Chefs de France VS Tutto Italia VS Mama M's - For Vegan/Vegetarian

[v_gan]

I'm working on my dining reservations right now for May, and I'm wanting to try a few new places. I'm vegan, and my boyfriend is vegetarian.

We've gone to both 50s Prime Time and Sci-Fi Dine-In on our last two trips to DHS. Originally, I had been wanting to try the Brown Derby, but I read a bad (vegan) review, and have since been thinking about Mama Melrose's. I see there's a vegetarian minestrone, and quite a few entrees that (seem to be) vegetarian. But has anyone dined here with (or as) a vegan?

I'm also looking at trying two new places at Epcot: Chefs de France and Tutto Italia.

I see that Chefs de France has two vegetarian entrees: lasagne, and macaroni and cheese. The lasagne sounds good, but could it be made vegan? It doesn't mention cheese in the description on AllEars.

Tutto Italia looks like it has more options for us. I see there's a minestrone, and two salads look like they could be vegan-ized. There's also a grilled vegetable sandwich and some vegetarian pastas. But, again, I don't know what I would be able to have as a vegan. Any experience?

I don't really want to go to two Italian restaurants on our trip, so I would want to choose between Mama Melroses' and Tutto Italia.

So, does anyone have any advice they can offer about any of these restaurants? I'm really stuck with all of these

 

[TillyMarigold]

Not vegan, but we eat mostly vegetarian, and did so at MM in September.

I think the eggplant dish at Mama Melrose is vegan or could be made so (the description on All Ears is wrong, it's now breaded, but I'd guess you could get it grilled without the breading if they use eggs as a binder), and maybe the spinach tomato flatbread would also be vegan without the cheese (there wasn't a lot of cheese on it, so it probably isn't integral to the dish)? I don't know what they make their pasta with, but the penne a la vodka, made without the pancetta, was excellent, the best I've ever had. And if you like tomatoes, I'd be tempted to order the tomato and mozzarella appetizer without the mozzarella--the tomatoes were that good. (Or I guess you could get a salad that had tomatoes on it, but trust me, those are the best fresh tomatoes I can remember eating ever.)

 

[v_gan]

Not vegan, but we eat mostly vegetarian, and did so at MM in September.

I think the eggplant dish at Mama Melrose is vegan or could be made so (the description on All Ears is wrong, it's now breaded, but I'd guess you could get it grilled without the breading if they use eggs as a binder), and maybe the spinach tomato flatbread would also be vegan without the cheese (there wasn't a lot of cheese on it, so it probably isn't integral to the dish)? I don't know what they make their pasta with, but the penne a la vodka, made without the pancetta, was excellent, the best I've ever had. And if you like tomatoes, I'd be tempted to order the tomato and mozzarella appetizer without the mozzarella--the tomatoes were that good. (Or I guess you could get a salad that had tomatoes on it, but trust me, those are the best fresh tomatoes I can remember eating ever.)

Thank you! This is definitely reassuring. I think Mama Melrose's will definitely be a part of our dining at DHS on this trip.

Now I just have to figure out Epcot. If we don't go to Chefs de France or Tutto Italia, we'll probably just eat counter service (which is fine).

 

[TillyMarigold]

Have you thought about Teppan Edo? I've heard they'll make the vegetarians' meal first so the grill isn't contaminated. And there's Marrakesh, of course.

 

[jharrowell]

I'm not sure Tutto Italia or Chefs de France are a good option for a vegan.

As someone mentioned in another thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2335040), most french meals are cooked with butter, butter, and more butter and the lasagne definately has cheese (I'm a vegi and have had the lasagne at Chefs...)

At Tutto Italia the pasta is almost certainly egg pasta, which unless they can make some non-egg pasta for you fresh, would rule out nearly all of their dishes (also they are way overpriced, but that's a different story).

I would go with a PPs suggestion and go for Restraunt Marrakesh. They have a great Vegetable Risotto that, if not vegan could probably be made so very easily.

EDIT: I saw you also mentioned Mama Melroses. If nothing else I'm sure they could prepare a custom flatbread that was vegan (no cheese, etc.)

 

[somethingblue]

Hey lady!

Not sure if it's too late for this information but I read in a book called "Vegetarian Walt Disney World" that Les Chefs De France can make a vegan version of their vegetarian dish if you give them 48 hours notice. I'm not sure if this is still up to date but it is definetly worth a shot. Also, I've read your reviews and know that you sometimes turn a blind eye so to speak to butter or eggs being used to make things, so if that is still the case I would think Chefs would be a good option.

Oh, I just found this blog post! If you scroll down a bit there's a description and picture of a vegan meal at Chefs.

Edited to add: My boyfriend (pesticarian) and I will also be going to WDW in May! Maybe we'll see you around.

 

[v_gan]

Hey lady!

Not sure if it's too late for this information but I read in a book called "Vegetarian Walt Disney World" that Les Chefs De France can make a vegan version of their vegetarian dish if you give them 48 hours notice. I'm not sure if this is still up to date but it is definetly worth a shot. Also, I've read your reviews and know that you sometimes turn a blind eye so to speak to butter or eggs being used to make things, so if that is still the case I would think Chefs would be a good option.

Oh, I just found this blog post! If you scroll down a bit there's a description and picture of a vegan meal at Chefs.

Edited to add: My boyfriend (pesticarian) and I will also be going to WDW in May! Maybe we'll see you around.

I don't turn a blind eye to butter or eggs. If I know something has butter or eggs (or anything else from an animal), I won't eat it. The only thing I know I did wrong on my last trip was eat the normal veggie burger buns, which contain dairy. I didn't know this at the time, and won't do it again.

But thank you for the link to the blog I think we're just going to go for Epcot counter service on this trip.

I hope you have a good trip!

 

[Danny K]

For Epcot: Try Biergarten Germany, Akershus Norwegian, Teppan Edo Japan, Tokyo Dining Japan, Rose & Crown Pub UK, Cellier Steakhouse Canada, and Nine Dragons China.