Gluten-free (celiac) dining review (plus dairy, egg, soy, legumes, and vegan diets)

[clanmcculloch]

I would loved to have shared photos from our meeting with Chef TJ but unfortunately I lost my camera with all of our trip photos. We even got him to pose with us after he presented his famous desserts to us. Sigh.... I guess I'll have to plan another dinner there some time so I can capture it on film.

It does seem as though dinner at 1900PF has a good chance of seeing him these days. Just an FYI for all of you who like me were trying to stalk him but failed miserable (I'd be a horrible criminal ).

[snorris49]

Originally Posted by clanmcculloch

I would loved to have shared photos from our meeting with Chef TJ but unfortunately I lost my camera with all of our trip photos. We even got him to pose with us after he presented his famous desserts to us. Sigh.... I guess I'll have to plan another dinner there some time so I can capture it on film.

It does seem as though dinner at 1900PF has a good chance of seeing him these days. Just an FYI for all of you who like me were trying to stalk him but failed miserable (I'd be a horrible criminal ).

hehe, I remember meeting him for the first time. You would have sworn I'd have met the Queen of England...but I will say as far as Disney chefs go...he is a rock star!

Now I'm really tempted to go to 1900 PF. I'm just glad to hear that he's out and about now. Maybe he was hiding from all of his fans (I recall that Special Diets got a lot of emails asking where he was)?!

[clanmcculloch]

DH embarrassed me by telling Chef TJ how long I've been trying to meet him and how big of a fan I am. I felt like such a dork (yes that's the appropriate word LOL). He really was so sweet. It amuzed me when he told me that he felt bad not making something fancier for DD14's entree because he was worried about how she'd handle stacked and sauced foods (mine was art). She loved her food and he did make her one of his famous desserts. He isn't just extremely talented; he's also unbelievably NICE.

Must...not...book...another...ADR...

[stackyallred]

After all of the rave reviews for Chef TJ, I really want to eat one of his fantastic meals... am I right in assuming he is only there for dinner? It works best for us to do the latest breakfast ADR at 1900 PF, but if he won't be there then I really don't care to go as much... With my long list of allergies, I really want to get in on the Chef TJ fan club!

[clanmcculloch]

I tried last breakfast seatings at 1900PF twice since he moved to the Grand Floridian. He wasn't there either time. I think I've only read one dining report where he was there for breakfast. Neither breakfast was our favourite as the chefs weren't creative and seemed to expect us to tell him what we wanted when I had no idea what they had available in the kitchen to work with. In addition, one of the chefs didn't even know that Divvies cookies were made with wheat until I told him that my 14yo couldn't have it after he offered. Nobody got sick (I think the chef was fine regarding foods he made but wasn't up on the details of the packaged stuff) and the food was ok but I definitely preferred the breakfasts at 'Ohana, Tusker House, Cape May and Captain's Grille over 1900PF (haven't tried Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey, CRT or Akershus). We do 1900PF breakfast for the characters (they're so great).

[stackyallred]

Originally Posted by clanmcculloch

I tried last breakfast seatings at 1900PF twice since he moved to the Grand Floridian. He wasn't there either time. I think I've only read one dining report where he was there for breakfast. Neither breakfast was our favourite as the chefs weren't creative and seemed to expect us to tell him what we wanted when I had no idea what they had available in the kitchen to work with. In addition, one of the chefs didn't even know that Divvies cookies were made with wheat until I told him that my 14yo couldn't have it after he offered. Nobody got sick (I think the chef was fine regarding foods he made but wasn't up on the details of the packaged stuff) and the food was ok but I definitely preferred the breakfasts at 'Ohana, Tusker House, Cape May and Captain's Grille over 1900PF (haven't tried Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey, CRT or Akershus). We do 1900PF breakfast for the characters (they're so great).

Thank you for the info! I think I will see if I can work a dinner there into our schedule instead of breakfast (if any ADRs are still available). We usually stick to the same several restaurants every year but since being diagnosed with all my issues a few months ago, I now have a whole new list lined up based on which places accommodate special diets the best. I have always been the "find something that doesn't upset your stomach and stick with it" type of gal (because I had no idea I was allergic to almost everything I was eating) but DH is the adventurous eater. He is so excited to try new places! Both your reports and ls15's reports have helped so much! I have never done a dining review before but I plan to this time since other's experiences have helped me so much!

[ls15]

mom2girls1974 - nope, no differences in prices, however, we weren't on the dining plan. If you read my reviews from the first year, though, we were on the dining plan and there weren't changes in prices. We just paid out of pocket (and we knew we'd already be paying a lot for food, anyway).

snorris49 - thanks! Definitely go to Kouzzina for dinner. A must!

stackyallred - I have no idea if he is only there for dinner, but after speaking with another chef at the GF, I think that they are all pretty great there (and probably learn from Chef TJ).

Soon enough I'll be booking next year's trip....!