Starbucks Gluten Free Options at Epcot

Starbucks currently has four locations at Disney World.  The stores are located in the Magic Kingdom on Main Street U.S.A., in Epcot in Future World, and at Downtown Disney on the West Side, and in front of the World of Disney store at the Marketplace.

I recently stopped in at the Starbucks in Epcot to see what gluten free treats they were offering.  

Right away, I found the Marshmallow Dream Bar, which is just as good as the gluten free Rice Krispies treats I make at home.  The marshmallow dream bar offered at Starbucks is certified gluten free.  It does contain dairy, and has a warning that it is manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts/nuts.  None of the Disney-themed marshmallow crisped rice treats at Disney World are gluten free, so it's nice to have a safe option at Starbucks.  

I also found OMG...It's Gluten Free Sugar Free Fudge Brownies.  I have not tried the sugar free version of these brownies, because I avoid sugar substitutes, but the regular OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownies are so good!  Both contain dairy, eggs, and soy, and can be found at a variety of table service and quick service locations around Disney World.  

Fresh fruit options include whole bananas and apples, and packages of red grapes, apple slices, and a fruit cup with cantaloupe, pineapple, and Granny Smith apple.  

If you are looking for a list of what is safe to drink at Starbucks, check out The Celiac Diva's blog post about gluten free beverages at Starbucks here.  You might also want to read "What Starbucks products are gluten-free?" here.  

The gluten free Marshmallow Dream Bar is available at all Starbucks locations at Disney World.  Hopefully soon, they will also offer the two new certified gluten free treats that Starbucks introduced earlier this summer.  You can read more about these products, and the Starbucks locations at Downtown Disney here.

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use your snack credits at Starbucks.

Fire House Chicken

Last night, we made Fire House Chicken for dinner, a recipe my parents have been making since I was a kid.  From my research today, it appears that it is a variation of a recipe for Cornell BBQ Chicken, developed by Professor Robert Baker at Cornell University.  My husband and I call this recipe Fire House Chicken, because when Mitch was grilling it on the front porch of our first home in Pittsburgh, a person in a passing car called the fire department, thinking our house was on fire because of the smoke billowing off our porch.  

The poultry seasoning in the marinade makes the chicken look a little dirty, but it is super flavorful.  We use McCormick Poultry Seasoning, which contains thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, black pepper and nutmeg.  

We prefer to use boneless chicken thighs for this recipe, but you could also use boneless chicken breasts or bone-in thighs.  The thighs tend to soak up the marinade best, and are so flavorful and moist.  

There was a lot of smoke on our back porch yesterday as my husband grilled up the chicken on his Big Green Egg.  

This chicken is great left over, so we always make enough for two dinners.  We don't even reheat it when we serve it on day two.

Fire House Chicken

Ingredients

1 egg
1 C vinegar
1/2 C oil
1 T kosher salt
1 tsp poultry seasoning
4 lbs boneless chicken thighs

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the egg, then add the vinegar, oil, salt, and poultry seasoning.  Whisk all the ingredients together before adding the chicken.  Let the chicken sit in the marinade for 10 to 15 minutes while the grill is heating up.

While grilling the chicken, dip each piece back in the marinade at least 3 or 4 times.  Continually dip and flip the chicken, grilling it until cooked through.

Serves 8 to 10

Recipe Notes

We use Heinz Distilled White Vinegar, and Spectrum Organic High Heat Canola Oil when we make this recipe.

Protect yourself from salmonella by cooking the chicken a bit after using the marinade for the last time, and getting a clean set of tongs to remove the chicken.

We use the same amount of marinade whether we are cooking two pounds of chicken or four pounds of chicken.  With the four pounds of chicken thighs we made last night, my husband used up all the marinade as he was dipping and flipping the chicken.  Be prepared for a lot of smoke as the marinade drips down into the fire in your grill.

We purchased our boneless chicken thighs at Whole Foods.

If you are using large chicken breasts, you might want to cut them in half lengthwise.

Kona Cafe Lunch - Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Yesterday, I finally had a chance to have lunch at Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.  

We have eaten there several times for breakfast and dinner, but I was looking forward to trying some of the items that are only on their lunch menu.  

I was able to get an advance dining reservation a couple of hours before I met my friend Jennifer, a fellow celiac, for lunch.  

Chef Josh went over the gluten free options on the lunch menu with us.  For appetizers, we could order a sauteed version of the fried shrimp, the grilled beef satay, the Maui onion and white bean soup, or the Kona salad.  

I chose to order the grilled beef satay, which was absolutely amazing.  I will never go to Kona again without ordering this appetizer.  Sadly, it is not on the dinner menu, so it looks like I will have to go to lunch at Kona Cafe more often.  I am pretty sure Chef Josh made me a special gluten free version of the sauce that is usually served with the grilled beef satay.  It was so good, sweet with a nice spicy kick, that I used it on the sticky rice that was served with my entree.  

For entrees, we could choose from either of the Polynesian plate lunches, the Pan Asian noodles, grilled steak salad, or any of the sandwiches, which would be served on gluten free bread.  I am pretty sure Chef Josh said the sustainable fish was a possibility as well.  I chose the Polynesian plate lunch with pan-fried chicken.  Not being a fan of coconut, I skipped the coconut sauce and ordered two sides of mango sauce.  This dish is usually served with pasta salad, but Chef Josh swapped that out for Asian pear slaw.  My chicken was tender and flavorful, but I would have liked my mango sauce to have a little bit of a spicy kick.  Next time, I  might order the Polynesian plate lunch with grilled teriyaki steak & pineapple salsa, with a side of sweet potato fries instead of the Asian pear slaw.  

Jennifer ordered one of my favorite dishes at Kona, the Pan Asian Noodles, which are also available at dinner.  I have heard this dish can be ordered with sticky rice instead of noodles.  I think it would be great either way.  I love the sweet gluten free teriyaki sauce it is served with.  

We skipped the amazing gluten free desserts Kona has because we were off to a meetup at Port Orleans French Quarter being held by my friend Sarah from Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW.  

Kona Cafe makes an absolutely amazing chocolate lava cake, and a delicious banana-chocolate creme brulee, but we had gluten free beignets to eat at Port Orleans.  I did take home an OMG...It's Gluten Free Fudge Brownie and Chocolate Chip Cookie.  My kids love both of these treats, especially the brownie.  

I look forward to dining at Kona Cafe for lunch again soon.  Next time, I won't be skipping their wonderful gluten free desserts.

October 4, 2014 Update

For a limited time in September and October, Disney is testing allergy-friendly menus at the ABC Commissary, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, and The Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios, Kona Cafe and Captain Cook's at the Polynesian Village Resort, the Flying Fish Cafe at Disney's BoardWalk, and the World Premiere Food Court at the All-Star Movies Resort.

Our server asked if I wanted to talk to a chef today, but I decided to just order from the gluten free menu.  I couldn't pass up the grilled beef satay with Bulgogi sauce that I loved so much the last time I had lunch at Kona.  My daughters really enjoyed it too.   

For an entree, I ordered the grilled teriyaki steak with grilled pineapple salsa, sticky rice, and sweet potato fries.  This dish is usually served with Asian pear slaw, but since I didn't really enjoy it the last time I had lunch at Kona, I asked it I could have sweet potato fries instead.  The steak was amazing with the teriyaki sauce and grilled pineapple salsa.  It was tender, cooked to temp, and so flavorful.  I also loved my sticky rice with the sauce, and my side of fries.  This will definitely be my go-to lunch entree from now on at Kona.  

My daughters shared an order of the gluten free Pan-Asian noodles with chicken, which were just as good as the last time we had them at Kona for dinner.  

For dessert, we ordered the Kilauea torte chocolate cake with a molten center, and the banana and chocolate creme brulee.  The creme brulee is one of the best I have ever had at a restaurant.  Sadly, I only got one bite today, because my daughters asked to split this dessert, and opted out of the chocolate cake.  I enjoyed my chocolate cake, but it lacked a molten center, which was a little bit disappointing, because it was so amazing the last time I had it at Kona for dinner.    

January 22, 2015 Update

Over Christmas break, I had lunch at Kona Cafe with my husband and daughters.  We ordered our usual favorites - grilled beef satay, grilled teriyaki steak, Pan-Asian noodles, and the banana and chocolate creme brulee.  My husband and I also shared a bowl of the sweet potato and chorizo soup.  We enjoyed the taste of the soup, but the texture reminded us of baby food, so I am not sure we would order it again. 

The gluten free lunch menu at Kona Cafe lists the following options:

Appetizers

• Sweet potato and chorizo soup
• Kona salad - mixed greens, blue cheese, fresh fruit, and almonds, with a citrus vinaigrette
• Grilled beef satay - skewers of marinated grilled beef served with Bulgogi sauce
• Charcuterie and cheese - a selection of cured meats, olives, aged goat cheese, and fruit compote

Entrees

• Sustainable fish with swiss chard, forbidden rice, and cucumber relish
• Pan-Asian noodles - rice noodles wok-seared with vegetables and your choice of chicken, tofu, or shrimp
• Grilled steak salad - mixed greens tossed with Asian vinaigrette and vegetables
• Grilled teriyaki steak with grilled pineapple salsa, served with sticky rice and Asian pear slaw
• Seared ahi tuna sandwich, served with pickled vegetable slaw and sweet potato fries

Desserts

• Kilauea torte chocolate cake with a molten center
• Banana and chocolate creme brulee
• Jasmine tea-infused cheesecake (no sugar)

Kid's Meals - for guests ages 9 and under

Appetizers

• Garden salad
• Fruit salad
• Carrots & celery sticks
• Mixed greens with fruit & almonds

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

• Grilled chicken breast served with steamed vegetables and a mixed green salad with fruit & almonds
• Grilled shrimp skewers served over vegetable rice pilaf
• Grilled fish of the day served over vegetable rice pilaf

Choice of 1 Beverage, 1 Entree, and 1 Dessert

• Beverages - small lowfat milk, small Dasani water, or small Minute Maid apple juice (soft drinks may be substituted upon request)
• Entrees - cheeseburger or hot dog with a gluten free bun
• Desserts - fruit salad, ice cream sundae, or yogurt parfait 

You can view Kona Cafe's menus, and make advance dining reservations on Disney's website here.

What are your favorite gluten free lunch dishes at Kona Cafe?  

Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe - Epcot

Last Saturday, we introduced Nina, our international student, to Epcot.  We made sure we got there right when the park opened, so we could walk right on Soarin', and use a FastPass for Test Track later that morning.  

Before heading to lunch at San Angel Inn, we stopped at the Norway Pavilion to ride Maelstrom, which is closing September 28th for a rumored Frozen attraction.  

After riding Maelstrom, I headed into Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe to ask about gluten free options.  

The cast member I spoke to said I could order the the rice cream without the topping, or the Frozen-themed bundt cake, without the topping.  The rice cream is a rice pudding with strawberry sauce on top.  

Next time I stop in, I will have to ask what gluten free mix they are using for the bundt cake, and maybe sample it too.

September 14, 2014 Update

I stopped in at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe yesterday, and was told the bundt cake is not gluten free.  Either there has been a change in the recipe, or one of the cast members I spoke to is giving me incorrect information.  Next time I stop in, I will ask to speak to a manager.  I will keep you posted.  

Have you tried any of the gluten free options at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in the Norway Pavilion?

Le Veneziane Gluten Free Pasta

After reading about Le Veneziane on Bon Appetit's The Best Gluten-Free Pastas, I bought a package of their fettuccine from Vitacost.com.  When it arrived, I noticed that it was only 8.8 ounces, which I worried would not be enough to feed a family of four, so into the pantry it went, not to be taken out again for months.

My daughters have been begging me to make pasta with cream sauce, and my husband and Nina (our international student) were not going to be home for dinner, so tonight seemed like the perfect time to make fettuccine for the first time in over six years.  

'Ohana Breakfast - Disney's Polynesian Resort

My daughters and our international student head back to school tomorrow, so we decided to celebrate the end of summer by having breakfast at 'Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.  

'Ohana is one of our favorite restaurants at Disney World for dinner, but we had never dined there for breakfast until today.  You can read my dinner review here.  

We checked in about 10 minutes before our 9:30 reservation, and had to wait 25 minutes to be seated.  

'Ohana was really crowded this morning, which was no surprise, because it is one of the more popular restaurants on Disney property.  I was able to make advance dining reservations last week, but it can be very difficult to obtain dinner reservations unless you book pretty far out.  

While we waited, we entertained ourselves watching people take their picture with the back side of this statue.  Some of the pictures involved fingers in cracks, and mouths puckered up near his bottom.  Oh the stories this guy could tell if he could talk!  

After we were seated, our server brought us Stich juice, which is a combination of passion fruit, orange, and guava juice.  It was pretty good, especially with how hungry we were at this point.  

At 'Ohana, which means family, you will be visited by a variety of Disney friends.  Today, we saw Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto.  

The girls were brought sweet bread once I spoke to a chef, which oddly enough they wouldn't place on the table until the chef came out.  Our waitress said it was protocol, and wouldn't bring it even after I told her I knew it had gluten in it, and I wouldn't eat it.  I felt so bad for everyone else at my table who had to wait for me to order my meal.  

While we waited for our Island Feast to be served, we were brought a plate of fresh fruit.  I asked for my own plate so I wouldn't have to worry about cross contamination.  

The food at 'Ohana is served family-style, but I received my own platter, because no one else at our table needed to eat gluten free.  The only thing missing from my platter, compared to the one my kids got, was the biscuits.  

'Ohana serves an American breakfast influenced by Polynesian flavors.  The Hua Paka were good, but were just run-of-the-mill scrambled eggs.  The Uala Kahiki (fried potatoes) were enjoyed by my whole family, but were not as flavorful as the breakfast potatoes at The Mara.  

The single sausage I got was pretty tasty, but the smoked bacon wasn't anything special.  It was super thin, like most of the bacon on Disney property.  I was hoping for something a little more substantial and smoky tasting.

The gluten free Mickey waffles tasted like they were made with Bob's Red Mill mix, and were cooked perfectly.  Thankfully, I shared two of them with my daughters, who didn't get their waffles right away, or I would have probably ended up eating all four of them.  Katie said her gluten free waffle was better than the gluten-filled one she tried.

I enjoyed our breakfast at 'Ohana, but because of the crowds and price, I don't think we will be returning any time soon.  Plus, I find the food more interesting at Boma and Tusker House Restaurant.  My favorite budget-friendly breakfast spots are Landscape of Flavors at Disney's Art of Animation Resort, and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for gluten free beignets and Mickey waffles.

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

Have you dined at 'Ohana for breakfast or dinner?

San Angel Inn Restaurante Lunch - Epcot

Today, we had lunch 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 you get to dine on Mexican specialties in perpetual twilight.   

Arriving when the restaurant opened at 11:30, we were lucky enough to be seated at a table overlooking the water and the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros.  Dining at San Angel Inn reminds me of the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland, which overlooks Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Our server started us off with two huge baskets of freshly fried corn chips, which are made in a dedicated fryer.  

I loved that that the chips were warm, and perfectly salted.  

My whole family enjoyed the green salsa with tomatillos, but no one seemed to like the red version.

We decided to eat family style and share all of our food, so that meant everything had to be gluten free.  Our server reviewed the menu with me, and I was shocked that almost all the dishes, with the exception of a couple of desserts, were naturally gluten free, or could be modified to be gluten free with the use of corn tortillas.

We started with the Tacos de Carne, grilled New York strip steak on corn tortillas, topped with chipotle pepper sauce, scallions, and avocado.  Our girls loved the black refried beans and rice, which didn't surprise me, because they are content to eat beans and rice when we eat at Mexican restaurants.  Everyone enjoyed the Tacos de Carne, which were nice and flavorful.  

My husband and I both agree that our favorite dish was the Pollo a las Rajas, grilled chicken breast served with red peppers and onion cream sauce, poblano rice, and queso fresco.  This is the dish I have ordered the last couple of times we have dined at San Angel Inn, and it has never disappointed me.  I love the cream sauce on the rice and chicken, and the quesco fresco is the perfect garnish.

The final entree we sampled was the Huarache de Res, thin sliced New York strip served over a corn and bean flat bread, topped with arugula, avocado, queso fresco, and chipotle-lime aioli.  Because I am not a fan of sour cream or mayonnaise/aioli, we had those items left off our food.  Interestingly enough, my daughters enjoyed this dish more than my husband and I did.  I liked it, but probably not enough to order it again.

Gluten free options for dessert include the Crema Bavaria, and Helado de Dulce de Leche, caramel ice cream.  I decided to order the Crema Bavaria, a creamy bavarian mousse served with mixed berries, cinnamon and orange liqueur.  Our server said it was similar to a flan, but it was way better than any flan I have ever tasted.  I did share a bite with everyone in my family, and they all thought it was great.  I loved the intense cinnamon flavor and the wonderfully creamy texture.  I think you will be seeing this dish make an appearance on my list of the best gluten free desserts I have ever eaten at Disney.  You can view my dessert installment of The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Disney here.

After lunch, we rode the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros right by San Angel Inn.  Definitely request a waterside table.   

I give San Angel Inn and A+ for theming and atmosphere.  The chips, the Pollo a las Rajas, and my dessert deserve an A+ as well.  I enjoyed our other two entrees, but would probably try some other dishes on our next visit.

If I had to choose between San Angel Inn and La Hacienda de San Angel, I would probably choose to dine at La Hacienda de San Angel, but unfortunately, it is only open for dinner.  That being said, both restaurants are excellent choices for gluten free dining at Epcot.

March 7, 2015 Update

San Angel Inn is now marking gluten free and dairy free options on their menus.  A big thank you to my friend Sarah from Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free at WDW for sending me a picture of their lunch menu.  You can read her lunch review here.  Gluten free options for lunch include:

Soup & Appetizers

• Sopa Azteca - traditional tortilla soup , served with fried tortilla strips, avocado, cheese, and pasilla pepper

Traditional Mexican Lunch - sopa azteca, enchiladas verdes de pollo, crema bavaria (includes a soft drink or iced tea)

Entrees

• Pollo a las rajas - grilled chicken breast served with red peppers and onion cream sauce, poblano rice, and queso fresco
• Arrachera con chilaquiles - New York strip with corn tortilla, green tomatillo sauce, topped with queso fresco, onions, and sour cream; served with refried beans.  
• Enchiladas verdes de pollo - corn tortillas filled with pulled chicken, covered with green tomatillo sauce, topped with sour cream; served with black refried beans
• Pescado a la veracruzana - catch of the day prepared with capers, olives, bell peppers, spanish onion and tomatoes, seasoned with white wine and spices, served over poblano rice
• Lomo de Puerco en Pipian (chef's recommendation) - pork tenderloin served over roasted vegetables and pipian (pumpkin, chiles, and almond sauce)

Desserts

• Crema Bavaria - creamy bavarian mousse served with mixed berries, cinnamon, orange liqueur and vanilla sauce
• Mousse de Chocolate - chocolate mousse and almond brittle candy
• Helado de Dulce de Leche - caramel ice cream

We recently tried the caramel ice cream.  It was good, but I much prefer the crema bavaria.

You can view the lunch and dinner menus, and make advance dining reservations for San Angel Inn Restaurante on Disney's website here.

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