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

*This dining experience took place in March 2015.It's been quite some time since I've been to the Polynesian Resort and Kona Cafe. The biggest reason has been the ongoing refurbishment/construction of the resort. The resort itself still has a fair amount of construction to be done, but on this visit, I got to see all the progress they've made. The lobby has been completely redone and has some gorgeous new lights and terrific looking new furniture. The one thing it's missing is the old water fixture but I'm glad to see they have a small one, as an homage to the former lobby.On this particular occasion, I visited Kona Cafe for lunch. After admiring the new lobby (and the soon to be opened Trader Sam's Grog Grotto), I checked in for lunch at Kona. The staff noted my special dietary needs, though I was given a regular menu instead of the special diets menus that I've received in the past. When I server came to the table, she said she would need to get the chef because of having multiple dietary needs involved in my order. I'm not sure if the special diets menus are still at Kona, though I suspect they are and aren't given out to guests who have multiple dietary needs, unless requested. I'll have to check on this the next time I'm there.I was greeted by Chef Johnny, who has been a chef at the Polynesian for sometime now. He was at Kona for a very long time but then moved to Ohana. However, I'm told he bounces back and forth between restaurants now.   For my lunch, I ordered my favorite lunch item - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries and curry mango mayonnaise. The curry mango mayonnaise is the best and so delicious on the side as a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries.Overall, the entree was really good. The only real downfall for me was the GNI brand bun. It was really tiny for my sandwich, and it was also not heated very well (which meant it was beyond crumbly). I'd love to see the Local Oven bun or even the Udi's Gluten Free bun as an alternative, as they are both much larger and also less apt to be crumbly. The bacon used for the sandwich is terrific thick-cut bacon, and it all combines together for a great sandwich.I was pleased to see that my favorite curry mango mayonnaise was still at Kona, as was the Island Chicken Sandwich. I will definitely pop by again for lunch because this is consistently one of my favorite sandwiches on property. Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you like to order when you dine there?

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop -- Snack -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. Located in Disney's Beach Club Resort is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This ice cream parlor reminds me of those classic 1950s ice cream and soda shops -- complete with hamburgers & fries, milkshakes and amazing sundaes (and let's not forget the infamous Kitchen Sink - a gigantic serving for four of literally every sundae item the restaurant has). It's been a while since I've dined at Beaches & Cream, in fact my last review here on the blog was from 2011. That was when I discovered the awesomeness that is the Beaches & Cream peanut butter sauce! Beaches & Cream has two options for ice cream goers. The first is the traditional table service where you can order ice cream treats and a savory items like burgers and fries. The second is a quick service counter style, located directly next to the table service seating area and accessible by a separate door. This place is pretty darn busy, and it used to be that you could only get walk-ups to dine here. That's right, no ADRs! Luckily, that has now changed and you can make reservations to enjoy a visit here. On this particular occasion, we actually did not have a reservation but stopped by to see if we could get a walk-in. Luckily, we were able to get counter seating which was terrific. Before we were even seated, I notified the hostess of my special dietary needs, and she marked our ticket with "allergy." Once seated, the manager came out to discuss options for me. Since I love the peanut butter sauce, I asked if I could have a modified version of the No Way Jose ice cream sundae. She said not a problem, and offered me a choice of Tofutti (which they have in chocolate and vanilla) and Rice Dream (in vanilla only). The No Way Jose typically comes with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so I opted for the Tofutti. When you order special diets sundaes or food at Beaches and Cream, they will prepare it entirely in the back to avoid cross contamination. Watching the servers make sundaes at the counter, I can definitely attest to the high level of cross contamination that posed there.  After a fairly minimal wait, I was brought out a huge sundae. I was not prepared for the size of this thing! Tons of non-dairy ice cream smothered with peanut butter sauce, chocolate syrup and chocolate chips was the way to go. I'm fairly certain I didn't speak for a good 15 minutes while I ate this sundae. If you like peanut butter and chocolate this is the combo to get.*Note: A blog reader mentioned that they were told the chocolate chips were not safe to consume for dairy free special diets; however, I was told by the manager that the chocolate chips only contained soy (likely soy lecithin). I didn't feel sick afterwards, so I'm hopeful that these are indeed a safe option! The manager did not include the peanut butter morsels on my sundae, which did contain dairy (same with the whipped cream).Overall, I had a great sundae at Beaches and Cream. It's a great go-to sundae stop, and they do have a large variety of options for toppings. I'm looking forward to going back again in the summertime when I need a sweet (and cool) treat!Have you been to Beaches and Cream? What did you order when you dined there? 

San Angel Inn -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Mexico -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. San Angel Inn, located inside the Aztec Pyramid of the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase, is a beautifully themed restaurant with an impressive atmosphere. Always set to resemble twilight, the interior of the building is dark (which you'll see reflected in my poorly lit photos), but that adds to the charm of this restaurant. Even more charming is the fact that the boats from the Gran Fiesta Tour slowly meander around the restaurants waterfront view. If you've ever been to Disneyland, you'll recognize this as a similar restaurant style to Blue Bayou. I had not dined at San Angel Inn in many years. I don't recall being particularly wowed by the food on the first visit, and I love going to La Hacienda de San Angel with it's sparkling World Showcase Lagoon view and amazing dishes, so it's not surprising that it's taken me this long to go back. After reading Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of San Angel recently, I knew it was time to make a reservation and see what new offerings were available to gluten free and dairy free diners.When we arrived, the hostess mentioned that the menu noted gluten free and dairy free offerings, and I was excited to see that the menu had these choices listed - though the dairy free options were basically only one item. Of course, I learned that this is not the case, so I'd love to see the restaurant come up with a menu that more accurately reflects the gluten free and dairy free offerings.  Our server Martin was amazing. After being seated, he inquired about my special dietary needs - noting that the chips might not be safe for me to consume due to cross contamination. He said that sometimes they fry churros in the same fryer, so he would need to check with the chefs on whether today was a safe day or not. This is definitely an important thing to look out for, and I was so glad he wanted to ensure my safety. He seemed very knowledgeable in gluten free dining and celiac disease, which is awesome. Martin reported back that the chips were indeed safe that day, and he brought out a fresh basket along with two kinds of salsas. Like La Hacienda de San Angel, you get a salsa verde and a salsa roja (green and red salsas) -- both delicious. The red salsa was a bit sweet and smoky (definitely chipotle-based) and the salsa verde was much milder and a little tangy (thanks to the tomatillos in it). I'm glad that these were OK for me to consume that day because chips and salsa are a must at a Mexican restaurant!  For my entree, I ordered the enchiladas verdes de pollo. These chicken enchiladas with green sauce were fantastic. The only modifications I needed for dairy free were removing the queso fresco (cheese) and sour cream. I really loved the red onion garnish and the chicken inside was very good. I loved the black beans and rice -- although I have to say I preferred the rice that La Hacienda de San Angel is now making that is not salsa/red sauce based.Having recently spent a week in Mexico, I have to say that this reminded me of a lot of the dishes I got while on vacation. It was a little pricey but overall would be something I'd order again. I'd love to see something like this in a quick service restaurant. We need our version of Rancho del Zocalo (from Disneyland), especially given that La Cantina de San Angel Inn is no longer very gluten free friendly.  There weren't really any dessert options for gluten free and dairy free diners, but gluten free diners will find that there are several options. Of course, there's always an after dinner margarita at La Cava del Tequila! I was very impressed with how my server and the culinary team handled my special dietary needs -- especially given that this restaurant is not owned and operated by the Disney Company. They did a terrific job of making sure that my meal was delicious and safe! You can find out more information on their website at: http://www.sanangelinnusa.com/Have you been to San Angel Inn? What were your favorite menu offerings? 

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

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.Ah, Boatwright's Dining Hall. Every time I go I am treated to a great meal, and this time my meal was epic. That's because I finally got to indulge in a little thing called chicken and waffles. Yes, honest to goodness deep fried chicken and waffles. But before I get into all that deep fried goodness, let me back up with my entire meal experience. On this particular occasion, I was celebrating (a bit belatedly) my birthday. Last year, I went to Boatwright's Dining Hall for the first time on my birthday, so it seemed fitting to make it a part of my birthday tradition. It was great too because almost all of my friends who dined with me the year before were able to come to dinner this year. Many of them also have special dietary needs, so it's fun to see what everyone gets. You can read Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of our dinner on her website. Alexis had ordered chicken and waffles on a previous visit to Boatwright's, and while I also got the fried chicken, I didn't get the waffles (huge mistake on my part), and for this visit I wanted to make sure I ordered this for the birthday celebration. Because of this I requested the chicken and waffles in advance. The restaurant asks that you request at least 2 weeks in advance through Disney's Special Diets Department. This ensures that they have all the ingredients on hand and everything will be ready for you when you arrive (trust me, you don't want to go and be disappointed you can't order this or the crawfish bites).  After we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by Chef Paul who came prepared with a huge basket of GNI brand rolls and extra virgin olive oil. This restaurant consistently heats the GNI rolls really well, so they make for a terrific pre-dinner starter. My gluten-filled eating family and friends enjoyed the house-made cornbread, and I have to admit I secretly hope that one day Boatwright's will also make a gluten free and dairy free version for special diets guests.  For an appetizer, I ordered the crawfish bites -- of course! This time, I was pleasantly surprised to taste some new spices on the crawfish bites. The new seasoning added even more of a cajun/creole feel to the dish, and I really enjoyed the bit of spice it added. Of course, how can you really go wrong with anything that's deep fried and seafood? The remoulade with its creaminess mellowed out the spice of the crawfish bites. Luckily, I split these with other diners, which is a good thing because I am pretty sure I'd be able to eat the entire plate myself. And good thing I saved room because I needed it for the deliciousness that is chicken and waffles. I have to say that this dish totally exceeded my expectations (which I have to admit were pretty high after hearing Alexis rave about it). The chicken itself was super crispy (Chef Paul used a batter that included an egg wash and Namaste all purpose gluten free flour) and very well seasoned. I've said it before, but I will say it again - Chef Paul is an expert at seasoning fried foods! The waffles were also extra crispy on the outside. When combined with the sweetness of the maple syrup and the salty fried chicken - the combo was just out of this world. It's been years since I've had proper chicken and waffles, and I am so excited that I can now order it at Boatwright's Dining Hall. I'm pretty sure this will be a regular on my entree rotation along with the sweet tea brined pork chop (another favorite). When it comes to dessert, I'm always too full to get dessert here. Of course, if I had room I would probably run over (or maybe slowly stroll depending on how full I am!) to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory at Port Orleans French Quarter for the gluten free and dairy free beignets. They are so good. Boatwright's does have several options, so if you're looking for dessert you'll definitely have a few items to choose from (if you're gluten free, you have to check out the bananas foster - it gets rave reviews!).One again, I have to say a big thanks to the Boatwright's team for making my birthday dinner wonderful. I can't wait to visit again soon!Have you been to Boatwright's Dining Hall? What is your favorite menu item to order there?

Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in February 2015. Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) is always my favorite table service restaurant to go to the in the Downtown Disney area. It's so good, and how can you resist all the gluten free (and dairy free) deep fried goodness that they serve up here? Their gluten free and dairy free fish and chips are the real deal.On this particular occasion, I was joined by my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando (you can read her lunch reviews of Raglan Road HERE) and my brother. I had emailed the Raglan Road team ahead of time because they debuted a new spring menu, and I was curious about the offerings and if any of the new desserts could be made gluten free and dairy free.I was excited to hear that I could order the chocolate cake with advance notice gluten free and dairy free and that the strawberry crumble could also be made dairy free (it's already gluten free). The restaurant did ask for 24 hours notice to request the chocolate cake. You can contact them on their website for more info. For an appetizer, I had been wanting to try the Dalkey Duo which is gluten free and dairy free fried sausages with a Dalkey mustard. I have to say that while this was good, I'm not sure it would be a repeat on my appetizer rotation -- the Raglan Road onion rings and scallops are definitely crowd-pleasers and would be my first picks for appetizers.  The sausages themselves were quiet good, but more like a bratwurst than a smoked sausage which is what I was expecting. You get a decent sized portion (9 sausages), but these are definitely a sharing appetizer, as they were quite heavy and greasy. The mustard was a nice accompaniment as it cut the greasiness down a lot.  For my entree, I chose the lobster club with avocado and french fries. The sandwich came on a gluten free and dairy free bun. When I had visited Raglan Road for brunch, I got the same bun and was told that they ordered it from a local bakery. On this visit, the manager told me that they make it in-house, adhering to cross-contamination standards while baking. The bun itself tasted like an Udi's Gluten Free bun to me, so I hope to investigate this further to find out if they are made locally or in-house.  The lobster club itself was very good. Sometimes lobster salad can be over-mayonnaised (not sure that's a word but that's the best way I can describe the over-use of mayo) or overly seasoned (case in point - the lobster club at Artist's Palette at Saratoga Springs), but this version was perfect. The creaminess of the avocado and butteriness of the lobster were terrific together. This would definitely be a sandwich I'd order again.  For my dessert, I was surprised to see a fairly large gluten free and dairy free chocolate cake. This is definitely for splitting! The cake itself was good -- not overly sweet or rich. I would have liked to see a bit more of a fudgy texture (more like a lava cake), but it was still a great choice. The real winner to this dish was the fruit that accompanied it. It was so delicious and paired very well with the cake. With a touch Cointreau, everyone at the table agreed that the fruit was really delicious (yes, I made them all try it!).Overall, I enjoyed my lunch at Raglan Road. While I wouldn't probably order the sausages again (just too heavy for me), I wouldn't hesitate to pre-order the chocolate cake from Raglan Road. They do such a terrific job at handling special diets diners, and I'm glad they continue to be my go-to restaurant in Downtown Disney. Have you been to Raglan Road Irish Pub? What are your favorite dishes to order?

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

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.Olivia's at Disney's Old Key West Resort is one of those restaurants that I find myself frequenting quite a bit. I've probably mentioned it a million times but I love the relaxed vibe and Key West theme that the restaurant and the resort offer guests. There's just something so chill about it.One of my recent staples for breakfast at Olivia's is the Sweet Potato Hash with Poached Eggs. It normally comes with hollandaise sauce, but since that contains dairy, I get the hash sans sauce. Which is actually OK because it's super delicious even without the sauce.On this particular visit, I didn't branch out and try anything new. In fact, I was looking forward to the hash and some hot tea. My visit came directly after the Princess Half Marathon 5K race, which my mom ran (yay, mom!) but was absolutely frigid in terms of temperature for Florida. Yes, the Frozen 5K theme definitely transferred over to the weather -- it was a balmy 33 degrees. In Florida terms, that is FREEZING!  Thankfully, when we arrived I was able to get some hot tea pronto. I love getting my own little tea pot to enjoy. Often table service locations will only bring you one tea bag but multiple pots of hot water. Thankfully, Olivia's kindly gave me fresh tea bags with every new pot of hot water...and on this visit, there were plenty of pots!  The chef who assisted me did a great job with my hash. The eggs were well poached (important, as I always enjoy a good poached egg with a runny yolk) and the toast was well toasted. They also had Earth Balance Vegan Margarine on hand (not the soy free version) for the toast.Overall, this was another delicious breakfast at Olivia's. Next time I might branch out and try something different on the menu, but I always have my go-to sweet potato hash as a breakfast staple in my visits to Olivia's. You can also read a review of the sweet potato hash from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando. Have you been to Olivia's? What have you ordered for breakfast there? 

Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

*This dining experience took place in February 2015.The Grand Floridian Cafe located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has become one of my regular breakfast rotation options when dining at Disney World. It isn't my favorite table service location on Disney property by any means (that honor is reserved for exceptional places like Boma and the newly re-imagined Kouzzina now open as Trattoria al Forno), but it provides a really solid breakfast in a quiet atmosphere that's very conveniently located to the Magic Kingdom. Good breakfast + near Magic Kingdom is a win win in my Disney touring book.On this particular occasion, I was dining at the Grand Floridian Cafe right after running the Enchanted 10K during the Princess Half Marathon race weekend. It was a super chilly morning in the low 40s, and between the race and the cold I was ready for a hot meal (and hot beverage).I almost always order the exact same thing when I dine for breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe -- the American with eggs of some type (this time scrambled), breakfast potatoes, and bacon. Sometimes I order allergy Mickey waffles in place of toast and other times I get toast with non-dairy butter. Today, it was all about the carb loading Mickey waffles!I asked the chef if they could make the seasonal waffle offering which was served with a cranberry pecan citrus maple syrup. I'd heard rave reviews about it and wanted to check it out. The chef said she'd check as the syrup might contain dairy. She followed back up at our table and said that I was safe to consume the syrup. *Note: I was told by other guests that they were told that the syrup was not safe to consume at the time they visited. Because of the seasonal nature this may or may not be true depending on when you visit Grand Floridian Cafe. Always double-check with a chef to confirm the status of sauces and/or syrups.My entree was delicious as usual. I asked for only bacon but received a mix of sausage and bacon. I'm not a big sausage person so I only took a few bites. The bacon, on the other hand, was thick-cut and delicious. If you want to avoid the standard Disney bacon, this is another location to add to your list to visit. One nice addition to the entree was a side of arugula salad tossed in a light vinaigrette. This was a great touch to the breakfast with it's mild but peppery taste.It's a good thing I had just run a 10K and was both hungry and had expended some calories. This was a huge meal. I anticipated getting 2 allergy Mickey waffles but I was presented with 4. (I ended up sharing with my family). The cranberry pecan citrus maple syrup was delicious but very sweet. I ended up mixing a combination of the specialty syrup and plain maple syrup. I don't think I could have eaten the whole thing if I'd ordered it solely because of the sweetness. Still, it was a delicious option that I'm glad I tried.Overall, I enjoyed my breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe. They consistently provide a solid breakfast entree in a fairly quiet setting (it's definitely not the bustling chaos that is 1900 Park Fare!). It made for a nice option post-race.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What was your favorite dish?

Good's Foods to Go -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in February 2015. Good's Foods to Go is literally my "go-to" place for quick service options when I stay at Disney's Old Key West resort. As a small quick service location, their menu isn't lengthy, but they do provide many gluten free and dairy free options. One thing I love about this location is that their kitchen is shared with Olivia's (a wonderful table service restaurant and home to one of my favorite salads), so the chefs from Olivia's will work with you on your special diets order.On this particular occasion, I was coming in late in the evening the night before the runDisney Enchanted 10K held during the Princess Half Marathon weekend. Good's Foods to Go was an easy spot to grab a quick bite around 8 p.m. When I arrived, I let the cast member at the cash register know I had special dietary needs. From there Chef Matt came out to assist me. I've met Chef Matt quite a few times at Olivia's, and he is always great at helping me get a tasty and safe meal. With it being late and as a pre-race tradition, I ordered allergy friendly chicken tenders and french fries.It took about 10 minutes before they came out, and when I got them, they were placed in a nice to-go container and bag. Perfect for taking back to my DVC room to eat, rest and unwind. Also, it was freezing outside (well, that's relative but 40 degrees is pretty cold for us Floridians!), and Good's Foods to Go is an outdoor walk-up counter with outdoor seating, which is something to keep in mind when it's hot or cold outside.The chicken tenders and fries were great. They were well-fried and piping hot. I'm always really glad that most quick service locations carry these, because they are a great go-to gluten free and dairy free option (and totally kiddo friendly).One of these days I'll request some of the other special diets options at Good's Foods to Go (burgers, sandwiches, etc.), but I do always enjoy getting allergy chicken tenders there!Have you been to Good's Foods to Go? What did you order when you dined there?

Raglan Road Irish Pub -- Brunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in January 2015.Whenever I want a bit of the luck of the Irish and some amazing gluten free fried food options, I always head to Raglan Road Irish Pub located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs). With an extensive amount of gluten free (and dairy free) food offerings, they have been voted one of the best restaurants in Orlando for gluten free diners.I've enjoyed many meals here and typically order the fabulous gluten free fish and chips or their citrus salmon salad. I've never been disappointed with my meals here. One of the things I've been dying to do is try their brunch offerings on Sunday.And thankfully, I had the opportunity recently to meet up with friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without for brunch (none of us had ever been). You can read the reviews of their brunch meals on each of their blogs!  If you love live entertainment, the Rollicking Raglan Brunch serves up traditional Irish folk music and dancing. We were close to both the stage and the dancing stage in the middle of the dining room. It can be pretty noisy in there, but there are breaks in between sets. If you're interested in a more quiet area of the restaurant, just ask the hostess.  We were greeted by our server that day who asked us first thing if anyone had special dietary needs. I love that Raglan Road always asks this early on in the dining experience. Our server was very knowledgeable in options and very willing to ask the kitchen any questions that we might have. She also let us know that the restaurant was now carrying a gluten free and dairy free bun that was available for sandwiches (you can't get it with anything but sandwiches at this time due to limited supply). Ever the curious one, I decided to order a sandwich as many of the breakfast-type brunch offerings didn't appeal to me. Many were gluten free but very few were dairy free, so I stuck to the regular menu. I ordered a side of gluten free and dairy free onion rings with the Pancetta and Chicken sandwich. First up, came the onion rings. I do love a good onion ring, but my biggest complaint with them has always been a lack of a dip. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a house-made remoulade brought with the onion rings. Hurrah! I will say that if I hadn't ever had the remoulade from Port Orleans I would proclaim this version to be my favorite at Disney; however, I have to say that the Port Orleans one trumps the Raglan Road version any day. It was still a great sauce but nothing compared to the amazing version at Port Orleans restaurants.A few notes about the gluten free fried foods at Raglan Road. They are currently made with Domata Gluten Free Flour blend (which includes chickpea flour). I was unable to obtain the recipe, but if you have specific allergens and questions, I would recommend contacting Raglan Road with questions. Additionally, Raglan Road tends to undersalt their fried foods. If you find the batter to be bland, just add some extra salt when it comes to your table. I always find this the best route. Or cover them in one of their many delicious condiments. That's always my solution!   For my entree, I had the steak fries with the Pancetta and Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich was traditionally served with a herb aioli; however, the aioli contained dairy, so the sandwich was served plain. I asked for plenty of condiments so that alleviated any blandness issue but I'll get to that in a minute.First up, the bun appeared to be Udi's Gluten Free. The server told us it came from a local bakery, but everyone at the table agreed that it looked an awful lot like Udi's, and I thought it tasted exactly like Udi's. We weren't able to get anymore information, but I'll be curious to go back again to check this out.I found the sandwich to overall be fairly good -- nothing special. What made it special were the sauces that I asked for at the meal.  As many of you know, I'm known as the condiment queen, and this visit to Raglan Road was all about the condiments. I always get the sweet chili jam for my onion rings (it's so good and a perfect combination of sweet and spicy) and the tartar sauce for the fries. With the addition of the remoulade, I had three condiments to compliment my meal. I added the tartar sauce to my sandwich (which would have been amazing if it was a fish sandwich), as well as to my fries. The remoulade and sweet chili jam were used on fries and onion rings. So good! If I had been thinking of it, I probably should have tried the remoulade on the chicken sandwich. Instant makeshift Po' Boy!Overall, I had a great time at Raglan Road's brunch. I would love to see an increase in gluten free AND dairy free breakfast offerings, but was pleased that I could still enjoy my lunch and dinner-time favorites. I can't wait to visit for brunch again soon!Have you been to Raglan Road for brunch? What did you order?    

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

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.It's no secret that Boatwright's Dining Hall is one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property. Since my birthday visit last February, I have dined at Boatwright's more times than I can count and each meal has been amazing. That's a testament to how great the restaurant, chefs, and menu are there.When it came to a birthday dinner for my mom, I asked her what her choice would be, and to her it was no question - Boatwright's. It just so happens that my mom's birthday is also Christmas Eve, so we were celebrating both the holiday and my mom's birthday that evening. The restaurant was definitely pretty busy, so as with any Disney dining, I recommend making ADRs anytime you want to dine at a table service location.We were greeted by Chef Paul, who has prepared many of my meals at Boatwright's and at other Port Orleans restaurants like Riverside Mill. I knew that I wanted to get the crawfish bites (of course) and the sweet-tea brined pork chop (now known on the menu as the Louisiana Lugger). You know you go to a restaurant a lot when you know what items you want to order before you even get there.First up were GNI brand rolls with some extra virgin olive oil. I know I've said it before, but I will say it again - the Boatwright's chefs really know how to heat these rolls up. Not heated up properly, these rolls can be less than great, but the chefs here always make sure they are well heated. The extra virgin olive oil is always a nice way to enjoy the rolls too.Up next came my favorite crawfish bites. As always, these were outstanding. Crispy and delicious, I love the light batter and the freshness of the crawfish. And they are always perfectly seasoned at Boatwright's. I have to hand it to Chef Paul; he really has the gift for salting his fried foods perfectly (as does Chef Tony). Some restaurants tend to under-salt their fried foods (Raglan Road never salts or grossly under-salts their fried foods), so this is just another testament to how great this culinary team is.The portion size of this appetizer is pretty generous, so I always recommend sharing it with your dinner-mates. My family adores the gluten free version as well as the glutenous one, so regardless of your special dietary needs I can highly recommend them as a crowd-pleasing appetizer.One important note about the gluten free (and dairy free) crawfish bites. The current menu version is more of a crawfish cake not the previous version of crawfish bites. If you would like to order the crawfish bites, I recommend contacting Disney's Special Diets Department (special.diets@disneyworld.com) at least 2 weeks in advance to request them. The restaurant can still accommodate with advance notice.One of my favorite entrees at Boatwright's is the sweet-tea brined pork chop with sweet potato hash. With the perfectly grilled pork chop to the sweet potato hash topped with crispy fried gluten free and dairy free onion straws, there's nothing about this dish I don't like. The onion straws absolutely make the dish (how can you not like an onion straw?!) and the chefs here know all too well that I love them (hence the heaping piles on my plate).Like the crawfish bites, if you are interested in onion straws you'll want to contact Special Diets at least two weeks in advance to request. And trust me, you'll want to. They are worth the extra email or two!I don't tend to get desserts at restaurants, and this night I had a homemade gluten free and dairy free German chocolate cake waiting at home for my mom's birthday, but Boatwright's does carry several options for gluten free and dairy free diners.Overall, my mom was really excited to spend her birthday at Boatwright's (she even got a special dessert for the occasion) and spending our Christmas Eve there was even more special. Thanks to Chef Paul and the entire culinary team for a wonderful holiday meal!Have you been to Boatwright's Dining Hall? What's your favorite menu item?

Animator's Palate -- Debarkation Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

Animator's Palate

Animator's Palate Debarkation Breakfast Menu

Animator's Palate Debarkation Breakfast

Animator's Palate Debarkation Breakfast

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.

Sailing away on our 3 day cruise on the Disney Dream was such a wonderful time, and I can honestly say those 3 days flew by so quickly. With amazing meals that included Palo and Remy, it's a wonder I didn't come back gaining 10 pounds! So, as you can imagine, our final breakfast aboard the Disney Dream was bittersweet.When you dine at your debarkation breakfast you eat at the same location you dined the night before, rather than the traditional rotational dining. For us, this meant dining at Animator's Palate again.The breakfast is also a standard menu served at all of the dining locations and is different from the regular a la carte breakfast menu. Additionally, be prepared to dine early. I think we were at our breakfast by 6:30 a.m. There are two seatings for breakfast, and you'll dine really early (like we did) or a little later in the morning (but still fairly early) depending on whether or not you dined at the first or second dinner seating. You have to be completely out of your stateroom around 8 a.m. so dining early was OK by us.Our head server and server assisted me with my breakfast options. What I really wanted was the corned beef hash and eggs, but unfortunately, it contained gluten. I ended up with the Route 66 entree minus the hash browns (which also contain gluten) and a side of gluten free & dairy free pancakes. I also got an apple juice and iced tea to wake myself up!For my main entree, I would say this was just OK. Like my breakfast at Royal Palace, I didn't think it was anything to write home about but was sufficient in both portion and taste. Next time, I think I'd ask for just ham and bacon and skip the sausage, as it wasn't my favorite.The pancakes were just OK here as well. My favorite version of the gluten free and dairy free pancakes were definitely at Royal Palace - they were really well cooked and perfectly crisp on the outside. Cabanas was my least favorite (they were practically inedible). These were somewhere in the middle of those two.The restaurant is busily trying to prep for the next breakfast and to get you off the ship promptly, so don't expect this to be a very relaxing meal. Everything came out super quick and the servers were working hard to shuttle everyone out as efficiently as they could. My mom and I had our dining table to ourselves that morning, as our table-mates didn't join us (they were debarking and then getting back on the ship for another 3 day cruise - lucky ducks!), so that made for a really lovely last meal on the ship.I have to say that overall my Disney Cruise Line experience was wonderful. Once I learned a lot of the ins and outs of how the ship handles special diets, I was able to eat a lot of amazing things. If you are looking for really customized meals, the adult dining is the way to go. We loved Palo and Remy a lot and plan on dining at Palo on every future cruise that we do (and I'm dying to try out brunch!).After our short cruise, I can easily see why others love the Disney Cruise Line so much. You can read about gluten free cruise reviews from Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando. She has posted several cruise recaps.Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? What were your favorite meals?

Animator's Palate -- Debarkation Breakfast -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.Sailing away on our 3 day cruise on the Disney Dream was such a wonderful time, and I can honestly say those 3 days flew by so quickly. With amazing meals that included Palo and Remy, it's a wonder I didn't come back gaining 10 pounds! So, as you can imagine, our final breakfast aboard the Disney Dream was bittersweet.When you dine at your debarkation breakfast you eat at the same location you dined the night before, rather than the traditional rotational dining. For us, this meant dining at Animator's Palate again.The breakfast is also a standard menu served at all of the dining locations and is different from the regular a la carte breakfast menu. Additionally, be prepared to dine early. I think we were at our breakfast by 6:30 a.m. There are two seatings for breakfast, and you'll dine really early (like we did) or a little later in the morning (but still fairly early) depending on whether or not you dined at the first or second dinner seating. You have to be completely out of your stateroom around 8 a.m. so dining early was OK by us.Our head server and server assisted me with my breakfast options. What I really wanted was the corned beef hash and eggs, but unfortunately, it contained gluten. I ended up with the Route 66 entree minus the hash browns (which also contain gluten) and a side of gluten free & dairy free pancakes. I also got an apple juice and iced tea to wake myself up!For my main entree, I would say this was just OK. Like my breakfast at Royal Palace, I didn't think it was anything to write home about but was sufficient in both portion and taste. Next time, I think I'd ask for just ham and bacon and skip the sausage, as it wasn't my favorite.The pancakes were just OK here as well. My favorite version of the gluten free and dairy free pancakes were definitely at Royal Palace - they were really well cooked and perfectly crisp on the outside. Cabanas was my least favorite (they were practically inedible). These were somewhere in the middle of those two.The restaurant is busily trying to prep for the next breakfast and to get you off the ship promptly, so don't expect this to be a very relaxing meal. Everything came out super quick and the servers were working hard to shuttle everyone out as efficiently as they could. My mom and I had our dining table to ourselves that morning, as our table-mates didn't join us (they were debarking and then getting back on the ship for another 3 day cruise - lucky ducks!), so that made for a really lovely last meal on the ship.I have to say that overall my Disney Cruise Line experience was wonderful. Once I learned a lot of the ins and outs of how the ship handles special diets, I was able to eat a lot of amazing things. If you are looking for really customized meals, the adult dining is the way to go. We loved Palo and Remy a lot and plan on dining at Palo on every future cruise that we do (and I'm dying to try out brunch!).After our short cruise, I can easily see why others love the Disney Cruise Line so much. You can read about gluten free cruise reviews from Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando. She has posted several cruise recaps.Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? What were your favorite meals?

Trattoria al Forno -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.It's hard to believe that Kouzzina, one of my favorite spots for breakfast has shuttered its doors. In it's place is now the recently opened Trattoria al Forno. Located in the same restaurant space as Kouzzina, the look and feel of the restaurant hasn't changed drastically, despite the complete menu overhaul and theming changes.Trattoria al Forno's menu is Italian based - with loads of standard menu items like Lasagne and pizza. If you dine for dinner, you'll find that the breaded items (including meatballs) are made to be gluten free for all guests, so gluten free diners will find a plethora of breaded options available. You can read a review of dinner from Gluten Free in Orlando.I had the chance to try out the abbreviated breakfast menu when Flying Fish Cafe was open for breakfast temporarily. So, once the full restaurant was open, I was curious to see how the breakfast offerings transitioned from the temporary location.The interior of Trattoria al Forno really hasn't changed much from Kouzzina, though my family all agreed that it felt more open. They have opened up some areas, but also have spaced the tables a little too close together, in my opinion. We dined at Trattoria al Forno on Christmas morning, so it was interesting to see how calm the restaurant was.While looking over the menu, we were greeted by Chef Brad - a chef we've come to know quite well since being regular Kouzzina diners. He went over some of the options with me, which I'll be honest with, were somewhat limited because of the dairy. If you're gluten free, the breakfast options are plentiful. Trattoria al Forno is definitely very dairy heavy on their menus.I opted to get the two eggs entree, with scrambled eggs, bacon breakfast potatoes and Udi's gluten free toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. I also asked if I could have a side of the fennel sausage that they serve on the polenta dish from the breakfast menu. I fell in love with it when I tried it at Flying Fish.As we were waiting for our breakfast, Chef Brad popped back over with a little Christmas treat -- an allergy Mickey waffle (yes, they know my tastes well there!). This was super crispy and piping hot and such a nice way to start my holiday breakfast.For my main entree, I really enjoyed this version of the "American" breakfast, as usual. The bacon at this location is consistently delicious - thick-cut and hearty (not that wimpy, stringy Disney bacon). The fennel sausage was delicious and would have been great in a breakfast skillet or omelet! The star of my meal had to be the breakfast potatoes. They were amazing. The seasonings were delicious and the potatoes were extra crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I think I enjoyed these breakfast potatoes better than the ones served at Kouzzina.While we were eating, we also got to say hello to Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and her family, as they were also having breakfast there Christmas morning. Great minds definitely thought alike in choosing a breakfast option for the holidays!Overall, I really enjoyed Trattoria al Forno. In some ways I much preferred Kouzzina's breakfast because I had more options that needed minimal to no tweaking to be gluten free and dairy free. Many of the new entrees are so dairy heavy that they aren't even an option, which is a bummer. However, what I can eat has been excellent!I'm looking forward to dining for breakfast at Trattoria al Forno again and maybe trying something different!What are you most looking forward to trying at Trattoria al Forno?

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

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.Kona Cafe located in Disney's Polynesian Resort has long been a staple in my family as a great restaurant and a particularly great go-to spot for breakfast. It helps that they had great gluten free and dairy free offerings for years too!It's been a bit since I've been to Kona Cafe or the Polynesian for that matter. It's been under a lot of construction in 2014, so I haven't been since I had lunch in May. As you can see from the photos, when I visited the lobby area was still under construction (since then the lobby renovations have been revealed).When we arrived at Kona, I knew I would be given one of the new gluten free menus, but I was pleasantly surprised when I also received a dairy free menu. I would love to see combined menus, but I was easily able to cross reference the menus and see which options were safe for me. One thing I didn't notice was the beloved Big Kahuna breakfast entree, which is a bit of a breakfast sampler of sorts. That's been my go-to choice for years at Kona. Our server asked if I had questions and went to get the chef who was on duty.I asked the chef if it was possible to get the Big Kahuna modified, and she said that wasn't a problem at all. In fact, she said a lot of special diets guests request it, so they are still happy to prepare this dish for guests. When I mentioned Mickey waffles, she said they now had Stitch waffles instead of Mickey shaped ones. I was curious to see if they were still as good as the Mickey versions that Kona and Ohana have been serving for years.I have to say, that in some ways this entree has definitely changed over the years. I remember when this was a ginormous entree that you would have to split between you and one of your fellow diners. Of course, if I'm very hungry, I have no problems polishing this entree off (and I certainly didn't that morning).My favorite parts of the Big Kahuna are the breakfast potatoes and breakfast ham. The Stitch waffles were really good, and I can see kiddos loving the fun shape; however, I missed having my traditional Mickey waffles just a bit! I was excited to see that Kona Cafe still serves Earth Balance (not the soy free version), which is nice to top on your piping hot waffles.You can also get gluten free (and dairy free) pancakes too. Check out Gluten Free in Orlando's review of Kona Cafe for breakfast that includes pancakes!Overall, I enjoyed our meal at Kona Cafe. It was nice to have special diets menus to refer to. I would love to see more of these integrated into restaurants, as it is really helpful for guests to get an idea of what is safe before speaking with members of the culinary team.Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What's your favorite thing to order?

Gasparilla Island Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.Gasparailla Island Grill is located in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on the first floor. If you've ever been to the Grand Floridian Cafe, which serves a nice breakfast, you'll find this quick service location nearby with a quick trip outside the building. I've been at this quick service restaurant a few times, but never really ordered dinner there. Our family wanted to check out the holiday decorations and also visit the famous gingerbread display at the resort, so it was the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat.The menu itself has some standard quick service offerings and a few unique items. One of the things that you don't always see at quick service locations is house-made chips. I was curious to see if these were going to be safe for gluten free diners.When I spoke to the manager, he said that much of the menu can be easily altered for gluten free diners but that many items were out for me as options because of the dairy. I ended up ordering the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich which came with grilled chicken, ham, cheese (mine was made without), lettuce, and a choice of house-made chips, fries or a cucumber salad. Of course, I got the house-made chips, since I was told they are made in a dedicated fryer.The manager gave me a table stand with a number on it for the table and said he'd bring it out to me when my food was ready. Meanwhile, I grabbed a beverage and relaxed in the comfy booths found in the restaurant.The sandwich itself was pretty good. It came on a Local Oven bun which was nicely toasted. The chicken was flavorful, and the ham added a nice variation. For me, the winner was the house-made chips. They were nice and thick and really tasty. I will definitely have to head back to Gasparilla Island Grill.Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Gasparilla Island Grill. I found the options for gluten free & dairy free diners to be good, and the manager who assisted me that day was really helpful.Have you been to Gasparilla Island Grill? What did you order there?

Biergarten — Dinner — Table Service — Epcot — World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.Biergarten is one of those places that really transports you to another place when you dine there. The Oktoberfest setting, Oompah band and traditional fare make it an authentic setting for a meal. Last year, I dined at Biergarten for the very first time for lunch as a part of the Candlelight Processional meal package. My family enjoyed it a lot, and so I decided to go back this year with friends for the Candlelight Processional take 2! Upon arrival, as with our last visit, we were told that we had to check in at our reservation time (and no earlier) and that all of our party needed to be there. With friends coming in to meet up, we ended up being a few minutes past our scheduled ADR. Our party was fairly promptly seated with several other groups -- Biergarten seats communal style at big long tables, just like at Oktoberfest. Last year, my family felt a little awkward dining like this, and I recommend dining with a big group. It makes all the difference in the world!After we were seated, I was greeted by the same chef who assisted me last year. He took me around the buffet and showed me the various options. When I inquired about getting items from the back, he wasn't very keen noting that everything would be fine on the buffet. Normally, I prefer a mix of options - getting some from the back and a few safe items from the front; however, this chef was pretty clear when he said he wouldn't get me items - although he agreed (after I asked) to get me an Ener-G roll. Having dined at Biergarten before safely, I felt like I could keep an eye out for new platters and to ask the cast members at the buffet, who were much more amenable to getting new items for me.I ended up with a similar menagerie of items like last year - mostly meat based (gluten free vegans or vegetarians probably won't have a great amount of choices here). Bratwurst, "meatloaf" (literally a loaf of meats, roasted chicken, German potato salad, pickles, and coleslaw were among the items I grabbed. All of them were very good, and I tried to load up as much as I could when the fresh platters were coming out (which was frequent).The Ener-G rolls here were as dreadful as they were the year before. I honestly have no clue what they did to these because they were as hard as rocks. I had my friends test them out after I decided I wasn't eating them and they were shocked at how bad they were. I've had amazing versions of Ener-G rolls at places like the now closed Kouzzina, so I can't understand how this even happens. Note to self, do not get rolls from Biergarten again.While enjoying our dinner, we got a chance to catch the live entertainment -- aka the Oompah band! They play traditional holiday music and have a lot of fun and spirit. They are a blast to watch and a huge highlight of my Biergarten dining experience.For dessert, I was given an OMG It's Gluten Free cookie (and brownie - which I gave to friends since it contains dairy), and I also enjoyed the berry compote found on the buffet, which is delicious. I realized that somehow I didn't get a photo of this compote 2 years running. Apparently, I am always too full for photos by the end of the meal.Because of the time we were there, it was full dinner price which was not cheap ($50 as a part of the CP dinner package), and I would highly recommend dining for lunch and doing the early show for the Candlelight Processional. It's literally the same food at a much cheaper rate. Unfortunately, there was some cross contamination going on at this restaurant, and despite my efforts at trying to keep myself safe, I did get glutened. It has happened at Disney (even at buffets) only a handful of times -- literally, I can count the times on one hand from nearly 6 years of dining there gluten free and dairy free -- but it was a disappointing experience. I felt pretty miserable for several days afterwards and can't even think about eating at Biergarten again. Of course, we all take risks when we dine out with a special diet, but I would like to see the chefs at Biergraten step it up (or at least this particular chef). The lack of interest in providing safe options was pretty evident. I just hope that they can work to provide safer options and ensure minimized cross contamination risks. Next year, I will not be going to Biergarten for the Candlelight Processional dinner. It just isn't worth being sick or uncomfortable (or feeling like a huge nuisance to the chef). I'm thinking La Hacienda de San Angel will be a great choice -- they always make safe and delicious options for me!Have you been to Biergarten? What has been your experience?  

Everything Pop -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in November 2014. It's been a while since I've dined at Everything Pop, Pop Century's quick service location. It hasn't been my favorite quick service breakfast spot on property but it's not my least favorite either. If you are staying at a value resort and are near to the Art of Animation, I highly recommend the visit to Landscape of Flavors which has terrific allergy Mickey waffles and great healthful options. On this particular visit, I dined at Everything Pop the day before the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention. With set-up happening that day, I definitely needed some fuel, and I am glad that Everything Pop could fill that void, at least for breakfast. Upon arrival, I headed to the shortest breakfast line and there told a cast member that I had special dietary needs. They then got the chef who came out fairly quickly. Having dined here before, I knew pretty much what I wanted. I ordered a variation of the Bounty Platter with scrambled eggs, bacon, and Udi's toast, dry. Unfortunately, they do not have dairy free potatoes and the chef didn't offer to make an alternative for me. Since I was in a hurry, I was fine with that. The chef brought out my platter which was piled high with eggs and bacon. He also added in a side of fruit for me, as well. Overall, the meal was fine. A bit bland, but basically the same as most quick service meals across the Disney property. Everything Pop is an easy standby and one I'll stop by whenever I stay at Pop Century (which isn't too often). If you're looking for an amazing quick service, I can highly recommend the Mara at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge! Have you been to Everything Pop? What do you recommend getting there?

Pepper Market -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Coronado Springs Resort

*This dining experience took place in November 2014.Pepper Market at Disney's Coronado Springs is a fast casual location hailed as a quick service. On a previous visit, we had a server but on this particular visit during the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention, I stopped by later in the day 10 p.m. and found it to be like a traditional Disney quick service where you picked up your own meal items and paid at a cash register.The last time I visited Pepper Market was August 2013, and I found the food to be pretty unappetizing. Normally, I would have probably avoided this restaurant but with it being so late and the evening before FACCWDW, I really didn't have time to be too choosy.When I arrived, I saw a manager and a chef and let them know about my dietary needs. They were pretty aware that the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention was happening, and I'm glad they seemed to be a bit more at the ready than on my previous visit.I really wanted just plain allergy chicken tenders and fries and asked the chef if they had those on hand. He said they did have chicken tenders that were gluten free and dairy free (and used a dedicated fryer) and went to prepare them.When he returned, I was surprised to see a version that didn't look anything like the ones normally served on Disney property (here's a comprehensive list), and as I learned, because Coronado Springs restaurants are not Disney-owned, they carry completely different brands. I didn't learn which brand this was, unfortunately.Well, I can't say I loved these chicken tenders. They were just bland. They were plentiful which was evident from my huge plate but really were not at all as delicious as the ones from Columbia Harbour House (which I love). It wasn't a terrible choice but also not a great one either. Still, it was a vast improvement from the previous dish I ordered at Pepper Market.Overall, I still think Pepper Market is a pretty weak choice for meal options at Disney. I would likely only eat here if I were staying at Coronado Springs or try to find other options. I hear Maya Grill is great, and I found Las Ventanas to be reasonably good so my hope is the other locations are much better. For now, I'm going to continue to look for better options elsewhere.Have you been to Pepper Market? What did you think of this quick service location?

Las Ventanas -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Coronado Springs Resort

*This dining experience took place in November 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free dining review along with a review that includes: gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts. Disney's Coronado Springs Resort has several dining options available to guests, including Las Ventanas which opened earlier in 2014 as a table service location that serves breakfast and lunch. The restaurants at Coronado Springs are not owned and operated by Disney and therefore aren't my most favorite in terms of accommodations and offerings. However, I was able to safely dine at both Las Ventanas and Pepper Market while staying at Coronado Springs during the 2014 Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at the convention center.Blog reader and friend Kathleen was at FACCWDW coordinating the teen area at the event. She did a fantastic job with the area and offered so many great resources for teens and college students. She's doing fantastic things at her college as a food allergy advocate and hosts her own blog at: http://soulfoodheals.com/. I was so thrilled when she and her mom invited me for breakfast on the morning after FACCWDW, because it gave us a time to chat and catch up. Kathleen and her mom totally had the same idea as I did by going to Las Ventanas as a quick service breakfast wasn't appealing to any of us. When we arrived, we let the server know that we had special dietary needs. He then brought out the manager on duty who went over some options with us. While I would have loved to have seen a Disney chef, I was glad that the manager spent some time to discuss options with us and to ensure safety. While the menu did note several dishes could be made gluten free (including steak and eggs, Huevos Divorciados, and Ventanas Breakfast) which was nice. Everyone at the table decided to go for the Ventanas Breakfast which seemed the easiest and best option for special diets. It came with two eggs any style, choice of peppered bacon or grilled ham, and green onion potatoes. The manager advised us that the potatoes were made with extra virgin olive oil and contained no dairy, and the eggs short of scrambled could be made dairy free (my guess is they have pre-packaged beaten eggs, though I am curious how they can't make scrambled eggs on the fly. Seems not that hard!). The manager also mentioned that they had gluten free bread, and both Kathleen and I wanted to see what brand so we could determine if it was safe to eat or not.The brand used was Hilltop Hearth and was certified gluten free. It was also dairy free. Here's a list of the ingredients from the box. Both of us ordered the toast dry, since they didn't have any non-dairy butter options.The breakfast itself was OK, nothing spectacular. I asked for my eggs to be cooked over-easy, but they were hard cooked, so someone missed that memo. I asked if I could have both pepper bacon and ham, and was served both. I love bacon, as you all know, so I was happy to see pepper bacon in a restaurant! The potatoes sadly were missing the scallions, but tasted OK. I can't say that I loved the bread served but it wasn't terrible either. It had a slight after taste, and I wonder if it was due to the chickpea flour or soy flour. Overall, I think the meal was OK - solid and at least safe. It wasn't as amazing as some of my favorite Disney restaurants, but it was a great option while staying at Coronado Springs. I also really enjoyed the company and found that to be the best part of my meal! Thanks to Kathleen and her mom for inviting me! I can't say that Las Ventanas will be in my regular rotation but I'd definitely go back again and see what other options might be available. Have you been to Las Ventanas? What did you think of the special dietary options there?

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in November 2014.Liberty Tree Tavern located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is one of my family's favorite seasonal places to dine during the holidays. We almost always eat at this restaurant for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Something about the turkey dinner reminds us all of the holidays.On this particular visit, I was joined by blog reader Laurie as we enjoyed a meal before the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort on November 22nd. It was the perfect meal in the few days before the event, as I needed all the fuel I could get while setting up and getting ready for guests.One of the things I love about Liberty Tree Tavern is the holiday decorations during the winter season. I love the Christmas trees with touches that are inspired by colonial times.Liberty Tree Tavern's menu is an all-you-care-to-eat feast that includes all the fixins' and have included dairy free mashed potatoes (upon request) and gluten free gravy for many years now.I also really adore the mugs that they serve dinner with (of course, I miss the days when the mugs were actual glass and not made of plastic).One thing that has always alluded me was stuffing. I crave that traditional stuffing every time I go there, and as I learned recently from Gluten Free in Orlando, they were now carrying a gluten free version. My hope was that it was also dairy free, and luckily I was not disappointed!We were greeted by Chef Alfonso, who said he would take good care of us. Laurie is just gluten free, but he asked if he could make the entire meal gluten free & dairy free and that worked for her (which was awesome).First up, came GNI brand rolls along with some Earth Balance vegan margarine. The rolls were heated well and tasted great with a bit of the Earth Balance.Next up came the house salad with strawberry vinaigrette. The last few times I've visited, I've found the dressing to be very underwhelming both in flavor and seasoning but this time I found it to be spot on. They had a huge container of it on the side, which was great for adding as much or as little as we wanted. As you can imagine, I was pretty excited about the prospect of stuffing. In fact, I think it was the thing I was looking forward to most! The meal came with turkey, roasted pork and roast beef, along with dairy free mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and sweet potatoes.The turkey is by far my favorite meat served at Liberty Tree. I like the roasted pork but do really miss the ham that they used to serve here. I never eat the roast beef, but Laurie said it was good. The mashed potatoes were excellent but the star along with the gluten free gravy was the stuffing. I'm a sucker for stuffing of all types, and this one was fantastic. Very moist and full of traditional stuffing flavor, it really made my meal complete.The steamed green beans were probably my least favorite dish, mostly because it's just plain steamed green beans. They're good, but really nothing special.The seasonal vegetable at Liberty Tree is always an interesting one. Sometimes it's great -- like sauteed squash and zucchini and sometimes it's not the best match for the locale - like sauteed broccoli rabe. This time, it was sweet potatoes in brown sugar.These were quite yummy, and I'm partial to sweet potatoes. They were a bit overcooked though and the texture was just slightly off. Overall though I found these to be a welcome addition, as the last few visits I haven't enjoyed the seasonal vegetable much (due to overseasoning or overcooking)After our main meal, Chef Alfonso came out and shared with us the recipe to his stuffing, which I'll share soon here on the site! It's made with Udi's Gluten Free Bread and classic stuffing ingredients. You could tell he was really proud and dedicated to making offerings that are safe for multiple special dietary needs.For dessert, Liberty Tree Tavern typically carries sorbet with fruit for gluten free and dairy free diners; however, Chef Alfonso said he was going to create something special for our meal. I was a bit surprised with with he came up with!For dessert, Chef Alfonso created something really unique and very nicely themed for the restaurant. It included homemade gluten free & dairy free waffles along with a cranberry compote and Tofutti ice cream. It was definitely a wow moment for the meal, as neither of us were expecting this kind of dessert.I really enjoyed the waffle which paired well with the cranberry compote. The compote was tart, as you would expect cranberries to be which combined with the ice cream was a great combo. Of course, despite being really full from the meal, I managed to make my way through almost all of my dessert. It was too great to pass up!Overall, I was really pleased with my visit to Liberty Tree Tavern and loved what Chef Alfonso is doing with the special dietary options. He really went above and beyond to make a great meal for us, and everything was really well prepared.The last few visits I've had, I've haven't enjoyed as much but this visit totally redeemed my love for Liberty Tree Tavern. It's a staple in my family's holiday traditions and I look forward to keeping it that for years to come.Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? Are you looking forward to trying the gluten free and dairy free stuffing?