After a year of being away, the long-awaited Disney Festival of Holidays 2021 makes its triumphant return with some new and returning allergy-friendly dishes. While there, we had the opportunity to try out some of the more allergy-friendly options available at the parks. The four allergy menus below cover the top 8 allergens.
For the most part, we focus on gluten-friendly items at the Disney Festival of Holidays 2021. We do not have the luxury of speaking with chefs to go over every item’s ingredients as we do in Walt Disney World.
Holiday Duets
We skipped the Holiday Duets booth this year because we were not interested in trying the Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage. We noticed that foot traffic to this booth during the afternoon was minimal at best. Due to the new location from where it usually is in front of the waterfall photo spot to behind the gates across from it behind the web-slingers attraction, we would not be surprised if this was a significant cause. The shrimp and grits dish is suitable for gluten-friendly diets, as well as those who avoid eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and soy.
A Twist on Tradition
A Twist on Tradition has nothing gluten-friendly. Not even a beverage.
Brews & Bites
Over at Brews & Bites, there was nothing gluten-friendly. We did try the Impossible Chorizo Queso Fundido with House-made Tortilla Chips, which is a plant-based option. The dish was good by all standards; however, as one person in our party said, it probably would have been better without the added cilantro since many people dislike its taste. We also did notice that the dish did not come with enough chips. Beyond that, it was served at a perfect temperature and was extra cheesy.
Winter Sliderland
Over at Winter Sliderland, we tried the Prickly Pear Tea Lemonade. This is one of the better drinks we have had at a festival. The drink is neither too sweet nor sour. It is refreshing, fruity, and a delicious blend of flavors. We highly recommend this beverage.
Grandma’s Recipes
Over at Grandma’s Recipes, we tried two dishes that grandma would not necessarily have at home. Starting with the Impossible Arepa Encantada, a gluten-friendly dairy-free Queso-stuffed Maiz with Spiced Plant-based Ground Meat and Pickled Onions. The dish was very good for a dairy-free and meat-free alternative. The only thing we found was that it was relatively bland without eating it all together in one bite. The meat lacked a bit of seasoning and flavor that would be needed, but overall, this is an outstanding gluten-friendly dish.
As for the Berries ‘n’ Crema, this has the potential to be a fantastic beverage that sadly has fallen short. The berries and condensed milk have unfortunately left the drink with a bit of a chalky texture rather than a smooth milk drink. Add half a cup of ice to it, and unfortunately, the whipped cream and cereal never mixed well with all the ice. The drink’s flavor was sweet and creamy, exactly as intended. Unfortunately, there were just too many negative factors to make this drink worth the cost.
Making Spirits Bright
Over at Making Spirits Bright, we had the returning favorite of the gluten-friendly “Hot Cocoa” Marshmallow Macaron. Making its triumphant return is the double chocolate macaron topped with a peppermint crystal shower, white chocolate peppermint flame, and tiny marshmallow topping. This is always a fan favorite dessert with a balanced combination of chocolate and peppermint flavors.
Favorite Things
Over at Favorite Things, there was nothing gluten-friendly to eat, and with the sun baking down in the mid-day, we figured it was better to skip the alcoholic beverage.
Merry Mashups
But as the afternoon stretched on and we made our way to Merry Mashups, we arrived at the booth with the highest risk and reward. We will start with the Honey Guava Pisco Punch. This is one of the better alcoholic beverages in the festival, fruity, sweet, and a perfect balance of ginger, lime, and guava keeps this drink refreshing and flavorful.
Onto the Esquites Carnitas Mac & Cheese, featuring Cacique Oaxaca & Cotija Cheeses with Spiced Puffed Rice. Surprisingly this dish is gluten-friendly. However, we do caution against the risk of cross-contamination with it. Everything about this dish is a letdown. The meat was a bit dried out; the mac and cheese was a sad excuse. The pasta was undercooked or left out for too long and was dried out and grainy, and there was not enough cheese to call it a sauce. The puffed rice was a nice touch but what is not mentioned is that it also has dried corn in it, which was a no-go for a member of our party. The dish was a huge risk, but sadly one that I don’t think has paid off.
But at the same time, the gluten-friendly Holiday Spiced Wings with Citrus Cranberries is one of the best dishes at the park. Wings are traditionally a landmark item of the festival, and these have all the makings to be the best ones they have come up with. The four wings are nicely sized and full of meat. They are seasoned with a sweet topping which was a surprise but paired nicely with the cranberries to create a really sweet version of a savory dish. This is a true topper of a dish.
A Final Word
Overall, the Disney Festival of Holidays 2021 has proven to be one to remember. With many new risks and bold steps in flavor and dietary options always comes the chance for failure and success. So, for all the less-than-stellar dishes, they have done a phenomenal job reaching for a better, more diverse festival for all attendees.