Guest Review — Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 1

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her first few days at Disney World. You can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Disney Day #1 – 7/21After lunch at Bubba Gump’s, we packed up the car and headed over to the Wilderness Lodge to begin our Disney vacation. We hadn’t been to that hotel in over 10 years, and it was fun to go back.We had a reservation at the Whispering Canyon Café in the lobby of the hotel. Having done my research (on GFDFWDW of course!) on all of the restaurants we had reservations at for the week, including this one, I had a basic idea of what was okay for me to eat. I was looking forward to the family style platter that Sarah reviewed in her post a while back, but no one else wanted it so we ended up each getting our own entrée.The service was great. When the waiter found out about my allergies, he sent for the chef to come talk to me while he took everyone’s orders. Chef Williere came out and asked me what I was thinking of ordering. I told him that I really like pulled pork, and asked him if I could get that with the grilled vegetables. He said he would check on the gluten free sauce to make sure it was corn free, and I told him that the roasted chicken would be my back up. A few moments later, he came back to inform me that the gluten free pulled pork sauce had corn starch in it, so I ended up with the chicken. I’m glad I did, because it was the best chicken I’ve ever had. It was cooked just right, and the skin was perfection. The charred bits are always my favorite part and there were plenty. It was like half a chicken though, so I was able to bring my leftovers back to the room to eat for breakfast the next day.After we finished dinner, Chef Williere came back out to ask me about dessert. Like I said, I did my research, and I told him that my friend Sarah recommended the gluten and dairy free chocolate cake. He chuckled when I asked about it and regrettably informed me that I had to call ahead, so I wasn’t able to get that. Oh well. He told me that he’d go figure something out and surprise me. Boy, did he ever.I was expecting a pack of those enjoy life chocolate chip cookies, and I would have been completely happy with that, but he came out with a blueberry cobbler topped with berry sorbet and fresh berries. It was incredible. I couldn’t believe that it didn’t have any of my allergens in it, and told him just that. He laughed and said he was glad I liked it and to tell Sarah hello and to come visit him (just in case you forgot, Sarah! Haha). I was so impressed with this restaurant, and I convinced my mom that we had to try their breakfast and lunch if we could (which you will read about shortly – I was persuasive).Day #2 – 7/22Tuesday was our first day at the parks! It was also our first time using the magic bands and the fast pass plus system. Now, over the years, we have mastered our Disney schedules and ride orders down to an art (while planning our parks around which restaurants we go to – we’re Italian, we have our priorities). We know exactly when to get to certain rides, and what order to go on those rides to make the most of our trips. With the new system, we were even more efficient. We actually ended up having a lot more time than we thought, which means we’ll be re-strategizing for next year. Woo!Anyways, we started off at Animal Kingdom. I was particularly excited for this park because of the new Allergy Friendly Kiosk that opened up. We were planning on just getting some sort of snack since we had early dinner reservations at Epcot, but since we had just recently signed up for the Landry restaurants membership, we decided to use that to get a discount at the Yak and Yeti.As always, our server was great. He was really nice, and sent the chef out to speak to me very quickly. I actually had a lot of options, which was nice. I almost got the seafood curry (again with the curry!) but since it was a zillion degrees outside, and the curry was a large portion, and we had an early dinner reservation, I instead decided to go with the chicken lettuce boats appetizer. It was really good, and such a simple meal – I’ll definitely be making it at home. It was basically just stir-fried ground chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables that I could scoop into lettuce wraps and top with gluten free hoisin sauce and sriracha!My family ended up trying the famous fried wontons for dessert, but I knew I had a bounty of sugary options waiting for me at the allergy kiosk, so we headed there on the way out so I could get some goodies to go.I was very impressed with all of the options there. They had four Babycakes items: mini cupcakes, chocolate donuts, cinnamon donuts, and chocolate chip cookies. They also had boxes of enjoy life soft-baked cookies, rice chips and cakes, surf sweets gummies, raw granola bars, fresh fruit, hummus and veggies, and pints of Tofutti ice cream. Wow! I ended up getting one of each Babycakes item because I can’t get them in North Carolina, and because, you know, baked goods. Those cookies were the first to go, and the best chocolate chip cookies ever. I was so happy to eat them, as you can see. I spread the other three items out for the rest of the week. I don’t think I’ve eaten a donut in three years, and they were so yummy!That night, we dined at Teppan Edo, the Japanese steakhouse in Epcot’s World Showcase. I ate there on my first allergy friendly Disney trip, so I looked forward to going back. This was my first trip after turning 21 in December, so I ordered the Takara plum wine. It was really sweet, but I’m not a big alchohol fan so that was a-okay with me.The manager told me that I could get any of the entrees made without noodles, with white rice instead of the beef rice, and without any of the dipping sauces. They also provided me with gluten free soy sauce. The service was also really good. They offered to cook my food in the back instead of on the grill in front of us, but since they clean the grills very well in between each table, I told them that I’d be fine if they just cooked my food before everyone else’s. I was a little wary because the last time I went there, I ended up with a really bad stomachache, which has also happened after eating chipotle burrito bowls, so this time I decided to stay away from the rice (the common ingredient). I ordered the scallops and vegetables, and I was completely fine. I’m not sure if it was the rice or the sauce that was such a problem three years ago (pre-dairy allergy), but I’m glad that I didn’t have the same issue again. Plus, the scallops were great!Are you hungry now? Stay tuned for Kathleen's last trip report guest post which recaps days 3-6 of her Disney vacation! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

Guest Review -- Universal Studios Orlando

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I've been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren't hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I've broken up Kathleen's posts, and today we're checking out her review of Universal Studios Orlando! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Universal Studios 7/19-7/21We started out our trip at Universal Studios, to celebrate my younger sister’s recent high school graduation. I’ve had wonderful allergy service at Disney, so I was excited to compare it to that of Universal’s restaurants. I figured I’d include reviews of these places as well, since a lot of people travel to both parks.After arriving at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday night, we ventured over to City Walk to eat dinner at Pat O’Brien’s. I’m not sure if it was Cajun or Irish themed – it seemed to be a mix of both – but the menu looked good either way. It had a cool atmosphere too – we were seated in the “piano room,” where a very entertaining lady took requests and performed all kinds of songs.They did not have a gluten free/allergy menu, but I let the server know about my allergies and she checked with the kitchen to see what I could have. Dining gluten free is becoming easier due to the increased awareness of gluten allergies and Celiac disease, but the corn allergy makes things a little more difficult. When the waitress came back, she told me I could get green beans and either grilled meat or a hamburger patty. I ended up ordering grilled chicken and green beans. It was good, but not anything special. I was a little disappointed with the limited options, but I still enjoyed what I ordered.The next day, after seeing the amazing new Diagon Alley and braving the Escape from Gringotts ride (after a 1.5 hour wait – not too bad, considering it opened two weeks prior!), we took a break for lunch and ate at a favorite of my dad’s (and mine), Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Having been here before, I knew that they had a gluten free menu so I was able to look at that and had a lot more options than the previous night.The server was extremely helpful. She noticed my menu, and asked if I had any questions about it. I asked her about the bread, since a lot of gluten free bread has corn products in it. She checked with the chef, and came back to let me know that it was corn-free! I ordered the Key West blackened fish sandwich, which came topped with cilantro cole slaw. Since the restaurant used soybean oil and a dedicated fryer, I could also get sweet potato fries! I was happy because sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods of all time.The sandwich was delicious and the bun was so good! I’m normally not much of a bread person, just because I can’t have many gluten free brands, but this was great. It wasn’t too dry, which was nice. I asked the server what brand it was, and she told me it was Udi’s. I was surprised because normally I can’t have Udi’s baked products because they have corn derivatives in them, but she told me the bun was corn free so I thought that maybe Udi’s changed their recipe.Unfortunately, I ended up having a skin flare up later in the day, and when I looked at the ingredients online, the buns still had cornstarch, maltodextrin and xanthan gum. If it’s a small enough amount, it won’t bother me, but in this case, it was enough to provoke a reaction. Boo. I guess I’ll still have to continue my search for the perfect gluten and corn free bun. That night, we ate at Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom. This place was really cool. I’m not a huge Bob Marley fan, but it was still a fun place to try. Plus, I love Caribbean food, so yay! The restaurant did not have a gluten free menu, but I was eyeing the Jamaican Curry, since I know a lot of curries are gluten and dairy free. When I told the very friendly, very dreadlocked server about my allergies and asked about the curry, he checked with chef and told me the curry was out because it was cooked with tomatoes (unlike the Indian and Thai curries I’m used to making at home – I just made a mental note to make a me-friendly version ASAP when I got home).Just like Pat O’Brien’s, the only options for me were grilled chicken or fish. I ended up ordering grilled Mahi. (Instead of the Mahi Mahi, can I just have the one Mahi? Because I’m not feeling that hungry) However, I was super stoked to learn that the yucca fries and plantains were safe for me to eat. Now, I love plantains more than any other fruit. In fact, they are probably my favorite fruit. Give me plantains, and I’ll be your best friend. And THESE plantains came topped with shredded coconut. My two favorite foods combined? Done. Heaven. Forget an engagement ring, a guy could propose to me with that side dish and I’d be sold. The fish was really good too. It was perfectly seasoned, and was especially delicious after I added the scotch bonnet pepper sauce. Overall, I was sad that I didn’t have many options, but not too sad, because what I could get was awesome.The next day, we were all set to leave Universal and head over to Disney World! After checking out, we walked over to have lunch at Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. I’ve never seen Forrest Gump (don’t judge me!), so some of the significance was totally lost on me, but I had a great experience nonetheless. I was excited to see that they had a gluten free menu! Plus, the service was incredible.Our server was so nice, and extremely funny. He cracked me up when he asked me, concerned, what I do for desserts. I told him, not to worry, dessert is obviously the most important meal of the day, and I made it my priority to find some kind of sweet treat whenever I could. I ended up ordering the pear and berry salad with grilled shrimp and no cheese. Since the glazed pecans that normally topped the salad were cooked with heavy cream, our waiter offered to bring me plain pecans. Even better, he told me that they make their salad dressings in house, from scratch, so there were no corn syrup or corn products in the raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I was glad, too, because that dressing tasted just like melted raspberry sorbet. Dee-licious.Universal was not as allergy friendly as Disney, but I definitely enjoyed what I ordered. Margaritaville and Bubba Gump’s were the best of the four places we tried, probably because they are chain restaurants and are better equipped to deal with food allergies.Stay tuned for Kathleen's review of Disney World! If you want to learn more about Kathleen's experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you'll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

PB&G -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Four Seasons Orlando

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.When I first heard about the dining options at the newly opened Four Seasons Orlando, the one I got the most excited about was PB&G, also known as the Pool Bar & Grill. Opening to the public on August 3, 2014 (along with the grand opening of the resort), PB&G serves premium American barbecue dishes, fresh salads, frozen cocktails, mocktails, and an extensive kids' and teens' menu with lots of healthy options. Open daily from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., this is a terrific lunch and early dinner spot for resort and day guests. Under the direction of Executive Chef Gerald Sombright, PB&G features plenty of smokehouse and rotisserie favorites, such as pulled pork, smoked brisket, rotisserie chicken, house-made hot dogs, and more. Chef Gerald hails from St. Louis, one of the most celebrated barbecue capitals in the world, and brings his culinary expertise to this fun and casual restaurant. I recently dined at Ravello, Four Seasons Orlando's modern Italian restaurant, with my friends Krista Joy from Disneyways.com and Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers, and I had an amazing experience as a special diets diner. From start to finish the team did an amazing job, and I knew that I had to go to PB&G when it opened. My family all wanted to check it out too, as we are all big fans of Southern cuisine and barbecue. When we arrived at this restaurant, located near the adult pool, the main pool and lazy river area of the Four Seasons Orlando, we were greeted with a brightly decorated restaurant, filled with picnic tables, teak floorboards, and other whimsical elements. The restaurant is outdoor seating, but covered, and gives guests a proper al fresco dining experience.Upon being seated, our server Jeff asked about my special dietary needs -- another great touch that the restaurants at the Four Seasons Orlando all have. Making sure that servers are as knowledge as they can be for special diets diners is really important, and it always makes me more at ease when I dine in a restaurant. Jeff made sure to note that the team would take great care of me.Of course, first things first, we ordered the house-made unsweetened iced tea. You simply can't eat at a barbecue joint without ordering iced tea.As we went over the menu, members of the PB&G management team - Jessie & John - stopped by to go over the menu offerings with us and to check in with me about any dietary concerns. They assured me that Chef Gerald was on hand to make sure that I was well taken care of. One of the things I love is the theme of PB&G's menu. As one would expect, the menu is filled with classic Southern barbecue dishes including ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket. These fall under the "homage" category and are Chef Gerald's take on these Southern favorites. The other main entree portion of the menu falls under the "treason" category -- dishes that are totally unexpected, and some might say barbecue sacrilege. These include smoked tofu with carrot & kale, octopus which has been smoked and grilled (and is a huge hit with guests), and the Peter Piper brisket burger (which I'm dying to try the next time I visit).Add in lot of salads and terrific appetizer options, and you have a menu that really appeals to a broad audience. I can't lie; every time I look at the menu I find a new dish that I want to order at my next meal at PB&G.For a starter, our group tried the Crimson Red Corn Popcorn (which is an heirloom popcorn), seasoned with gaujillo chili and lime. Chef Gerald also came out to speak with me about the offerings as we happily munched on this excellent starter.If you are a popcorn lover, you will absolutely adore this appetizer. But be warned, it is addicting. My family are notorious popcorn fans, so this was hands down hit with the group. The guajillo chili adds a nice kick and the lime balances out the heat. The spicy, salty popcorn was the perfect treat for a hot August day outside, and we all welcomed it as we explored the menu. This will be an appetizer we order again and again at PB&G. Chef Gerald also gave us a sample of his house-made gazpacho made with smoked watermelon, cucumber and basil. I am a huge gazpacho fan, and this was another perfect summertime dish for al fresco dining. I'm not typically a big watermelon fan, but this truly made this dish. The gazpacho started off with a smoky favor and ended with notes of sweetness from the watermelon. There was so much flavor and balance in this dish, and it was my hands down favorite part of the meal (which is hard to say, as I enjoyed each component in its own right). While there were plenty of options for me on the menu, Chef Gerald made me a dish off the menu -- a seasonal succotash. It was fabulous to talk with him about the development and inspiration of this dish. He truly knows his Southern cuisine and this entree really highlighted the seasonal vegetables. So often, succotash is corn, bacon, and a small smattering of lima beans -- and while I agree that bacon is a great accompaniment -- Chef Gerald's version is a true homage to the simple succotash's that you imagine your Southern grandmother making you with the vegetables from her garden. As a vegetarian dish, this succotash was not lacking in anyway. In fact, it was hearty and rich and did not need any meat in order to make it an entree. The humble lima bean was truly the star. Lima beans have that same stigma as Brussels sprouts, another one of my most favorite vegetables. If you don't think you like lima beans, this dish will change your mind! Chef Gerald used a literal cornucopia of vegetables in this dish, including pickled vegetables, which I adore. The dish was earthy with lots of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors throughout. After eating this, I mentioned to Chef Gerald how much I loved it, and that I hoped it would go on the menu either as a side dish or as a full entree. I hope the next time I visit PB&G, I see it listed because it was truly fabulous. It also shows how much skill and talent Chef Gerald has because it was just delicious.I also got a chance to sample the beef brisket, which was outstanding! Made with corned beef spices and smoked, this makes for a killer sandwich. If only marble rye was gluten free and dairy free!My family raved about each of their dishes, including the pulled pork sandwich, the ribs, and the spun chicken. Simply put: PB&G was a real hit with my family.The next time I visit, I have to try some of the libations that are offered at PB&G. I'm a mojito fan through and through, and this will have to be the first one that I order. Like the main menu, the drink menu is as much of an homage to its Southern inspiration, and I have no doubt that I would be equally impressed with my beverage options that I order.I have to give this team praise for making this a truly relaxing and fun meal. Like Ravello, the service was impeccable and the team knowledgeable about special dietary needs. Our server Jeff was terrific, making sure we stayed cool with our beverages and answering any questions that we had. Management team Jessie & John brought such enthusiasm, and their excitement about PB&G was infectious! And of course, Chef Gerald deserves such high praise for his outstanding dedication to making authentic Southern cuisine and safe options for those of us who have special dietary needs. His culinary perspective offers terrific, casual fare and includes some of my favorite Southern dishes of all time. What he made for me as a special diets diner was delicious and comforting, just like you expect any Southern meal to be.PB&G reminds me of one of my favorite restaurants at Disney World, Boatwright's. Both have a Southern twist and both have authentic and honest food. With reasonable prices and a casual vibe, PB&G is set to be on my short list of go-to places for barbecue.Overall, I have to give this experience a 9.5 out of 10. This is a restaurant that I need to go back to try other dishes!To find out more about the Four Seasons Orlando visit: http://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/You can also see more of my photos from my visit on InstagramFor photos from the Four Seasons Orlando media event check out Amanda Tinney’s site, Where’s AmandaSpecial thanks goes out to the Four Seasons Orlando for inviting me to dine at PB&G. I was not required to write this post and all opinions are my own. 

Splitsville -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.When it comes to a meal and entertainment, Splitsville Luxury Lanes located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) is one of the best on Disney property. With its retro vibe and upscale food options, this is definitely not your average bowling alley. In addition to having great bowling and billiards, this location boasts some pretty great food options for gluten free and dairy free diners.In fact, last year, Splitsville released new menu offerings which included 16 gluten free options, including rice bowls and sushi. I had the opportunity last year to meet with the team to discuss the options, and I was pretty amazed by the level of attention that they took in creating the menu. My favorite dishes have to be the shrimp rice bowl and the Fantasy Roll sushi. Which brings me to my most recent visit to Splitsville. I met up with friends for a late afternoon drink and light meal. I was joining my friends Krista Joy from Disneyways.com, Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers later that evening for a memorable meal at Ravello located in the Four Seasons Orlando (set to open on August 3rd, 2014), so this was the perfect meal option for me.It's been a while since I've dined at Splitsville and deciding what to order was a no-brainer. It had to be the Fantasy Roll. It's my hands down favorite dish at Splitsville. In addition to the Fantasy Roll, I also ordered a classic mojito. This is one of my favorite go-to gluten free and dairy free drinks. The mojito itself was quite good. It wasn't as memorable as my favorite African Starr Mint Mojito at Sanaa or even the mojito at the Victoria Lounge at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, but it was still a well made drink. There was a good amount of fresh mint and the balance of the simple syrup paired well with the rum. The Fantasy roll is made of fresh salmon, ahi tuna, cucumber, avocado, and steamed shrimp rolled in soy paper and drizzled with spicy kimchee ponzu sauce. The seafood at Splitsville is always of excellent quality and fresh, and I really enjoy the combination of both raw and steamed seafood. What makes this dish is the kimchee ponzu sauce. It's sweet and spicy and makes for a delicious accompaniment to the sushi. Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Splitsville. I was pleased that our server asked everyone upon seating if there were any special dietary needs. It always shows that the team is ready to handle special dietary needs when they ask before you even have to say anything (we did not have a reservation, so the special dietary needs were not noted). Between the sushi, mojito, and great company, it was a perfect afternoon meal. I give this experience a solid 8 out of 10. Have you been to Splitsville? What are your favorite dishes to order? 

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.When it comes to new resorts and dining experiences, there has been nothing more exciting for the Disney community than the grand opening of the newest resort on Disney World property, the Four Seasons Orlando. Located in the Disney community Golden Oak, this resort boasts an impressive array of amenities, including several unique dining options.As a foodie, I have been longing to visit this resort, set to open on August 3, 2014. With restaurants ranging from a Spanish steakhouse (Capa), Cuban American (Plancha), Southern smokehouse & rotisserie (PB&G), modern Italian (Ravello), and gourmet coffees and quick bites (Lickety-Split), the Four Seasons Orlando has an impressive variety of dining options to choose from.As a special diets diner, I have been so excited to visit these restaurants first-hand, especially after hearing Stephen Wancha, Director of Food & Beverage, speak about the hotel's commitment to safe gluten free and special diets accommodations on the Disney Parks Podcast. Hearing Stephen say "dedicated gluten free section" referring to Ravello's breakfast buffet, was music to my gluten free and dairy free ears.Which brings me to my most recent visit to the Four Seasons Orlando. My friends Krista Joy from Disneyways.com and Tony Caselnova from Disney by the Numbers (and hosts of the Disney Parks Podcast) were invited to the Family & Friends preview dinner for Ravello, and they graciously invited me to join them. They know how much I adore good food, and how much I had been looking forward to the opening.As a preview dinner, this is a time for the restaurant to test and refine the kitchen, as they head closer to opening day. However, one would never have known this was only the second day the kitchen was fully functional for dinner - our meal couldn't have been more magical.When we arrived, we found ourselves in the Ravello Bar, a cozy area on the main level of the resort. Here you can imbibe in cocktails, wine, and other beverages, making it the perfect pre-dinner spot. Heading down the stairs, we entered the main dining area of Ravello.Ravello truly reflects the modern Italian theme. The dining room feels open, yet intimate at the same time. The decor is simple and clean and doesn't distract from your dining experience, which is of course, the restaurant's pièce de résistance. Perhaps my most favorite part of the restaurant is the open kitchen -- a truly unique open kitchen at that. You feel like you are a part of the culinary experience from start to finish.When you think Italian cuisine, you probably think of wood-burning ovens, and Ravello has a fantastic one. You can even enjoy a truly unique experience at the 5 seat kitchen counter, facing the oven.Upon being seated at for our meal, our server Lee greeted us warmly. One of his first questions was about special dietary needs. He additionally asked about cross-contamination and health concerns, which I always very much appreciate as a special diets diner. Lee made sure to note that he would take great care of me, as would the kitchen, and to not hesitate to ask any questions. He took his time going over the menu with me, discussing options and consulting with both Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi and Executive Sous Chef Samuel Faggetti, who were quite literally an arm's length away from me. Both Chef Fabrizio and Chef Samuel spoke with me at various points in my meal to make sure that it was going smoothly and that I was enjoying everything, as well.Because the restaurant is still in the preview phase, the menu was limited but will be expanded upon the resort opening. Some of the options, such as a house-made gluten free pasta were not yet available, though the team at Ravello had packaged gluten free pasta on-hand for diners. They are also planning on having gluten free pizza dough.For my appetizer, I had ordered the Insalata Mista - a mixture of Trevisana (i.e. radicchio), arugula, lola rosa, and a Moscato vinaigrette. This was the perfect starter. If you enjoy bitter and spicy greens, this would be the perfect salad for you. The peppery-ness of the arugula combined with the bitter flavor of the trevisana married perfectly with the Moscato viniagrette which had a slightly sweet and lemony flavor. The salad was beautifully dressed and well seasoned as well, particularly with the addition of fresh cracked black pepper.Prior to the appetizers coming to our table, I was greeted by Jill Davis, one of the sommeliers on property. She was on hand to answer any questions that we had about the wine list, and she blew me away with her ability to assist me as a special diets diner.You might not think that alcohol would be such a tricky area for those of us with special diets but it really is. Wine in particular can be tricky because, while it is naturally gluten free, there are a few points in the wine-making process that can come into contact with gluten. These include sealing oak barrels with a flour paste and adding gluten to fine the wine (casein is another culprit in this part of the wine-making process). Generally, wine will still test as under 20 ppm, but I always try to be as safe as I can be with my wine. Jill knew exactly what to recommend, suggesting the Soave Classico on the wine list, as it was aged in stainless steel, as opposed to oak barrels. This was a fantastic wine that really went well with the items I ordered.For my entree, I ordered the Herb Grilled Chicken, which was recommended to me by our server Lee. Both the tuna and chicken entrees sounded great, but Lee certainly sold me with his description of the chicken. One thing that I always recommend, listen to your servers and chefs when they make a recommendation - I can't say they've ever steered me wrong!The chicken normally comes with gnocchi and a Gorgonzola sauce; however, mine came with garlic and olive oil barlotti beans and celery hearts.As you can see, the presentation was gorgeous. I love that the food is rustic, yet refined (much like the decor). The components were all simple but so well done. The herb grilled chicken was exceptionally well seasoned and very moist. I tend to prefer not to order bone-in chicken, but this chicken was cut in a way that that made it easy to eat, offering all the benefits of bone-in chicken without feeling the hassle eating bone-in chicken.The barlotti beans were fantastic, earthy with a bit of saltiness from pancetta. The grilled lemon adding a nice bit of acidity to the dish. My favorite accompaniment? The celery hearts. Hands down. This was crisp and bright and added that textural component to the dish that really brought it all together.For dessert, the current offerings are limited; however, Chef Fabrizio did try to make a sorbet for me. It just didn't set in time. That to me was such an appreciated touch, and while it didn't work out this time, I have no doubt that when I return to dine at Ravello that I will get to try a dessert. Both Chef Fabrizio and our server Lee offered me fruit - though I declined, feeling quite full from the meal.As a digestif (after dinner drink), our table was brought homemade limoncello made by Chef Fabrizio himself. This version of limoncello was made with Everclear, which is not gluten free; however, Chef Fabrizio brought me a glass of Prosecco (sparkling white wine) which was such a lovely touch.This was the first restaurant I've ever dined at in which not one but two of the culinary team made sure to find alcoholic beverages that fit into my dietary needs. Having to not sit on my smartphone scouring the web to make sure if a drink is safe or not is time consuming and having experts help me with this literally made my meal a breeze.I cannot thank Chef Fabrizio (who is a complete rock star in my book), Chef Samuel, our server Lee, Jill, Stephen, Michael and all of the other Four Seasons staff whom I spoke with. It is rare that more than one person discusses my special dietary needs with me during my meal, and to have not one or two staff but seven who expressly asked or assisted me is simply astonishing to me.My dining experience as a gluten free and dairy free diner at Ravello at the Four Seasons was nothing short of exceptional. I cannot wait to experience the full dining menu and to come back with friends and family. I'm also looking forward to checking out some of the other dining options on property, especially PB&G (Pool Bar & Grill) which serves Southern BBQ during lunch and afternoon dinnertime. I'm a huge BBQ fan, so this one is right up my culinary alley.If you're visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and want a fantastic dining experience with great special diets accommodations, great food and atmosphere, head to Ravello. The menu is reasonably priced and is much more affordable than many signature dining locations on property such as California Grill. If I had to choose, I would truly pick Ravello over California Grill any day. And if you're looking for a great view, you'll soon have another option with Capa which is located on the 17th-floor rooftop of the Four Seasons Orlando. And yes, you'll be able to enjoy fireworks from this location.Overall, I have to give this location a 10 out of 10. It's a rarity for me to do, but this one exceeded my expectations and then some. Here's to many more visits!To find out more about the Four Seasons Orlando visit: http://www.fourseasons.com/orlando/You can also see more of my photos from my visit on InstagramStay tuned to Disneyways.com and Disney by the Numbers for their posts about our visit to the Four Seasons Orlando and Ravello (and a huge thank you again to these wonderful friends for inviting me to join them).For photos from the Four Seasons Orlando media event check out Amanda Tinney's site, Where's AmandaSpecial thanks goes out to the Four Seasons Orlando for inviting our group to the Friends & Family Dinner preview. I was not required to write this post and all opinions are my own.

Olivia's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.When I want to get away from it all and have a low-key and relaxing meal, I head to Olivia's at Old Key West. I don't know if it's the Jimmy Buffett music or the easy-going back cast members and guests, but there is something calming about visiting the Old Key West Resort. It's one of my favorite places to stay on property, and I absolutely adore their restaurant, Olivia's Cafe.Olivia's is located near the Hospitality House (i.e. lobby/check-in), and even though it's amidst all the action, it never feels bustling or crowded. It's food is very Key West inspired - seasonal, seafood, and full of flavor. I usually head there for breakfast, as I love their breakfast options (especially the sweet potato hash with poached eggs). On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch before heading out to the Mall at Millenia in Orlando for an afternoon of shopping. Though the mall does have a California Pizza Kitchen that I'd like to check out - I've heard fabulous things from Gluten Free in Orlando & Eating Out Without - but I had dinner at Boatwright's that night, and I knew I was going to need a bit of a lighter meal. I was greeted by my server Jerry, who has assisted me many times and is very attentive. I think my only sort of "complaint" about the service was that the hostess seated me in the middle of the restaurant. As a solo diner, that can be a little odd when you're right in the middle of the action! Thankfully, I was given some art work to color!Chef Paula, the location's culinary intern, came out to chat with me about the options. I was most keen on getting a salad and asked about the Mallory Square Cobb Salad which came with both shrimp and crab meat, along with standard Cobb salad accompaniments (bacon, egg, avocado). The dressing was a key lime vinaigrette which sounded amazing (and was!). She said she needed to double-check to see if the seafood had butter in it, but she thought it was made with extra virgin olive oil (it was).Once we were cleared with that, I was able to enjoy a generous portion of this Cobb salad. As a Cobb salad fan (and a huge fan of the Brown Derby Cobb Salad), I had high hopes for this. And it did not disappoint. The seafood was perfectly cooked and seasoned. It had a hint of Old Bay in it, which I adore but can be overpowering if used too generously. This was perfection. The bacon, hard boiled egg, and avocado married well with these light but rich proteins. And the key lime vinaigrette was the perfect light dressing to bring it all together. I may or may not have inhaled this salad. It was that good!Overall, I really enjoyed my lunch at Olivia's. I still think the Cobb salad at the Brown Derby is my favorite salad on property, as far as a full meal salad, but this is a very close second. I wouldn't hesitate to order this again, and likely will the next visit! I give this a solid 9 out of 10! The perfect meal salad for the summer in Florida.Have you dined at Olivia's? What do you like to order there? 

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

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.There are a few locations at Disney World that I consider hidden gems - locations that are truly overlooked. To me, Boatwright's Dining Hall is one of those hidden gems. Nestled in the main lobby building of Port Orleans Riverside Resort, guests will find this a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of so many Disney World restaurants.In addition to the rustic atmosphere, guests will be blown away by the impressive array of comfort food with a Cajun and Southern twist served at Boatwright's. And as a special diets diner, I've been even more impressed with the variety of dishes that are available too. I have two words that says it all...Crawfish Bites (and yes, they are gluten fee and dairy free). I recently stopped by Boatwright's for dinner with friends and fellow bloggers, Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Amanda from Eating Out Without. Both Alexis & I got hooked on Boatwright's after dining here for my birthday in February 2014. And when it came to deciding where to have dinner as a group, we knew just the place - especially since Amanda had never been before! We wanted to have a memorable mean and dining at Boatwright's is always memorable.  Prior to our meal, both Alexis and I made advance notice for a few requests - the crawfish bites appetizer (to be made gluten free and dairy free) and for something really exciting...fried chicken (and waffles in the case of Alexis, but more on that later). We recommend you contact Disney's Special Diets Department for such requests. Once seated, we were greeted by our lovely server and Chef Tony who also brought us GNI brand rolls and some extra virgin olive oil with herbs. I am a huge olive oil fan, and anything of good quality with herbs is OK by me. Admittedly, I don't think any of us at the table ate more than one of these rolls because we were saving room for the rest of the meal.  First up were our appetizers. As I've mentioned (perhaps ad naseum), the crawfish bites here are outstanding and must do every time I visit. Perfectly seasoned, well fried, and smothered in a dairy free remoulade sauce...well, that's just culinary perfection to me. It's simple and so delicious. Typically, the crawfish bites are not gluten free or dairy free, and I'm always glad when I'm able to request them in advance. Chef Tony also brought out a delicious and fresh seasonal salad. With almonds, fresh strawberries and a beautiful balsamic vinaigrette, this was a new favorite for me. I have a bit of an obsession with balsamic vinegar and it paired well with the fresh fruit. Although I am always prone to ordering the crawfish bites, I may have to order this instead next time!   For my entree, I asked for gluten free and dairy free fried chicken as did Alexis. Chef Tony turned her entree into an amazing version of chicken and waffles and asked me if I wanted to do the same. I decided to opt for the dirty rice with my entree, as I'm a huge fan of Boatwright's version. However, after seeing Alexis' chicken and waffles, I really wished I would have ordered that instead. Note to self...get chicken and waffles next time! You can see Alexis' full review with pictures on Gluten Free in Orlando. I dare you not to want to order it after you see her photos!  Amanda ordered the jambalya, a real favorite for me too. You can read her full review, including her review of the gluten free and dairy free version of French Onion Soup on her site. I have to say, I really enjoyed this. A lot. Crispy and crunchy with a gorgeous peach sauce on top (stone fruit being a huge favorite of mine), this was perfectly fried and well seasoned. The dirty rice was amazing as always, and I love that it's made authentically. I have to be honest, I just kept going back to the chicken. It was so good.Chef Tony mentioned that his recipe for gluten free fried chicken was inspired by a recipe from Posana Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, and he tweaked my version to be dairy free as well. There are so few locations on property that can do something like this. Of course, there's 50's Prime Time and allergy chicken tenders at quick service locations. To have another spot that really hit the spot with a comfort food favorite, well that's golden to me! I also quite liked that the chicken used was boneless. It made for a tender piece of nicely fried chicken. And the seasoning of course was fantastic, made simply and with a touch of Cajun seasoning, as Chef Tony told us. The base for the coating is Namaste, and they only different between mine and Alexis' version was the addition of buttermilk to hers (which produced a more rich dark color and puffed up the coating).This was a fantastic meal, and I was entirely too stuff by the end to order dessert. We also as a group took a leisurely stroll to Port Orleans French Quarter for beignets. One of my favorite things to do post-dinner at Boatwright's is walk the resort. It's really gorgeous and will make you feel like you've been transported somewhere else.   Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boatwright's. It has consistently been one of the best Disney restaurants I've been to. The food is always outstanding, the chefs amazing, the servers excellent, and the prices really reasonable. I'd give this dining experience a solid 9.5 out of 10. Next time I have got to request the gluten free and dairy free chicken and waffles! If you have special requests, you'll need to make arrangements at least 14 days in advance with Disney's Special Diets Department. A huge shoutout to Chef Tony for making our meal experience extra magical, as always! Have you been to Boatwright's? What are your favorite special diets menu offerings there?  

Boma: Flavors of Africa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in July 2014.Boma: Flavors of Africa has consistently been one of my most favorite places to have brunch on Disney property. Their breakfast is outstanding, and I absolutely adore the African inspired food served at this location. However, it's been several years since I've dined at Boma for dinner. My friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando along with some other friends have raved about dinner at Boma, and since it's been so long I knew I needed to go again soon. And as luck would have it, I got an invite to have dinner with a friend at Boma recently, and I was so excited to go check it out.Both my friend and I are gluten free and dairy free. I have to admit, I dine out a lot with gluten free folks but having another GFDF person to dine with is kind of nice! I also don't remember the last time I dined at a buffet with another special diets person, so I loved getting to walk the buffet with a fellow special diets diner.When were seated our server took our drink orders and shortly thereafter the chef came out to greet us. Chef Brian was very nice and told us we were going to have some fun with dinner and that we'd have plenty to eat. He took us around the buffet which is set-up in an almost identical fashion to breakfast. There are pods that have certain "themes" to them (i.e. kids section, meat section, fruit section, etc.).In the first pod, we could have the Chakalaka (also on the breakfast menu) and basmati rice. From there, we went to the carving station which included a sirloin and beef short ribs. The ribs are only served on a few nights a week - one of them being Saturday (which was the night we visited). The chef also let us know what sauces were safe or not.Moving on to the next pod, we could have Durban chicken. In the next bay, the kiddos section, we could have the chicken legs. For the veggies, we could have the broccolini as well as succotash. The chef also mentioned that we could have the peanut rice, but Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had warned that it may contain soy sauce in it. I forgot to follow-up with him on the ingredients but ended up passing on eating it. There were also salads, fruit, and hummus that we could all. For the salads and hummus, Chef Brian brought us some from the back.One thing that I had been looking forward to (and hoping) to try was the FuFu. It's a mix of sweet potatoes and regular potatoes and I heard was amazing. Unfortunately, it contains butter, so it wasn't safe for us dairy free folks but it is gluten free. I asked if there was any chance we could have some made for us dairy free but with the busy restaurant, they weren't able to accommodate this meal. However, Chef Brian told me to ask in advance and they could probably make it happen. He also gave us the recipe for FuFu to recreate it at home (and dairy free!).I have to say, Boma really is full of flavor. The first thing I dove into was the sausage and lentil soup. There were two soups that were gluten free and dairy free that night - this one and the vegetarian lentil soup which was also vegan. I didn't get a chance to try the vegan soup but this one was very flavorful. It was hearty and rich, and although I sometimes have a bit of problems with sausage (it's a bit of a Crohn's trigger for me), this one was fairly mild and very tasty.The salads provided interesting textures and flavors. My favorite by far was the chicken and cilantro salad. I love cilantro, though I will say that if you are adverse to cilantro, you might like this version. It was very mild! The lentil salad with hearts of palm was just OK, in my opinion. The lentils were very "crunchy" in terms of texture though I liked the balsamic dressing on it.  And then of course, there was the hummus. You know me. Total condiment queen! And a hummus addict to boot. I am mildly addicted to the roasted red pepper hummus from Sanaa, so I was looking forward to Boma's version. I have to say, Sanaa's version is still my favorite but the one from Boma was pretty great too. The kalamata olive hummus was outstanding. I basically had to make sure they took the plate away because I kept eating it and eating it. For the main entrees, I loved the Durban chicken. This was hands down my favorite thing. Super flavorful, well cooked and just delicious. No dry boring chicken here! I also really enjoyed the short ribs. Who knew?! I usually avoid beef, but I thought I'd try these as they had been slow cooked. The sauce was really good, and I'd love to see a pork version of these ribs. That would be amazing. The broccolini was also quite nice as an accompaniment. I liked the spices in it a lot! I think the only things I missed from breakfast were the turkey and ham at the carving stations and the grilled asparagus. Those are my Boma weaknesses! There's no way I can leave Boma without getting fruit. There is something about the pineapple they serve here. It's just so fresh and ripe. It's the best!  As gluten free and dairy free diners, our dessert choices were a bit more limited than gluten free diners. We could choose from Tofutti and Rice Dream, Enjoy Life Cookies and Babycakes mini brownie cupcakes. Both my friend and I are never ones to turn down Babycakes, so we opted to share a plate of the mini brownie cupcakes. You can also get Babycakes cupcakes at the Mara too! To say we were both full was an understatement!  Overall, I was really pleased with my dinner at Boma. It was filling and flavorful! Add in having wonderful company, and that's my idea of a great evening out at Disney. I would give this meal a solid 7.5 out of 10. The only points off for me were the lack of more gluten free and dairy free items, but it's a treasure trove for gluten free only guests! I'm looking forward to going back again soon! Of course, now I want to go to brunch too! Have you been to Boma? What were your favorite buffet items? 

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

*This dining experience took place in June 2014. Sanaa is one of those restaurants at Disney that I can dine at again and again. With Indian and African inspired flavors, there's just something about it that keeps me coming back. The quality of food, the variety of gluten free and dairy free offerings, and the price make it one of the most delicious and affordable restaurants on property. Between this location and Boatwright's, I have to say these are both my picks for affordable and quality special diets meals and are among my most favorite restaurants at Disney.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch. I had heard that there was gluten free naan being served at Sanaa now, and I was hoping to find out more information about whether or not it could be made gluten free and dairy free. Seeing Gluten Free in Orlando's review made me really want gluten free naan!I was greeted by Chef David, who has helped me on many occasions and has done a great job making sure I have delicious and safe offerings. First thing, I asked about the gluten free naan. Unfortunately, it does contain dairy, as they are using Cup4Cup as the base (a gluten free flour mix that has dairy in it) and additional dairy products. Rats! Here's hoping that in the future they might be able to make a gluten free & dairy free version as well. I definitely expressed that I'd love to see it.One of the things I love about Sanaa is that they have special diets menus for certain special dietary needs. It's great because i get a gluten free menu and a dairy free menu and can easily cross-reference which items are safe or not. Sanaa is one of several restaurants that carries these types of menus. You can check out a full listing on my menus page.We decided to get bread service to split at the table and ordered all 11 dips and sauces. We asked for double orders of red pepper hummus at my request because it's amazing! Honestly, I ate an entire dish of it myself! You know me and my dips! Ever the condiment queen! The table was able to get regular naan and I got lentil pappadums. Some of the other dips I love include mango chutney and coriander chutney. But the dips in general are delicious and flavorful! Some of spicy so check with the chef if you're worried about spice level.For my entree, I chose the chicken vindaloo and the goan seafood curry -- both of which are new menu items. I asked about the spice level as vindaloo is traditionally very spicy. Chef David said that the Durban shrimp would be the spiciest option on the menu, and since I know the spice level of this very well from previous meals, I decided to try the vindaloo.I have to say that I really enjoyed both of these entrees. The chicken vindaloo wasn't that spicy at all and very flavorful. A rich gravy with chicken that paired perfectly the other entree choice - the goan seafood curry, which I particularly enjoyed. This dish tasted like it had coconut milk and lemongrass in it. Flavors I love a lot, as a fan of Thai curries. The seafood included shrimp and fish, all of which were well cooked.I don't normally get dessert at Sanaa but I really wanted to try the new tapioca pudding with chai spiced berries that replaced the Bamboo Rice Pudding. It sounded interesting, though I have to say I was a wee bit skeptical of tapioca pudding. It makes me think of the bland tasteless pudding of my childhood.I have to say that I also really enjoyed this as well! The tapioca was unlike any that I've had before, I really enjoyed the chai spiced berries. They were the perfect accompaniment to the dish. The fresh berries on top were also quite nice. I will say, as a caveat, if you are not a fan of mushy textures, you might want to avoid this dessert. It's definitely a creamy delicious version of tapioca, but it's still tapioca at the end of the day which means it's texture will be a bit mushy.Overall, I had a wonderful meal at Sanaa and I'm looking forward to going back again soon. I can't say I've ever had a bad meal there. And considering how much I eat there. That's saying a lot!I'd give this a solid 9 out of 10.Have you been to Sanaa? What are your favorite dishes?

Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Disney's Grand Flordian Cafe is one of those locations at Disney that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. I almost expect the animatronics from Carousel of Progress to be here celebrating Valentine's Day during the turn-of-the-century. If you're looking for a little bit more of an upscale breakfast with a quieter atmosphere, breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe is the way to go.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for breakfast before heading to the Magic Kingdom. It makes for a convenient stop before entering the park. My breakfast reservation was early - 8:15 a.m., as I had Fastpass+ reservations for the newly opened Mine Train ride in New Fantasyland. With such an early breakfast, let's just say it was very quiet. In fact, there were very few of us in the back half of the restaurant.The chef greeted me to go over the options, and I knew more or less what I already wanted - the American which comes traditionally with: Two Eggs served with Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage and Breakfast Potatoes and a choice of Juice. For $13.99 it's a decent bargain with the juice included.I decided to go for apple juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, breakfast potatoes (made differently as the regular version contains dairy), and instead of toast or Mickey waffles, I asked for steamed asparagus. I don't know why, but I seem to always want asparagus when I go to the Grand Floridian Cafe.When I got my entree, there was a bit of a mix-up, as I was served dairy filled hashbrowns. And weirdly enough, it had the allergy pick right in the middle of them. I know enough about the potatoes there to know they had dairy in them, but this is just a reminder to be vigilant about your food orders. Because the hashbrowns were all on the same plate as the rest of the meal, the chef needed to completely remake everything which did take a wee bit of time.Once I got my entree, I was ready to dig in. I needed to fuel up for that Mine Train ride! The eggs, bacon, and asparagus were great as were the hashbrowns. I have to say, maybe it's just the turkey sausage at Disney but I've decided I'm not a fan. It seems like every time I order it, it's dry and not that tasty. Next time I will just go for the bacon instead of the turkey sausage. As you can see by the decor, this is a lovely and bright restaurant. Because it was so quiet it made for a very enjoyable and relaxing meal.Overall, I would give this a 6 out 10 for this experience.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What do you like to order here for breakfast?

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

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. It includes a gluten free and shrimp allergy review in addition to my gluten free and dairy free review. Boatwright's located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort has quickly moved up the ranks as one of my favorite table service locations on Disney property. With great food, special diets accommodations, service and reasonable prices, I truly think it's a hidden gem on property (much like Sanaa one of my other favorite table service locations). With a rustic atmosphere and New Orleans and Southern inspired food - it really has a homey feel to it. I often wonder why it took me so long to go here.On this particular occasion, I was joined by a GF friend who also has a shrimp allergy. This was her first visit to Boatwright's, so I was excited to have dinner there with her. She knows what big fans Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and I are of this place, so it seemed only natural to have a meal there!   I had also seen that were some new menu changes to Boatwright's since my last visit, and I was excited to try something new. Of course, that didn't mean I wasn't going to get my favorite gluten-free crawfish bites. A girl's gotta stick with her favorite fried foods! We were greeted by Chef Wes who went over the options on the menu with us. I was having a hard time deciding what to get, but Chef Wes sold me on the new ribs on the menu. They typically come with a Turbodog BBQ sauce (Turbodog is a beer), so the sauce was out for me, but he said he would try to find some safe BBQ sauce that I could have. He said the ribs were fall off the bone tender, so I was looking forward to trying them. My friend and I got the Crawfish Bites to split, and man were these delicious as always. The only slight change to this dish since the restaurant's menu change is that the Remoulade typically served with the Crawfish Bites now contain dairy. Ever the condiment queen, I inquired if they could make a version dairy free. Without advance notice, this wasn't able to happen for this meal; however, as of June 18, 2014, the remoulade has officially changed back to being dairy free. Hurrah! You know what I'm getting next time I visit...As always, the Crawfish Bites did not disappoint. Crunchy and flavorful - you really get the full essence of Crawfish when you eat these. We also had some GNI brand rolls brought to our table, along with extra virgin olive oil for me and butter for my friend. I have to say that Boatwright's consistently heats these rolls up so they are soft and delicious. Not every place on property has the heating down to an art, but Boatwright's sure does!  My friend ordered the Jambalaya which I had on my last visit. Her version did not include shrimp as she has a shrimp allergy. She said it was really delicious too. If you're looking for a hearty dish, this is definitely it! As you can tell by this picture, my entree was huge. The ribs were a nice sized portion. Chef Wes said they were really tender and fell off the bone, and he was not kidding. These were excellent and really well seasoned. Ribs need to be cooked low and slow, and these fit the bill quite nicely. The BBQ sauce served on the side tasted like the BBQ sauce they serve in most QS locations. It wasn't bad, but man it makes me wish I could have had the Turbodog BBQ sauce. I bet it was amazing.The entree also came with seasoned steak fries and coleslaw, both of which were excellent. I really enjoyed the seasoning on the steak fries. And pro tip, dipping them in BBQ sauce was a nice option too! The coleslaw was fresh and crisp - perfect for a rib dinner. My only complaint of the meal? It was messy. But then again, ribs are supposed to be messy. If you're eating ribs and it's NOT messy, I think you're doing something wrong! Thank goodness for wet naps. Overall, this was another really wonderful meal from Boatwright's. I enjoyed my ribs a lot, and it was a great dinner choice. I can honestly say that I haven't had a bad meal at Boatwright's yet...or even a mediocre one! This continues to be a new favorite for me!A solid 9 out of 10 for me. Have you been to Boatwright's? What are your favorite menu items? 

Star Wars Character Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine-In 2014 -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Note: The Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is a special character dining experience that took place during the 2014 Star Wars™ Weekends.This year's Star Wars™ Weekends offered several new meal experiences: Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast and Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars™ Dine at Hollywood and Vine. Of course, as soon as I heard the announcement about these two meals, I had to make sure to go to both of them. They sounded like awesome events and as a Star Wars™ fan, they were totally up my alley.My family and I attended the Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars™ Dine at Hollywood and Vine during the first Star Wars™ Weekends in May and had a great time. I was pleased to see the special diets offerings available and really enjoyed the experience. We had heard tons of buzz about the character breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In and were really excited to check it out! First up, I have to say that this was a very popular breakfast. When we got there during our visit at 8:30 a.m. it was pretty packed. Our reservation wasn't until 9:10 a.m. but we checked in and figured we'd just hang out and take in the atmosphere (we'd already rode Star Tours at 8 a.m. so bonus for us. Nothing says Star Wars™ Weekends like riding Star Tours early on in the day!). Imagine our surprise when we got called about 10 minutes later. Talk about going light speed to our breakfast! Before our breakfast, we took a minute to pose with Darth Vader and Boba Fett. My family were wearing Rebel Spy t-shirts which did NOT make Darth Vader happy. And Boba Fett decided he wasn't too thrilled with me either. The reactions they gave us were priceless. Then it was off to the Sci-Fi Dine In dining area where we took in the sights and transformation which suited the character meal really well. On the screen, you got to watch Star Wars clips and even the special 1978 Christmas Special. Talk about awesome and corny all at the same time.  Our server greeted us and the very first thing she asked was, "Does anybody have an allergy or special dietary need." This was great because they made sure to ask right away. She took our drink orders and then got the chef while we looked over the menus and check out our surroundings.Breakfast is a fixed price and includes a plate of breakfast pastries per guest, a choice of fruit & yogurt with granola or just fruit, an entree, and drinks of your choice. There's also a special dessert surprise, but more on that later...The chef greeted me with a plate of breakfast pastries knowing that I couldn't have gluten or dairy. I have to say, it's really hard to see what you're getting on your plate, so taking a picture was about the only way I could identify my treats. I got an Udi's blueberry muffin and chocolate chip muffin, and a Kinnikinnick cinnamon sugar donut. All things I really enjoy! I was also served fresh fruit with some cute Star Wars inspired cut-outs. Yoda as melon...adorable! If your'e like me and not a melon fan...beware. The fruit salad is mostly honeydew and other melons. Not really my most favorite. I could go for grapes, pineapple and strawberries, but as with most fruit cups, they weren't too plentiful. Another great feature of the clips is that they show Star Wars™ Weekends specific things, like weekend host James Arnold Taylor and even information about characters walking around. It was all perfectly themed, and I have to say really made the meal experience feel special. For my entree, I ordered the Tatooine Sunrise which included bacon, sausage (which I exchanged for extra bacon), scrambled eggs, and breakfast potatoes. The potatoes that normally come with it contain dairy, so I was given garlic roasted fingerling potatoes. And they were delicious! Very well seasoned and cooked. The rest of the meal was good. I wouldn't say anything special but well cooked and hearty. Enough to feed a Wookie, that's for sure. And speaking of more food...I asked if there were any other options available to me for gluten free and dairy free breakfast. They did carry Van's waffles, which I opted to skip. I like Van's but they aren't the same as my beloved allergy Mickey waffles. I did however, order a side of the shrimp that accompanies the shrimp and grits. And these were a yummy and delicious add on to my meal!  Throughout our meal, we were treated to Star Wars™ music and film clips and also got to meet lots of Star Wars™ characters. One caveat, lighting in Sci-Fi Dine In can be a challenge. My mom got a shot of me and Greedo but the flash wasn't on. The photo turned out pretty dark, which I had originally posted here, but thanks to reader Ron G., who worked some Disney pixie dust on it, it looks awesome! (Thanks, Ron!!)Stormtroopers were around a lot. As I said quite frequently to them, "This is not the breakfast you are looking for!" Of course, they really got into things and lots of stormtrooper hijinks ensued!  Once we finished our meal, we were also treated to a special dessert. Another nice touch was that this cast member also asked about special dietary needs. Unfortunately, the dessert contained dairy (but it was gluten free!). I was able to get a bowl of fresh strawberries. My family did like the dessert, it seems like it was a pudding/custard of some type with pop rock type fruit in them. Talk about a galactic treat!  Perhaps my most favorite thing about the character breakfast were the Jawas. Omigosh. Were these guys adorable! They roamed the character breakfast and yes, if you had something shiny and interesting, they were into trading with you. My family decided to see what would entice the Jawas and they sure do like Star Wars™ bling. My stepdad traded them a Magic Band Star Wars™ gadget, and they were pretty thrilled. One thing is that they don't talk, and you have to translate what they say by their gestures. It took me entirely too long to figure out this Jawa needed to go get the other Jawa's trading pouch. Yep, clearly I needed C3P0 because I do not speak Jawa! When they returned, they made the trade (a shiny limited edition cast member pin) and a spoon. Because apparently, I needed a spoon. Thanks Jawas!  Overall, I had a fabulous time at the breakfast. In fact, the whole family thought out of the two character meals this was by far and away our favorite. It wasn't cheap by any means at nearly $50 but for a once a year experience, we would definitely do it again. It had nice gluten free and dairy free meal options, and the food was quite good too. I give this Star Wars™ character meal a solid 8 out of 10. By far and away of our favorite things to do during Star Wars™ Weekends 2014. And those Jawas? They totally made the meal too! Have you been to the Star Wars™ Character Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In? 

Bluezoo Lounge -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Swan and Dolphin

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.It's amazing to me that even after all this time visiting and now living near Disney how many restaurants on property I still haven't dined at. One of those places was Todd English's bluezoo located in the Swan & Dolphin resorts. For those who might not be familiar with Todd English, he is a celebrity chef who's roots are based in Boston. On this particular occasion, I decided to visit the bluezoo lounge (located in the front of the main restaurant) to check out the drink and appetizer offerings. I had heard such rave reviews about bluezoo lounge and restaurant from my friends over at Extra WDW Magic, and couldn't wait to check things out. We grabbed a booth at the front of the lounge area (which was fairly quiet for on a Wednesday night) and took a look at the drink menu which is vast. They have tons of signature cocktails along with wine and beer. I didn't see if they had GF beers on hand, but I'm sure they had at least one like most Disney property restaurants.If you like cocktails, bluezoo lounge is definitely the place for you. They have some of the best that I've seen on property. I must admit, I'm still partial to my African Starr Mint Mojito at Sanaa. That is my favorite drink on property...hands down. While scoping out the menu, we got a chance to meet with Chad Lobner one of the managers at bluezoo. He was terrific at going over the menu offerings both on the main menu and on the bluezoo lounge menu for gluten free & dairy free options. Ultimately, there really isn't much on the lounge menu that is gluten free and dairy free but the regular menu has some great ones that need minimal modifications. Note to self, go back for dinner sometime! I ended up ordering the BZ Burger which is made from meats ground and smoked in-house – 50% chuck, 15% brisket, and 35% smoked pork shoulder. The fries served with this are not made in a dedicated fryer (bummer) but we ordered them on the side for my brother. I'm sure we could have subbed out something extra if I had wanted to. They also double-checked and the GF bread available there is also dairy free as well. Hurrah! Meanwhile, Chad brought us out an amuse bouche (a little small bite appetizer) which was a flatted cucumber with I believe daikon and radish in a broth. It's been a while now since I visited, so I apologize for forgetting all the ingredients! This was delicious and very earthy. A great palate cleanser before our burger. So, I'm not usually a burger eater as most of you know. I try to avoid beef in general (partly for Crohn's and partly because I'm not a huge fan) but I do order an occasional burger. I've had a lot and I mean a lot of burgers over the years at Disney but this is hands down the best burger I've ever had on property. HOLY MOLY. (Sorry for the bold caps, I just really loved this burger)Served on gluten free & dairy free bread (I believe Ener-G), the presentation and smell of this dish were so taste-bud tempting. The burger is composed of two patties with house-made bread and butter pickles and a mustard aoili. If you have never had a smoked burger before, this is the one to get. It was outrageously good.  Overall, I really enjoyed bluezoo a lot. The inventive drinks, fabulous food, and impeccable service make it a wonderful spot for a drink and dinner. It's a wonderful spot on property to get away from the hub-bub of the parks. I really appreciated Chad's attention to my special diets and to making sure everything went smoothly and safely for me. I really hope to be back again for dinner soon or at the very least drinks and that fabulous burger. I may dream about that burger for a while to come! So amazingly good! Overall, I give this experience a 7.5 out of 10. I hope that in the future, they'll carry some easily modified lounge items and consider a dedicated GF fryer. Have you been to bluezoo? What did you order here? 

ESPN Club -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining review took place in May 2014. Well, it's probably safe to say I'm not a super sporty girl. I like two things - running and hockey. Otherwise, I'm fairly sports illiterate (no denying it here). So, with that in mind, ESPN Club located in Disney's Boardwalk area was not particularly high on my list of places to visit. It's hugely popular with the sports crowds, and always busy when sporting events are taking place.I decided to pop by for dinner on a whim while at Disney World recently for a work conference. The menu is somewhat reminiscent of Red Robin to me, and I thought it would be the perfect time to check out the sandwiches and burgers.When we arrived, we were seated quickly -- I think we timed our dinner well and there wasn't really anything going on sports-wise. Our server whose name escapes me, was really wonderful. Before I was even seated, he and the hostesses made sure to get the chef so that he could come talk to me about options.There were quite a few things that could be modified to accommodate a gluten free and dairy free diner. From burgers and other sandwiches to fish and steak, I did have quite a few things to choose from. When in a sports bar, it seems the obvious choice to go for a burger and fries, right?I don't normally eat beef, except for burgers on occasion. This has to do with having Crohn's disease; ground beef is the one thing that I can tolerate on occasion, just not all the time. To me, the choices were better than what I would get at Red Robin, and I settled on the Cuban Burger  which came with shaved ham. They did have to remove some of the other options because of gluten and/or dairy, but that was OK by me. They currently carry Udi's gluten free (and dairy free) buns for the burgers. And, you can get French fries as well.Speaking of the fries, these are made in a fryer that cooks the French fries, as well as chicken wings and nothing else. The chicken wings are made in a gluten free and dairy free brine and are also safe...at least plain without sauce. So that's pretty exciting!If you are a gluten free beer or cider drinker, the restaurant carries Redbridge, Omission (not something I would consume), and Magners Irish Cider. You can also ask your server about other alcoholic options.The entire staff at ESPN Club was really conscientious about my food. I mean everyone was talking about the safety precautions and handling my food to ensure it was gluten free and dairy free, so that was very reassuring.When I got my burger, I was excited to see it on an Udi's bun. Man, I do love the Udi's buns. I wish they were safe for egg free diners too because for me, this is the most bun-like gluten free bun I've been served at Disney.The burger was cooked well and the shaved ham was a nice addition. I had the normal condiment options as well (ketchup, mustard, mayo). The French fries were well cooked and thick cut. These are definitely steak fries and not the fries you see at most quick service (or even table service) locations on property.Overall, I was pleased with my meal choices at ESPN Club. I'd like to go back sometime and see what other offerings are available. To me, this is like a step up from Red Robin in terms of variety and options for gluten free and dairy free diners. The prices were really pretty reasonable as well, making it a good bargain, a convenient spot to eat if you're looking for something in that area or on the way to Epcot.I'd give this experience a solid 7 out of 10.Have you been to ESPN Club? What did you think of the offerings there?

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

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Raglan Road, located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs), has been one of my favorite gluten free and dairy free go-to places for a while now. It's my hands down favorite spot in Downtown Disney (with Cooke's of Dublin a close second!). The received the 2014 Best Restaurant in Orlando award and have also received the best gluten free restaurant award in the past as well. With it's offerings of gluten free (and dairy free) fish and chips, onion rings, and more, it's fair to say it's a great dining option at Disney.I recently attended a work conference at Disney and the conference was located near Downtown Disney, which meant I was there a lot. Every day for the 3 day conference, actually. I also visited Cooke's of Dublin during the conference and enjoyed the scallops and chips which were divine. Trust me, go visit them too!But back to Raglan Road. I stopped by for lunch with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. I can't say that we've been there together since the Lunch & Learn this past fall, and it was nice to go for a long lunch break and catch up with her.When we arrived, we both decided to order the Citrus Salmon Salad. It's naturally gluten free and dairy free on the menu, and a great light choice for a lunch (or dinner). The salad is served with fresh salmon, orange segments, almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette. I had it for the first time in December 2013, and I fell in love with it immediately.I found the salmon to be cooked perfectly again and the salad well dressed (key with a good salad!). I love the almonds and citrus segments in the salad too. So good! I think the presentation the first time was a little nicer but overall, it's still a gorgeous plate of food. And tasty as well as safe - the most important thing to me! Alexis also ordered dessert (there just really aren't great gluten free AND dairy free options there), and I have to say that I wish they'd make a dairy free version of her dessert. She got the strawberry and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and fresh cream. It looked amazing! Head over to Gluten Free in Orlando to see the pictures and full review. I have to say, gluten free diners should definitely order this dessert.Overall, it was a great meal, as always. The staff are very knowledgeable and always ask if there are dietary needs before they even take any orders which is great. It's also nice to get a fair amount of variety in a restaurant, so you don't just always order the same thing (although I am partial to those fish and chips!).I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great service, special diets offerings, and of course, fabulous company (that gets a 10 out of 10!).Have you been to Raglan Road? What are your favorite gluten free and dairy free dishes to order there?

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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