This year for Christmas we bought family Universal passes and took a 5 day trip to kick them off. I was very nervous, this was only my second trip since my Celiac diagnosis and the first trip had some issues.
I used to greatly enjoy dining out. When I was first diagnosed with Celiac, I dreaded it: Would they cross contaminate? Did I know what was safe? Does everything have gluten in it? Fast forward 6 months, I more comfortable with eating out as long as I do some planning and research. I typically call ahead and ask about a Gluten Free menu. I realize that while I can probably eat a salad and chicken any where we eat, I prefer to know that the restaurant has some understanding of food intolerances, allergies, etc.
I have always heard that Orlando, specifically Disney, is a great place to vacation with special dietary needs. I did some research on restaurants and Universal’s policies about outside food then decided I would do a mix of taking in foods I prepared and eating at restaurants. Our hotel had a refrigerator/freezer and microwave, so I was able to cook at home and take food with me. I had no issues bringing the prepared food into the park.
Let me just preface this: I eat very clean, rarely do I eat processed foods, but this was vacation so I was very excited to find so many readily available gluten free and dairy free foods other than salad and lean meat. I think everything I ate was actually gluten free and each place was aware of cross contamination. However, by the end of the trip I did not feel great, I was tired and a little bloated. I think it was specifically due to all the processed foods I ate and not because gluten or dairy dairy was in the foods.
I started at BabyCakes at Downtown Disney. I am so excited for this bakery because as a family we always hit Goofy’s Candy Shop, so now I am not left out. They have gluten free and dairy free everything( they are also egg and soy free). I bought a lemon and a red velvet cupcake, a cake donut with chocolate frosting and chocolate chip cookies. All for about $13, which I thought was very reasonable. The cupcakes were sweetened with agave instead of white sugar.
I found several good and some not so good restaurants and meals during the trip, but my favorite by far was Kouzzina by Cat Cora at the Disney Boardwalk.
When we made the reservation through Disney Dining Reservation line, I let them know I am gluten and dairy free. Upon check in at Kouzzina, they confirmed the GF/DF with me, then our server confirmed and a manager and chef came out to speak with me. The chef let me know that I do not have to limit myself to just pasta or chicken, which he said is often common thinking with food allergies, etc., almost anything on their menu can be made gluten and dairy free. They have gluten free bread along with the regular bread and olive oil to dip, they even brought me a separate olive oil so I did not cross contaminate. I always appreciate a restaurant that understands many different dietary needs and restrictions.
I ordered hummus with gluten free pita bread and cinnamon stewed chicken. The food was beyond amazing.
Gluten Free pita bread and hummus
Also on the Disney Boardwalk is The Boardwalk Bakery, where I was excited to find BabyCakes brownies and OMG! It’s Gluten Free cookies.
All this amazingness followed by fireworks from Epcot.
We will be back at Universal this weekend and I am excited to find more amazing places!
Gluten Free & Amazing 