12/21/16 12/21/16

Jiko -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Jiko: The Cooking Place, a signature table service restaurant, is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. African inspired, it features an upscale menu with unique flavors. I've had hit or miss experiences with Jiko, but I had a wonderful experience last fall when dining at the chef's counter.On this particular occasion, we dined at Jiko for Brandon's birthday. Last year, we went to Artist Point which was fabulous, but we knew we wanted to do something different this year. We both love the atmosphere and ambiance in Jiko, especially that the restaurant actually changes color throughout your meal, in order to represent an African Sunset.We went with a medium size group and were seated in the cozy booths in the back of the restaurant.Jiko carries an allergy-friendly menu, though it's important to note that you can ask for a chef at any time. I chose to order on the menu, without a chef consult on this visit, though I often do ask to speak with a chef.I'm not sure what it is about signature dining restaurants, but they always seem to carry Ener-G rolls, which are allergy-friendly and vegan. I'm not a big fan of these, as they turn hard as a rock almost immediately, so I was definitely disappointed to see these rolls. I much prefer the Deanna's Gluten Free (formerly known as GNI Brand Rolls), which are also allergy friendly and so much tastier.I was served a side of butter with sea salt, but you can easily get extra virgin olive oil upon request. I didn't really eat the rolls because they were not very well heated.On a side note, Brandon did order a cheese plate, and I'm assuming you could easily get it gluten free with some slight modifications.While the rolls were really disappointing, I was more than pleasantly surprised with my entree. I decided to get the 7 oz Oak-grilled Filet Mignon with Pumpin Pap “Isidudu,” Brussels Sprouts, Caramelized Onions, and a South African Red Wine Sauce. This dish contains dairy, but can be modified to be dairy free, as well as gluten free (you'd get marble potatoes instead of pap, etc.)Wow. The flavors in this dish were outstanding. The filet was perfectly cooked and tender (served butterfly style) and the pap was creamy and delicious. The absolute stars of the dish were the Brussels Sprouts (my favorite), caramelized onions, and red wine sauce. I could have drank that red wine sauce; it was that good!There were a lot of dishes on the menu that I was interested in. Normally, I don't go for beef, but I'm glad I did. This was super delicious and a perfect meal for a birthday celebration. I'm also partial to the maize crusted fish, which I've had gluten free & dairy free on several occasions and is delicious.Have you been to Jiko? What is your favorite menu item to order when you go there?

12/21/16 12/21/16

Seafire Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- SeaWorld Orlando

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.The Seafire Grill, located at SeaWorld Orlando, is a quick service restaurant with a decidedly Tex Mex flare. Serving up fajitas, sandwiches, and salads, Seafire Grill is the spot at SeaWorld Orlando to get a Tex Mex inspired meal.I've been wanting to check it out for a bit after having a really good dining experience at Spice Mill at SeaWorld.Brandon and I were spending time at SeaWorld for their Christmas celebration and needed to grab a break in between visiting with Rudolph & Friends in the park. When we arrived, the restaurant was surprisingly busy, though only one side of the cafeteria style restaurant was open -- making it even more crowded.Most of SeaWorld's restaurants are cafeteria style, so it makes dining with a special diet, a bit more challenging. I typically try to find a team member in advance to talk about options, instead of waiting in line, as the delays get even longer when you get a special dietary need involved. This time, I wasn't able to speak to anyone until getting up to the ordering portion of the line.The manager on duty greeted me, and they said everything was gluten free in the fajita rice bowls and the only thing to avoid were the tortillas, which are served separately and pre-packaged/wrapped in foil.I decided to order the Chicken & Steak Fajitas served with white rice, black beans, roasted corn, and peppers and onions. On the side, I was given cheese and pico de gallo (if you want, you can also get sour cream).Because I've been adding dairy back into my diet a bit, I did get the cheese, and I'm fairly certain the onions and peppers may have contained dairy. However, I think you could easily get a gluten free & dairy free version of this rice bowl.Overall, I wasn't very wowed by this. It was pretty bland and tasteless. The best part was the chicken, but the steak was really rubbery and tough. All of the other accompaniments were just bland and plain. It was a large portion, but that was about the only really positive part of this dish.While I love Tex Mex food, I found the rice bowl at Seafire Grill to be woefully lacking in flavor and substance. I'm glad I tried it, but I will definitely skip this one on my next visit.Have you been to Seafire Grill? What did you think of the options?

12/15/16 12/15/16

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Frontera Cocina, a table service restaurant, has quickly become one of my favorite table service locations at Disney Springs. Serving authentic cuisine, Frontera Cocina is the brainchild of celebrity chef Rick Bayless. I'm a huge fan of his Chicago-based restaurants, so there's no wonder I enjoy Frontera Cocina so much. On top of that, most of the menu is gluten free and the restaurant marks their special dietary needs options on their menu, which is great.On this particular visit, I joined my friend Ron for lunch. We had dined here previously together along with our friend Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and really enjoyed it.On this visit, we knew we had to get their guacamole. It's the perfect appetizer, and I love the versions in the main restaurant and at their to go counter. By far, the best one is the bacon guacamole. Served with gluten free chips, it's rich and delicious.My only complaint? It needs more bacon!We also decided to go for margaritas, and while there's a bunch of different unique versions, my preference is the classic Frontera Margarita. I also really like that they serve it with only half of the rim of the glass covered in salt. I'm not a big salt and margarita fan, so that worked out perfectly for me.If you're not into margaritas, I highly recommend the Cocina Gin & Tonic. So good!Both Ron and I ordered gluten free & dairy free entrees. Ron got the carnitas, which I ordered on a previous visit. He said the meat was really delicious and tender.For my entree, I ordered the chicken tacos. These come as "build your own," which means you can assemble them as you wish. The corn tortillas here are outstanding and the perfect vessel for the meat, salsa, and guacamole.I thought the chicken was quite good, though the winning pieces of my dish were the refried beans and guacamole.Note: This dish normally comes with cheese. You can order it without cheese to make it dairy free, easily.Overall, Frontera Cocina consistently offers a solid meal. I love how many of the dishes are gluten free, which means tons of choices! The restaurant is also really good and making accommodations for special dietary needs and modifying dishes.Have you been to Frontera Cocina? What's your favorite dish there?

12/15/16 12/15/16

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

12/13/16 12/13/16

Boma -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Boma: Flavors of Africa, is a table service buffet located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House. Hands down, if someone asked me what my favorite breakfast was on Disney property, this restaurant would be it. I love everything about Boma - from the theming to the food.On this particular visit, I was joined by my family for an early holiday celebration. We all adore Boma, and since I had booked a DVC villa for my family at Jambo House, breakfast at Boma was a no-brainer.Boma is a buffet, which can be scary for those of us with special diets. The stuff of cross-contamination nightmares, buffets outside of Disney are places I avoid. But thankfully, Disney is really amazing with handling buffets for special dietary needs guests.Typically, the chef will first walk you through the buffet, noting items free of the special dietary ingredients you need to avoid. If you're comfortable dining straight off the buffet after this tour, you can. However, I often ask for food items from the kitchen to ensure safety. Much of the Boma buffet is gluten free, so I do a bit of a mix here; I tend to get a few things off the buffet and then request the remaining items from the kitchen. Of course, you'll want to use whatever strategy you're most comfortable with. Chefs will make all of your food from the kitchen, so you don't have to get items off the buffet at all, if you prefer too!Prior to getting to speak with a chef, our server brought us drinks. I always go for unsweetened iced tea and the signature juice -- Jungle Juice. It's a combination of orange juice, passion fruit juice and guava juice. Yum!After my tour of the buffet with the chef, I opted to get a few things off the line. This included grilled asparagus (a favorite for me), pap (grits), turkey, ham, bacon, and sausage. I also got some hot quinoa, which is now served with apples and grapes in it. I can't say I loved that combination, but it was nice to see it served in a different way besides plain.The carving station meats (turkey and ham) are perfection. Both are super moist, tasty, and just perfect for brunch. Even better, I had grilled asparagus and pap to enjoy with it. I was not a big fan of the sausage (really greasy on this visit), and the bacon wasn't anything special.I always always get fresh fruit at Boma. I don't know what it is, but I swear they have the best pineapple there. Pineapple is a fruit I can't get enough of, so I got a few small servings throughout my meal.The chef also prepared me a custom omelet, which I got with ham, onions, and cheddar cheese. Because I've been adding a bit of dairy back into my diet, I decided to get the cheese, and it was a really nice addition. I've also had an omelet with goat cheese on previous visits, if you are looking for a non-cow's milk option too.The breakfast potatoes on the buffet line have a cross-contamination risk now, as they are fried in a shared fryer. Because of this, the chef made me some in the back, sauteed with olive oil. And they were super crispy and delicious.And because you need Mickey waffles, I got the allergy friendly ones. They are currently being made at Boma as a blend of Namaste mix and Bob's Red Mill pancake & waffle mix. I thought they were extra crispy on this visit. I still personally prefer the straight Bob's Red Mill Pancake & Waffle mix myself, but at least they weren't the awful ones using the new mix served at some locations like Captain's Grille.If you're feeling fancy, ask the chef for banana chips or any other kind of topping you'd like to add to the waffles and your pure maple syrup. So good!Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boma. Their breakfast is outstanding and really delicious, and they have a ton of gluten free and dairy free options!Have you been to Boma? What has your experience been when you visited?

12/13/16 12/13/16

Liberty Inn -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Liberty Inn, located at the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot, is a quick service restaurant owned & operated by Disney World. Many of the restaurants in the World Showcase aren't owned & operated by Disney, so I like visiting Liberty Inn for their allergy friendly offerings, including my favorite, the allergy friendly chicken tenders.On this particular visit, I decided that allergy chicken tenders were definitely what I was craving, and while they do have other options on their allergy friendly menu, there's something about those chicken tenders.I ordered my chicken tenders at the main cash register stations, but I was asked to move to the far right window in this image where all special diets orders were to be picked up. This is slightly different than my previous visits, but I found it to be a lot more streamlined and stress-free to be at a dedicated window not blocking everyone else waiting.When I got to the window I did get a pager and was told that I could return for my food when it went off.The allergy chicken tenders (which are free of the top 8 common allergens) take about 8-10 minutes to fry, which is totally fine by me. Along with some gluten free fries, I was one happy camper. Both the fries and the chicken tenders were perfectly fried and delicious.Plus, if you're an annual passholder, you can get 20% off right now through 2017, which made them really affordable!Have you been to Liberty Inn? What do you order when you dine there?

12/2/16 12/2/16

Cape May Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Cape May Cafe, a table service buffet at Disney's Beach Club Resort, is a favorite dinner spot for my family. With a seafood theme, I've always found Cape May Cafe to have so many great gluten free and dairy free options. Plus, I can pretty much always eat my weight in shrimp and crab legs on any given occasion.I haven't been to Cape May Cafe for dinner in almost two years, which seems a bit crazy given how much I enjoy it. Thankfully, I had a chance to dine here recently with my friend Ron, who was visiting from out of town. The two of us are soul foodies, and we always enjoy eating some of the same types of food.On this visit, we were greeted by the chef who took us around the buffet. Buffets can be a tricky business with special dietary needs, so never hesitate to ask a chef if you can have food prepared for you from the back in the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination.Much of Cape May is naturally gluten free (and a lot of it's naturally dairy free too), and they do a good job at separating gluten-filled foods from gluten free ones, so I often find that at Cape May, I eat half off the buffet and half from freshly prepared items in the kitchen. Trust your judgement and comfort level when you dine.There are so many great gluten free and dairy free items. Peel and eat shrimp and cocktail sauce are big winners, along with marinated olives. I also enjoyed steamed crab legs (who needs butter?!), red potatoes, corn, clams, and ribs. The ribs were actually really tender, and I enjoyed them a lot. The crab legs are best eaten piping hot, so don't let them sit too long!The chef prepared several dishes for us in the kitchen. This included a side of Cape May Salad, which has candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and an orange vinaigrette. It's so good! Ours was made minus the blue cheese which normally comes with it.We also had some plain salmon, as the salmon on the buffet contained dairy. It was good, but nothing amazing.The absolute hands down star of our meal were the mussels with garlic, tomatoes, and chorizo. Wow. The amount of flavor in these was outstanding. The mussles themselves were perfectly cooked and the broth was rich, garlicky, and flavorful. We had a huge bowl made by the chef, and we had plenty to share. My only complaint was that the chorizo was a bit tough...but that didn't stop me from eating it!Overall, we left Cape May Cafe both very full and satisfied. I forgot how much I enjoy this restaurant and the simplicity of fresh seafood. Such a great solid meal and one I will definitely keep going back to. If you're interested in their character breakfast buffet, check out my review from my last visit this year.Have you been to Cape May Cafe? What did you think of the special dietary needs options there?

12/2/16 12/2/16

Blaze Pizza -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in November 2016.Blaze Pizza, located at Disney Springs, has quickly become a favorite stop for me to get gluten free pizza at Disney. Blaze Pizza is a national chain pizza restaurant that offers fast-casual pizza that cooks fast.When they opened in 2016 at Disney Springs, I knew I wanted to check it out, as they have gluten free pizza crust. As you can tell my by previous reviews, I've been blown away by the quality of ingredients and their gluten free crust. They also carry vegan options, including Daiya Cheese, which makes it a great option for many special dietary needs.I've heard a lot of negative feedback from readers who feel Blaze Pizza isn't a very safe place to dine. This can definitely be true. It's not a dedicated gluten free restaurant (neither is any restaurant at Disney, except Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC), and cross contamination is always a risk. It's even more of a risk if the team doesn't change gloves or use fresh toppings for you pizza. They do also use a shared pizza oven, so that can add risk too (they use dedicated gluten free mats to cook the gluten free pizza to help protect it from cross-contamination).As I've learned from reader comments, guests have received mixed experiences. I've noticed that unless I speak up, the default gluten free handling is a glove change and dedicated pizza cutting utensils (this is the same with vegan options). However, I've had great experiences speaking to the team and managers about getting fresh ingredients from off the line -- another layer in protecting myself from cross-contamination.I love their gluten free pizza, so I really try to speak as much as possible to the team to ensure they know that I need to pizza to be prepared as safe as possible. So far, in my experiences at this particular Blaze Pizza location, this has served me well.As an aside, I've tried another Orlando area Blaze Pizza and the experience was woefully underwhelming and not great, so do note that not all Blaze Pizza locations handling of gluten free and special dietary needs pizza are created equal.On this particular visit, I chose to get the same gluten free pizza I've had on every visit (what can I say, I found a pizza I love) -- the gluten free BBQ Chicken Pizza, minus banana peppers and with bacon added.I took the pizza home and that also gave me an opportunity to try out the Nima Sensor that I was sent for gluten detection. Nima is a portable device that detects gluten in food. It's not currently out on the market; it ships in Spring 2017, but the folks at Nima, whom I met at a food allergy conference event, sent me a device to test out.Here are some quick facts about Nima Sensor.

Used to detect gluten (at low levels, including 5 ppm which is under the FDA legally acceptable amount of 20 ppm)
Not 100% guarantee that a product is gluten free
May require multiple test vials to test each parts and/or ingredients of a dish
Not scientifically validated in a peer-reviewed way (I'm a university librarian, so this one is pretty important to me)
Has some limitations on food tested
Could be pricey depending on how much you eat out and how many test vials you use

Because folks have been really concerned about Blaze Pizza's safety for those with celiac disease (and I echo this concern, as a celiac), I decided to test out my pizza with the Nima Sensor, just to see what it would test as.I used 3 vials. 2 vials were used to test two different sections of the gluten free crust and 1 vial was used to test the toppings. That being said, I could have used more vials, which definitely presents a major cost issue in my opinion.I've not had any noticeable reactions to the Blaze Pizza I've had in the past, but I know full well that doesn't mean that there wasn't gluten exposure or that the pizza would be safe on every visit (as cross-contamination can occur).After three vials, I received all gluten free smiley faces, which was pretty exciting to see. Again, while we can't say to 100% that the pizza was gluten free, this was good enough for me. I enjoyed the pizza and felt no ill effects afterwards -- a positive sign that my Blaze Pizza was indeed safe.Overall, though I'm still ever a skeptic of devices and those that are not peer-reviewed, I'm at least a bit relieved to see that the product itself did test OK according to the Nima Sensor. That to me gives me confidence to continue to dine at Blaze Pizza at Disney Springs.If you're curious about Nima Sensor and how it works, I recommend checking out the Beyond Celiac post about it, as well as Erica from Celiac and the Beast's experiences with it. I'm not sure it's a device I would personally buy, but it's been fun testing it out on various Disney products (all of so far have passed the tests positively).What do you think of Blaze Pizza's special dietary needs options. Do you feel safe dining here? *Note: I was provided a blogger review Nima Sensor for temporary use, but was not compensated for using it; nor was I was I asked and/or required to write any reviews about it.

11/23/16 11/23/16

Morimoto Asia -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in November 2016.Morimoto Asia, a table service restaurant at Disney Springs, offers Asian food inspired by Iron Chef Morimo. I've been here on several occasions -- all of which have resulted in progressively worse experiences.On this particular occasion, I joined my family for a last minute lunch at Morimoto Asia (they really enjoy it). Initially, I was going to grab lunch at Cooke's of Dublin or Blaze Pizza while my family dined at Morimoto Asia, but at their insistence I ended up going there for lunch with them.I enjoyed seeing the holiday decorations here, which were really lovely, but that was basically the best of my experience.In previous visits, Morimoto Asia has had a gluten free menu. On this visit, I learned that they recently removed the menu and now only have limited gluten free offerings. The hostess said that she thought some of the rice dishes were now gluten free, but then came back to our table after a few minutes (and before our server came to the table) and said she was mistaken.Sadly, our server did not give me any more good news. I was told my only gluten free option was the pad thai. I asked about speaking to a manager, but the server indicated that they would tell me the same thing -- that the only gluten free option was pad thai.What a huge bummer and such a sad situation that I couldn't get a manager or that there were any other options beyond pad thai. I told my family that I was going to leave and get food elsewhere, as I both felt unwelcome and frustrated by the experience, but they really wanted me to stay. I'm not a big fan of their pad thai, but ended up ordering it.On a previous visit, I found the pad thai woefully oversauced and very sweet. This time, there was barely any sauce. I found the noodles and even the chicken to be super bland and tasteless. I can get much better versions of pad thai in Orlando, so it was nothing special for me.While the dish itself was perfectly passable, I can't in good conscious either recommend or support Morimoto Asia. I'm fine with a restaurant not offering gluten free options; it's their choice. What I can't get behind is a restaurant at Disney, where the special dietary accommodations are second to none, not even making an effort. Of course, Morimoto Asia is non-Disney owned, so it's certainly their prerogative to remove menus and/or options and restaurants at Disney not owned or operated by Disney are not required to follow Disney's accommodations for special dietary needs...but most do.Look at Raglan Road. Chef Kevin Dundon has done an incredible job at not only making amazing and delicious food but also creating outstanding and safe gluten free and special dietary needs counterparts so that everyone can enjoy. In fact, he talked about this recently at a culinary demo I went to at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and he took the extra effort and time to make me a gluten free version of the lamb pie he made for the demo. That, to me, is true commitment and compassion for guests with special dietary needs. There's a reason Chef Kevin Dundon's restaurant Raglan Road has won "best gluten free restaurant" in Orlando.I can only assume that Chef Morimoto and the Pantina Group, which owns Morimoto Asia, find that accommodating special dietary needs is too time-consuming and/or difficult. And that's fine. That is their choice. But, it's disheartening to see a restaurant like this at Disney, where many guests might not know that there's a difference between Disney owned and non-Disney owned restaurants and might expect that they can be accommodated for at Morimoto Asia.Thankfully, there are so many Disney owned and non-Disney owned restaurants that can accommodate. And, if I'm craving Asian food, I will just head to Skipper Canteen and other Disney locations. Sadly, this was one of the most disappointing meal experiences I've ever had at Disney, and I will not be going back to Morimoto Asia.I truly hope that they will take feedback from the special diets community to heart and work to provide safe and delicious options for guests and not just make them feel like a burden or give them "a" single choice (because that's not really a choice or option. It's just what you have to order). Until then, you'll find me at Raglan Road next door with a platter of gluten free and dairy free fried fish and chips and a pint of Magners Pear Cider.Have you been to Morimoto Asia? What has your experience been?

11/23/16 11/23/16

Morimoto Asia -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

11/14/16 11/14/16

Toothsome Chocolate Emporium -- Appetizers -- Table Service -- City Walk -- Universal Studios Orlando

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast is Universal Studio's latest table service at Universal City Walk outside of the Universal theme parks. Set to resemble a steam-punk chocolate factory, much of what is served there has some chocolate inspiration. From chocolate drinks to even chocolate sauce burgers -- if you are a chocolate lover, the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast will help you get your chocolate fix.I had heard from some blog readers that the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium could accommodate gluten free and special dietary needs diners. On this particular occasion, Brandon and I stopped by for drinks and appetizers before Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is insanely popular and very busy. We stopped by at 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday, and it was over an hour wait for a table, so we decided to go upstairs to the bar area (which requires no reservations). Thankfully, we found two spots at the bar to order.The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium does not carry a gluten free menu. Servers will go over options with you, though I have heard that a chef and/or manager may come to your table. At the bar, I was advised of a few safe appetizers and that they have gluten free buns.While looking over the extensive regular menu, I did order a Peach Smash, one of the few non-chocolately drinks. It is normally served with whiskey, but I opted to swap out whiskey for gin. The drink itself was OK, but I think I would order something else on my next visit.The bar area is really cool, and I love all the vintage touches. They have an impressive amount of options to choose from on the bar menu, so no matter what your special dietary need is, chances are you'll find a drink that works for you on their menu.For my appetizer, I opted for the harissa spiced pork tenderloin kabobs wrapped in bacon and served with a pineapple slaw and creamy dip. I asked them to omit the dip, but it came out on the plate anyway. Even though I have been reintroducing dairy back into my diet a bit, I opted not to eat the dairy filled dip.The pork itself was very flavorful and tender. The bacon, of course, was delicious, and the sauce on the pork was quite spicy. I was glad to have the mild pineapple slaw as a side because it really helped cool down the spice from the pork.The appetizer was filling and tasty, though I would probably opt for a sandwich (which was nearly the same price) on my next visit.I have heard from some blog readers after this meal that they were able to get a dairy free shake. I have no more information on the type of dairy free/vegan ice cream or cross-contamination standards in place. I've also heard there's a dairy free chocolate cake, but will have to visit again to find out more info on both of these.Overall, we loved the theming of the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and the food was OK. For options, it seems like gluten free may be a bit limited, but I'm hoping they work to add more in as guests request them. I'm also hoping to go here for a full meal so I can see how special dietary needs are handled in the main dining room.Have you been to the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium? What were your thoughts on this restaurant at Universal Studios Orlando?

11/8/16 11/8/16

Blaze Pizza -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. Blaze Pizza, a quick service restaurant located in Disney Springs, has quickly gone up the ranks as one of my favorite spots at Disney Springs for lunch or dinner. I've managed to get several meals here successfully without getting sick, which is great!Blaze Pizza is not owned & operated by the Disney Company and does not necessarily have to adhere to Disney's rigorous standards for special dietary needs, and I recommend anyone dining here remain vigilant.I've heard mixed reports from other guests who have felt it was not celiac safe (as the only accommodation was to simply change gloves but use shared ingredients). Every visit I've been there, I have spoken to them and asked them to not only change gloves but also prepare my pizza in a separate area with fresh ingredients, and they have been happy to do this every time.Remember, we are our own advocates, and it's always good to speak up! If you don't feel safe eating here, as they do share a common pizza oven, know there are tons of other amazing options at Disney Springs!On this particular visit, I got a BBQ Chicken Gluten Free Pizza to go. The cast members there were awesome. They initially only offered a glove change, and upon my request, they prepared my pizza in a separate area from the regular line and used fresh ingredients. I was there to watch it every step of the way, and was very impressed with how easily they accommodate this every time I've been.Gluten Free pizza is placed on a plastic/silicon/mesh mat (I still haven't figured out what exactly it is) and the placed in the pizza oven. They do try to keep gluten free pizza on the side to avoid cross-contamination, but there is always a risk.I always check with the cast members at the pizza oven to ensure they cut my pizza in a safe area and with clean utensils.If you're vegan, vegetarian, or dairy free, Blaze Pizza offers Daiya Vegan Cheese as a dairy alternative, so gluten free & dairy free pizza is easy to get.Overall, I really enjoy the gluten free Blaze Pizza. I've had great experiences here, but I've also been really vocal and vigilant at every visit to ensure I get as safe of a meal as possible. It's the best gluten free pizza I've ever had, and I'm glad this location is able to take measures to make me a safe meal.Have you been to Blaze Pizza at Disney Springs? What has your experience been?

11/8/16 11/8/16

Margaritaville -- Dinner -- Table Service -- City Walk -- Universal Studios Orlando

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. Margaritaville, located at City Walk in Universal Studios Orlando, is a table service restaurant filled with cheeseburgers in paradise and, you guessed it...margaritas. If you're a Parrothead, you'll recognize this as a chain restaurant associated with Jimmy Buffett. The restaurant as a decidedly South Florida vibe. It's filled with bright colors and huge meals and drinks.On this particular occasion, Brandon and I ended up here for dinner during Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. We initially tried to go to the newly opened Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, but it had a 2 hour wait!Because I knew that Margaritaville had a dedicated gluten free lunch and dinner menu, we decided to go there instead.Before ordering, we opted for gin and tonics, which were delicious but very strong. If there's one thing I've learned from the various Margaritavilles I've been to is that Jimmy Buffett's team sure knows how to make strong drinks. Wow!As a quick aside on drinks, according to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and many others, scientifically pure spirits that may have been made with grains are, in fact, gluten free because the protein is removed during distillation. I do look for gins that are gluten free, like Aviation Gin, but have never had an issue personally with gin-based drinks. That being said, I do from other alcohol like Whiskey beacuse that does make me feel a bit sick. Trust your gut when it comes to liquor and avoid those that causes you difficulty.Luckily, at Margaritaville, you can find a ton of options, including hard cider!For my entree, I ordered the classic Cheeseburger in Paradise, served on an Udi's Gluten Free bun and a side of sweet potato fries (which are made in a dedicated fryer). Brandon also got a burger and enjoyed his a lot.I thought mine was OK -- good but not amazing. If you're dairy free, you can simply order without the cheese. What I do wish is that I had ordered was the Volcano Nachos appetizer, because it looked amazing and was huge! Still, there were plenty of gluten free options to choose from on the menu, and the burger was decent enough. I actually wish there was a Cheeseburger in Paradise (another Jimmy Buffett chain restaurant) in the area, because I used to love their burgers!Overall, we both enjoyed our dinner at Margaritaville. I won't say that it was gourmet, but it was exactly what we needed for a solid meal. The drinks were strong, food portions large, and the prices reasonable -- all in all a good combination. It won't be our first choice at Universal Studios City Walk, but we'd definitely go back again.Have you been to Margaritvaille? What did you order when you dined there?

11/3/16 11/3/16

Katsura Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in October 2016.Katsura Grill, a quick service restaurant at the Japan Paviion in Epcot, has long been a place that I've wanted to eat. Back when it used to be called the Yakitori House I had the most awful experience, in which I was told not even white rice was safe for me to eat due to cross contamination. Yikes! So, I'll be honest that I've pretty much avoided the place since.Recently, I learned from a reader that they are now serving gluten free teriyaki, so you know I had to check this out, especially since Brandon loves the Beef Udon Noodles here, and it would be nice to enjoy a meal together there.After I arrived at Katsura Grill, I spoke with a cast member who said that they did have gluten free teriyaki. She let me look at the ingredients binder and also take pictures. As you can see, they offer chicken, shrimp, and a combination of the two as options. Both dishes do contain soy but are gluten free and dairy free.The cast member also mentioned to me that I could have some of the sushi rolls too, though I did not check those ingredients in the binder.As you can see from the regular menu, they quickly identify the gluten free teriyaki options for adults and kiddos.My food arrived fairly quickly, and they also had marked my food with a gluten free notice. In general, I liked the chicken and shrimp teriyaki that I got well enough, though to be honest, I make a better version at home myself.The dish does come with white rice and a plain salad. I would have liked to have had a nice ginger dressing or something with the lettuce, as it was served with no dressing. The kids version comes with steamed vegetables, and I think I would have preferred that over the plain lettuce.In generally, I would definitely get it again, but if I have a choice I'll probably order options from other locations. Still, it's awesome to have something safe so I can get it every once in a while.As a quick aside, next door to the Yakitori House is the Mitsukoshi store which includes a hidden Sake Bar! If you're popping by, definitely check it out. Brandon and I went and loved it. Have you been to Katsura Grill? What did you think of the gluten free teriyaki?

11/3/16 11/3/16

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

*This dining experience took place in October 2016. Everything Pop, located in Disney's Pop Century Resort, is a cafeteria style quick service restaurant, and the value resort's only restaurant. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the food at Everything Pop is a lot of your standard quick service options, but also incldues some fun and delicious retro inspired meals too.On this particular visit, I stopped by for breakfast with Travel Planner Mary Morales, a wonderful Disney Vacation planner who may be at Disney even more than I am! I decided to grab a quick meal before heading to work.I took a look at the Everything Pop allergy friendly breakfast menu before I went, and I was intrigued by the gluten free chocolate chip pancakes. The chef told me that they were made with a combination of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix and Namaste Pancake and Waffle Mix. The chocolate chips do and/or may contain dairy, so they are not listed as dairy free (though I'd love to see them use dairy free chocolate chips, like Enjoy Life Foods).I ordered the pancakes with a side of bacon and scrambled eggs (which are made dairy free). The eggs and bacon weren't anything special, but good. Though I wouldn't say a spectactular breakfast, the chocolate chip pancakes really hit the spot -- although, they were awfully sweet! Nothing like a sugar rush in the morning before work.Overall, I would definitely get this breakfast again at Everything Pop. The food was substantial, filling, and quite good. Plus, it's one of the few locations where you can actually get gluten free chocolate chip pancakes. That's a win!Have you been to Everything Pop? What do you like to order when you visit there?

10/21/16 10/21/16

California Grill -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Contemporary Resort

*This dining experience took place in October 2016.California Grill, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a signature dining location with impressive views of the Walt Disney World Resort. Because of that, it's a popular restaurant and one that often books up 180 days in advance.I had not been to California Grill since 2013, when it had recently re-opened after a lengthy refurbishment. The food was great, the atmosphere amazing, but the service we had in 2013 (for my brother's 30th birthday) was not so great.On this particular occasion, I visited California Grill with a friend from college who was visiting from out-of-town. California Grill is one of his favorite restaurants, so it was a great excuse to visit.California Grill carries an allergy-friendly menu, like most restaurants at Disney. I had looked at the menu here on my site before going to dinner, but California Grill does frequently update its menu.Of course, you can always speak to a chef upon arrival if you have any questions or are interested in additional menu modifications (or your special dietary need is not listed on the menu). For instance, none of the beef options on the menu are currently listed as gluten free, but I'm sure with some easy modifications they could be.Prior to ordering, our server Donald brought me Ener-G rolls and some butter (you can request extra virgin olive oil too). I only tried a bite of the roll and decided not to even ask for olive oil. I am always so disappointed when a restaurant like California Grill serves Ener-G. They weren't well heated and turned hard very quickly.I would have much preferred the GNI / Deanna's Gluten Free rolls, which are much tastier.For an appetizer, I ordered the Artisan Tacos with Adobo Fish, House-made Cilantro-Corn Tortillas, Pickled Red Onion, and an Avocado mash. It normally comes with crema, but I asked for it to be served without it in order to make it dairy free. With this modification, the dish was gluten free and dairy free.The flavors on this were really nice. It was a bright flavorful dish -- though I think the flavor of the delicate fish was lost on the bold flavors of the accompaniments. Still, it was a really large portion for an appetizer and could easily be an entree with a side salad.For my entree, I chose the Pork Two Ways with Grilled Tenderloin, Goat Cheese Polenta, Mushrooms, and Lacquered Pork Belly. This is gluten free, egg, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut free, but does contain dairy (goat cheese).This was a beyond amazing entree. Simply the best thing I've ever ordered at California Grill, and it might be one of the best entrees I've ever ordered at a signature dining location. The pork tenderloin was unbelievably tender and well seasoned. The pork belly was the absolute star of the dish (because...well, pork fat rules!). It was so rich and tender and the sauce on it was insanely good. The goat cheese polenta was very flavorful but not overpowering in goat cheese.Overall, it all balanced so well. I may have nearly licked my plate, it was so good!For dessert, I could have ordered a sorbet, but because I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, I tried the Chocolate Pudding Cake with Nutella Filling, Meringue Kisses, and Chantilly Cream. It is both gluten free and peanut free.This was so super rich, so only a few bites were necessary for me, but wow. What flavors! The rich cake was really just dense chocolate with Nutella. The meringue and homemade marshmallows on the side were really nice too. Overall, this was a rich decadent dessert that if you're gluten free and can have dairy is a must!During dessert, I also opted for a pot of hot peppermint tea. The flavors were perfect, and it was excellent to have after a few bites of the rich dessert.California Grill has an entire tea menu, so definitely check it out if you like tea.After dinner, we walked to the observation deck and checked out the amazing view of Walt Disney World and Orlando. On a clear night, you can see a lot of the city, and it's a spectacular view. If you are at California Grill at the right time, you can also see Wishes on the deck too (they also pipe in the music). If you finish dinner earlier than the time for Fireworks, you are allowed to come back as a dining guest after your meal to enjoy the view, which is a nice bonus.Overall, I was extremely impressed with the dinner I had at California Grill. The food was incredible and the server was impeccable this time. I can highly recommend our server Donald, who was very attentive throughout our meal. California Grill is definitely a lovely spot for a special occasion, and it's great to know that guests with special dietary needs have many options while dining there.

9/28/16 9/28/16

Potato Chips -- Snacks -- Tea Caddy -- United Kingdom Pavilion -- Epcot

*This post contains ingredient information from September 2016. Always double-check ingredients of pre-packaged snacks to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. I love snacks, and I love to see what snacks sold in the Epcot World Showcase pavilions from other countries might be safe for me to eat. Recently, I stopped by the Tea Caddy at the UK Pavilion to see what items are available, and I found several packages of potato chips (aka "crisps" as they are referred to in the UK) and found several marked gluten free.Up first is Burts British Hand Cooked Potato Chips in Sea Salt flavor.The ingredients look fairly simple and include potatoes, sunflower oil, and sea salt. It also contains a note that says, "suitable for vegetarians, gluten free." There do not appear to be any warnings about cross-contamination or made in facility with wheat/gluten.Next up, I saw another package of Burts British Hand Cooked Potato Chips in Sea Salt & Malted Vinegar flavor. Now, I don't know about you but "malt" and gluten free don't mix. Let's look at the ingredients...According to the packaging the ingredients include: Potatoes, sunflower oil, natural vinegar flavourings (BARLEY), sea salt, sugar, rice flour, acid: citric acid, yeast extract powder. It has a note thatIt also contains a note that says, "suitable for vegetarians, gluten free." However, when I went to their website, these chips are not listed as gluten free. I personally would avoid these, as they would not be a safe GF option.Like the Sea Salt & Malted Vinegar flavor chips, I couldn't imagine anything labeled Guinness would be gluten free. The Guinness Rich Chili flavor chips are marked gluten free. Let's look at the ingredients...The ingredients listed are Potatoes, sunflower oil, sugar, yeast extract powder, salt, natural flavour, onion powder, paprika flavour, barley malt extract powder, spices, tomato powder, citric acid, natural colour: paprika extract, chilli extract.Again, we see Barley listed in the ingredients which is not considered gluten free. When I went to their website, I couldn't find an exact match for these chips, and I would not consider these to be gluten free based on the barley malt.I'm a bit disappointed by the options, and kind of wish there were some of the more interesting and fun flavor of crisps. Just looking at Burts website, I saw the following that were gluten free: Devon Roasted Beef, Firecracker Lobster, and Vintage Cheddar & Spring Onion. I think I need the Firecracker Lobster & Devon Roasted Beef crisps in my life!Still, at least there's one flavor at the Tea Caddy shop in the UK Pavilion at Epcot that is gluten free -- the classic Sea Salt.I'll be heading back here and updating the list and finding other chips and snacks options!Have you been to the Tea Caddy at the UK Pavilion in Epcot? What gluten free and special dietary needs snacks did you find?

9/26/16 9/26/16

Krusty Burger -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Universal Studios Orlando

*This dining experience took place in September 2016.Krusty Burger is a quick service dining location in the Simpsons Area of Universal Studios Orlando. I recently had dinner there while attending Halloween Horror Nights.Originally, we had planned on getting tacos at Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck, as I had heard that they had gluten free and dairy free tacos. Sadly, this ended up not being the case, as the team members there advised me not to get anything due to cross-contamination, so we ended up across the way at Krusty Burger.On a previous visit, I had the Krusty Burger, and I wasn't all that impressed. I loved the tater tots, but found the burger itself to be just so-so.During this visit, I spoke with a chef and asked if I could get a grilled chicken sandwich. Thankfully, he advised me that the chicken was gluten free, so I was able to get something other than a burger.The grilled chicken sandwich I had was served on an Udi's Gluten Free bun (which is also dairy free), along with bacon and lettuce. It also came with tater tots made in a dedicated fryer.The sandwich itself was nothing to write home about. It was good, but nothing special. I did add some pre-packaged mayonnaise from the condiment area to my sandwich, which helped a bit. The real star of the meal was the tater tots. What can I say? I just can't enough of tots!Overall, I would stop by Krusty Burger again in a pinch. It's not really my favorite place, but at least I have a few options. I would definitely get the chicken sandwich over the burger though on any visit.Have you been to Krusty Burger at Universal Studios Orlando? What did you think of the gluten free options?

9/18/16 9/18/16

Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village

*This dining experience took place in September 2016. Ohana, a table service restaurant located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, offers family style meals with an Asian and Polynesian flare. Ohana has long been a favorite in my family (fitting, since Ohana actually means family).On this particular visit, I dined with my mom and stepdad for dinner. Ohana also offers breakfast, but my family always prefers dinner. There's so many options, and it's such a solid and filling meal. You can read about my most recent visit in May 2016 with my friend Ron, here on the blog.After being seated, Chef Rodney came out to speak with me about options. For family style meals, they bring separate special dietary needs plates for me, except in the cases where the dish is already safe for me to eat.First up was the Lilikoi Salad, which is both gluten free and dairy free naturally. My family has spent enough years with me gluten free that they know about sharing dishes and avoiding cross-contamination. Every makes sure to scoop salad safely, as they each got pieces of regular gluten-filled bread and already had that on their plates.I really like the Lilikoi Salad and often find it to be under-dressed. This was not the case this visit, as it was filled with a good amount of vegetables (including edamame, shredded carrot, and red onion) and papaya mango dressing. I really enjoyed it, and even had a second helping.I was also given one Deanna's Gluten Free roll (formerly known as GNI Brand rolls) along with some Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread. I don't know what it is about Ohana, but they can never seem to heat these rolls well.This one was probably the most well-heated gluten free roll I've ever had at Ohana, but it was still pretty crumbly. I'm glad that Chef Rodney only brought me one out for my meal, as I wouldn't have eaten a second one.Chef Rodney also brought out steamed white rice, chicken wings (plain without sauce), sauteed vegetables, and gluten free Sweet & Sour Sauce. I also asked for gluten free Teriyaki sauce, but didn't end up getting that with my entree.I am a huge white rice fan (don't ask me why; I just find it really comforting), so I love having a nice sauce to add to it along with the veggies. The vegetables always seem really undercooked to me and a little too crunchy for my liking. I usually end up eating a few pieces of broccoli cut up really well and mostly eat the sauteed onions and smaller vegetables that have cooked longer.For my money, Ohana is all about the grilled meats. There are currently three grilled meat offerings at Ohana -- sirloin, sweet & sour chicken, and grilled shrimp. All three are gluten free and dairy free, and all three are really delicious.The steak for me is a bit iffy, as sometimes it's really good and other times the meat is really grisly. I had one really amazing piece on this visit, and the rest were kind of gross. I always love the grilled sweet & sour chicken and the grilled shrimp. Both were delicious, and I may have eaten my weight in both of them.For dessert, Chef Rodney brought me Rice Dream non-dairy ice cream, sliced strawberries, fresh raspberries, topped with Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. It's pretty much what they serve me on every visit.Usually, I'm so full I can't eat much of it. I did my best though on this visit. I'd love to see them change up the dessert offerings here. Maybe even offer a version of the Pineapple Dole Whip. I'd much prefer that to ice cream I get when I visit. Or, even better, I remember when Ohana used to serve fresh pineapple slices for dessert. That to me would be a perfect way to end such a big meal.Overall, I can't help but love Ohana. The food is delicious and plentiful. It's definitely one that my family and friends enjoy visiting, and I always look forward to a meal here.Have you been to Ohana? What did you think of your meal there?

9/18/16 9/18/16

Pineapple Dole Whip -- Snacks -- Pineapple Lanai -- Polynesian Village

*This post contains information from September 18, 2016. Always double-check with a cast member to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. The Pineapple Lanai, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a snack kiosk that serves a classic Disney snack option -- the Pineapple Dole Whip. Once only found at the Aloha Isle in the Magic Kingdom, the Pineapple Lanai is now another great go-to spot to get your Dole Whip fix.Currently, the Pineapple Lanai serves two types of Dole Whip -- the traditional Pineapple Dole Whip and the Vanilla Dole Whip. You can also combine the two and get Swirl Dole Whip. If you're feeling fancy, you can also get a float served with fresh pineapple juice and your choice of Dole Whip.Pineapple Dole Whips are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens. But, the vanilla flavor does contain dairy. It is recommended that you speak to a cast member at the Pineapple Lanai about any potential cross-contamination with dairy in the Dole Whip machines and containers used to pre-mix the Dole Whip flavors.To read the ingredients for the Pineapple Dole Whip, check out my post on the Aloha Isle, with images from the ingredients binder.The Pineapple Dole Whip is such a rare treat. I love that it feels like it should be filled with dairy, yet isn't. It makes for a perfect treat on a hot Florida afternoon, and it is a classic Disney snack. I'm also glad that I can get it at Disney's Polynesian Resort any time I visit there.On this visit, I got the classic Pineapple Dole Whip in a cup, but I will definitely get a Pineapple Dole Whip Float on my next visit. I love both so much that it's hard to choose whenever I go to order one.Have you had the Pineapple Dole Whip? Is it a must do for you when you go to the Magic Kingdom?

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW