3/30/16 3/30/16

Lotus House — 2016 Flower & Garden Festival Booth

*This dining experience took place in March 2016.Please note that the Flower & Garden Festival booths have increased risks of cross contamination.This year's Epcot Flower & Garden Festival marks another year of flowers, fun, and food. One of my favorite booths is the Lotus House, for one very simple reason...Beijing-style Candied Strawberries.This sweet and refreshing dessert option is delicious and a festival favorite (you can read more about it in my review from 2015.) For many years, it was listed as gluten free, but in the last couple of years Disney has not marked it gluten free on the marketplace passports that you pick up at the marketplace booths.Like last year, I checked with the manager on-site at the Lotus House (which is not operated by the Disney Company but by an outside vendor), and they confirmed that the recipe has not changed and that they are still gluten free and dairy free. Hurrah!Here is the list of gluten free (and dairy free) offerings at the booth:

Beijing-style candied strawberries – Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free (*Note: This is not marked gluten free on the marketplace passport; however, the manager at the Lotus House advised me that these are still gluten free, like they were on previous years – March 2, 2016)

As usual, these strawberries were amazing this year at the Festival. I got them the first day and plan to get them again throughout the festival. The candied sugar coating is sweet but beware, they pack a sharp punch and can be a bit hard to bite into (My friends the Disney Hipsters call them Razor Strawberries & that's pretty accurate!). Still, they are a must-do if you visit the festival and like strawberries!Read about the gluten free Epcot Flower & Garden Festival options on my main festival page, and you can also check out Gluten Free in Orlando's festival page too.Looking for even more fun? Check out my YouTube video walkthroughs of the Festival!

2/20/16 2/20/16

2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Gluten Free & Special Diets Food Offerings

*This information comes from the Garden Passports handed out at the festival and was made available online at WDW's website prior to the festival opening (and may be subject to change). As always, guests should consult each booth for ingredients or for other special dietary needs. Because of the booth space, cross contamination is of higher risk for guests consuming gluten free ingredients.Updated March 30, 2016View my video walk-throughs of the Flower & Garden Festival on YouTube:

Listen to Episode 30 of the Podcast on the Flower & Garden Festival HERE or on iTunes!This year's Flower & Garden Festival is set to take place March 2 - May 3rd this year, and there are bound to be some good eats throughout the festival. Disney released their Marketplace Passports early and online (for the first time!) this year.As the festival gets underway, this list will be updated and modified for any dishes that are gluten free & dairy free and/or can be modified easily to accommodate. Some dishes, like the Beijing-style Candied Strawberries have not been marked gluten free (and they weren't last year either) but the booth confirmed that they were, in fact, gluten free and dairy free at 2015's festival. Stay tuned to see if they still are this year.Be aware that Marketplace kiosks are smaller and increased risk of cross-contamination is possible. Please use judgement before consuming any items marked gluten free at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival.Here’s a list of all of the items that are considered “gluten free” by Disney:Urban Farm Eats:

Watermelon salad with pickled onion, B&W Gourmet Farms baby arugula, feta and balsamic reduction – Vegetarian, Gluten Free (can be made dairy free by removing feta cheese) - $3.75

La Isla Fresca (new booth for 2016):

Jerk-spice grouper or chicken with mango salsa, chayote and green papaya slaw with lime-cilantro vinaigrette – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (confirmed dairy free by Sarah on March 2, 2016) - $5.25

Read my review of the La Isla Fresca Booth HERE Lotus House:

Beijing-style candied strawberries – Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free (*Note: This is not marked gluten free on the marketplace passport; however, the manager at the Lotus House advised me that these are still gluten free and dairy free, like they were in previous years) - $4.95

Read my review of the Lotus House Booth HERE Bauernmarkt: Farmer's Market (new booth for 2016):

Currywurst with paprika chips - roasted bratwurst with curry ketchup and paprika-spiced chips – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (confirmed dairy free by Sarah on March 2, 2016) - $5.00

Read my review of the Bauernmarkt booth HERE Florida Fresh:

Kale salad with dried cherries, almonds, goat cheese and white balsamic vinaigrette – Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Lactose Free (confirmed lactose free and can be made dairy free by removing cheese by Sarah on March 2, 2016) - $3.75
Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cilantro – Gluten Free - $6.25

Read my review of the Florida Fresh booth HERE Primavera Kitchen:

Cremoso al Pistacchio - pistacchio cream, strawberries and mascarpone cream – Gluten Free - $5.00

Read Gluten Free in Orlando's Review of this booth HEREThe Smokehouse:

Smoked pork ribs with roasted corn salad – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (confirmed dairy free by Sarah on March 5, 2016) - $6.50

Recipe for the roasted corn salad from the Disney Parks Blog HEREWatch my video review of the booth HEREHanami

Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon Rolled with Raspberry Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream on the side - Gluten Free (can be made dairy free by removing the Whipped Cream, confirmed by Sarah on March 5, 2016) - $5.25

Watch my video review of the booth HEREFleur de Lys:

Cassoulet au Confit de Canard - pulled duck confit with braised flageolet beans – Gluten Free (Not available dairy free, confirmed by Sarah on March 5, 2016) - $5.75
Macaron Chocolat Framboise: Large Raspberry Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam - Gluten Free (This information comes from L'Artisan des Glaces on Twitter. They did warn possible cross contamination as they are baked in a non-dedicated bakery. I recommend checking with culinary team at the booth for more information) - $4.75

Cider House (new booth for 2016):

Land-harvested field greens with apples, dried blueberries, stilton cheese and apple cider vinaigrette – Vegetarian, Gluten Free - $3.75
Freshly baked lemon scone with creme fraiche and mixed berries (Made using Cup4Cup Flour confirmed by Sarah on March 5, 2016 and cannot be made dairy free) – Gluten Free - $3.75

Watch my video review of the booth HERE

Remember to pick up your passports when you go to the booths and always check with the cast members on ingredients and cross contamination procedures, as well as other additional special dietary needs. These offerings are not marked on the menus outside of each booth, so the passport your best bet for a comprehensive listing.Stay tuned to reviews from both myself and Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando for the latest updates from the festival!What do you think about the listing of gluten free & vegetarian items on the passport? Will you go and try any of the items at the booths this year?

9/29/15 9/29/15

2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Menu Offerings

This year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is in full swing! It's one of my favorite times of year at Disney, and I just love that for the past several years Disney has really been working to note gluten free friendly items on the Marketplace Passports.Here is a full listing of the current gluten free menu items based on the Marketplace Passport which I got in person at Epcot during the 2015 Food & Wine Festival. I have noted any items that I currently know to be dairy free or easily modified to be dairy free. Please note that any additional dietary needs outside of gluten free will be updated in this list, as I know them.*Note: Menus are subject to change, as is any information regarding ingredients, cross-contamination, and other special dietary needs ingredients. Always consult with the Disney culinary team for more information before consuming.Sustainable Chew

Pork Spareribs with Red Wine, Fennel, and Cheesy Mascarpone Grits sustainably presented on VerTerra Dinnerware – Gluten Free
Vanilla Panna Cotta with Fresh Figs and Pistachio Brittle – Gluten Free

Chew Lab

Olive Oil Poached Salmon with Fresh Corn, Bacon, and Pepper Jam – Gluten Free, Can be made dairy free by removing the fresh corn puree
New York Strip with Parsnip Silk, Balsamic Glaze, and Arugula Foam – Gluten Free, Can be made dairy free by removing the Parsnip Silk
Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel – Gluten Free

Dominican Republic

Lechon Asado: Roasted Pork with Mangu, Pickled Red Onions, and Avocado – Gluten Free

Greece

Greek Salad in a Code – Gluten Free, Can be made dairy free by removing cheese

Desserts & Champagne

Chocolate Cherry Explosion – Gluten Free (*Note: Disney's Special Diets Department has confirmed this is gluten free, despite some information that it is not as of 10/14/15)

Scotland

Haggis with Neeps and Tatties: Traditional Haggis with Rutabaga and Mashed Potatoes – Gluten Free
Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Smoked Salmon and Herb Sour Cream – Gluten Free
Seared Sea Scallops with Spinach-Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon – Gluten Free

Farm Fresh

Griddled “Yard Bird” with Braised Greens and House-made Habanero Sauce – Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Patagonia

Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Puree – Gluten Free
Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri – Gluten Free, Dairy Free

Australia

Grilled Sweet and Sour Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Pepper, Onion, and Snap Peas – Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Grilled Lamb Chop with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies – Gluten Free

Mexico

Chilaquiles de Pollo: Corn Chips layered with seasoned chicken, queso fresco, sour cream, and cilantro – Gluten Free

Africa

Berbere-Style Beef Tenderloin Tips with Onions, Jalapenos, Tomato, and Pap – Gluten Free

Brazil

Escondidinho de Carne: “Little Hidden One” layered meat pie with Mashed Yucca – Gluten Free
Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans and Tomato – Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Pao de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread – Gluten Free

Ireland

Warm Chocolate Pudding with Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur Custard – Gluten Free

Canada

“Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce – Gluten Free

Stay tuned to sources like the Disney Food Blog, Gluten Free in Orlando and here on Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW for the latest 2015 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival news!What are you most looking forward to this year at Food & Wine?

5/14/15 5/14/15

Mylan & Allergen-Free Culinary Demos Come to Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

I'm super excited to be posting this information about the upcoming 2015 Epcot Food & Wine Festival. This year's Food & Wine Festival will feature a series of all new culinary demonstrations and educational seminars for guests who want to learn more about cooking with food allergies -- all free of the top 8 common allergens. The series is in partnership with Mylan, the company that brings you EpiPen®, who signed a multi-year alliance with the Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts last year. The partnership previously included access to EpiPen® in the theme parks, which included an EpiPen® Auto-Injector symbol on park maps and new signage at all of the First Aid stations. As a part of the alliance, Mylan has been planning a variety of educational resources designed to increase awareness of and preparedness for severe allergic reactions. That includes this year's festivities at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. The EpiPen® on Location website reports that Chef Amanda Freitag and other chefs will prepare delectable dishes free of the top eight allergens. Auggie Maturo, actor from the TV show "Girl Meets World," and his family will also be on hand to share tips and tricks for navigating playdates and school parties for kids with severe allergies. Both Chef Amanda and Auggie will be at the Festival Welcome Center during select times between Oct. 2 – 4, 2015. How cool is that? I've been visiting the Epcot Food & Wine Festival for years gluten free and dairy free, and the culinary demonstrations have always been a challenge with a special diet. I've some amazing experiences with Chef Kevin Dundon from Raglan Road Irish Pub (where I got to go on stage!), Chef Tony Marotta from Disney's Port Orleans Resort, and Chef Suvir Saran of Top Chef fame. But, I've also had some struggles getting safe options and enjoying the culinary demonstrations as fully as other non-special diets guests. So, I'm thrilled to see culinary demos that are top 8 free!Even more exciting is that Mylan is giving away several trips to Disney World for lucky winners that include:

A three-night/four-day vacation for four to visit the 2015 Epcot® International Food Wine Festival
Opportunity for meet-and-greets with Amanda Freitag and Auggie Maturo and tickets to a culinary demonstration between Oct. 2 – 4
A vacation travel kit prepared by Nina Garcia
A resort stay
Theme park tickets
And much more!

For all the details on how to enter to win, check out the EpiPen® on Location website!

Are you as excited as I am about the upcoming Epcot Food & Wine Festival now that Mylan is offering these allergy-friendly culinary demonstrations?

3/13/15 3/13/15

Lotus House -- 2015 Flower & Garden Festival Booth

*This review took place in March 2015. Please note that the Flower & Garden Festival booths have increased risks of cross contamination.The Lotus House has been a repeat outdoor kitchen booth at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival for the past several years. And their Beijing-style candied strawberries have been a favorite for gluten free visitors of the festival, especially since last year they were officially marked gluten free on the marketplace passports. However, this year they weren't weren't marked gluten free, which was surprising for most to hear.I wanted to stop by the booth to see if they could give me some insight as to why they aren't gluten free, and when I did, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the strawberries are still gluten free (according to multiple cast members). When I arrived, the cast member grabbed multiple other cast members to assist me and every one of them stated that the strawberries are still the same as they have been and continue to be gluten free and dairy free. It's weird then that they aren't marked as such on the passport; however, it was suggested to me that this booth is not owned by Disney and therefore might not have made the marketplace passport updates because of that. Here is the list of gluten free offerings at the booth:

Beijing-style candied strawberries – Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free (*Note: This is not marked gluten free on the marketplace passport; however, the Disney culinary team advised me that these are still gluten free, like they were on previous years – March 7, 2015)

In looking and tasting the candied strawberries (I only had one), they were identical to years past. And of course, delicious. These continue to be my favorite sweet treat at the festival, especially since so few of the sweets are gluten and dairy free too. Be warned, the candied coating is crunchy and hard so they can be a surprising texture if you aren't expecting it. There's a reason I jokingly call these razor strawberries! I'd love to see the passports better reflect all of the options at the festival, as in years past (and this one too), there are occasionally misprints and/or missing items from the list. It's always good to consult with cast members, and if possible a chef and/or ingredients binder (if available) for the current ingredients. For more Flower & Garden Festival info, check out my main festival page, as well as the reviews found on Gluten Free in Orlando’s website. Alexis visits the festivals regularly and offers terrific updates

3/12/15 3/12/15

The Smokehouse: Barbecue & Brews -- 2015 Flower & Garden Festival Booth

*This review took place in March 2015. Please note that the Flower & Garden Festival booths have increased risks of cross contamination.The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews has become a hugely popular outdoor kitchen booth at the Flower & Garden Festival. Last year, I didn't get a chance to eat any of their offerings (like the Smoked turkey "rib" which I was so curious to try), so this year, I made sure to make a trip over there to grab a bite. Here are the gluten free offerings at the booth (with notations of the dairy free ones):

Smoked Debreziner sausage with house-made kraut and mustard – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)
Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with white cheddar fondue and pickled jalapeños - *ONLY made gluten free if ordered without the white cheddar fondue (it contains flour as a thickener). If ordered without sauce, it is also dairy free, per Chef at the Smokehouse on March 7, 2015.

The Smoked Debreziner sausage was marked gluten free on the marketplace passport, and I wondered if the Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash could also be eaten without the sauce. When I got a chance to speak to one of the chefs on hand, he let me know that the brisket could be served without the sauce and that it would be gluten free without the flour based cheese sauce. Good to know!On this occasion, I decided to only try out the smoked sausage, as I was quickly getting full at the various booths, including Botanas Botanico. I totally forgot to take a picture before I started to dive into this; the sausage is not normally cut into thirds (I was splitting it with my family). The sausage itself was so good. It had that delicious smoked flavor and was perfectly cooked. Yes, low and slow is always a good thing when it comes to smoking. I really enjoyed the tangy mustard that came with it, but wasn't a huge fan of the sauerkraut. It was a little too vinegary and had way too many caraway seeds for my taste.While we enjoyed our eats, we also got a chance to talk to the culinary team about the smoking and even get a nice shot of the sausages in all their smoking glory.One non-food related thing that I noticed this year at the festival is that many of the booths have branded merchandise. They had quite the variety for the Smokehouse. I'm not sure I'd personally buy any of the merchandise, but I like the idea of having unique items to pick up at the festival! Overall, I enjoyed the Smokehouse, and I'm glad it's become a yearly booth at the Flower & Garden Festival. I hope to go back and try the burnt ends hash sometimes, minus the cheese sauce. It looked and smelled terrific! For more Flower & Garden Festival info, check out my main festival page, as well as the reviews found on Gluten Free in Orlando’s website. Alexis visits the festivals regularly and offers terrific updates

3/11/15 3/11/15

Botanas Botanico -- 2015 Flower & Garden Festival Booth

*This review took place in March 2015. Please note that the Flower & Garden Festival booths have increased risks of cross contamination.New to this year's Epcot Flower & Garden Festival is the Botanas Botanico booth located in between the Morocco and France pavilions in the World Showcase. The flavors of the booth are inspired by South America and particularly highlight Venezuelan food.What I was most excited about for this booth was that all of the main food dishes were marked gluten free on the Marketplace Passports. The only exception to this was the dessert option at the booth. To me, this meant my cross contamination risks were greatly reduced given that almost all of the dishes did not contain gluten naturally. When I arrived at the booth, I asked a cast member if I could find out which of the dishes were dairy free, as well as gluten free. I knew the ceviche would be OK but wondered if the arepa featured on the menu was also dairy free. One of the chefs came out to talk to me, and he confirmed that the arepa was dairy free. He also noted that I could not have the Cachapa con Queso, even without the cheese, as the dough contained dairy. Here are the gluten free offerings at the booth (with notations of the dairy free ones):

Seafood ceviche-shrimp, scallops, and grouper with mango and avocado – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)
Cachapa con queso – Gluten Free
White corn arepa with braised beef and chayote slaw – Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)

This ceviche was probably my favorite of all the ceviches I've had at any of the Flower & Garden or Food & Wine Festivals at Epcot. Filled with bright flavors, the mango and avocado added a sweetness and richness to the dish. The seafood was all perfect -- there was no fishy taste whatsoever. The addition of a bright citrus flavor with jalapeño and onion rounded out the ceviche. In basic terms....this was yummy! I would definitely get this again.The arepa was also delicious, though I would have loved to see this filled with pork instead of beef. The arepa itself was tender and a little crispy on the outside. The slaw that accompanied it was good - though it isn't as delicious as the winter melon slaw that is served with the tilapia at the Urban Farm Eats booth. I would definitely get this dish again. Overall, I really enjoyed the Botanas Botanico booth. I loved the variety of dishes served and also how gluten free friendly everything was. I hope this becomes a repeat in festivals to come because this booth was a hit! For more Flower & Garden Festival info, check out my main festival page, as well as the reviews found on Gluten Free in Orlando’s website. Alexis visits the festivals regularly and offers terrific updates.

3/9/15 3/9/15

2015 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Gluten Free & Special Diets Food Offerings

*This information comes from the Garden Passports handed out at the festival and was obtained March 7, 2015. As always, guests should consult each booth for ingredients or for other special dietary needs. Because of the booth space, cross contamination is of higher risk for guests consuming gluten free ingredients.Updated March 13, 2015This year’s Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot has officially started, and I have to admit, it’s one of my favorite times of year in the park. I adore all of the amazing plants, flowers, and topiaries on display throughout Epcot. With the addition of the marketplace booths a few years ago, folks look forward to trying their food offerings like the International Food & Wine Festival.This year’s Flower & Garden Festival marketplace passports, which you can get at all of the Outdoor Kitchens kiosks, list the items that are vegetarian and are gluten free (meaning they have no gluten containing ingredients). I have noted the items that I've sampled which are also deemed dairy free by the Disney culinary team.Here’s a list of all of the items that are considered “gluten free” by Disney:Urban Farm Eats:

Kale salad, dried cherries, almonds and goat cheese with White Balsamic Vinaigrette - Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub - Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)

Lotus House:

Beijing-style candied strawberries - Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free (*Note: This is not marked gluten free on the marketplace passport; however, the Disney culinary team advised me that these are still gluten free, like they were on previous years - March 7, 2015)

Read Sarah's 2015 review HERE. Florida Fresh:

Watermelon Salad with pickled onion, B&W Gourmet Farms baby arugula, feta cheese, and balsamic reduction - Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cilantro - Gluten Free

Primavera Kitchen:

Limoncello panna cotta - Vegetarian, Gluten Free

The Smokehouse:

Smoked Debreziner sausage with house-made kraut and mustard - Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)

Read Sarah's 2015 Review HERE. Botanas Botanico (new in 2015):

Seafood ceviche-shrimp, scallops, and grouper with mango and avocado - Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)
Cachapa con queso - Gluten Free
White corn arepa with braised beef and chayote slaw - Gluten Free, Dairy Free (Confirmed by Sarah on March 7, 2015)

Read Sarah's 2015 Review HERE. Fleur de Lys:

Confit de canard, pommes de terre sarladaise (pulled duck confit, with garlic & parsley potatoes) - Gluten Free
Macaron guimauve a la fraise (large strawberry marshmallow macaron) - Gluten Free

10/14/14 10/14/14

Classic Rum Cocktails Mixology Session -- 2014 Food & Wine Festival

*This Mixology session took place on September 25, 2014 at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.I've long wanted to attend a mixology session at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and for some reason they have alluded me. I'm not sure if it's because the ones offered haven't appealed to me or the alcohol was not safe for me to consume on the dates I could attend. Either way, I was excited this year to attend the Classic Rum Cocktails Mixology session with John Meisler from Don Q Rum.The demo featured 3 samples of classic rum cocktails, including a daiquiri (featuring Don Q Caliche Rum), a pina colada (which was gluten free and dairy free, score one for me!) and a drink called the Swizzle #9.Before we got a chance to sample our drinks, John Meisler talked to us a little bit about the Don Q brand and his background in food and beverage. You can catch some clips of this session on my YouTube channel. Here's one from his intro:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0vz8vH9MAAfter some background, we then got to make (and taste) our first drink, the classic daiquiri. This was delicious. Fresh, light, and super easy to make. Why I don't make these at home is beyond me!Our next drink was the Swizzle #9. This was a bit spicy with a touch of nutmeg. It made me think of the holidays, and it seems like a drink that would work well both hot and cold (it was served cold to us).The final drink was the pina colada. This is another one of those, "Why don't I make this at home?" drinks. It made me think of a tropical getaway, or at least my Disney Cruise Line vacation and Castaway Cay.The session itself was about an hour. And like Captain Jack Sparrow, I found myself asking, "But why is the rum gone?!" when the session ended. The drinks were delicious and the tips were really helpful. I also enjoyed John Meisler's witty banter and his wealth of food and beverage knowledge.With one mixology session under my belt, I'm ready to try some more, although this may be the only one I get to this season. If you get a chance, I highly recommend these!Have you been to a Food & Wine Festival special event? Which ones are your favorite?

10/13/14 10/13/14

Suvir Saran Culinary Demonstration -- 2014 Food & Wine Festival

Suvir Saran and Sarah Food and Wine Festival

Suvir Saran recipe Food And Wine Festival

Chicken and salad Suvir Saran culinary demo

*This culinary dining experience at the Food & Wine Festival took place October 3, 2014.When it comes to attending culinary demonstrations and special meal events at Epcot Food & Wine Festival, it can be a challenge to eat as a special diets guest. Culinary demos are a nice low-cost way to participate in the Food & Wine Festival events without stressing out too much about spending a lot of money and getting stuck with nothing to eat. (also, check out those Back to Basics sessions this year! They are free and fantastic!)One of my biggest strategies is to take a look at the schedule and look for demos that seem like they might be particularly special diets friendly. For instance, last year I attended Erin McKenna from Babycakes NYC's demo (already gluten free and dairy free naturally) and Chef Kevin Dundon's (where I was able to connect with the Raglan Road team ahead of time) from Raglan Road Irish Pub. At each of these, I was able to get offerings.In previous year's I've had hit or miss luck with culinary demonstrations. One of my favorite's was Suvir Saran's demo (of Top Chef Masters and the famous restaurant Devi) in 2011. Cooking primarily Indian dishes, I knew that I had a pretty good chance of getting something gluten free and dairy free. At that demo, there was some alterations that needed to be made, but I was able to enjoy part of the demo components.So when I saw that he was presenting again this year, I decided to sign up guessing I'd have rather good luck again when attending the event. And I was definitely right. I scored a dish that was completely gluten free and dairy free straight off the menu.Before the demo started, I arrived at the Festival Center 1 hour early. There, I picked up my event passes and then checked in with cast members setting up at the culinary demo stage area. I let them know that I had special dietary needs and wanted to check in to see if the sample was safe for me.The team got Chef Suvir (who I admittedly tweeted the week before the demo!) who came out to chat with me. He brought over the recipe and had a lengthy discussion with me about the dish. We also chatted at length about special diets and some of the current "fads" out there. He's really knowledgeable and was fun to chat with.Once the demo was ready to start, we scored seats up front. This gave us a great view of the stage and all of the culinary excitement.Food & Wine Festival veteran Pam Smith led the demo, introducing both Chef Suvir and the culinary wine expert from the San Sebastian Winery here in Florida. For the first portion of the demo, we learned about the winery, their products and general wine information. I always find these portions of demos really fascinating!Then it was onto Chef Suvir's demo. He made an Indian inspired chicken drumstick and a slaw. The chicken was really delicious with honey, garam masala, and tamarind chutney all bringing out sweet and savory flavors.The slaw was my hands down favorite part of the demo dish. With fresh mint, cilantro, and peanuts, this was not your ordinary mayo-based slaw. I liked it so much that I actually made it at home that weekend!I had such a fun time at this culinary demo. I was so thrilled that the dish was safe for me to eat without any modifications. It was one of those lucky picks for a demo, and I'm so glad I got a chance to see Chef Suvir in action again. He's also a very lovely chef to chat with, and I love his culinary viewpoint on eating real food and getting into the kitchen, making the food yourself.Here is a video clip from the demo (you can find more on my YouTube channel): [embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/1voLO53" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/0ZFW4_aT_FE?fs=1" vars="ytid=0ZFW4_aT_FE&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=" id="ep8044" /]

10/7/14 10/7/14

Terra — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

*This information on this booth was obtained by me on September 25, 2014 by visiting the booth first-hand. This is not “official” information from Disney. Please always check with the cast members at each booth to confirm ingredients and safety based on your specific dietary need. For additional booth information visit the 2014 Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Offerings Page.A few years ago, Disney announced the addition of Terra at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, which is an entirely vegan booth. You can imagine how excited I was when I first learned about it. An all vegan booth? That's a huge step for Disney and also huge for those of us who can't consume dairy. I had hoped that there would gluten free options here as well; however, as I learned a few years ago when it launched, that is not the case.Terra is great if you are only dairy free, but if you're gluten free, this is not a booth for you. Terra highlights Gardein products (plant based protein), and the varieties currently utilized by the culinary team at this booth all contain gluten.This year's Terra booth at the Food & Wine Festival was no exception. There are no gluten free options short of beverages (including Redbridge gluten free beer). I did stop by and try one of the vegan wines available. I tried the vegan vine chardonnay, and I have to say that I wasn't too impressed. I found the wine to taste like the stuff you get out of a box and definitely not worth the $3.25 for the pour.I do hope that someday the Terra booth includes gluten free food options, in addition to their drink options (it does seem a bit odd that they carry gluten free beer but don't have gluten free safe food). But, if you're looking for a dairy free, plant based option, this is definitely the place to go! You can also check out Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review. She always heads to the Terra booth for their watermelon juice. Have you been to this booth yet? What did you think of the gluten free & dairy free options here?

10/2/14 10/2/14

Back to Basics Lecture Series -- 2014 Food & Wine Festival

New to the 2014 Food & Wine Festival is a new culinary lecture series called, Back to Basics. Billed as, turning "ho-hum into 'yum yum!'" this is a complimentary experience for guests attending Epcot's Food & Wine Festival. From culinary tips and tricks, you'll learn from the pros...the Disney chefs!The festival features these sessions at the Festival Welcome Center (aka the Wonders of Life Pavilion) on the Spotlight Stage which is across from the Intermission Cafe/food court area. It's a small little theatre but great for a lecture series. The sessions are held on Fridays through Sundays throughout Food & Wine Festival and are scheduled for 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. with a variety of different topics (each one throughout the day is different, though if you go multiple times in a weekend you might notice the same sessions held on different days).For one of the first weekends, I joined Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando in attending two Back to Basics sessions led by Chef Tony Marotta from Port Orleans Riverside & French Quarter. You'll recognize Chef Tony from my reviews of the famous gluten free and allergy friendly beignets and Boatwright's Dining Hall.He had two sessions on the day we attended that included two talks titled, "Kitchen Shortcuts, Tips, Tricks and Hacks" and "Taking the Dinner Party to the Next Level; Professional Tips for Impressing your Guests." As a guest, we learned first hand some great tips and tricks from Chef Tony. The sessions lasted about an hour and included a Q&A. If you ever wanted to ask a culinary expert about tips and tricks, these sessions are your chance!I had a great time attending these free sessions (I especially love the free aspect), and they are a great way to get tips and a unique Food & Wine Festival experience. Since there is no food sampled, it's also a great way for those of us with special diets to participate in special events without the worry of getting sick or not having anything to eat. (Of course, the sessions made me hungry but that's a different kind of problem!)I can highly recommend these sessions and hope that Disney keeps these next year as a part of the Food & Wine Festival. They were great additions!Here's a brief video I took of Chef Tony being introduced at one of his Back to Basics Sessions![embedplusvideo height="500" width="700" editlink="http://bit.ly/1vBXork" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/mzkFW4--_JY?fs=1" vars="ytid=mzkFW4--_JY&width=700&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=" id="ep8041" /]As with any Food & Wine Festival events, admission to Epcot is required and not included in event price. Events are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

10/2/14 10/2/14

Puerto Rico — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

*This information on this booth was obtained by me on September 26, 2014 by visiting the booth first-hand. This is not “official” information from Disney. Please always check with the cast members at each booth to confirm ingredients and safety based on your specific dietary need. For additional booth information visit the 2014 Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Offerings Page.This year's Food & Wine Festival is all about Puerto Rico! With lot of culinary demonstrations, mixology sessions and a huge Food & Wine Festival booth area, Puerto Rico has a huge presence this year the festival.In looking at marketplace passports, two of the four dishes served at this festival booth are listed as gluten free - the Ensalada de Carrucho (conch salad) and Carne Guisada con Arroz Blanco (slow-braised beef with Puerto Rican-grown rice).I stopped by the booth with Gluten Free in Orlando, and we each ordered one of the gluten free dishes. I first inquired with cast members at the cash register if the conch salad was gluten free and dairy free (I suspected it was, but it's always important to double-check). At this booth, they radioed a chef and they also showed me the allergy binder with the ingredients. I wasn't able to take a photo, but it was indeed gluten free and dairy free.The conch salad was quite good. If you've never had conch (essentially a sea snail), essentially it takes a bit like calamari or clams -- a little chewy but not really fishy in any way. This dish was a nice way to highlight the conch; it was very flavorful and light. It had lots of nice flavors with onion, tomato and cilantro too. I expected this to just be seafood and was pleasantly surprised to find rice at the bottom of the salad.Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando tried the slow-braised beef, and you can catch her full reviews over at Gluten Free in Orlando.I wouldn't say the conch salad was my hands down favorite dish of the festival but it was really very good. It will be perfect on a hot day at Food and Wine Festival and delicious as a lighter meal option. I would definitely order it again.Have you been to this booth yet? What did you think of the gluten free & dairy free options here?

10/1/14 10/1/14

Brazil — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

*This information on this booth was obtained by me on September 26, 2014 by visiting the booth first-hand. This is not “official” information from Disney. Please always check with the cast members at each booth to confirm ingredients and safety based on your specific dietary need. For additional booth information visit the 2014 Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Offerings Page.Last year the Brazil booth had one of the more popular gluten free dishes, the crispy pork belly, and this year it was back. New to this year's menu was the Moqueca de Pescado which was a tilapia with coconut lime sauce and steamed rice. Ever the optimist, I was hopeful that the tilapia was also dairy free, as the dish sounded awesome!One of the things I loved about this year's Brazil booth is that it was huge. Great places to sit and relax and enjoy the sites and sounds of Food & Wine Festival. Disney has done a great job this year with all the theming!Upon arrival at the booth, I checked in with the cast members at the cash register about the gluten free and dairy free offerings. They were able to radio a chef and find out rather quickly for me. Both the crispy pork belly and the tilapia were gluten free and dairy free. I was with Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando, and we also asked about the Brazilian cheese bread to confirm it was gluten free, and they told us via radio that it was (we've heard mixed reports from guests that say Disney has stated this is not gluten free). The coconut candy is not gluten free at all.I have to say that I really enjoyed this dish. I do love coconut milk, and I found the sauce to be rich and creamy. The fish was well cooked and the sauce that accompanied it was both sweet from the coconut milk and spicy from the peppers. Yum! This would definitely be a dish I'd get again.On this particular visit, I didn't get the crispy pork belly, but I did last year and enjoyed it.For Gluten Free in Orlando's review, you can head to her site for the latest updates for gluten free only options.Have you been to this booth yet? What did you think of the gluten free & dairy free options here?

9/30/14 9/30/14

Farm Fresh — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

*This information on this booth was obtained by me on September 25, 2014 by visiting the booth first-hand. This is not “official” information from Disney. Please always check with the cast members at each booth to confirm ingredients and safety based on your specific dietary need. For additional booth information visit the 2014 Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Offerings Page.When I heard that both of the food items served at the Farm Fresh booth were gluten free, I nearly jumped for glee. I love it when booths have only gluten free items because it means that the risk of cross-contamination is lessened. Both of the dishes also sounded fantastic and I was hoping that I could get the bacon hash minus the hollandaise dairy free.When I arrived at the booth, I checked with the cast members working at the cash register and asked inquired about the dairy in the hash (minus the hollandaise) and the chicken. As with the Australia and Patagonia booths, the cast members radioed for a chef to find out about the ingredients. I was told that the hollandaise in the bacon hash was the only offending dairy item and that I could order it without it (music to my ears). So, I saddled in for two hearty dishes, ordering both the bacon hash and the griddled "yard bird."They say everything is better with bacon, and I have to say, this was bacon at its best. Man, if this was served for breakfast at a Disney restaurant, I'd be all over it. It would be perfect with eggs (poached or over-easy). The jalapeno peppers & pickled onions added a nice spicy zip (note: you can order it without the peppers). The potatoes were well cooked, and the bacon was outrageous. Seriously, every bite was filled with tons of pepper bacon. This was definitely a winner for me.The grilled "yard bird" didn't look like anything special to me, but this dish was also fantastic. The skin on the chicken was super flavorful and crispy (and salty in a good way). It was also well cooked and not rubbery or dry. The greens were fantastic (I never met one I didn't like) and had a nice kick of vinegar and hot sauce -- exactly how Southern green should be.For options, this booth so far wins it for me. I was so glad I was able to get both gluten free and dairy free -- and that they were delicious!Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando also tried these dishes (and the hollandaise), and you can catch her full reviews over at Gluten Free in Orlando.Have you been to this booth yet? What did you think of the gluten free & dairy free options here?

9/29/14 9/29/14

Australia — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

9/28/14 9/28/14

Patagonia — International Marketplace — 2014 Food and Wine Festival

*This information on this booth was obtained by me on September 25, 2014 by visiting the booth first-hand. This is not “official” information from Disney. Please always check with the cast members at each booth to confirm ingredients and safety based on your specific dietary need. For additional booth information visit the 2014 Food & Wine Festival Gluten Free Offerings Page.The Patagonia Booth replaces the Argentina booth this year at the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The Marketplace Passports listed 2 of the 3 food dishes to be gluten free, which was exciting! Having seen the recipe for the Roasted Verlasso Salmon, it looked to be dairy free as well.Ever the vigilant special diets diner, I checked with the cast members at the cash register before I ordered to see if both the grilled beef skewer and the roasted verlasso salmon were gluten free and dairy free. The line was slow (it was early afternoon on a Thursday), and the cast member radioed a chef to find out the ingredients. This was a very short process, thankfully, and I learned quickly that the salmon was gluten free and dairy free, but the grilled beef skewer accompaniments were not.Both the boniato puree and the chimichurri sauce contained dairy, so I while I could order the beef plain, there would be no sauce that would be safe to consume with it. Pro tip: You could order the beef skewer plain or ask to have the sauce that accompanies the salmon. It would be delicious with the beef!I went ahead and ordered the salmon, which I was very excited to try.I have to say, so far, this is my hands down favorite dish at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival! The salmon has been well cooked each time I've ordered it (yes, I've ordered it multiple times, it was that good). The quinoa salad was delicious and flavorful -- filled with red onions and tomatoes. The best part is the sauce which is so flavorful and delicious. You know I love my sauces, and this one certainly did not disappoint!I visited Patagonia the next day with Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando, and she also enjoyed this dish. You can read her full review of gluten free only Food & Wine Festival dishes on Gluten Free in Orlando!Have you been to this booth yet? What did you think of the gluten free & dairy free options here?

8/12/14 8/12/14

Grilled Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri — Patagonia Booth — Food & Wine Festival — Epcot

[yumprint-recipe id='16'] This recipe comes from the Disney Insider website.

7/20/14 7/20/14

Gluten Free Options Noted for 2014 Food & Wine Festival and Other Festival News

*This information has been posted on various websites including the Disney Food Blog and is subject to change and/or modification.Exciting news has been announced via several websites and through social media. The 2014 International Food & Wine Festival will have Marketplace Passports that note gluten free offerings. This is another great step from Disney in acknowledging gluten free visitors to the Food & Wine Festival.The Marketplace Passports will have a symbol that indicates which items are free of gluten containing ingredients; however, do note that there is always a risk of potential cross contamination due to the small kiosk/booths in which these foods are served and/or prepared.If you were a visitor to this year's Flower & Garden Festival, you'll recognize these gluten free notations, as the Flower & Garden Marketplace Passports also carried them. You can see photographs and examples of these in my post from this past spring.In addition to the gluten free notations on the Marketplace Passports, the festival will also have a few other special diets features, including the Terra Booth (vegan booth) back for its third year at the festival. While the booth does feature a lot of Gardein products (which are not currently gluten free), hopefully, there will be a few gluten free and vegan offerings this year. So far, the only menu items publicly listed contain Gardien. The booth does carry vegan wine.If you're vegetarian, you'll have plenty of options throughout the festival and some new items sound intriguing for vegetarian diners, including the Vegetarian Moussaka at the Greece Booth.Fans of the Dole Whip will be excited to hear that the pineapple Dole Whip is making a comeback too!If you're like me, you may also want to participate in some of the culinary demos and special events. These officially go on sale to the general public on July 31, 2014 at 7 a.m. EST. You can call 407-WDW-FEST to book. You can also book many of these online too! If you are a Tables in Wonderland, Annual Passholder, DVC Member, or Golden Oak resident, you can begin booking at 9 a.m. EST on July 25, 2014. Advance purchase for TIW, AP, DVC, and GO also comes with a $2 discount for those demos and sessions that take place Monday through Thursday.Whenever I book culinary demonstrations or special experiences, I also contact Special Diets to make the notation and arrive at the event early. You can read about a few of my demo experiences from last year, including Chef Kevin Dundon from Raglan Road and Erin McKenna from Babycakes NYC. You can also read Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando's review of last year's festival and demo experiences with Chef Tony Marotta from Port Orleans Resort.And of course, non food related, the Chase Lounge is making a comeback this year. This is a welcome retreat if have a Disney Visa. Sometimes you need a break from the festival action and a place to cool down, and this location does the trick! If you like Coca-Cola products, they usually have a Coke Freestyle machine set-up with complimentary cool drinks (including water).What do you think about the new gluten free notations on the Marketplace Passports this year? Are you as excited as I am for the upcoming Food & Wine Festival?

3/30/14 3/30/14

Rinse Bath & Body -- 2014 Flower & Garden Festival Booth

*This visit took place in March 2014.One of the things that I love most about the Flower & Garden Festival and Food & Wine Festival at Epcot is a non-food booth - it's the Rinse Bath & Body booth located in the World Showcase. Featured exclusively during these festivals, Rinse Bath & Body gives guests a chance to check out artisan soap and body products all produced in Georgia in small batches. The best part about them? They offer many gluten free and vegan offerings.As someone who has sensitive skin, I am always wary of soap products. I react really easily to items that are heavily perfumed and filled with extra "junk." It's been that for as long as I can remember (I notoriously broke out into rashes as a kid - bathtime did not include Mr. Bubbles for me!). I decided to check out the soaps made by Rinse last year, after honestly avoiding the booth for a very long time.And now, I'm a bit of a Rinse Bath & Body Soap addict (yes, they know me at the booth!). My favorite soap by far is the Bamboo Loofah Soap. It contains a saponified blend of Shea & Cocoa Butters, Olive, Refined Sweet Almond, High Oleic Sunflower, Coconut & Palm Kernel Oils along with Loofah & Fragrance Oils. And none of these make my skin itchy or irritated. In fact, my skin has never been smoother or more hydrated than with this soap.Of course, there are tons of options that are gluten free and vegan throughout the booth - not just soap. From pucker sticks to body buffs, there is something that will entice you every time you visit.One of the things I also love is that each of the festivals carry different types of items. That means you can find a variety of options that will rotate depending on the festival. Flower & Garden Festival is more floral based - lots of flower scents, lilac, violet, lavender.Food & Wine Festival is much more food & wine based - cabernet, fig, cranberry.Of course, you can always find some of your favorite staples (including the Bamboo Loofah Soap) featured at both festivals. Any items you're missing? You can order online easily at Rinse Bath & Body's website. And even better - head to the gift shop at the beginning of the World Showcase. They now carry many of Rinse's products year-round!I sure know I'll be stopping by the Rinse Bath & Body booth a lot during the festival this year. I like to stock up on my favorite scents. And bonus - annual passholders and DVC members get an extra 10% off their purchase! Cha-ching!I hope you'll pop by the Rinse Bath & Body booth to check out their offerings. They are always willing to answer any questions that you might have - especially when it comes to sensitives and conditions that may make using products more difficult. Be sure to tell them that Sarah sent you!Have you been to the Rinse Bath & Body booth? What's your favorite product?