Dairy Queen and The Orlando Eye

May 11, 2015, 11:21 am

≫ Next: San Angel Inn Restaurante Dinner - Epcot

Yesterday, we stopped at the Dairy Queen on International Drive for some ice cream before heading to the Orlando Eye, Orlando's newest attraction.

Dairy Queen has a gluten sensitive guide, which you can view here. It lists menu items that do not contain gluten ingredients, like their chocolate and vanilla soft serve, sundaes (chocolate, caramel, hot fudge, marshmallow and strawberry), and manufactured novelties like Dilly and Starkiss Bars.

I ordered a medium size cup of vanilla and chocolate soft serve. I have been eating Dairy Queen soft serve since I was a child in Pittsburgh, and it still tastes just as amazing now as it did back then. It's smooth and creamy, and not overly sweet. It really is the perfect treat for a hot afternoon in Orlando. You can view Dairy Queen's store locator here.

The Orlando Eye, the tallest observation wheel on the east coast at 400-feet tall, officially opened last Monday.

It has 30 air conditioned capsules with seating and audio, and each one holds up to 15 people.

The views were great, the ride was smooth, and I love that the Orlando Eye is continuously moving. Be prepared to enter and exit quickly, though it will stop for people with special needs.

From high in the sky, we could see Disney World, Universal, and the city of Orlando. We would not ride the Orlando Eye again during the day, but I hope to ride it at night when my family visits in December.

Discounted tickets can be purchased online on the Orlando's Eye's website, which you can view here. Our tickets gave us a two hour arrival window. Be prepared to spend about 90 minutes there as you wait in line, get your picture taken, view the pre-flight 4D cinema experience, wait in line again, then ride the Ferris wheel, which takes about 20 minutes. Tickets for two adults and two children cost about $70 for the time slot we chose. Was it worth the money we spent? Absolutely! I love that there is always something new and exciting to do in Orlando.

Overall, I had an amazing Mother's Day - Mickey waffles with bacon and fruit for breakfast at home, church, soft serve at Dairy Queen, the Orlando Eye, and dinner and rides at Epcot. But best of all, I got to spend the day with my twins. As I like to tell them, I am the luckiest mommy in the world.

↧

San Angel Inn Restaurante Dinner - Epcot

May 13, 2015, 10:30 am

≫ Next: Cookies con Amore Glutenetto Cookies

≪ Previous: Dairy Queen and The Orlando Eye

On Mother's Day, we had dinner at San Angel Inn Restaurante in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot.

San Angel Inn is modeled after a 17th century hacienda at the base of Mayan ruins, and the lunch and dinner menus feature traditional Mexican cuisine. At this restaurant, you will dine in perpetual twilight while boats from the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros float by.

I was excited to see that their menus now have a "GF" next to gluten free items, and I was told that other dishes could be modified to be gluten free.

We quickly devoured a complimentary basket of freshly fried corn chips, which are made in a dedicated fryer. Served with two varieties of salsa, it's a great way to start your meal.

The five of us decided to eat family-style, sharing four entrees. Our favorite is always the Pollo a las Rajas, which is grilled chicken breast served with red peppers and onion cream sauce, poblano rice, and queso fresco. If you do not like the taste of onion, don't worry, because it is so subtle, you probably won't even realize it is there. Our chicken was cooked and seasoned well, and I loved the creaminess of the rice with the sauce and the queso fresco.

We also ordered the Carne Asada, which is New York strip served with a cheese enchilada, black refried beans, red bell pepper, onion, Mexican rice and guacamole. Our steak was tender and cooked to the recommended temperature of medium, and I thought it tasted great with a little bit of the guacamole on top. I am not much of an enchilada fan, but I enjoyed the bite I tasted. I did not sample the beans and rice, but everyone else must have liked them, because they disappeared quickly.

The only entree we chose that I would not order again was the Camarones a la Diabla, which is roasted diabla-style shrimp served over yuca puree and cascabel chile sauce, with a side of poblano rice. I really liked the yuca puree with the shrimp, but I didn't enjoy the taste of the cascabel chile sauce, which was quite spicy. I wish there had been much more of the yuca puree and way less of the chile sauce, and I would have liked to see the rice served on the same plate. Because we had so many plates of food on the table, I didn't even realize the rice was meant to be with this dish until after I had already eaten it. Nina, our international student from China, loved the Camarones a la Diabla, and was very happy to finish this entree after everyone else tasted it.

For our final entree, I chose the Lomo de Puerco en Pipian, which is pork tenderloin served over roasted vegetables and "pipian" - pumpkin, chiles and almond sauce. My husband, Nina and I really enjoyed this entree. Our pork was nice and tender, and well complimented by the pipian. I loved the roasted squash and red pepper that accompanied this dish as well. This was my second favorite entree, after the Pollo a las Rajas.

For dessert, my daughter Emma and I shared the Crema Bavaria and Mousse de Chocolate.

San Angel Inn's Crema Bavaria is featured in my blog post about my favorite gluten free desserts at Disney World. It is described as creamy bavarian mousse served with mixed berries, cinnamon, orange liqueur and vanilla sauce. This dessert is about as perfect as dessert can get for me. It is not overly sweet, the combination of flavors is incredible, and the creamy texture of the mousse is divine.

I love chocolate, so I was excited to try the chocolate mousse with almond brittle candy. The best part of this dish for me was the almond brittle, which you can't see because it's buried under the whipped cream. My daughter Katie ordered the same dessert, but hers had a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of the whipped cream, which she loved. I was a little sad that Emma's and my dessert did not have any cinnamon, but I didn't feel like sending it back. On top of the mousse was some fruit, and there were chocolate pieces inside of it. The Mousse de Chocolate was very good, but Emma and I both agreed that the Crema Bavaria is our favorite dessert at San Angel Inn.

The lunch and dinner menus at San Angel Inn are a little bit different. Lunch is served from 11:30 until 4:00, and dinner from 4:30 until closing. You can read my lunch review of San Angel Inn here.

Other gluten free options on the menu include the Sopa Azteca (tortilla soup), Tostadas de Tinga, Pescado a la Veracruzana (catch of the day), Peto en salsa Poblano (grilled Wahoo fish), and Helado de Dulce de Leche (caramel ice cream). You can view San Angel Inn's menus, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at San Angel Inn Restaurante?

↧

Cookies con Amore Glutenetto Cookies

May 15, 2015, 3:10 pm

≫ Next: Inspired by Happiness Three Layer Cakes

≪ Previous: San Angel Inn Restaurante Dinner - Epcot

One of my favorite Pittsburgh traditions is the cookie table at wedding receptions. With our Italian and Catholic families, my husband and I had multiple cookie tables at our wedding, and platters of cookies at my wedding and baby showers. At the time of all of these major life events, I was still eating gluten, but if I had to bring cookies to a wedding or shower now, I would definitely bring Glutenetto cookies by Cookies con Amore, if I didn't feel like baking cookies myself.

I became interested in trying Cookies con Amore's gluten free Italian cookies after reading rave reviews in my private Facebook group, Gluten Free in Orlando. Locally, several of my blog readers have found them at HomeGoods stores. For Mother's Day, my husband ordered me the gluten free spring assortment online.

When my box of cookies arrived, I was really impressed with how beautiful they were. Our favorite were the raspberry linzer cookies, which were buttery, and not overly sweet. They were filled with just the right amount of raspberry jelly, and had a wonderful flavor from ingredients like natural vanilla, lemon, and almond extract. They reminded me of the gluten-filled raspberry linzer cookies I loved as a child in Pittsburgh. We also really enjoyed the Polentine, which are made with corn flour, and rolled with raspberry preserves. The shortbread butterfly cookies were good, though a little sweet for me because of their powdered sugar glaze.

After tasting all of my cookies, and looking at the list of included cookies online, I realized that the box of cookies I received did not include all the options listed on Cookies con Amore's website. I received wedding cookies, cuccidati fig cookies, and some type of sugar cookies with pink and yellow sprinkles instead of nonnine, chocolate ricciarelli, and amaretti cookies. Because they were three of the cookies I was most interested in trying, and the reason I chose this assortment, I called Cookies con Amore. Their explanation for the cookie swap was that they ship what is fresh that day, which is not mentioned on their website, so I asked for my money back or for them to replace the cookies. Finally, after talking to two different people, they agreed to send me the cookies that were supposed to be in the spring assortment. The chocolate ricciarelli, which are a traditional Tuscan wedding cookie that combines orange and chocolate with almond flavors, were amazing, and just as good as the raspberry linzer cookies, if not better. I also loved the intense flavor of the Amaretti cookies, which are described as chewy almond macaroons made without flour. The nonnine were very good too, with their subtle flavor of lemon.

I did not dislike any of the cookies I tried from Cookies con Amore, but I didn't like the wedding cookies, biscottini (biscotti), reginette, or cuccidati fig cookies enough to buy them again. I highly recommend their chocolate ricciarelli and raspberry linzer cookies, my two favorites, and their polentine, nonnine and amaretti cookies.

You can read more about Cookies con Amore's Glutenetto cookies, which are certified gluten free, on their website here.

What are your favorite Cookies con Amore Glutenetto Italian cookies?

↧

Inspired by Happiness Three Layer Cakes

May 17, 2015, 9:12 am

≫ Next: Cup 4 Cup Brownie Mix

≪ Previous: Cookies con Amore Glutenetto Cookies

Last night, we had our final international student dinner of the school year at P.F. Chang's. After feasting on a variety of gluten free dishes, my friend Arlene brought out the gluten free cake she bought at Publix for the celiacs in our group.

The Publix in the Hollieanna Shopping Center in Winter Park, and the Publix in Baldwin Park are now carrying two varieties of gluten free cakes from Inspired by Happiness. I was amazed at how good the Dreamin' of Chocolate Dark & White Chocolate Layer Cake was. It is chocolate cake with layers of Belgian white chocolate mousse topped with chocolate ganache. If you read my blog regularly, you might have noticed I frequently find gluten free cakes and cupcakes to be too dry, and their frosting to be too sweet, but this cake was moist and not overly sweet. Arlene and her husband sampled both the gluten free and the gluten-filled cake, and liked the Dreamin' of Chocolate cake better.

Both stores had the Dream' of Chocolate and the Dreamin' of Strawberries layer cakes in their bakery in the refrigerated case, displayed with the gluten-filled cakes that are made in-house.

I just tried the Dreamin' of Strawberries White Chocolate Shortcake. It is described as shortcake layered with strawberry fruit filling, topped with whipped cream and white chocolate drizzle. I liked it, but I much prefer the Dreamin' of Chocolate Cake, because it is not as sweet, and I am a bit of a chocolate addict. My husband and daughters liked both as well, but gave a slight edge to the strawberry cake. Both cakes are certified gluten free by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Each cake can serve six people, and they are less than $10. You can see a list of retailers that carry Inspired by Happiness cakes here.

Update - Locally, blog readers have told me that they have purchased the cakes at the Publix on Alafaya at The Shoppes at Eastwood, and the Publix on Chickasaw. They have also been seen at Target stores in Clermont and Winter Garden.

Allergen Information - The cakes contain dairy, soy, eggs and corn, and have a warning that they may contain peanuts, coconut, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts.

Have you tried Inspired by Happiness Three Layer Cakes?

↧

Cup 4 Cup Brownie Mix

May 19, 2015, 3:06 pm

≫ Next: Lottawatta Lodge - Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

≪ Previous: Inspired by Happiness Three Layer Cakes

Tonight, I made chocolate crinkle cookies with Cup4Cup Brownie Mix. I made brownies with this gluten free, dairy free mix when it was first introduced, but I am a little brownie challenged. I somehow always end up overcooking them. In general, I am not a huge brownie fan, unless they have cream cheese swirled in them, but my daughters love them, so once or twice a year, I let them talk me into buying a brownie mix.

After seeing a recipe for Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on Cup4Cup's website, I decided to buy some brownie mix to make the cookies. You can view the recipe here. I added 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 4 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, and two large eggs (beaten) to the mix, stirred it well, then froze it covered in a small bowl for 35 minutes.

I used my one tablespoon cookie scoop, slightly heaping, to portion out the dough. I rolled the raw cookies in powdered sugar, then put them on parchment covered baking sheets. Each batch of cookies took 10 minutes to bake in a 350 degree oven.

I might not be a huge fan of brownies, but I love these cookies. They were perfectly chocolaty, a little fudgy, and not overly sweet. I will definitely be making them again, because they taste great, are easy to make, and would be the perfect dessert to take to a party. The recipe says it makes 20 cookies, but I ended up with 18.

I purchased my Cup4Cup Brownie Mix from Williams-Sonoma. It contains sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, white rice flour, brown rice flour, salt, tapioca flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum. It has an allergy warning that it is made on equipment that also processes milk. To make brownies with the mix, you will need 1/2 cup of melted butter or coconut oil, 2 eggs, and two tablespoons of water. On the bag, there are instructions for making salted caramel brownies, and on Cup4Cup's website, you will find recipes for making chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel frosting, devil's food cake, lava cakes, and "Hostess Cupcakes" with the mix.

I am a huge fan of Cup4Cup gluten free flours and baking mixes. You can read more about Cup4Cup on their website here. All Cup4Cup products are certified gluten free and non-GMO.

Update - the cookies were just as good on day two as they were on the day I baked them. I stored them in an airtight container at room temperature.

What are your favorite Cup4Cup products?

↧

Lottawatta Lodge - Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

May 20, 2015, 11:09 am

≫ Next: Narcoossee's - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

≪ Previous: Cup 4 Cup Brownie Mix

Earlier today, I had lunch at Lottawatta Lodge at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Blizzard Beach is my family's favorite water park in Orlando. I love the theming of a one-time ski resort that has melted away to form a watery wonderland.

Lottawatta Lodge is made to look like an alpine chalet, complete with rows of skis and snowboards where you enter.

When I mentioned to the cast member who was taking orders that I needed to order something gluten free, she pulled out their new allergy-friendly menu, which has options that are gluten/wheat, fish/shellfish, egg, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergy-friendly.

On the bottom of the menu, it says you may consult with a chef before placing your order, which I decided not to do today.

Gluten free options at Lottawatta Lodge include the following entrees, which are served with apple slices, grapes, house-made chips or french fries: chicken sandwich served on a rice bun, 1/3 lb Angus burger served on a rice bun, cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, hot dog, and the harvest salad served with chicken, apples, dried cranberries, cheddar, pecans, and Zinfandel vinaigrette. For dessert, they have a fudge brownie and a chocolate chip cookie. Gluten free kids' meals include a turkey sandwich, cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, and a hot dog. They are served with grapes, apple slices, or applesauce, though french fries are available upon request. All kids' meals include a small lowfat milk or small Dasani water.

Seating for Lottawatta Lodge is outside, with plenty of shade from umbrellas and trees.

I decided to order the allergy-friendly chicken nuggets with house-made chips. The chicken nuggets were the chicken tenders I eat at many other Disney restaurants, which is what I expected. They were perfectly cooked, and I enjoyed them dipped in a little bit of ketchup. My friend Sarah has a list of where you can find these amazing chicken tenders around Disney World on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW.

The house-made chips at Lottawatta Lodge were so good! They had a really flavorful seasoning on them that reminded me a bit of barbeque chips.

I also ordered an OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownie, which I brought home to share with my family. My girls and I love these rich and fudgy brownies. The cast member that took my order told me to make sure my tray was purple when my food came out. All special diets orders are served on purple trays.

Overall, I had a great meal at Lottawatta Lodge, which is what I expected from past experiences. I highly recommend a visit to Blizzard Beach if you have never been there. We have found it to be a little more kid-friendly than Disney's Typhoon Lagoon.

While you are there, consider playing some miniature golf at the neighboring Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course, which is also a lot of fun.

What are your favorite gluten free options at Lottawatta Lodge at Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park?

↧

Narcoossee's - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

May 23, 2015, 6:59 am

≫ Next: Rose & Crown Allergy-Friendly Menu - Epcot

≪ Previous: Lottawatta Lodge - Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

Last night, my daughters and I had dinner at Narcoossee's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort to celebrate their last day of school.

We asked for a window table, which had a beautiful view of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

Narcoossee's, a signature dining restaurant, serves both seafood and land-based fare.

Their allergy-friendly menu was extensive, with plenty of options for gluten free diners.

Gluten Free Soup & Salad Options - Market Salad, Maine Lobster Bisque, Aunt Debby's Lovely Romaine Salad

Gluten Free Appetizers - Slow-poached and Chilled Shrimp, Crispy Rhode Island Calamari, Buttermilk-fried Soft-shell Crab, Middleneck Cedar Key Clams, Artisanal Cheeses

Gluten Free Entrees - Two-Pound Steamed Maine Lobster, Snake River Farms Kurobuta Pork Rib Chop, Line Caught Alaskan Halibut, Columbia River Wild King Salmon, Key West Shrimp and Garganelli Pasta (made with gluten free penne), Joyce Farms All-Natural Chicken Breast, Coriander and Shichimi-spiced Seared Ahi Tuna, Pan-seared Georges Bank Day Boat Scallops (made with gluten free penne), Grilled Filet Mignon or Black Angus New York Strip Steak (option to add a 7-oz steamed Maine lobster tail)

Gluten Free Enhancements - Bering Sea Split King Crab Legs, Narcoossee's Mashed Potatoes

Gluten free options on the Kids' Menu include the seasonal fruit cup, grilled flat iron steak with roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables, brown rice pasta macaroni & cheese, crispy fried chicken tenders with potato puffs and seasonal vegetables, chocolate-chip cookie banana split, make-your-own s'mores, and vanilla and coconut frozen dessert with chocolate sauce.

The adult menu features raspberry sorbet, coconut and chocolate creme brulee, and a selection of artisanal cheeses with accompaniments for gluten free diners.

I was a little disappointed when I saw that Narcoossee's serves Ener-G rolls. I much prefer the GNI rolls that are served at many Disney restaurants.

Thankfully, two of the three rolls were heated well, so I was able to enjoy some bread with their lovely salted butter. As usual, my gluten-eating daughters had to dig into my bread too, which I don't mind, because I don't like to fill up on bread before my meal. They definitely like Ener-G rolls more than I do, so I am happy to share.

For an appetizer, we chose the crispy Rhode Island calamari with peppadew-banana pepper-olive relish and tomato coulis. I am glad our server suggested we order the relish and coulis on the side, because I wasn't a huge fan of either one, but my daughter Katie liked the tomato coulis. We enjoyed our appetizer, but Katie and I agreed that we prefer the calamari at Trattoria al Forno and the Flying Fish Cafe. Both of these restaurants on Disney's BoardWalk offer larger portions of calamari, with better accompaniments.

I love seafood, but decided to order the Snake River Farms Kurobuta Pork Rib Chop, because it was served with Antebellum creamy white polenta with Tillamook Cheddar, golden and green cauliflower, pickled garlic, and Florida peach preserves. Everything about this dish sounded amazing, and it lived up to my expectations. The pork chop was incredibly tender and flavorful, and I enjoyed every bite with a little bit of peach preserves or polenta. The polenta was rich, creamy and cheesy, and tasted delicious on top of the cauliflower. The only thing that could have made this dish more perfect was if it had been served with a little bit more of the Florida peach preserves. This was definitely the best pork chop I have ever had, and I would order it again the next time I go to Narcoossee's.

I have to admit that I was disappointed in the adult dessert menu because I don't eat coconut, so the creme brulee was not an option for me, and I am not a fan of having cheese for dessert. That left me with the raspberry sorbet with melon, pineapple, and berries. I love ice cream, but rarely like sorbet because I find it to be too sweet. The portion was generous, with one scoop for each of us. Katie loved it, eating most of Emma's sorbet after she finished her own. I thought it was a little sweet, but I liked that I could eat every bite with a raspberry or a piece of pineapple. I am glad I decided to ask for my sorbet without the melon, but I should have requested some whipped cream.

You can read more about Narcoossee's, view their menu, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free options at Narcoossee's?

↧

Rose & Crown Allergy-Friendly Menu - Epcot

May 24, 2015, 6:39 am

≫ Next: Whispering Canyon Cafe - Disney's Wilderness Lodge

≪ Previous: Narcoossee's - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Yesterday, we stopped at the Rose & Crown Pub in Epcot to check out their new allergy-friendly menu.

In April, Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts started rolling out new allergy-friendly menus, which should be available in all Disney-owned and operated table-service and quick-service restaurants by September. All of the new menus state that you may still speak to a chef before placing your order.

Every single option on Rose & Crown's adult and kids' allergy-friendly menus are marked as an option for guests with gluten/wheat allergies. On Disney's website, the dinner menu appears to be a little different than the lunch menu, but the following dishes should be available for adults for both lunch and dinner, with the exception of the Chicken Masala, which might only be available for dinner.

Appetizers

United Kingdom Cheese Platter with Stilton, Irish Cheddar, and Cotswold Cheese
Crock of potato leek soup
Apple and frisee salad with cranberry vinaigrette

Entrees

Fish and Chips - baked cod with lemon
Grilled New York Strip Steak with seasonal vegetables and chips
Vegetable Cottage Pie with seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes, and cheddar
Indian-style Chicken Masala with seasonal vegetables and brown rice

Desserts

Fruit salad
English Trifle with fresh strawberries, vanilla custard, and whipped cream

Kids' Meals (for guests ages 9 and under)

Appetizer

House salad with oil and vinegar

Mickey Check Meals - served with choice of small lowfat milk or small Dasani water, and fruit salad for dessert

Grilled chicken with brown rice and green beans
Baked fish with brown rice and green beans

Choose 1 Beverage, 1 Entree, and 1 Dessert

Beverages - small lowfat milk, small Dasani water, or small Minute Maid Apple Juice
Entree - grilled sirloin with chips
Desserts - fruit salad or English Trifle with fresh strawberries, vanilla custard and whipped cream

When we ate at Rose & Crown last year on Mother's Day, the chefs made me a delicious Shepherd's Pie, which you can read about here. At several Disney restaurants, I have been told by our servers and chefs that they can make gluten free dishes other than those listed on their allergy-friendly menus.

You can read more about Rose & Crown, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Rose & Crown?

↧

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Disney's Wilderness Lodge

May 25, 2015, 3:08 pm

≫ Next: La Hacienda de San Angel - Epcot

≪ Previous: Rose & Crown Allergy-Friendly Menu - Epcot

Earlier today, my daughters and I had lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, my favorite resort at Walt Disney World. We have never stayed there, but I think the resort is incredibly beautiful, and I love the theming.

In December, I had breakfast at Whispering Canyon, but we have not had dinner or lunch there in probably 5 years. Before we moved to Orlando, we ate dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe every year when we took our annual trip to Disney World. With my husband and grill master out of town, I thought Whispering Canyon would be a great place to enjoy some American favorites on Memorial Day.

Whispering Canyon Cafe does not have an allergy-friendly menu yet, but our server Chad told us that they should be available the first week of June. Chef Philippe quickly came out to talk to me about gluten free options. He told me that they had gluten free buns if I wanted to order one of the Trail Sandwiches, but I decided to go with the all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet, which has always been my favorite meal at Whispering Canyon.

Chef Philippe told me that everything on the skillet is now gluten free, including the barbeque sauce. The skillet includes slow-smoked pork ribs, barbecued pulled pork, roasted chicken, Western-style sausage, mashed Yukon potatoes, corn on the cob, and cowboy-style baked beans.

I thought everything on my skillet was great. I loved the flavor of their barbeque sauce, which was a little bit sweet, just how I like it. It was already on the ribs, but I was given a side of it too, that I poured on my pulled pork. The mashed potatoes were nice and creamy, and the baked beans were some of the best I have ever had. The chicken was a little on the dry side, but still tasty, especially with the addition of some barbeque sauce. The ribs and pulled pork were really good, and I even enjoyed the sausage, which is usually my least favorite meat. For dinner, the all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet is also served with mixed greens tossed in an apple vinaigrette dressing, seasonal farm fresh vegetables, and oak-roasted beef strip loin.

My skillet came with gluten free cornbread, which tasted exactly like the delicious cornbread served at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. It is oh so good slathered with lots of butter!

For dessert, Chef Philippe told me they had gluten free cheesecake and chocolate cake. Before digging into my lunch, I thought my daughters and I would share one of each dessert, but I was so full from attempting to eat my skillet, that we decided to split one order of the chocolate cake.

Chef Philippe presented us with this beautiful dessert, which the pictures certainly don't do justice to. On our plate were two mini round chocolate cakes with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and fresh berries.

The chocolate cake was a little spongy, but delicious, so no one was complaining. I love that it was served with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries, which complimented the cakes well. Chef Philippe told me that they are working on a gluten & dairy free version of the chocolate cake, which should be ready soon.

My gluten-eating daughters loved their slow-smoked pulled pork sandwich served on a brioche roll with cowboy-style baked beans, barbecue sauce, Western slaw and house-made potato chips. They split this adult entree, which was plenty of food for the both of them. The only negative part of our dining experience today was that we had advance dining reservations for 11:45 when Whispering Canyon opens for lunch, but they did not start seating anyone until 12:00.

You can read more about Whispering Canyon Cafe, view their menus, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Whispering Canyon?

↧

La Hacienda de San Angel - Epcot

May 26, 2015, 8:04 am

≫ Next: Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats

≪ Previous: Whispering Canyon Cafe - Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Last Saturday, we had dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot. Nina, our international student, chose the restaurant for her final meal at Disney before she flew back to China. My whole family was happy with her choice, because we love La Hacienda de San Angel, which is featured in my Favorite Table Service Restaurants at Disney blog post.

La Hacienda de San Angel offers Mexican cuisine and lagoon views, in an incredibly beautiful setting. I wish I could take some of their light fixtures home with me.

Like San Angel Inn, which is located inside the Mexico Pavilion, La Hacienda is now marking gluten free and diary free dishes with a GF and DF on their menu. Chef Luis told me that he could make almost any dish on the menu gluten free, as long as it is not fried.

I was a little shocked when I was told that the tortilla chips were not safe for people with celiac. On every previous visit to La Hacienda de San Angel, I was able to eat the chips, but Chef Luis told me that they are now making more fried dishes, and no longer have a dedicated fryer. Not filling up on chips and salsa before my meal allowed me to enjoy it more, so I was not too sad, but I know a lot of my blog readers were very disappointed when I shared this news on Facebook over the weekend. Hopefully, La Hacienda de San Angel will remedy this situation in the near future so guests with celiac and gluten intolerance can enjoy their tortilla chips.

Our entrees were served with large bowls of rice and black beans, which my daughters adore. I think they would be quite content to make a meal out of the tortilla chips & salsa, and rice and black beans.

We ordered two of our favorite entree, the Pollo al Pastor, which is achiote marinated chicken served with roasted vegetables, beans and pineapple relish. This dish is so flavorful, and we all enjoyed it wrapped up in homemade corn tortillas. In the past, the chicken was boneless, but now it is being served with a half chicken. The boneless chicken was easier to eat, but the crispy skin on the half chicken was delicious.

The Pollo al Pastor is served with long strips of red pepper, zucchini and squash, and is safe for gluten free and dairy free diners.

The Carnitas Yucatecas is also gluten free and dairy free. This dish is described as pork confit (carnitas Yucatan style), with pico de gallo, cabbage, citrus juice and avocado salsa. Nina, my husband, and I were all thinking this dish was a little tasteless until my daughter Katie told us that it had been delivered with a side of salsa that we couldn't see at our end of the table. The beautifully green avocado salsa, which is not pictured, added much needed flavor to this dish, which we ate wrapped in corn tortillas.

For our final entree, we chose the New York steak dusted with pumpkin seed, garlic and habanero pepper, topped with a Tequila-butter Cascabel pepper reduction, and served with roasted tomatillos, onions, chiles toreados, grilled queso fresco, and corn mashed potatoes.

The Tequila-butter Cascabel pepper reduction on top of the steak was amazing, but our meat was very overcooked. We ordered our steak medium, but it was definitely well done. Nina, who loves super spicy food, tried the pepper on the dish, and was breathing fire, so Mitch and I did not sample it. I told Chef Luis that I do not eat aioli, crema, sour cream, or anything else that tastes like mayonnaise, but there was definitely something on top of the corn mashed potatoes that had that taste, so I gave my portion to my husband. Even with the issues we had with this dish, I would order the steak again, because of the delicious sauce on top.

For dessert, I always order the Helado de Maiz, which is not marked gluten free on the menu, but is safe without the candied popcorn. It is featured in my The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney - Gluten Free Desserts blog post. Don't expect the corn ice cream to be super creamy, but it is a nice light dessert that I am able to enjoy after a big meal. My favorite part is the Tajin sprinkled on top, which is a mix of chile peppers, lime and salt. There was very little on my ice cream this time, so I asked for some more on the side.

My daughters shared their favorite dessert, the Mousse de Chocolate, which is also gluten free. It has a hint of cinnamon, and little chocolate pieces in it like the chocolate mousse at San Angel Inn.

On previous visits, we have tried the Parrillada "La Hacienda" (mixed grill with New York strip, chicken al pastor, chorizos and vegetables) and the Costillas en salsa de Chile (braised short ribs), which are marked as gluten free options on their new menu. You can read my previous reviews of La Hacienda de San Angel here.

The slow service we experienced Saturday, and the lack of gluten free tortilla chips will not prevent us from dining at La Hacienda de San Angel in the future, but I don't like to see restaurants taking a step back from their gluten free offerings. I was most disappointed when their neighboring quick service restaurant La Cantina de San Angel changed their Empanadas con Queso from being made with corn to flour tortillas. The empanadas used to be my favorite gluten free quick service dish at Epcot, but now we don't dine there anymore because their gluten free options are so limited.

La Hacienda de San Angel is not a Disney-owned and operated restaurant. You can follow them and/or contact them on Facebook and Twitter.

You can read more about La Hacienda de San Angel, view their menu, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at La Hacienda de San Angel?

↧

Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats

May 27, 2015, 1:20 pm

≫ Next: Fogo de Chao

≪ Previous: La Hacienda de San Angel - Epcot

At any Disney theme park or resort, you will find an amazing assortment of Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats. As a celiac, I have to avoid wheat, rye, and barley, ingredients I commonly look for on food labels.

At the end of the list of ingredients for this iced Rice Krispies Treat, you find warning statements that this product contains milk, soy and coconut, and is manufactured on shared equipment with peanuts and/or tree nuts. Even when I don't see wheat in the warning statements, I still scan ingredients. The words wheat, rye or barley don't appear in the ingredients list of either of the Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats pictured, but they are still not safe for celiacs. The Mickey shaped treat pictured does have a warning that it is manufactured in a facility which handles peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and egg, so hopefully celiacs would stay away from that one because of the risk of cross contamination.

Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats are made with Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal, which is not gluten free, because it contains malt flavoring. The malt flavoring in Rice Krispies is barley malt, which is not stated on the label, making this product a confusing one for celiacs. I am writing this post because I have seen celiacs posting pictures on social media of the Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats that they have eaten at Disney World.

Hopefully some day, Kellogg's will reformulate Rice Krispies to remove the malt. They recently discontinued Rice Krispies Gluten Free Cereal, which was made with brown rice, and without the barley malt.

If you are in the mood for a crispy rice treat, minus the gluten, head to any of the Starbucks locations at Disney World for a Marshmallow Dream Bar. There are currently two Starbucks in Downtown Disney, and one in each theme park except the Animal Kingdom, but a Starbucks is expected to open there later this year. You can read more about Marshmallow Dream Bars here.

↧

Fogo de Chao

May 28, 2015, 8:12 am

≫ Next: Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

≪ Previous: Disney Parks Rice Krispies Treats

Yesterday, my daughters and I had lunch at Fogo de Chao on International Drive. Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian steakhouse that can be found in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. You can view their restaurant locator here.

I first learned about Fogo de Chao while I was using the Find Me Gluten Free App on I-4. When I saw one of my college friends from Brazil raving about it on Facebook, I decided I had to give it a try. My daughters and I had the full churrasco experience, which includes all the grilled meats, sides, and dishes on the market table for one price. Desserts are purchased separately.

When I mentioned to our server that I had celiac and could only eat gluten free items, she brought me this piece of paper that listed meats and salad items to avoid, and desserts that do not contain gluten.

Our meal started off with a variety of side dishes that were brought to our table. The Pao de Queijo, Brazilian cheese rolls, are made with yucca flour and Parmesan cheese, making them naturally gluten free. My daughters and I really enjoyed them, and ended up eating two baskets of rolls between the three of us.

The garlic mashed potatoes with chives and a sprinkle of cheese were very good as well, but my favorite side dish was the polenta, which was crispy, and nicely complemented by a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

I prefer plantains to the caramelized bananas that were served at Fogo de Chao, because plantains have a firmer texture, and they are not as sweet.

We were all given a little round card that would let the servers know whether to bring meat to our table. Fogo de Chao serves a variety of meats that are cooked over an open fire. The only ones that are not gluten free are the chicken legs and the pork sausage.

I tried so many cuts of meat, it was hard to keep track of them all. Of the chicken, beef and lamb dishes I sampled, the lamb chop and sliced lamb were my favorites.

Severs come to your table with large skewers of meat, and remove chunks of it, or cut slices of it at your requested temperature.

I found most of the meats to be very flavorful, but I would have enjoyed them more with some dipping sauces.

My daughters ate several dishes from the Market Table, which is a large buffet set up in the middle of the restaurant. There was a variety of different vegetables, cheeses and salads I could have selected, but I was already full from all the side dishes and grilled meats I chose, so I didn't try anything from the Market Table.

If you are looking for an all-you-care-to-eat dining experience outside of Disney with a large selection of gluten free dishes, you might want to check out Fogo to Chao. You can view the pricing and hours of the Orlando restaurant here.

We had so many issues with the service at this location that we will probably not return. From the hostess to the manager, I did not find anyone to be particularly friendly or welcoming. I felt very uncomfortable when our waitress asked me what happens when I eat gluten. She obviously knew nothing about celiac, and I don't mind educating people about it, but not in these circumstances when I want to go in a restaurant and enjoy a meal. I asked to speak to the manager, because I wasn't very confident in our server's ability to keep my food safe. He told me they had very few gluten free desserts, but there were six options listed on the piece of paper I was given, so I found his statement to be a little odd. No one ever offered to give me a tour of the Market Table, so I asked if the dishes were labeled, which they were not, though that was rectified after I asked the question. Some of the servers coming around with meat skipped my daughters who had their cards turned to green, and when I went to pay, one of the servers disappeared with my credit card for a pretty ridiculous period of time. I was also surprised that they automatically included an 18% gratuity for a party of three people. We ended up skipping dessert at Fogo de Chao and opting for ice cream at the Dairy Queen on International Drive.

Overall, I liked my meal and did not feel that I got glutened, but we did not love it enough to go back, especially considering the price and poor service. I would much rather go to Disney World, or Maggiano's Little Italy, which is right down the street.

Have you ever been to Fogo de Chao? What are your favorite gluten free dishes?

↧

Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

May 28, 2015, 12:42 pm

≫ Next: Liberty Inn - Epcot

≪ Previous: Fogo de Chao

I recently asked Michelle Couch if she would be interested in doing a guest blog post about afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, one of her favorite gluten free experiences at Disney World.

Michelle is a self-professed Disney food addict. She was diagnosed with celiac disease when she was five years old, and Disney World has become her family's number one vacation spot because of their amazing accommodations for special diets.

The atmosphere of the Garden View Tea Room cannot be beat! I love to get a later reservation for afternoon tea, so you can sip tea while listening to the live music from the gorgeous lobby.

My personal favorite tea that they offer is the Princess Breakfast Tea, which is an organic rooibos tea with vanilla beans and a hint of strawberry. Add a sugar cube and tada! It’s the best tea I’ve ever had. They would also be happy to make it an iced tea, which is the way my mom prefers, because she is not a big hot tea drinker.

The menu offers a few different options for your meal. The Bedfordshire Tea has everything that I love. The first course comes with finger sandwiches, cheese, and fruit.

The sandwiches available when I went in February were egg salad, chicken curry, and a cucumber sandwich. All of them were delicious, and the bread was perfectly soft. I was also served bread with goat cheese and golden beets. The cheeses were an Irish cheddar and a sage cheese. The Irish cheddar is now one of our favorite cheeses. The sage cheese is very unique and delicious.

Above is a picture of all of the gluten free sandwich options that you could be served. Now, after the recent menu change, they serve three of these with the cheese and berries. I have had egg salad, roast beef, ham, smoked salmon, and cucumber sandwiches. My favorite has to be the egg salad, some of the best I have had.

For the second course, instead of the jam tart and scones, the tea room offers slices of bread from Erin McKenna’s Bakery. I enjoyed slices of lemon poppy seed and strawberry bread. Both were delicious as always.

The accompaniments for the scones are all gluten free. They include strawberry jam, clotted cream, and my favorite, lemon curd. I promise that you will not miss the scones for a second.

For the final course, typically the pastry course, gluten free diners will be able to choose between a plate with macaroons, chocolate mousse cups and berries, or strawberries and cream. For me, the star of the plate is the chocolate mousse cups. They are so beautiful, and perfect for a devoted chocolate fanatic like me. I love the hard dark chocolate shell filled with the creamy milk chocolate mousse.

The strawberries and cream dessert is another great option. It is a fresh, light, and naturally gluten free.

Afternoon tea is served at the Garden View Tea Room daily between 2:00 and 5:00. Advance dining reservations should be made 180 days in advance, if possible, because they are hard to get. You can follow Michelle on Instagram, and check out all of her amazing food photos at @mac_1031.

You can read more about afternoon tea at the Garden View Tea Room and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

↧

Liberty Inn - Epcot

May 29, 2015, 12:48 pm

≫ Next: California Pizza Kitchen Gluten Free Margherita Pizza

≪ Previous: Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room - Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Earlier today, my daughters and I had lunch at Liberty Inn at the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot.

Liberty Inn is a quick service restaurant featuring American favorites, like burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, steak and salads.

All the windows make for a light and bright restaurant, and there is a good amount of seating both indoors and outdoors.

We have eaten at Liberty Inn several times since we moved to Orlando, but this was my first visit since starting this blog. I was hoping they would have one of the new allergy-friendly menus Disney is rolling out between April and September, but they currently do not, so I spoke to a manager who made my food after she took my order.

The manager told me that I could have chicken tenders, mac & cheese, a hamburger, or a hotdog. I asked her about the New York Strip Steak, which she said she could make for me, minus the demi butter. She told me that it would be broiled, which meant that it would probably be medium or medium well. This meal is usually served with french fries and steamed broccoli, but they were out of broccoli. The steak was cooked well, and was surprisingly flavorful. The fries were great, but I was looking forward to having a green vegetable with my meal.

My gluten-eating daughters split an adult order of the allergy-friendly chicken tenders. They told me they like the gluten free chicken tenders better than Disney's chicken nuggets, because the breading and seasoning are better, and the chicken is less greasy.

For dessert, Liberty Inn had gluten free cookies and OMG...It's Gluten Free Sugar Free Fudge Brownies. I love the regular OMG gluten free brownies, but I don't eat the sugar free ones, so we had dessert at the France Pavilion. Emma had a strawberry macaron ice cream sandwich at L'Artisan des Glaces, and Katie and I had dessert at Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie. I had my favorite dessert there, the Parfait aux Fruits, which is yogurt mousse with berries.

Overall, we enjoyed our lunch at Liberty Inn, but we definitely prefer to eat at table service restaurants at Epcot. You can view Liberty Inn's hours and menu on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Liberty Inn?

↧

California Pizza Kitchen Gluten Free Margherita Pizza

May 29, 2015, 3:32 pm

≫ Next: Peak Season Pops

≪ Previous: Liberty Inn - Epcot

Earlier today, we stopped at the Walmart on Turkey Lake Road to look for California Pizza Kitchen's new gluten free frozen pizzas. Walmart didn't have the BBQ Chicken pizza I was hoping to find, but I did purchase a Margherita pizza.

I have not liked tomato sauce on pizza or pasta since I was a child, so I wasn't too sure I was going to like this pizza. Before I was diagnosed with celiac, California Pizza Kitchen's white pizza with spinach was our favorite frozen pizza.

CPK's Margherita pizza is smaller and more expensive than its gluten-containing counterparts, but there was plenty of pizza for my daughters and I to share for dinner. I followed the directions, baking it directly on my oven rack at the bottom of my oven for 13 minutes at 425 degrees.

The Margherita pizza has vine-ripened tomatoes, sweet basil, mozzarella, and tomato sauce infused with balsamic vinegar on a crispy thin crust. I thought the crust was pretty impressive, and the pizza had a good amount of toppings. My gluten-eating daughters, who aren't big pizza fans, both enjoyed it. Katie gave it a 9 out of 10, only because she doesn't love pizza.

I was a little bit bothered by the taste of the tomato sauce, but then I decided to eat my Caprese salad right on top of my pizza, which masked the taste of the sauce. By the way, the combination of the two was delicious! I can't wait to try the BBQ chicken pizza, which I haven't been able to find locally. I went to the one store in Orlando that was supposed to have it, but it wasn't in stock, and I didn't see a sign for it. You can find CPK's product locator here. As far as allergen warnings, the Margherita pizza contains milk and soy.

California Pizza Kitchen's gluten free Margherita pizza was one of the best gluten free frozen pizzas I have ever had, and I would buy it again. I have also tried several gluten free pizzas at California Pizza Kitchen restaurants, which you can read about in my CPK review here.

Have you tried California Pizza Kitchen's new gluten free frozen pizzas? Which one is your favorite?

↧

Peak Season Pops

May 30, 2015, 10:39 am

≫ Next: Jiko - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

≪ Previous: California Pizza Kitchen Gluten Free Margherita Pizza

This morning, I didn't feel like cooking breakfast, so my daughters and I headed to the Winter Park Farmers' Market, which is held every Saturday from 7am to 1pm. While my girls devoured their gluten-filled cinnamon roll, we strolled over to Peak Season Pops to see what they were offering this morning.

First up, I tried the Blueberries 'N Cream, which is one of the best popsicles I have ever had. It was smooth and creamy, and had the most wonderful blueberry flavor in every bite. I will definitely be trying to recreate the recipe at home this summer.

I also enjoyed my pineapple basil pop, one of the vegan choices offered this morning.

My daughter Emma really enjoyed her tropical mango pop, while Katie raved about the straight up local watermelon so much, I bought one to bring home.

Peak Season Pops are gluten free, handmade, seasonally inspired, preservative free, and use local ingredients.

Last fall, I enjoyed the pumpkin chocolate chip.

I also really like their avocado lime.

If you love chocolate and enjoy a little spice in your life, try the dark chocolate cayenne.

I have never tried a Peak Season pop that I didn't like, and they always have a large selection of vegan and dairy pops to choose from.

June 8, 2015 Update

This past weekend, my daughter Emma chose the watermelon lime pop, which she said was even better than the plain watermelon we had last week. I was really impressed by the Hulk, which is a combination of apple, banana, spinach and kale. Thankfully, this is one of Peak Season Pop's regular flavors, so I can enjoy it any time we visit the Winter Park Farmers' Market. I also loved the orange & cream, and the plain vanilla.

Peak Season Pops can also be found at the Maitland Farmer's Market and the Orlando Farmer's Market on Sundays. You can follow Peak Season Pops on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, or visit their website here.

What is your favorite Peak Season Pops flavor?

↧

Jiko - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

May 31, 2015, 12:42 pm

≫ Next: Heartsong Cookies

≪ Previous: Peak Season Pops

Last night, my daughters and I had dinner at Jiko - The Cooking Place, a signature dining restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, one of our favorite resorts at Disney World.

Jiko serves a blend of African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, and the menu changes seasonally. Jiko used to have a gluten free menu, but now they have an allergy-friendly menu which lists safe options for people with gluten/wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. These allergy-friendly menus are being adopted at all quick service and table service restaurants at Disney World and Disneyland between April and September of this year.

My meal started with Udi's whole grain seeded dinner rolls with salted butter. Usually, I don't enjoy these rolls, but they were heated very well, which makes a huge difference with gluten free bread. My gluten-eating daughters not only devoured their own gluten-filled bread, but then proceeded to eat most of mine. I find it so odd that they like gluten free bread better than I do.

None of the appetizers really appealed to me, so I decided to order the Jiko Salad with poached pears, heirloom spinach, Kabocha squash, and pear vinaigrette. I am pretty sure my salad had arugula in it too, and it was served with pumpkin seed and black lentil brittle, which added a crunchy and sweet element to the salad. I loved the thin slices of Kabocha squash, and the pear vinaigrette. Overall, it was a great salad, and I would order again.

There were so many gluten free entrees on the menu that sounded interesting, we had a hard time choosing two to share.

My first choice was the oak-grilled filet mignon with local green beans, spoon bread, and South African wine sauce, because it was recommended by Dana from Magical Moments Vacations, who I write my Best Disney Resorts for Special Diets series with.

There was nothing not to love about this dish. The steak was tender, seasoned well, and cooked to temperature. After seeing my girls fight over the spoon bread, I definitely need to make it again soon at home. The South African red wine sauce was delicious, and the green beans were the perfect accompaniment for this dish.

For a second entree, I chose the Nigerian-spiced pork shank with braised greens and fingerling potatoes. Our server told us this dish might be a little spicy for the girls, but it had much less seasoning than our filet mignon. I thought both the meat and the fingerling potatoes were underseasoned, and the braised greens reminded me a bit of collard greens, which are one of my least favorite vegetables.

Both of my girls enjoyed the pork and the potatoes, and I was impressed by how incredibly tender the pork was. It was served with a large dollop of apple butter, which was not listed on the allergy-friendly menu, but I certainly was not complaining.

For dessert, we could have chosen the coconut milk panna cotta with mixed berries, an artisanal cheese selection, or sorbet with seasonal fruit, but we decided to order the Ghanaian chocolate and Kenyan coffee pot de creme with almond creme, almond crunch, and raspberries.

The presentation reminded me of desserts I have had at Sanaa, because of the beautiful white chocolate butterfly on top. The pot de creme was creamy and flavorful, but my favorite part of this dish was the almond crunch on top. Being the big dessert eaters we are, I thought we were going to have to order a second dessert, or head next door to The Mara to pick up some gluten free zebra domes, but we were all content sharing the pot de creme, because we were all pretty full by the end of our meal.

At the bottom of Disney's new allergy-friendly menus is a note telling guests that they may consult with a chef before placing an order. I am probably going to do so from now on so I don't end up with surprise ingredients on the dishes I order. The granola on my salad and the butter on the pork were not mentioned on the allergy-friendly menu, probably because they are not safe for all the allergies listed for those dishes on the menu. I know they are both gluten free, because the granola and butter are listed as ingredients on the salad and pork on Jiko's old gluten free menu. Thankfully, I liked the granola and the butter, so I didn't have to send my dishes back.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Jiko, and would consider eating there again, though that probably won't happen any time soon, because of their prices, though it would be a great spot for a date night with my husband.

You can read more about Jiko, view their menu, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Jiko - The Cooking Place?

↧

Heartsong Cookies

June 1, 2015, 7:21 am

≫ Next: Biergarten Restaurant - Epcot

≪ Previous: Jiko - Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

I first read about Heartsong Cookies on my friend Amanda's blog Eating out Without. When she posted that they were at the Winter Park Farmers' Market on Saturday, my girls and I headed over to buy some.

Heartsong Cookies is not a dedicated gluten free bakery, but they take precautions to protect against cross contamination, like sanitizing their equipment, and baking gluten free cookies before any gluten-filled cookies are made. On the day we stopped at Heartsong Cookies' table, they had three gluten free vegan cookies to choose from - dark chocolate with a hint of espresso, chocolate chunk, and lemon blueberry.

Because Amanda raved about the chocolate chunk, I had to try it, even though I am a less is more kind of person when it comes to chocolate chips/chunks in my cookies. The first thing that amazed me about this cookie was the texture. It was soft in the center, and had a little bit of chewiness around the edges, just like a cookie should have. I didn't even mind the massive chunks of chocolate in the cookie, because it was just so delicious. My gluten-eating daughters said it was just as good as any gluten-filled chocolate chip cookie they have had. I usually don't like products made with Bob's Red Mill gluten free all purpose baking flour, but I could not taste any aftertaste from the beans in the flour at all.

The lemon blueberry cookie had the same wonderful texture as the chocolate chunk, but it was bursting with lemon and blueberry flavor. I love that the cookies are a little undercooked on the inside, and browned about the edges. Two days after I purchased it, the lemon blueberry cookie still tasted great this morning. I passed on the dark chocolate espresso cookie because I try to avoid caffeine, but I highly regretted that decision as soon as I got home and started sampling my cookies.

June 6, 2015

This morning, we visited Heartsong Cookies and Peak Season Pops at the Winter Park Farmers' Market. I sampled the dark chocolate espresso cookie, which was very good, but ended up buying the banana walnut chocolate chunk. When we got home, I decided to try a small bite, but ended up eating the whole cookie. The banana chocolate walnut is definitely my new favorite at Heartsong Cookies. It has that same wonderful texture and chew that their other cookies have, and the perfect amount of chocolate and walnut, with a nice subtle banana flavor.

Besides the Winter Park Farmers' Market, Heartsong Cookies can be found at Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux, Dandelion Communitea Cafe, Kappy's, and the Maitland Farmer's Market on Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm. They can also be ordered on their website. You can follow Heartsong Cookies on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

What are your favorite flavors of gluten free Heartsong Cookies?

↧

Biergarten Restaurant - Epcot

June 2, 2015, 6:33 am

≫ Next: Trail's End Restaurant Breakfast - Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

≪ Previous: Heartsong Cookies

Yesterday, my daughters and I had lunch at Biergarten Restaurant at the Germany Pavilion in Epcot. I was a little leery to dine there after reading my friend Sarah's latest review of Biergarten on her blog Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW, but I wanted to try German food again, because ethnically, I am half German, and I wanted my girls to experience a new type of cuisine.

Biergarten Restaurant offers a lunch and dinner buffet, which might scare some diners with special diets away. I do eat at Disney buffets, but take the following precautions to avoid cross contamination:

For lunch and dinner, I made advance dining reservations for when the restaurant first opens
I take a little bit of all the foods I want right away, before too many people hit the buffet
I knock all food off of serving utensils, and take food from the back of dishes
I ask for food from the kitchen when I feel the risk of cross contamination is too great

We checked in at 12:00 when the restaurant opened, and were seated right away at a biergarten-style table with a brother and sister visiting from Ohio. My daughters were not too happy about the fact that we were sitting with strangers, but thankfully, they were fun to talk to, and there were only five of us at our table that seated eight, so my shy girls weren't completely surrounded.

I loved the theming of the restaurant, which is made to look like a traditional Bavarian village. Chef Richard came out to give me a tour of the buffet. He didn't offer to bring me anything from the kitchen, and I did not ask, because the buffet was pretty much untouched at this point.

My first plate of food consisted of rice with peas, roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, sauteed green beans, warm German potato salad, two types of German sausage, and pork roast and German meatloaf from the carving station. There were plenty of other options for me to choose from, like beet salad, tomato salad, sausage salad, potato salad, cod in a mustard cream sauce, sauerkraut, vegetable medley, red cabbage, and an assorted cheese platter with condiments.

Even though I had two grandfathers of German decent, I did not grow up eating German food, and I have never been too impressed with it at restaurants, so I was not expecting to love my meal at Biergarten. The warm German potato salad, sausage, rice, green beans and roasted potatoes were all good, but nothing special. The bratwurst at 1900 Park Fare was much better than the sausage at Biergarten, which was disappointing, because I was really looking forward to having some amazing sausage. My least favorite dishes were the German meatloaf and the asparagus soup, which I wish I had skipped.

My favorites were the roasted chicken, and the pork roast from the carving station. I liked the pork so much, I went back for seconds. It was so delicious with some apricot chutney or applesauce on top of it.

For dessert, I had two choices from the buffet, watermelon or red berry compote. From Sarah's dinner review, I know Biergarten has pre-packaged gluten free desserts like OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownies, which I love, and gluten free cookies, but they were not offered, and I didn't ask, because I was content to enjoy the red berry compote, which was delicious. I loved the mix of the berries with the custard-like cream on top.

Every day is Oktoberfest at Biergarten Restaurant, which has a lively band that performs at set times throughout the day.

The oompah band does a great job getting the audience involved, and plays a variety of instruments, like the alpenhorn in the picture.

My gluten-eating daughters enjoyed their food, especially the spaetzle, which I knew would be right up their alley, because they both love pasta.

After lunch, we went shopping for a new pickle ornament at the Germany Pavilion to replace the one that ended up in our washer...long story. After learning about the German tradition of the pickle ornament from one of my students, I thought it would be a great tradition to adopt for our family, especially considering our German heritage. The pickle ornament is traditionally the last ornament hung on the tree in German families on Christmas Eve. The parents hide it, and the child that finds it receives a small gift left by St. Nicholas. I usually buy an extra book, that I wrap and give to my daughter that finds the ornament hidden in one of our three trees.

If you like German food, you should definitely check out Biergarten. I thought their lunch prices were pretty reasonable for an all-you-care-to-enjoy dining experience with entertainment at Disney World. You can read more about Biergarten Restaurant, view their menu, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free dishes at Biergarten?

↧

Trail's End Restaurant Breakfast - Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

June 3, 2015, 4:24 pm

≫ Next: Trader Joe's Gluten Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

≪ Previous: Biergarten Restaurant - Epcot

This morning, my daughters and I had breakfast at Trail's End Restaurant at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Trail's End serves American favorites at an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet for breakfast and dinner, but lunch, the only meal I have previously eaten there, is a la carte. You can read my lunch review here.

Our breakfast started off with the same juice served at 1900 Park Fare, 'Ohana, Boma, and Tusker House. It is a blend of orange, guava, and passion fruit.

Chef Ernie quickly appeared to give me a tour of the buffet. He was completely willing to bring me any of the dishes I wanted from the back, so I wouldn't have to worry about cross contamination on the buffet. My first plate of food from the kitchen had gluten free Mickey waffles, a vegetable frittata, smoked beef hash, bacon, and sausage. My second plate had pecan praline sauce, butter and syrup for my waffles, cheese grits and an Udi's blueberry muffin.

The waffles, which are made with Bob's Red Mill, were a little heavy, but I liked them enough to eat all three of them with some butter and syrup. The pecan praline sauce was a disappointment compared to the pecan praline sauce at Boma, one of my favorite restaurants for Mickey waffles at Disney. Boma's version is more buttery and sweet, which is perfect for waffles. The sausage, bacon, and grits were good, and I enjoyed the smoked beef hash, even though it was a little overcooked. I highly recommend the vegetable frittata, which was light and fluffy, and super flavorful.

I didn't request any breakfast potatoes during my buffet tour, but after my daughters raved about them, I asked Chef Ernie if he could bring me some from the kitchen. They were pretty tasty, and I could see why my girls liked them.

Chef Ernie told me they had gluten free donuts, muffins and bagels, which I usually skip at Disney, because they are the same products I can buy at my local Publix, but I asked for an Udi's blueberry muffin this morning. With a little bit of butter, it was the perfect way to end my meal.

Other gluten free breakfast options at Trail's End Restaurant include scrambled eggs, fruit, and citrus quinoa salad. Chef Ernie also told me that he could make me a gluten free version of the Eggs Benedict. Overall, I found him to be very sweet and accommodating, but at the beginning of our tour of the buffet, he told me that the couscous was safe. He also said I could eat the granola, but I don't think that Disney carries any certified gluten free granolas, so I was not going to try it after he told me the couscous was safe. I told him that couscous is not gluten free, and that oats are not safe for celiacs unless they are certified gluten free, because oats have a high risk of cross contamination. I am pretty sure he told me the granola was Nature's Path, which does make a gluten free granola, but most of their granolas are not made with certified gluten free oats.

The breakfast and dinner buffets at Trail's End are the most reasonably priced buffets on Disney property, and were recommended to me by a cast member who was helping me with one of my advance dining reservations. We are looking forward to dining there for dinner next week, and hopefully seeing Chef Michael or Chef TJ, two chefs that do an amazing job with special diets.

You can read more about Trail's End Restaurant, view their menus, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free breakfast dishes at Trail's End Restaurant?

↧

Latest Images