Monday, July 30, 2018

Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory - Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter

For my family, no trip to Disney World is complete without at least two visits to Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter for gluten free beignets with dipping sauces. Our last few months in Orlando, before we moved to California, we were having beignets for breakfast every Saturday, because the dipping sauces had been introduced, which take Sassagoula's beignets to the next level.


So you might be wondering what a beignet is and how it is pronounced.  A beignet (bin-yay) is deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar.  Beignets are popular in New Orleans, and are traditionally prepared to order, so they can be eaten hot, right out of the fryer.


Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory is a quick service restaurant, so no need for advance dining reservations. The gluten free beignets are available all day, they do not need to be pre-ordered, and they are made in a dedicated fryer. Gluten free options are not noted on any of the signage in the food court, so you will need to speak to a chef. I always stand in the shortest line, which is not necessarily the beignet counter, to ask for a chef.


Beignets come in orders of 3 or 6, and you can request strawberry, chicory coffee ganache, and caramel dipping sauces, which are an additional $1.99 each. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use a snack credit for orders of 3 beignets.


I highly recommend that you order the strawberry and chicory coffee ganache dipping sauces, and that you ask for your beignets to be lightly cooked. I forgot to do that on our first visit, but they still tasted good.


The chicory coffee ganache used to be our favorite dipping sauce when they were first introduced, but when Sassagoula switched from raspberry to strawberry, the strawberry become our new favorite. My daughters and I usually order nine beignets with 3 strawberry sauces and one chicory ganache.


Our first visit on this trip, my gluten-eating daughters, who usually share gluten free beignets with me, decided to try the new Mickey-shaped beignets. I was surprised when they told me that they did not like them, so on our second visit, they ordered gluten free beignets, and declared that they were better than the gluten-filled Mickey ones. Gluten free beignets are not available Mickey-shaped, but at the holidays, you can order pumpkin spice in the fall, or gingerbread spice around Christmas, if they are available.



I have tried the pumpkin spice, which are good, but I prefer the traditional beignets with dipping sauces. The chefs mix the spices into the powdered sugar, so there is no change to the beignet recipe itself, which you can view here. The allergy-friendly beignets at Sassagoula are gluten free, dairy free, and egg free. They do not contain nuts or soy, but they are made with Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix, which is manufactured in a facility that uses tree nuts and soy.


On our first visit, my husband and I shared the Cajun grit bowl with shrimp, vegetables, cream sauce, tasso ham, and two soft-poached eggs. I first tried the shrimp and grits for lunch last summer, and was blown away by how good they were. This dish is so flavorful, the portion is large, and I love the addition of the eggs at breakfast. It is a little spicy, but not overly so.


I love the New Orleans cuisine at Sassagoula, and the Mardi Gras theming at Port Orleans - French Quarter. When we lived in Orlando, we used to walk around Port Orleans - French Quarter and Port Orleans - Riverside for exercise after we ate our beignets.

 

We do rent a car when we are in Orlando, mainly so we can easily dine at the Disney Resorts without having to deal with multiple transfers with Disney transportation. If you are staying at Port Orleans - Riverside, it is an easy walk to Port Orleans - French Quarter, or you can take a boat. Boats to Port Orleans are also available from Disney Springs, or you can take a bus from any of the theme parks.

I did not see allergy-friendly menus at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory on this trip, but I did not ask for them either, because I knew what food I was interested in. On previous visits, I have noticed them laying on the counter at one of the food stations.

What are your favorite gluten free options at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory?



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