I haven't posted for awhile since I was off enjoying Disney World last week. I really can't say enough good things about the strides Disney is making to provide vegan guests with good food. While custom-made vegan food might be expected at the more expensive restaurants, we were treated with a warm welcome and eager-to-please attitude even at the counter-service restaurants. If vegan fare isn't already on the menu, the chefs will come out to speak with us about our dietary needs (including allergy needs, in my mom's case, gluten-free) and prepare something special for us. It was wonderful!
As ever, my favorite meal was at Boma Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. We had perhaps the sweetest chef in the universe, Chef Brian, who not only walked us through the buffet and tirelessly pointed out what we could enjoy vs. had to stay away from, but he also prepared us special desserts and even made me a few vegan versions of some of the side dishes from the buffet, with quite possibly the most delicious broccoli I have ever tasted:
I loved the couscous so much, I rather shamelessly asked if there was any more to be had as it was so delicious I could eat it as my dessert. I think Chef Brian was totally tickled by that and pleased to bring me more. It wish I could figure out how to recreate it. It was a sweet couscous with pistachios and almond slivers, and golden raisins.
I told Chef Brian I would be posting photos of my wonderful meal and sharing them with my vegan friends online. Thank you, Chef Brian! ;-)
One thing I do wish Disney will incorporate in the future is more vegan desserts. Of course, it was probably a good thing for my waistline that I had to avoid pretty much any dessert fare in the parks, but part of vacation is splurging a little. Thank goodness the famous Babycakes bakery from NYC recently opened in Downtown Disney. Oh my gosh, I was sooo happy to look at a bakery display and know I could choose anything I wanted!!! :-D Babycakes is vegan and gluten-free, so my mom was also thrilled. If you ever find yourself near a Babycakes, GO and enjoy!!! ;->
Kathryn, All these photos and your comments are making me really hungry. And I love Disney parks. So, I might have to get there again one of these days. I want to go to NYC too and the original Babycakes is there.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can enjoy the Disney parks and good food sometime soon, Lisa. And, I really hope they will bring a Babycakes to San Francisco. I think it would be perfect there!
ReplyDeleteI wish we could have eaten at Boma, Kathryn. I was so disappointed in the food at Disney but we were not in any of the Disney hotels or lodges, just in the park.
ReplyDelete