of the new gluten free menu?

10/10/14 10/10/14

Riverside Mill -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Riverside Mill, located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, offers up quick service with a Southern and Cajun twist. Set to resemble a working cotton press, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this location - in addition to the great food offerings available. On a previous occasion, I stopped by here for lunch and had the mahi sandwich, which was great. On this visit, I was stopping by for another lunch while on break from a work conference. Never one to order the same thing twice in two visits (unless it's crawfish bites, then I'm always ordering them!), I wanted to try something different from Riverside Mill for lunch. While browsing the menu, the Carved Cajun Turkey Sandwich caught my eye. I was greeted by Chef Paul, whom you'll recall from my other visits to Boatwright's and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. Chef Paul always does a great job (as do all of the chefs at Port Orleans), so I knew I would have a great meal. We went over options, and when I mentioned the Carved Cajun Turkey Club Sandwich I learned that it had a Cajun mayo and was made with house-roasted turkey breast, not deli style turkey. Well, that sold me quickly! I also ordered it with a side of coleslaw.Well, I gotta say, this was one of my favorite quick service sandwiches. The house-roasted turkey breast was killer. It was nicely seasoned and not dry. Everything is better with bacon, and this sandwich was no exception. What made it complete for me was the Cajun mayo. Yes, you know I love a good condiment and this was another winner for me. Next time, I'm getting fries with this as a dipping sauce (I think I say that every time I'm at Port Orleans and I try one of their sauces). I was so glad to see that the coleslaw was not a mayonnaise-based slaw. Those can be overpowering, bland, and heavy. This was a light, vinegar-based slaw that was just a little sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey sandwich with it's robust Cajun mayo. Overall, I was thrilled to find this sandwich on the menu. I am always impressed when a restaurant takes the time to roast their own meats, as opposed to using deli meats. Chef Paul said they also cook their roast beef for the roast beef sandwiches in-house too. This team really knows what they are doing here. Port Orleans Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory are two fantastic quick service locations and some of the best on property. They really take the time to make quality meals that go above and beyond the burgers and fries realm (which, of course, you can always still order there and are also delicious). I'm looking forward to getting this sandwich again. It just might have to be a repeat on my next visit!Have you been to Riverside Mill? What special diets offerings did you order there?

9/23/14 9/23/14

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in September 2014. Note: Kouzzina is closing September 30, 2014 permanently and will become Trattoria al Forno. I can't believe that this is my final review of Kouzzina. This Greek/Mediterranean inspired recipe has been of the Disney restaurant community for the last 5 years. When Disney announced that the restaurant was closing (and being changed) in March 2014, you can imagine how devastated I was! They have some of the best allergy Mickey waffles and breakfast offerings on property, and I was definitely bummed at the thought of losing these options.On the plus side, we have learned that much of the breakfast menu will be tweaked and will offer similar options (things like the turkey sweet potato hash will be gone though). In fact, if you head to Flying Fish Cafe beginning October 1, 2014, you'll be able to sample the new breakfast menu that will eventually be served at Trattoria al Forno. I'll be going during Tower of Terror 10 Miler race weekend, and I'm looking forward to checking it out.I'm also very glad to know that the culinary team there will be there after the transition which is a great thing.As my last visit, I knew I had to get two things: turkey sweet potato hash and allergy Mickey waffles. Chef Brad greeted us and took my meal order. As a fairly steady Kouzzina regular, he's a chef I see pretty often, so it was great to catch up with him!As always, this dish did not disappoint. With poached eggs, sweet potatoes and turkey breast and an arugula salad, it's just the perfect breakfast dish. Normally, I get it with gluten free & dairy free toast (usually Udi's Gluten Free) but this time, I had to have my allergy Mickey waffles.As always, Kouzzina's allergy Mickey waffles were amazing. Crispy and cooked perfectly and topped with real maple syrup. These are so delicious, and I have a feeling that they'll continue to be delicious at Trattoria al Forno.Chef Brad also popped by the table and sent along a sweet treat for the road - Enjoy Life rice crisp candy bars. These are perfect to take in the parks, and I enjoyed one when I recently went to the Florida Bloggers Conference and needed an afternoon pick-me-up!Overall, I'm going to miss Kouzzina for breakfast so much. It was a great restaurant with terrific special diets offerings. I know that so many of you will miss it to.What was your favorite breakfast meal at Kouzzina? Are you looking forward to the opening of Trattoria al Forno?

9/22/14 9/22/14

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

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.The Mara, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, is one of my favorite resort quick service restaurants. I frequently stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, as a DVC member, and it's my go-to spot for a quick bite that's a little out of the ordinary (and beyond allergy chicken tenders -- though they do serve them there!). With African inspired flavors, you're sure to have a variety of options that will delight your taste buds.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch before we headed to the pool for an afternoon swim and then later to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. On a previous visit, I enjoyed the African Stew, a dish that I had to check out after reading my friend Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando's review! This time, I knew I wanted something else, and I saw a dish that caught my eye on the daily menu specials -- the Barbecue Bacon Burger. Once I got up to the ordering station, I notified the cast member that I had special diets and he called over Chef Chris. Chef Chris also works at Boma, and I've seen him many times at breakfast, so I knew I'd be taken care of. I asked Chef Chris if they could make the burger gluten free and dairy free, and I was excited when he said yes. Woohoo! I love a good sauce, and I was hoping that the sauce was house-made. (it was). While I waited, I was given a pager and made myself cozy in the Mara dining area. The Mara has such amazing murals and decor. It's a great place to just sit and rest, especially in the afternoon when it's slow.Once my pager went off, I met Chef Chris near the ordering area. I was ready for my burger and fries. Chef Chris told me that the bun was Local Oven and that the bacon was a nice thick cut bacon, not that stringy stuff they normally serve. Gotta love that chefs aren't fans of the stringy bacon either!It might not be much to look at this, but this burger was really quite good. The bacon was excellent and the burger was well cooked (you could add cheese to this, if you wanted to). But the house-made barbecue sauce really made it. It was a little sweet and super flavorful. It had some type of spices in it but I couldn't identify them. It was the perfect sauce though, and if it's featured the next time I'm there, I'm asking for extra sauce on the side...for dipping in fries, of course!I wasn't planning on getting dessert but Chef Chris surprised me with some OMG It's Gluten Free & Dairy Free chocolate chip cookies for the road. What a nice extra touch!I also could have purchased a 4 pack of the mini brownie cupcakes from Babycakes NYC. The Mara is one of the locations that always has them on hand.Overall, the Mara continues to be one of my favorite resort quick service spots. It's quality and the chefs there are always terrific. I'll be heading back there soon, and I can't wait to try other offerings available!I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite items to order here?

9/21/14 9/21/14

Flying Fish Cafe Gluten Free Dinner Menu

Flying Fish Cafe at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort (as of 9/2014) – This is strictly a gluten free menu. Check with the restaurant for additional offerings. Note: This is also a trial menu being introduced to select Disney restaurants. Appetizers:Our Signature Flying Fish Café Appetizer Duo: Crispy Corn-crusted Savory Crab Cake and Our Very Own Caesar Salad -- $17.00Chardonnay-steamed PEI Canadian Mussels – fennel, chiles, pesto crema, and grilled tapioca crostini -- $19.00Vegetarian Sushi Roll – silken tofu, avocado, heirloom radish and young carrot roll, cucumber-vegetable salad with Tamari and piquant Asian-spiced mango ketchup -- $12.00Crispy Corn-crusted Savory Crab Cake – savory vegetable slaw, roasted red pepper coulis, and ancho chili remoulade -- $17.00Old Bay-scented Crispy Calamari and Florida Rock Shrimp – savory vegetable slaw and classic cocktail sauce -- $16.00Our Chef’s Degustation of Worldly Artisanal Cheeses – fig and almond torta, raisins on the vine, honeycomb and a balsamico and spice-scented red Vidalia onion, fresh and kiln-dried bing cherry compote agrodolce -- $19.00Artisanal Salads:Our Chef’s Thunder Appetizer: Roasted Heirloom Beets and Fresh Vermont Goat Cheese – young greens, spiced pecans, citrus supremes, and a pecan-truffle-blood orange vinaigrette -- $14.00Epcot Land Pavilion Sweet Bibb and Local Mesclun Salad – Epcot cucumbers, tiny tomatoes, radishes, pickled red onions, lemon-Dijon vinaigrette, elephant garlic, and artichoke chips with fennel, Midnight Moon chevre, sweet onion, olive, local basil and sun-dried tomato fritters -- $11.00Mozzarella di Bufala alla Caprese – Florida yellow beefsteak, UgliRipe, and tiny tomatoes, aged balsamico, exotic peppercorns, petite basil, and Sicilian olio verde -- $15.00Our Very Own Caesar Salad – Hearts of romaine leaves, roasted garlic dressing, parmiagiana-montegrappa frico, and pesto-tapioca bread croutons -- $11.00Entrees:Our Signature Flying Fish Café Entrée Duo: Oak-grilled Angus New York Strip Steak and Potato-wrapped Red Snapper -- $49.00Pan-roasted Citrus and Exotic Pepper-crusted Yellowfin Tuna – opal basil, fennel, caper, olive, golden raisin, and pine nut-laced Epcot Land Pavilion eggplant caponata Sicilliana with a Lake Meadow Naturals poached egg -- $40.00Our Chef’s Eco-Friendly/Sustainable Fish Selection: Oak-grilled Organic Scottish Salmon – Spanish chorizo, marble potato, carrot, tomato, and sweety drop pepper “hash,” Serrano ham crisp, Catalan-style lemon and garlic aioli and an aromatic saffron-heirloom tomato caldo -- $38.00Flying Fish Café’s Idaho Potato-wrapped Red Snapper over a rich leek fondue with a Veal Glace de Viande and red wine-cassis butter reduction -- $39.00Key West Pink Shrimp and Calico Bay Scallop Brown Rice Gluten-free Spaghetti Pasta – fricassee of young squash, summer onions, tiny tomatoes, and a local basil with a fennel pollen-scented chardonnay crema -- $32.00Oak-grilled Maine Sea Scallops – confit artichoke bottoms and crispy young artichokes, local tomatoes and basil, pecorino romano and marscapone-laced risotto di carnaroli -- $40.00Oak-grilled Ashley Farms Organic Free-Range Ancho-Chicken – roasted bliss potatoes, pole beans and young carrots with tomatillo ketchup, jicama-pepper slaw, Epcot greens, and apple-chicken jus -- $32.00Oak-grilled Angus New York Strip Steak – thyme-roasted garlic vinaigrette-laced salad of local greens, tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers and pole beans with a classic sauce Foyot -- $47.00Seasonal Sides:Grilled California Asparagus with sauce Foyot -- $17.00Wilted Garlic and Lemon-scented Curly Spinach -- $7.00Creamy Risotto di Carnaroli – local tomatoes and basil, pecorino romano, and mascarpone -- $8.00Aged Gruyere and Parmigiano-Reggiano Potato Gratin -- $8.00Fines Herb-roasted Wild and Cultivated Mushrooms -- $9.00

As always, make sure to contact a Disney Cast Member when ordering so that they can ensure the best standards for dealing with cross contamination, etc.

If you have a new quick service special dietary needs sheet and want to share it with readers, you can send it to me via email at gfdf.wdw@gmail.com

9/19/14 9/19/14

Kona Cafe Gluten Free Breakfast Menu

Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort (as of 12/2014) – This is strictly a gluten free menu. Check with the restaurant for additional offerings. Note: This is also a trial menu being introduced to select Disney restaurants. For photos of the children's gluten free menu, head to Gluten Free in Orlando.Entrees:Steak and Eggs - char-grilled New York strip served with 2 eggs and home-fried potatoes - $14.49Ham and cheese omelet with home-fried potatoes -- $11.49Egg white omelet with roasted peppers and goat cheese -- $10.99Fruit plate - fresh fruit served in a half pineapple -- $8.99Two eggs, any style, with home-fried potatoes and your choice of sausage, bacon, or ham -- $10.99Pancake with your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage -- $9.49Mickey Shaped Waffles - waffles shaped like our good friend Mickey with choice of ham, sausage, or bacon -- $9.49The Samoan - two poached eggs atop smoked pulled pork hash, finished with hollandaise sauce --$9.99Sides:Bacon -- $3.99Ham -- $3.99Sausage -- $3.99Oatmeal -- $5.49Fresh fruit cup -- $4.99

Kids’ Meals (for guests ages 9 and under)

Mickey Check Meals (served with a choice of small lowfat milk or small Dasani water) – $6.49

Scrambled eggs with broccoli, tomatoes, and breakfast potatoes, served with fruit salad and yogurt

Oatmeal and dried cranberries served with turkey bacon and fruit salad

*Meets Disney nutritional guidelines for complete meals without substitution.

OrAll entrees below served with choice of small lowfat milk, small Dasani water or small Minute Maid apple juice.

Choice of one (1) entree -- $6.49 (all meals include choice of one (1) side item: bacon, sausage, or fruit cup)

Scrambled eggs with broccoli, tomatoes, and breakfast potatoes, served with fruit salad and yogurt

Donald's Choice - one egg, quacked and scrambled, with cinnamon toast

As always, make sure to contact a Disney Cast Member when ordering so that they can ensure the best standards for dealing with cross contamination, etc.

If you have a new quick service special dietary needs sheet and want to share it with readers, you can send it to me via email at gfdf.wdw@gmail.com

9/16/14 9/16/14

Plaza Restaurant -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

The Plaza Restaurant located on Main Street USA is a charming and quaint Victorian themed restaurant filled with nostalgia and lovely theming. As a table service location, it’s centrally located on Main Street and is very popular with guests looking to enjoy a sandwich and sundae right in the center of it all.

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.

Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I’ve always heard many terrific things about this restaurant and Chef Ken who works at the Plaza has a cult following as a terrific special diets chef. However, as a special diets diner, I’ve never had particularly great experiences at the Plaza. In fact, I’ve found them to be downright disappointing and even frustrating. Because of that, I haven’t made it a point to dine there frequently as I’ve found my options to be nothing particularly special or my interactions with Disney chefs there to warrant my returning on a frequent basis.

But I’ve heard so many great things and been encouraged by many of you to give it another try, and so I made a reservation for my visit to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for an early dinner. I had heard that Chef Ken did not work Sundays, so I did not anticipate he would be there (which he wasn’t) but I was really hopeful that my experience would change my mind about visiting the Plaza since it’s so popular among many special diets guests. I've also been reading the reviews from Gluten Free in Orlando lately, and Alexis has shared some fantastic meal reviews from the Plaza - so I felt like I had a good shot at getting a great meal.

Plaza Restaurant Interior Magic Kingdom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we arrived, we were seated fairly quickly. The restaurant itself was moderately busy but not completely filled with guests. We were seated near the rotunda/atrium which is a really lovely portion of the restaurant. The restaurant itself is so charming, and I love looking around at the nooks and crannies and the little details (it’s so cute in the winter time with the holiday décor).Our server quickly took our drink order and let us know he would get the chef.

Chef Kevin came out a few moments later and asked about my dietary needs. He said that my only option was chicken tenders. I inquired about the sandwiches and he told me that the bread options were no longer gluten free and dairy free and that they were only gluten free.I wasn’t given the allergy binder this visit, so I couldn’t go through the list of options, but I did ask him what brand they were using. I mentioned Local Oven, Udi’s (which was there last visit), GNI (also there on my last visit), and Chef Kevin told me none of these were available. When I asked again about the bread, I was told they use an “off brand for the gluten free bread” to “save money.”

He also indicated that they are focusing more on gluten free offerings versus those with multiple needs.I was honestly shocked when he told me this. First off, I can’t imagine any Disney special diets offering using an “off brand” which I’m not even sure exists and second, the fact that he wouldn’t disclose the brand or ingredients was equally disconcerting. I asked if my only option was a salad or chicken tenders and his reply was simply, “yep.” He was not willing to give me a sandwich with a lettuce wrap (which could have worked with several of the sandwiches including the tuna salad), and he was not willing to flex on the offerings.

I did express my concern about this, and he couldn’t seem to be bothered. He said that it’s not his decision (which I understand) and that there’s nothing he can do other than make me allergy chicken tenders (or give me a salad but he was really pushing the tenders). I asked if he had any sauces available for the chicken tenders, to which his reply was, “ketchup.” I did press him a little, and he said he’d see if the barbeque sauce or honey mustard were safe but he couldn’t promise anything.

Plaza Restaurant Menu Magic Kingdom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Figuring I could make allergy chicken tenders work (despite the fact that I could get them cheaper somewhere else), I assumed (falsely) that I could get a sundae to make up for the fact that there were no sandwich offerings. However, that was quickly squashed when Chef Kevin informed me that they no longer carry Mrs. Richardson’s chocolate syrup (which is gluten free and dairy free) and they only carry Nestle hot fudge which contains dairy. I was told I could have vanilla or chocolate Tofutti and that was it.

It was at this point that I expressed even more serious concern to Chef Kevin about this, stating how this is very disappointing for guests. He just shrugged and did not answer me and went to prepare my food. The entire table was stunned by the lack of offerings and everyone decided to skip dessert because of the lack of options for me, which was very nice of them.

Allergy Chicken Tenders at the Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Chef Kevin came out about 15 minutes later with my chicken tenders and fries along with ketchup, honey mustard, and barbecue sauce. He literally didn’t say one word to me (even when I said thank you).

*Note: I realized after this post (and in talking to others who joined me for the meal, that he did comment that he included barbecue sauce & honey mustard for me)

As much as I love allergy chicken tenders, it put a sour taste in my mouth even to eat here at this point. The chicken tenders themselves were cooked well (not as well as Columbia Harbour House but then I’m partial), and the steak fries were nothing to write home about. I actually am not a steak fry fan, so I was glad to have some dipping sauce on hand.

Sauces at the Plaza Restaurant Magic Kingdom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our entire party actually ate quite quickly because none of us were feeling very comfortable at this restaurant.

After my dining experience, I went to City Hall to discuss this experience with the Disney team – something I have never done in my 5 ½ years of dining gluten free and dairy free at Disney (not even when the Chef at Jiko made me a terrible meal because he said coconut milk was dairy). I was just stunned at the chef’s lack of professionalism. I can completely understand if the restaurant has changed their offerings and limited availability but this seemed rather excessive and completely out of the ordinary for Disney restaurants. It was an unfortunate experience overall, and I honestly can’t justify ever going back. It was that bad.

I personally don't want to bother going someplace that can only serve me allergy chicken tenders when I can go to a quick service location and get them at half the price. (This is my personal preference, but I see the value in having this option at a table service) To add to the fact that each time I’ve been here I’ve had just horrible service from the chefs and servers, it just makes the Plaza a place I can’t go back to.

And I really wish that wasn’t the case. I want to love it. I want to have amazing experiences there and meet Chef Ken. But a location that has only a handful of great chefs and a higher percentage of mediocre to terrible chefs has an inherent problem in the kitchen. There’s a lack of consistency and training across the board, and it’s also unfair to those awesome chefs who end up taking on the brunt of special diets (regardless of whether they love it or not, it’s still a lot of extra work).

So, this was the final straw for me. I just can’t go to the Plaza again. Maybe in a few years but not for a really long time. This experience just really was dreadful. I can’t even give it a rating because I don’t think there’s a fair scale of which to even rate it.

Have you been to the Plaza? What was your experience there?

9/12/14 9/12/14

ABC Commissary Allergy Friendly Lunch Menu

ABC Commissary at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (as of 2/2016) – This menu covers the top 8 common allergens (gluten/wheat, milk/dairy, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish). Check with the restaurant for modifications and/or other special dietary needs. Note: This menu was introduced as part of Disney’s allergy-friendly menus launch in 2015. Gluten/Wheat Allergy-FriendlySandwiches served with Apple Slices, Steamed Broccoli, or French Fries1/3 lb fresh Angus Bacon Cheeseburger1/3 lb fresh Angus CheeseburgerChicken ClubChicken TendersAsian Salad served with Chicken or Salmon, Cabbage, Carrots, Edamame Beans, Oil and Vinegar Dressing6-oz Strip Steak served with Steamed Broccoli and French FriesRoasted Salmon served with Steam Broccoli and French FriesDessertAllergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip CookieAllergy-Friendly Chocolate BrownieChocolate MousseKids’ MealsChicken TendersCheeseburgerFrench Fries Available Upon RequestAll Kids’ Meals include a choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani WaterFish/Shellfish Allergy-FriendlyPlease consult with a Special Diets-trained Cast Member before placing your order.Milk Allergy-FriendlySandwiches served with Apple Slices, Steamed Broccoli, or French Fries1/3 lb fresh Angus Bacon Burger1/3 lb fresh Angus BurgerChicken ClubChicken TendersAsian Salad served with Chicken or Salmon6-oz Strip Steak served with Steamed Broccoli and French FriesRoasted Salmon served with Steam Broccoli and French FriesDessertAllergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip CookieKids’ MealsTurkey SandwichChicken TendersHamburgerFrench Fries Available Upon RequestAll Kids’ Meals include a choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani WaterEgg Allergy-FriendlySandwiches served with Apple Slices, Steamed Broccoli, or French Fries1/3 lb fresh Angus Bacon Cheeseburger1/3 lb fresh Angus CheeseburgerChicken ClubChicken TendersCouscous-Quinoa and Arugula Salad with Salmon or ChickenAsian Salad served with Chicken or Salmon6-oz Strip Steak served with Steamed Broccoli and French FriesRoasted Salmon served with Steam Broccoli and Couscous-Quinoa PilafDessertAllergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip CookieKids’ MealsTurkey SandwichCheeseburgerFrench Fries Available Upon Request All Kids’ Meals include a choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani WaterPeanut/Tree Allergy-Friendly Our location does not use any peanut/tree nut products, in the preparation process. Please feel free to make your selection from our main menu.Soy Allergy-FriendlySandwiches served with Apple Slices or fresh Steamed Broccoli1/3 lb fresh Angus Bacon Cheeseburger1/3 lb fresh Angus CheeseburgerBaked Chicken TendersAsian Salad served with Salmon, Cabbage, Carrots, Oil and Vinegar DressingDessertAllergy-Friendly Chocolate Chip CookieStrawberry ParfaitKids’ MealsBaked Chicken TendersCheeseburgerAll Kids’ Meals include a choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small Dasani Water

As always, make sure to contact a Disney Cast Member when ordering so that they can ensure the best standards for dealing with cross contamination, etc.

If you have a special dietary needs menu and want to share it with readers, you can send it to me via email at gfdf.wdw@gmail.com

9/8/14 9/8/14

Riverside Mill Food Court -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014. Visiting Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort makes you feel like you're transported back to the days of Mark Twain and riverboats, with a distinctly Southern feel. The restaurant is set to resemble a working cotton press and has massive amounts of working gears that are powered by a large water wheel. It's pretty impressive to say the least. It's also a massive food court with lots of seating and Southern inspired menu.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch before a meetup over at Port Orleans French Quarter for my favorite gluten free and food allergy friendly beignets. I also had dinner planned for Boatwright's with friends, so it was a very Port Orleans inspired day! While the food at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is decidedly New Orleans, the menu at Riverside Mill is a little more standard for a food court, with a few standouts with Southern flare including a Muffuletta flatbread and a Southern fire chicken sandwich. I was having a hard time deciding what to order.I was greeted by Chef Page, and I asked him what might be safe to eat. We discussed several options including the Southern fire chicken sandwich and the Mahi sandwich which sounded really interesting. I opted to go for the Mahi sandwich which came with fries from a dedicated fryer. It was rather busy at the food court, so I took the time while I waited to explore the restaurant a bit. There are lots of amazing details in there!Once my meal came out, I got a seat and dug in. The Mahi sandwich had Cajun seasoning on it and was seasoned nicely. Served on a Local Oven brand bun, this was a fairly substantial sandwich. The sandwich was topped with coleslaw and a remoulade sauce (which is mayonnaise based). You know how I feel about condiments and this sandwich satisfied my sauce cravings. Now if I would have asked for some remoulade on the side for the fries... The French fries were the standard fries you get at Disney World, so nothing special there. But had I dipped them in remoulade...genius! The restaurant itself had quite a few offerings available to me, which was terrific. I liked the food a lot here and I love the atmosphere. It's a great place to dine and enjoy the atmosphere and for a quick service it has a lot of charm to it. I enjoyed my Mahi sandwich a lot and would definitely order it again without hesitation.Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10. I am looking forward to grabbing breakfast here soon, when I stay at Port Orleans Riverside for a work conference. I do have to say that I think I prefer Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory's menu overall, but happily would dine at Riverside Mill again for lunch or dinner.Have you been to Riverside Mill? What did you order there?