One of the best things about Disney World is the variety of restaurants, from quick service to upscale. The variety of food and most importantly, the careful attention to food allergies, are some of the reasons I travel to Disney so often. At Disney I can eat without trepidation.
Locally I can’t get a good dairy free pizza and this is actually one food item I miss. So when at Disney, I often partake in pizza or flatbreads as they are commonly called. During my February birthday trip, I enjoyed two very different flatbreads; both equally delicious.
The Mara is located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House. It serves a variety of African inspired foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Using a dairy free, gluten free pizza shell from Udi’s, the chef made me a vegetable pizza which included roasted eggplant, red pepper and zucchini and a special African sauce. It was delicious!!! The pizza was baked in its own oven to avoid cross contamination and was filling and flavorful.
At the Riverside Mill at Port Orleans Riverside, the Quick Service is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
For dinner there is a wide verity on the menu with some of my favorites including the “Make Your Own Salad,” “Make Your Own Pasta,” and the Flatbreads. I chose the Flatbread and salad which Chef Eric made to perfection. He again used the Udi’s dairy free, gluten free shell to make a Caprese pizza using Daiya Dairy Free Mozzarella Cheese, freshly cut tomatoes, fresh basil and a balsamic vinegar glaze. The tomatoes were fresh and flavorful, certainly not soggy. The balsamic glaze added a unique touch to the pizza giving it both a savory and slightly sweet taste. I am going to try this the next time I make pizza at home. Daiya dairy free cheese melts and I’m told from cheese eaters, tastes like cheese. It is sold nationwide in grocery stores. Once again the pizza shell baked up crisp and not soggy or overly doughy.
Walt Disney World is the only place I know that will not hesitate to cook a dairy free pizza. The chefs always create a unique and delicious pizza using ingredients that are fresh and oftentimes unique too. For these reasons, this is why I tend to eat my pizza quota while at Disney!
Have you tried a dairy free pizza? What toppings do you like on your pizza?
