Cafe Orleans Gluten-Free Lunch
Although it has been a few months since we enjoyed our delicious Cafe Orleans gluten-free lunch, not much has changed. There are a few new menu items on the regular menu, such as a Charcuterie Board with artisan cheeses, charcuterie, honey, fruit, nuts, and crostini as an appetizer. For entrees at lunch and dinner, the changes include swapping out the Lobster Cobb Salad for a new Niçoise Salad with seared ahi tuna. The Blackened Sustainable Fish is also gone, but a new Vegetable Bolognese has taken its place. Some of the prices have also increased since our visit.
As you can see in the allergy menu, many of the items are gluten-friendly. It is also easy for anyone on a keto or paleo diet to eat here at Café Orleans in Disneyland. The option of two different salads makes it easy to stick to a healthy eating plan. Remember, menus change, so always see the new menu at the restaurant and speak to a chef about your dietary needs.
We were lucky enough to speak with Chef Albert who told us that if we wanted the Bourbon Street Chicken, we could get it without the Bourbon Sauce and it would be gluten-free. We could also omit the popcorn rice with fava beans and black-eyed peas and get double the seasoned vegetables, and he would make those separately for us.
Our Gluten-Free Lunch Choices at Café Orleans
Many people who are on a GF diet look forward to a Cafe Orleans gluten-free lunch or dinner because of the Monte Cristo Sandwich. This is not a menu item you can go in and order on a whim. You have to call Disney Dining 24 hours in advance to place your order as there is a special batter they need to prepare. We did just that because my dining companion wanted me to try it.
The GF Monte Cristo Sandwich is filled with sliced turkey, ham, and swiss cheese. It is fried in a separate fryer to avoid cross-contamination. It makes me wonder why they do not also offer the Pommes Frites prepared in the same fryer for people who want the French Fried Potatoes gluten-free. Regularly, they are cooked in the same fryer as other sandwiches. It seems a bit strange to me that this is not a possibility.
The GF Monte Cristo Sandwich is beautifully presented. Our dish certainly was not lacking in powdered sugar. The accompanying jelly completed the plate. Compared to recent photos I have seen on various Facebook posts, our sandwich had more filling than most. However, I felt that it was still too much breading and not enough meat.
I was in the mood for a salad, and the Muffuletta Chopped Salad sounded amazing. It features ham, capicola, salami, provolone, roasted red peppers, olives, giardiniera, and shaved parmesan. The dressing is a sherry vinaigrette. If you have an allergy to gluten, egg, soy, or peanuts and tree nuts, this dish is perfect for you. Keto dieters can also rejoice – no changes necessary except for the dressing. If you are keeping to a paleo diet, simply omit the cheeses and the dressing.
I asked for the cheeses on the side, so I could see what typically comes with the salad. Since I bounce back and for the between a paleo and keto diet, I opted to enjoy the salad with the cheese that day. As you can see, I asked for extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dress my salad. The photo does not do justice to how big this salad truly was. It was a huge portion, and I would highly recommend it.
The fryers use canola oil, and the standard oil blend for cooking at Café Orleans is a 90/10 extra virgin olive oil/canola mix. Our Cafe Orleans gluten-free lunch hit the spot and gave us the energy to continue our park-hopping. You can check out the new menu options and prices by clicking here.