Thursday, August 2, 2018

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen - Magic Kingdom

In July, we had lunch at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, the Jungle Cruise themed restaurant in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom.



Skipper Canteen, which is staffed by the crew of the fun loving Jungle Navigation Co. LTD, features Asian, South American, and African cuisine. The chefs at Skipper Canteen have put together an impressive allergy-friendly menu. It lists options for people with gluten/wheat, milk, egg, soy, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. If gluten/wheat is listed under a dish on the menu, it is safe to eat. On a previous visit, a chef told me that they only use gluten free tamari soy sauce in the restaurant, which shows Disney's commitment to serving people with special diets.


Gluten-Friendly Appetizers and Desserts
  • Shiriki Noodle Salad - rice noodles, edamame, mushrooms, green mango, and cucumber tossed with a sweet chili sauce 
  • Jungle Green Salad - iceberg wedge with shishito peppers, radish, hearts of palm, cucumbers, and pistachios with an Aji pepper-yogurt dressing
  • Falls Family Falafel - a secret recipe of chickpeas, garlic, onions, lemon juice, and herbs served with house-made edamame hummus and toasted pumpkin seeds
  • Smiley's Croc of Soup - chicken and rice noodle soup
  • Quick Sand - jasmine rice pudding, mango sauce, lemon curd, hibiscus meringue, and pineapple


Gluten-Friendly Entrees
  • Hardy Har Char Siu Pork - marinated pork served with seasonable vegetables and jasmine rice
  • Perkins Thai Noodles - chicken, tofu, seasonal vegetables, and rice noodles tossed in a spicy soy-chili garlic sauce
  • Sankuru Sadie's Seafood Stew - shrimp, sustainable fish, mussels, and octopus simmered in a fragrant coconut sauce, and served with jasmine rice
  • Tastes Like Chicken Because It Is - crispy fried chicken with jasmine rice, chili glaze, and seasonal vegetables
  • Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak - marinated New York strip, pico de gallo butter, jasmine rice, and braised black beans with apple-wood smoked bacon


Gluten-Friendly Kids' Meals
  • Serengeti Salad - romaine with tomato, carrots, broccoli, and cucumber with a fat-free Italian dressing
  • Safari Snack - carrots and cucumbers served with a cucumber-yogurt dip
  • Tiki Tiki Shrimpy Shrimpy - grilled shrimp served with sitr-fried cauliflower rice, carrots, egg, edamame, and soy sauce; dessert - fresh seasonal fruit
  • Sizzling Savanna Grilled Steak - steak served with steamed broccoli and fingerling potatoes; dessert - fresh seasonal fruit
  • Chef Tandaji's Crispy Chicken - served with jasmine rice, seasonal vegetables, and dipping sauce
  • Monkey Bites - chocolate-dipped banana bites with candied chocolate-sunflower seeds
  • Fresh Seasonal Fruit - watermelon, kiwi, strawberries and pineapple


For an appetizer, we shared the Falls Family Falafel with edamame hummus and toasted pumpkin seeds. This dish used to be served with white bean dip and tomato-cucumber salad. I much prefer the new version with the edamame hummus. On past visits, I had a hard time getting excited about this appetizer, but we will definitely be ordering it again in November.


For an entree, I usually have the Tastes Like Chicken Because It Is, but I am not a huge fan of the chili glaze that is served with this dish, so I always ask for my sauce on the side. I had planned to order Chef Tandaji's Crispy Chicken from the kids' menu, but Skipper Canteen now serves it with a barbecue sauce instead of the sweet-and-sour sauce I wanted. I later regretted changing my mind, because I passed up a chance to have fried chicken! After the fact, I realized that I could have asked for the sweet chili sauce that is served with the Shiriki Noodle Salad. The picture below is the Tastes Like Chicken Because It Is from our lunch at Skipper Canteen over Thanksgiving Break last year. I enjoy it more than the fried chicken at 50's Prime Time Cafe in Disney's Hollywood Studios.



My husband and I shared the Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak with pico de gallo butter, jasmine rice, and braised black beans with apple-wood smoked bacon. We really enjoyed our steak, which was cooked to temperature, and so delicious topped with the pico de gallo butter. I only had one bite of the rice and beans, which we shared with our daughters, who never pass up a chance to eat rice and beans when we dine out.


Besides the fried chicken, the main reason I like to dine at Skipper Canteen is their Quick Sand with jasmine rice pudding, mango sauce, lemon curd, hibiscus meringue, and pineapple. It is one of my favorite gluten free desserts at Disney World. The rice pudding is so deliciously creamy, and complimented perfectly by the mango sauce and lemon curd. The cookie on top is made with almond flour, which is why this dessert is not safe for people with tree nut allergies.


Here you go folks - the back side of Quick Sand! Sorry, I can't help help myself when writing a review about a Jungle Cruise themed restaurant.


Overall, we had a great meal at Skipper Canteen, which has become our favorite restaurant at the Magic Kingdom. My gluten-eating daughters shared an order of Orinoco Ida's Cachapas, which used to be marked as a gluten-friendly dish on Skipper Canteen's allergy-friendly menu.


You can read more about Skipper Canteen, view their menus and hours, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website.


What are your favorite gluten free options at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen? 


2 comments:

  1. Nice article. Love this restaurant and the Quicksand!

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    1. It is so good! I am looking forward to havimg it again in November.

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