Alice and the Hatter - A Free-For-all and a Gluten Free Taste of Wonderland! - The DIS Discussion Forums

alicehatter · 03-01-2012, 12:43 PM

Why, Hello There!

"We're all Mad Here," as the Cheshire Cat might say. I'm Amanda, and my husband (who will be commenting off and on) is Jeremy.

How do you do?

We've had quite a few tumbles into Disney World during our three years of marriage, trying to go and see and do as often as possible! We're both major foodies, and I wasn't about to let a little allergy get in the way of all the amazing flavors in the World!

I've written a dining review in the past, but I was Vegan at the time...now, I'm only gluten free and can literally Taste my way through Wonderland!

Here's a picture of us at Jeremy's 30th birthday party - it was a surprise costumed event!

I can't wait to begin,
To have all of you chime in,
Let's continue this Enchanted Conversation!

gardengirl628 · 03-01-2012, 12:48 PM

Count me in!!!

nickymaria · 03-01-2012, 10:29 PM

Love your intro, can't wait to read the rest!!

alicehatter · 03-02-2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gardengirl628

Count me in!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickymaria

Love your intro, can't wait to read the rest!!

Oh, I'm so glad you are both interested!

wilma-bride · 03-02-2012, 04:56 PM

I'm in for this one - that is a great photo of the two of you, by the way

alicehatter · 03-02-2012, 05:20 PM

We arrived at the Beach Club by way of Magical Express, and took in our surroundings a bit before heading to our lunch reservation in Epcot. We have always stayed at Boardwalk in the past, but wanted to branch out (albeit slightly) this time around - for experience sake, if nothing else. Now that we've done it, I can honestly say I much prefer the Boardwalk! But the Beach Club was still a fantastic location and had a nice ambiance, which adds to just about anything!

With that bit of background information out of the way, I will get on to the good stuff - food!

Isn't Canada simply charming? There was little doubt that we would be eating at Le Cellier during this trip. Neither of us had ever been, and we wanted to try something new (do you sense a theme? The entire holiday was centered on trying things we have never done in Disney before!). Now that Le Cellier is Signature for dinnertime dining, we opted to really start the vacation off with a bang and go to a steak house for our arrival day lunch. Luckily, we were quite famished by the time bags were hoisted to our room, and airplane clothing was changed to park attire.

After our pupils focused on the dim surroundings of the cavernous space, we found the restaurant to be absolutely lovely. It seems to be one of the best themed restaurants in Disney, quite simply because it really has the feel of a steak house to it - almost identical to the Nashville Ruth's Cris, in fact (That's where our home is, in case you were wondering at that random tidbit of information).

My Mad Hatter was simply dying of thirst, and decided to quench it by ordering a Strawberry Smoothie.

We looked over the menu, and as both of us were very hungry (but neither could make up our mind) we decided to try a few different things and share. I think I'm correct in assuming that most couples who love food do the exact same! After talking with the chef about my gluten issues, we settled on our selections. Please allow me to apologize in advance for any blurry photos in this particular instance - it was very dark and my camera failed to cooperate!

For appetizers, Jeremy went with the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, not only because everyone surrounding our table had ordered it, but also because he had heard me talk about how much everyone on the DisBoards raves about it! Understandably, this was accompanied by a Pretzel Bread Stick.

I chose to go with the Tomato Stack. The waitress highly recommended it, and I figured with all the food to come, this would be a nice intro to the meal. And it was - fantastic! The vinaigrette and and copious amounts of Blue Cheese made it heavenly.

After we had greedily gobbled up this start to our feast (with the Mad Hatter sopping up every remaining drop of the soup with his bread), our entree orders were placed.

There really wasn't much debate over which menu items to select. It was understood that one of us would be ordering the Le Cellier Mushroom Filet. Can you guess who that gorgeous steak was placed in front of? Jeremy - that's correct. Since you seem to be so good at guessing games, perhaps you could tell me Why a Raven is Like a Writing Desk?

He also ordered the Baked Mac and Cheese, and gobbled it up, as well. Sadly, this was something I couldn't partake of!

Even before our arrival, I had wanted to get the Salmon. After pouring over reviews of Le Cellier, this seemed to be an undervalued item that gets overlooked. With my goal of trying new things, I figured it seemed a good option. Let me also say that when we went, this dish was presented as a sandwich and served with Fries and Cole Slaw, as you can see from the photo. Looking over current menus, it seems this may have changed. Nonetheless, the Salmon is still DIVINE. And I didn't even eat it in sandwich form, so I feel I can safely say this is a good pick! The odd photo you see consists of the Salmon Filet and a gluten free bun. I really enjoy the gluten free products at Disney, and this was no exception. The fries - of course - were excellent, but it was the sauce that really stole the show. Doesn't sauce always make anything THAT MUCH BETTER?

It was with very full stomachs that we bravely conquered the dessert menu. Le Cellier didn't have that many gluten free options for me, but then again, I wasn't in the mood to eat too much, knowing that the World Showcase awaited me, and with that came Karamell Kuche!!

Jeremy ordered the Maple Creme Brulee, namely because it was their signature dessert item. He's a fan of anything that resembles pudding, and of course Creme Brulee is something he orders at times. He liked the Maple flavor, but I'm not sure he could say he LOVED it.

I was stuck with the Seasonal Sorbet, but this turned out to be amazing! I know the picture is no indication at all, but it was infused with Champagne and was absolutely delicious, refreshing, and just right.

In all, everything was absolutely delightful and we will certainly be back. I don't think it will warrant a Signature visit for us, although I can see why some people would want to. The dinner menu is different during the evening hours, and much more specialized with gourmet options and a wider variety of appetizers, entrees and sides.

If you like, stick around for a sticky sweet review of some of Karamell Kuche's caramel treats!

alicehatter · 03-02-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

I'm in for this one - that is a great photo of the two of you, by the way

Thank you so much! We had a blast at that party - would you believe Jeremy has an entire closet dedicated to costumes? Truly mad

wilma-bride · 03-02-2012, 05:30 PM

Great start to your reviews. I really don't think Le Cellier is worthy of the 2 credits needed for dinner now but it is a great option for lunch.

I might be alone in thinking the sorbet looks lovely - I absolutely adore sorbet (mainly because it is a great dessert option on WW, very low in points

)

AMadHatterMyself · 03-02-2012, 07:24 PM

Yes, I called our lunch experience a steak tea. Why not. A Mad Hatter's tea party needs to be a bit odd, and my experience at Le Cellier was such a joyous occasion that for me it was simply mad!

I concur with my Alice that the lunch idea was perfect. Being on the dining plan, it is perfect to save two credits because the lunch menu does not count as a signature and you get the same amazing food! Everything about my meal was absolutely fabulous. The waitress was extremely nice, it wasn't as crowded as we thought - maybe because people tend to pass over Canada, but that is a huge mistake! The atmosphere was great (yes after your eyes adjusted to the rabbit hole!) And then the food. The soup is a must have and the mushroom steak is also an absolute must. Once again, being on the dining plan, it is great to pick several and share!

The trip started off with a fantastic hatting! Can't wait to tell you more!

taraplus2 · 03-02-2012, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the info....We will be going to Disney at the end of the month and my DD (10) requires a gluten free diet. We have a Le Cellier evening reservation.

MissTeacher · 03-02-2012, 08:41 PM

I'm subbing! Great review of Le Cellier, and what a beautiful picture from the Canada pavilion that is. Keep 'em coming

alicehatter · 03-03-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilma-bride

Great start to your reviews. I really don't think Le Cellier is worthy of the 2 credits needed for dinner now but it is a great option for lunch.

I might be alone in thinking the sorbet looks lovely - I absolutely adore sorbet (mainly because it is a great dessert option on WW, very low in points

)

haha I'm glad you thought the picture of the sorbet was a good one - I felt it didn't do the taste justice. I mean, come on - Champagne Sorbet? How can you beat that?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by taraplus2

Thanks for the info....We will be going to Disney at the end of the month and my DD (10) requires a gluten free diet. We have a Le Cellier evening reservation.

Good Luck! Disney takes care of allergies like absolutely no one else. Our spring break is in a few weeks, and we are making a special drive to Orlando from the beach just so that I can have breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and eat their amazing Gluten Free Mickey Waffles! (almost all restaurants have them, FYI!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissTeacher

I'm subbing! Great review of Le Cellier, and what a beautiful picture from the Canada pavilion that is. Keep 'em coming

Thanks so much!

Linda67 · 03-03-2012, 03:14 PM

What a great way to start your vacation

Looks like you had a lovely lunch at LC
Looking forward to reading along!

ClareH37 · 03-04-2012, 09:26 AM

i'm in - loving your review so far

i'm also staying at the BC next trip but

usually stay at the BWI, i'm also gluten free - spooky lol

Chelley00 · 03-04-2012, 09:39 AM

Looking forward to following along since we are planning our first trip since I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, including gluten. I actually read your last report since I'm egg and dairy free.

Not sure if you knew but blue cheese is not gluten free. It depends on your sensitivity to it but they grow the mold on bread and it contaminates the cheese.

03-01-2012, 12:43 PM	#1
alicehatter Living in Wonderland, Married to the Mad Hatter, with Everything as it SHOULD be. (aka mandibc11) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 114	Alice and the Hatter - A Free-For-all and a Gluten Free Taste of Wonderland! Why, Hello There! "We're all Mad Here," as the Cheshire Cat might say. I'm Amanda, and my husband (who will be commenting off and on) is Jeremy. How do you do? We've had quite a few tumbles into Disney World during our three years of marriage, trying to go and see and do as often as possible! We're both major foodies, and I wasn't about to let a little allergy get in the way of all the amazing flavors in the World! I've written a dining review in the past, but I was Vegan at the time...now, I'm only gluten free and can literally Taste my way through Wonderland! Here's a picture of us at Jeremy's 30th birthday party - it was a surprise costumed event! I can't wait to begin, To have all of you chime in, Let's continue this Enchanted Conversation! __________________ Read about my Adventures at Taste of Wonderland Dining Report 2012 - Alice and the Hatter - A Free-For-all and a Gluten Free Taste of Wonderland! Dining Report 2010 - Down the Rabbit Hole: A Vegan Alice and Omnivore Mad Hatter Taste Wonderland

03-01-2012, 12:48 PM	#2
gardengirl628 I'm sorry I bit you....and pulled your hair....and punched you in the face. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MA Posts: 551	Count me in!!! __________________ Dana WDW-offsite 1977, 1984; Dixie Landings November 1998; CSR June 2007; AKL November/December 2009; BWV/Western Magic/BLT February 2011; BCV July 2011; BLT/3 day Dream October 2012; HHI April 2013

03-01-2012, 10:29 PM	#3
nickymaria Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 192	Love your intro, can't wait to read the rest!! __________________ Nic - wife to dh mom to 6yo dd and 9yo dd 04/1998 - CBR, 05/2006 - Off site, 11/2008 - SSR, 1/2010 - BCV, 12/2010 - AKL, 3/2011 - Dolphin, 11/2011 - CBR, 3/2012 - BLT & BWV, 10/2012 - AoA & WL, 2/2013 - Off site (boo!), 4/2013 Disneyland

03-02-2012, 04:56 PM	#5
wilma-bride Would love a diet on Cadbury Flakes Admits she's strange when it comes to eggs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 18,471	I'm in for this one - that is a great photo of the two of you, by the way __________________ Fred and Wilma Go On Honeymoon Fred and Wilma Second Time Around Fred and Wilma and the Girls Came Too Fred, Wilma and Friends February Fun & Frolics Fred and Wilma do DVC, DCL & DDP - The Food Fred, Wilma and Family do Disney Bad Mothers Handbook Fred and Wilma - They're Back and They're Child Free Bad Mothers and Others Fred and Wilma - The Keys to the World

03-02-2012, 05:20 PM	#6
alicehatter Living in Wonderland, Married to the Mad Hatter, with Everything as it SHOULD be. (aka mandibc11) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 114	Arrival Day - Lunch at Le Cellier We arrived at the Beach Club by way of Magical Express, and took in our surroundings a bit before heading to our lunch reservation in Epcot. We have always stayed at Boardwalk in the past, but wanted to branch out (albeit slightly) this time around - for experience sake, if nothing else. Now that we've done it, I can honestly say I much prefer the Boardwalk! But the Beach Club was still a fantastic location and had a nice ambiance, which adds to just about anything! With that bit of background information out of the way, I will get on to the good stuff - food! Isn't Canada simply charming? There was little doubt that we would be eating at Le Cellier during this trip. Neither of us had ever been, and we wanted to try something new (do you sense a theme? The entire holiday was centered on trying things we have never done in Disney before!). Now that Le Cellier is Signature for dinnertime dining, we opted to really start the vacation off with a bang and go to a steak house for our arrival day lunch. Luckily, we were quite famished by the time bags were hoisted to our room, and airplane clothing was changed to park attire. After our pupils focused on the dim surroundings of the cavernous space, we found the restaurant to be absolutely lovely. It seems to be one of the best themed restaurants in Disney, quite simply because it really has the feel of a steak house to it - almost identical to the Nashville Ruth's Cris, in fact (That's where our home is, in case you were wondering at that random tidbit of information). My Mad Hatter was simply dying of thirst, and decided to quench it by ordering a Strawberry Smoothie. We looked over the menu, and as both of us were very hungry (but neither could make up our mind) we decided to try a few different things and share. I think I'm correct in assuming that most couples who love food do the exact same! After talking with the chef about my gluten issues, we settled on our selections. Please allow me to apologize in advance for any blurry photos in this particular instance - it was very dark and my camera failed to cooperate! For appetizers, Jeremy went with the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, not only because everyone surrounding our table had ordered it, but also because he had heard me talk about how much everyone on the DisBoards raves about it! Understandably, this was accompanied by a Pretzel Bread Stick. I chose to go with the Tomato Stack. The waitress highly recommended it, and I figured with all the food to come, this would be a nice intro to the meal. And it was - fantastic! The vinaigrette and and copious amounts of Blue Cheese made it heavenly. After we had greedily gobbled up this start to our feast (with the Mad Hatter sopping up every remaining drop of the soup with his bread), our entree orders were placed. There really wasn't much debate over which menu items to select. It was understood that one of us would be ordering the Le Cellier Mushroom Filet. Can you guess who that gorgeous steak was placed in front of? Jeremy - that's correct. Since you seem to be so good at guessing games, perhaps you could tell me Why a Raven is Like a Writing Desk? He also ordered the Baked Mac and Cheese, and gobbled it up, as well. Sadly, this was something I couldn't partake of! Even before our arrival, I had wanted to get the Salmon. After pouring over reviews of Le Cellier, this seemed to be an undervalued item that gets overlooked. With my goal of trying new things, I figured it seemed a good option. Let me also say that when we went, this dish was presented as a sandwich and served with Fries and Cole Slaw, as you can see from the photo. Looking over current menus, it seems this may have changed. Nonetheless, the Salmon is still DIVINE. And I didn't even eat it in sandwich form, so I feel I can safely say this is a good pick! The odd photo you see consists of the Salmon Filet and a gluten free bun. I really enjoy the gluten free products at Disney, and this was no exception. The fries - of course - were excellent, but it was the sauce that really stole the show. Doesn't sauce always make anything THAT MUCH BETTER? It was with very full stomachs that we bravely conquered the dessert menu. Le Cellier didn't have that many gluten free options for me, but then again, I wasn't in the mood to eat too much, knowing that the World Showcase awaited me, and with that came Karamell Kuche!! Jeremy ordered the Maple Creme Brulee, namely because it was their signature dessert item. He's a fan of anything that resembles pudding, and of course Creme Brulee is something he orders at times. He liked the Maple flavor, but I'm not sure he could say he LOVED it. I was stuck with the Seasonal Sorbet, but this turned out to be amazing! I know the picture is no indication at all, but it was infused with Champagne and was absolutely delicious, refreshing, and just right. In all, everything was absolutely delightful and we will certainly be back. I don't think it will warrant a Signature visit for us, although I can see why some people would want to. The dinner menu is different during the evening hours, and much more specialized with gourmet options and a wider variety of appetizers, entrees and sides. If you like, stick around for a sticky sweet review of some of Karamell Kuche's caramel treats! __________________ Read about my Adventures at Taste of Wonderland Dining Report 2012 - Alice and the Hatter - A Free-For-all and a Gluten Free Taste of Wonderland! Dining Report 2010 - Down the Rabbit Hole: A Vegan Alice and Omnivore Mad Hatter Taste Wonderland Last edited by alicehatter; 03-02-2012 at 07:24 PM.

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03-02-2012, 05:30 PM	#8
wilma-bride Would love a diet on Cadbury Flakes Admits she's strange when it comes to eggs Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 18,471	Great start to your reviews. I really don't think Le Cellier is worthy of the 2 credits needed for dinner now but it is a great option for lunch. I might be alone in thinking the sorbet looks lovely - I absolutely adore sorbet (mainly because it is a great dessert option on WW, very low in points ) __________________ Fred and Wilma Go On Honeymoon Fred and Wilma Second Time Around Fred and Wilma and the Girls Came Too Fred, Wilma and Friends February Fun & Frolics Fred and Wilma do DVC, DCL & DDP - The Food Fred, Wilma and Family do Disney Bad Mothers Handbook Fred and Wilma - They're Back and They're Child Free Bad Mothers and Others Fred and Wilma - The Keys to the World

03-02-2012, 07:24 PM	#9
AMadHatterMyself Happily Mad and Married to the Alice of my Life! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 17	The Mad Hatter's Reply to Le Cellier Steak tea Yes, I called our lunch experience a steak tea. Why not. A Mad Hatter's tea party needs to be a bit odd, and my experience at Le Cellier was such a joyous occasion that for me it was simply mad! I concur with my Alice that the lunch idea was perfect. Being on the dining plan, it is perfect to save two credits because the lunch menu does not count as a signature and you get the same amazing food! Everything about my meal was absolutely fabulous. The waitress was extremely nice, it wasn't as crowded as we thought - maybe because people tend to pass over Canada, but that is a huge mistake! The atmosphere was great (yes after your eyes adjusted to the rabbit hole!) And then the food. The soup is a must have and the mushroom steak is also an absolute must. Once again, being on the dining plan, it is great to pick several and share! The trip started off with a fantastic hatting! Can't wait to tell you more!

03-02-2012, 07:38 PM	#10
taraplus2 Earning My Ears Join Date: May 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 24	Thanks for the info....We will be going to Disney at the end of the month and my DD (10) requires a gluten free diet. We have a Le Cellier evening reservation.

03-02-2012, 08:41 PM	#11
MissTeacher Waiting for Prince Charming Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: South Carolina Posts: 37	I'm subbing! Great review of Le Cellier, and what a beautiful picture from the Canada pavilion that is. Keep 'em coming __________________ 1996 WDW/Sea World Off-property 2002 WDW Off-property December 2004 WDW/ High School Chorus Trip Off-property August 2010 WDW All-Star Music March 2012 Off-property

03-03-2012, 03:14 PM	#13
Linda67 Has a Masters in Margaritas Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 4,239	What a great way to start your vacation Looks like you had a lovely lunch at LC Looking forward to reading along!

03-04-2012, 09:26 AM	#14
ClareH37 DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: in my own little world Posts: 1,687	i'm in - loving your review so far i'm also staying at the BC next trip but usually stay at the BWI, i'm also gluten free - spooky lol __________________ 1992/1994/1995/1997/1999/2001 - Offsite/POFQ * December 2004 - CSR, YC * December 2006 - YC LVC * May 2007 - BWI * December 2007 - GF RPC, BWI CL * May 2009 - BWI CL * May 2010 - BWI CL Trip Report November 2011 - BWI CL

03-04-2012, 09:39 AM	#15
Chelley00 DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,424	Looking forward to following along since we are planning our first trip since I was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, including gluten. I actually read your last report since I'm egg and dairy free. Not sure if you knew but blue cheese is not gluten free. It depends on your sensitivity to it but they grow the mold on bread and it contaminates the cheese. __________________ Me, DH, DS20 DS17 DD11 DS8 A little of everything. WDW, US/IOA, Seaworld, Legoland. 14 nights in Orlando Oct 2012 Finished 14 days in Orlando with food allergies October 2012 Finished Past trips: 2006 Sunset Lakes, 2008 Sunset Lakes, 2009 Mother/Daughter trip AKL, 2010 Poly, 2012 Wyndham Bonnet Creek Upcoming: June 2013 Hilton Head DVC Resort, October 2014 TBA

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