Victoria & Albert’s Paleo Dinner
If you ask any Disney Foodie what is at the top of their bucket list, you will likely hear a visit to Victoria & Albert’s. A reservation at this exclusive restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort in Walt Disney World is not that easy to come by. For many people, it is a visit saved for a special occasion – and saving is something many will do before coming here. To that end, there are those who might say that limiting your dietary options on such an expensive meal borders on foolish. To the naysayers, I am here to tell you that was not the case with my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner.
It is one thing to be gluten-free, dairy-free, or have an allergy to one specific food. My decision to try and stick with a paleo, or sometimes keto (I love cheese) diet really is not that difficult at Disney. I do not have food allergies; it is more about a lifestyle choice. My son (my dining companion at this meal) is gluten-free and has been since he was young. So, when I received the call to discuss my menu and dietary needs (Victoria & Albert’s does this with everyone), I gave them his number so he could discuss his own options. For me, it was essentially this – no gluten, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no corn, no carbs, no dairy, no fun. I was told this would not be a challenge. We discussed that I could have extra virgin olive oil, butter, seasonings, herbs, nuts, coconut, honey, and maple syrup as well as all protein, vegetables, and fruits.
We were lucky to get our reservation just a few weeks before our visit. Taking fancy clothes for a trip to Disney was exciting. Do not expect to come to Victoria & Albert’s without a jacket if you are a man. Women should bring a dress or a fancy pantsuit.
Upon arrival, we had to wait only a few minutes to be escorted to our table. Seatings are limited, and the dining room is small. We were the last party to be seated that evening (and the last to leave almost 4 hours later). The restaurant is extremely elegant, and part of the fun for me was checking out the other diners. The tone is hushed, and we never heard conversations from other tables.
I do not know why we have no photos of the actual restaurant or the table. I think we were so excited it slipped our minds. Below, you can see the plate that was set on the table when we arrived. A small stool next to my seat was for me to place my purse. Of course, the staff holds your chair and places your napkin in your lap. It is the height of elegance. I was honored to be served by the amazing Danny and James during my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner.
Once seated, you are provided with your customized menu – both a 7 course and 10 course Tasting Menu are provided. Your name is printed on your menu, and you will get to take it home at the end of your meal. In addition to the listed course, you can also choose to add additional courses or upgrade specific features of the menu. For example, my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner Prix Fixe 7 Course Menu offered an optional Galilee Osetra Caviar course, Wild Turbot option, and Miyazaki Japanese Beef.
The same three upgrades were available on the Chef’s 10 Course Tasting Menu. Another option you have is to trade items from the 7 Course or the 10 Course menu. I chose the Chef’s 10 Course Tasting Menu and substituted the Loup de Mer with Green Tomatoes in place of the Dover Sole with Baby Tomatoes. I also opted for the Roasted Texas Quail with Spinach instead of the Marcho Farms Veal with Morel Mushrooms. I had never eaten quail and wanted to give it a try.
Victoria & Albert’s Paleo Dinner Course by Course
I began my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner culinary excursion with a glass of Cascinetta Vietti moscato d’asti. Moscato is my favorite wine, and this one did not disappoint. It was the only alcohol I had with my meal.
The first of my 10 courses was the Amuse-Bouche consisting of Delta Asparagus with Imperial Caviar. My disappointment here is only in the fact that I was not offered this dish as an entire meal. As you can see, the portion sizes are extremely small. The object of dining here is to thoroughly enjoy the unique tastes of every dish.
I slowly savored every tiny bite – allowing the flavors, and the caviar, to pop in my mouth. Danny and James explained every dish to us in glorious detail, catering to our every need. If we left the table for a minute, we came back to a newly folded napkin ready to be placed in our lap.
The second course of my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner featured New Zealand Langoustine with Daikon Radish. I believe this was my least favorite dish, which was surprising since the langoustine melted in my mouth like butter.
The third course featured Striped Bass with Poppy Seed and Lemon Oil. The dish was nice and mild, with roasted fennel in grapeseed oil and saffron reduction. I really enjoyed this dish. During the meal, my son was given three different gluten-free rolls made in-house. I do wish that the chef would have stepped up the game and provided one paleo roll for me to have. It would not have been difficult to search recipes online and create something from scratch. Luckily, I am not a big bread person, so it was not overly frustrating for me.
For my fourth course, I opted to switch to an item from the 7 Course Menu – the Loup de Mer with green tomatoes and sorrel. It was a stark difference from the Dover Sole with Chorizo Bouillabaisse that I could have had. Since my son kept that dish, I was able to taste the sauce, and it was wonderful. However, I was thrilled in my decision to switch to the wonderfully delicate fish.
The fifth course of my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner was also a swap back to the 7 Course menu. I opted for the Roasted Texas Quail with Spinach. If you look closely at the photo, you will see the spinach is prepared three different ways. The first is gently blanched then placed in an ice bath. Next, there are small spinach spheres. Finally, there is vacuum sealed spinach. Each was amazing and blended beautifully with the tender quail. I was truly thrilled with my switch, especially since I am not a truffle lover. However, I will tell you that my son loved his veal dish. You can check out his blog at the link at the bottom of this page.
My sixth course was Charred Leek Dusted Wild Boar with Baby Brussels Sprouts. The dish featured fennel pollen, bone reduction, and a grilled scallion and leek bundle. I was not as crazy about this dish as my son as I found the boar a bit too strong for my liking.
The seventh and main course features Australian Kobe-Style Beef. I chose to add the Miyazaki Japanese Beef for an extra $55. Now that I have tasted it, I am fine with never having it again. To me, it tasted like eating beef fat. Luckily, I was getting full, and my son was happy to take the few pieces I left behind. Hindsight I would have only let him order the upgrade and would have tasted his – not that he wanted to share. The Kobe-style beef was amazing. The small vegetable bundle replaced the potatoes for my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner. Again, they were so good I would have loved more – even though I was already full.
Next, I was given the most refreshing no sugar added mango sorbet I have ever had. Frozen chunks of ripe mango perfectly mastered into a cool and sweet sorbet to cleanse the palette.
I know my menu lists a Mixed Berry Gateau, but I had a paleo apple crisp, instead. I thought it was amazing yet had no clue what was about to come next.
For me, the highlight of the meal was the paleo Panna Cotta with Berries. I still cannot believe I did not ask for the recipe. The dish looked almost too good to eat – yet I somehow maintained my manners and did not lick the bowl. (Trust me, I wanted to!)
Once the meal is done, a magnificent cart filled with chocolate is wheeled over to the table. Since chocolate contains sugar, I was provided with a selection of allergy treats that were gluten-friendly. Of course, a girl cannot pass up delectable chocolates, as you can see. The cart features 7 different filled chocolates, and you can select whatever you would like. As you can see, I chose 6 of them. After that, they also gave me a box of all 7 to take home for my daughter who could not accompany us on this trip.
Since it was getting late, I finished my Victoria & Albert’s paleo dinner with a Decaf Cappuccino with Almond Milk. It was probably one of the best cappuccinos I have ever had. All in all, this bucket list meal was superb. I can truly tell you that you will not miss out if you have any type of food allergies. The chefs here will create a masterpiece dining event for you.
To read William’s blog on his Victoria & Albert’s gluten-free dinner, follow this link.
The menu at Victoria & Albert’s changes, so do not expect to get the same dishes you see here. Our dinner was in 2018. The current menu features many other exciting dishes. You can see the latest offerings on the Disney website by clicking here.