Chefs de France heads up on allergies

[tecdavidt]

For those with the gluten allergy, I ate at Chefs to see Remy during lunch. The first time I had the roasted chicken plate with no sauce and the sides were the same--roasted potatoes and tomato. The second time I was told the potatoes are now cooked in oil so cross contamination. I was also told the French onion soup is gluten free by leaving off the bread topping. I gave the soup a try. It was wonderful and I got sick in just a few hours!

I assumed maybe they topped the soup and removed the topping? or had potatoes on my plate and removed them? Next trip I decided to try the soup again. I got sick once again.

I spoke with another woman on the trip who has allergies and she too was told it was gluten free but she had the same reaction. Avoid the soup because it has gluten in there somewhere. I am assuming it must be the broth. We have now crossed this restaurant off our list. It is a shame because my husband enjoyed the food but not much for me. Now the newer Italian restaurant was great and they really understood the gluten free allergy so we probably will go there instead of Chefs. I will miss seeing little Remy. Kathy

 

[minniebeth]

We had a very disappointing allergy dining experience at Chefs de France as well. My DD is allergic to peanuts and all tree nuts. When we asked to have the chef come out (as is pretty standard in all WDW table service restaurants), he did, but very begrudgingly so. It was obvious he could care less about accomodating her allergy. Instead of working with her, reviewing the menu about what is and is not safe, like most other chefs so that she could have options and choose, he asked her "what do you want?" she really wasn't sure, so she was trying to decide (she's 12) and then asked about the burger (kids). "no. pick somthing else." So she asked for the french mac and cheese and he said ok, and she had the special that came with the appetizer and dessert. He said the French Onion soup would be ok, but no bread and he would make a special dessert. So...thought we were set. French Onion soup comes out and it has the bread on top of it. So we wait for the waiter, told him about it (he was less than friendly and helpful as well) and took it back to the kitchen. It was OBVIOUS they just took the bread out and gave it back. Well, geez, we could have done that too, but there was an issue of cross contamination with the food. So instead of sending it back again, DD didn't trust it at this point, she just left the soup uneaten. It was obvious she didn't touch it. You would think the waiter would have said something, but no.
She did eat and enjoy her Frech mac and cheese (forget what it's called). But then dessert time, myself and my other DD got our desserts, none for allergy DD. We waited, and waited, and then asked our waiter and he said it's coming. 20 mins. later he brought our bill, no dessert for DD, never said anything. We paid and left. I have never given a poor tip before, but did there.

I personally really like Chef de France but was turned off by the whole experience where my DD's allergies are what's most important. If they don't want to accomodate her, which it seemed like, then we'll just eat somewhere else. There's plenty of options, especially there in the WS.

This was our experience here...

 

[kaytieeldr]

So instead of sending it back again, DD didn't trust it at this point, she just left the soup uneaten. It was obvious she didn't touch it. You would think the waiter would have said something, but no.

Respectfully, in a case like this, it's not up to the waiter to "say something"; it's up to the customer to, once again in your case, take the initiative - even if that means going up the chain until you get to the restaurant manager.

But, I have to ask - and please, this is NOT a criticism in ANY way - how is macaroni and cheese safe for your daughter to eat at Les Chef de France, especially considering her experience with the onion soup? Did you trust them by that point to use gluten-free pasta? Did her entree come around the same time as the rest of yours? I'd have been concerned.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think I read the first two posts this way - the OP needs gluten free, the second poster's daughter is allergic to nuts, not gluten. I'm assuming there are no nuts in the macaroni and cheese. The issue with the soup was the bread, which apparently either contained nuts or might have been crose-contaminated by nuts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks, Nala! I really hope the second poster doesn't take my response in any negative way, and you helped that a LOT!!! I was genuinely CURIOUS - not intending to offend or insult or doubt or anything!

 

[minniebeth]

I think I read the first two posts this way - the OP needs gluten free, the second poster's daughter is allergic to nuts, not gluten. I'm assuming there are no nuts in the macaroni and cheese. The issue with the soup was the bread, which apparently either contained nuts or might have been crose-contaminated by nuts.

Exactly...

And the fact that while we always know we take a chance with food being safe, we do trust the WDW chefs. They are typically awesome and we have learned that WDW's practices are safe and they take great measures to make sure their visitors with food allergies have a positive experience. It's one of the reasons why we vacation with Disney often.

We just had an off experience we were disappointed with here...

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't know if it's relevant, but while Disney often gets high marks in this area, Chefs de France is not owned or operated by Disney.

 

[minniebeth]

Don't know if it's relevant, but while Disney often gets high marks in this area, Chefs de France is not owned or operated by Disney.

Hmm...well, I guess it would be relevant that maybe their standards wouldn't be the same as Disney's in the food allergy arena. I'm in Disney, make ADRs for this restaurant through Disney, they ASK if there are any food allergies when making the ADRs, I'm going to assume (yeah, I know...) that it wouldn't be any different than any other Disney owned restaurant. And if they can't or won't accomdate the food allergies? That's ok, really, but put it out there up front. We'll dine somewhere else, no problem.

Thank you for this information, it does shed some light on it all, I just didn't know this (even after thinking I know everything from the Dis!)

Now, I DID know about The Pepper Market at CSR not being Disney owned. Same trip, we stayed there and it did not work there AT ALL for DD's allergies. But I kind of knew what we were up against, and after trying it for ourselves, just avoided it.

Live and learn!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Exactly...

Thank you. I'm happy that you didn't think I was attacking you. I wasn't! TDC Nala was, as I stated, correct - I confused the two posts.

I'm in Disney, make ADRs for this restaurant through Disney, they ASK if there are any food allergies when making the ADRs, I'm going to assume (yeah, I know...)

Oh! I have the perfect solution for this one! Banish that word from your vocabulary and replace it with presume. The more often you do it, the more natural it will become... said the voice of experience, who, while she might not making a --- out of a deserving other person, would never intentionally leave herself open to the same designation

 

[minniebeth]

Thank you. I'm happy that you didn't think I was attacking you. I wasn't! TDC Nala was, as I stated, correct - I confused the two posts.



Oh! I have the perfect solution for this one! Banish that word from your vocabulary and replace it with presume. The more often you do it, the more natural it will become... said the voice of experience, who, while she might not making a --- out of a deserving other person, would never intentionally leave herself open to the same designation

Nah...I'm from NJ, it takes a lot more than that for me to feel attacked...

Like it!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nah...I'm from NJ,

Ah, well, heck... if I'd known that...

Funny story (Disney food-related!). I was in line for one of the cooking demonstrations at the Food & Wine Festival a couple of years ago, and started talking to the couple behind me. I recognized the man's accent and double-checked to make sure they were from New Jersey. Not just NJ, but the Hackensack area. Not just that, but the neighborhood where my cousins grew up... not just that, but the same apartment complex - at the same time!

So, then I triple-checked. No, he wasn't one of my cousins Can you tell my family's not close

 

[minniebeth]

Ah, well, heck... if I'd known that...

Funny story (Disney food-related!). I was in line for one of the cooking demonstrations at the Food & Wine Festival a couple of years ago, and started talking to the couple behind me. I recognized the man's accent and double-checked to make sure they were from New Jersey. Not just NJ, but the Hackensack area. Not just that, but the neighborhood where my cousins grew up... not just that, but the same apartment complex - at the same time!

So, then I triple-checked. No, he wasn't one of my cousins Can you tell my family's not close

It's a small world...

I grew up in Wayne, Hackensack had all the fancy shopping!
Hey, in NJ, I thought we were all cousins somehow~, or wait, maybe I'm confusing that with 'Ohana
(Trying to bring it back to the restaurant board so I don't get in trouble!)