Skipper Canteen Dinner – Paleo, Keto, and Gluten-Free Delight
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen has always been one of our favorite restaurants at Magic Kingdom, or for that matter, anywhere on Disney World property. While we have reviewed Skipper Canteen before, since our last visit, they have changed many of the dishes on their menu. During our most recent trip, we decided to try out some new items as well as an old favorite to see how it holds up with the latest changes. Below, we have our Skipper Canteen dinner review for paleo, keto, and gluten-free dieters.
One of the things we like about Skipper Canteen is its wonderful menu – with photos and descriptions of every item. As you can see in the images below, Skipper Canteen ensures that each person, whether using a regular menu or an allergy-friendly menu, gets the same superior dining experience.
Many of the menu items seem perfect for paleo and keto dieters, as they are free of gluten, soy, and dairy. However, it is also important to note that you need to ask the chef about corn, rice, canola oil, and sugar. Many of the dishes can be customized to meet the needs of the diner. We were lucky enough to have the awesome Chef David prepare our meals. Our “host” for the evening was Skipper George, who was very attentive and pleasant, even though we did not get as much of the typical rhetoric as in the past.
Looking over the appetizers on the Skipper Canteen dinner allergy menu, the only possibility for a paleo or keto diet would be the Jungle Green Salad without the dressing as it contains soy. For those who were wondering about the Falls Family Falafel as a good gluten-friendly choice, it also does contain soy. Since we knew we were getting three entrees (more on that later), we decided to go right to the main course.
Skipper Canteen Dinner – A Gluten-Free Fried Chicken Comparison
As we set out for this Skipper Canteen dinner, we had one goal – to compare the “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is! to the gluten-free chicken dinner at 50’s Prime Time Cafe – a dish Lori loved. Of course, since Mom is trying to stick to a paleo diet, she told me I had to have this dish if we came here (much to my dismay – more on that later). She would only take one bite for comparison, leaving me to eat the rest.
Rather than flour, the chicken is coated in corn starch before frying. The gluten-friendly crispy chicken comes with a chili glaze, jasmine rice, and mixed vegetables. The chicken itself was not bad. However, the portion was small. The chili glaze contains both honey and sugar and is available on the side. To compare the chicken to that of the GF fried chicken meal at Hollywood Studios, we opted for the glaze on the side, which did leave off quite a bit of the flavor. Lori’s verdict – the chicken at 50’s Prime Time Café is far better and a significantly larger portion.
Truthfully, leaving off the glaze is a disservice to the dish, because there is no flavor without it for the chicken or the vegetables. The only benefit of getting it on the side is that you do get a large portion of the glaze.
Skipper Canteen Dinner – Paleo and Keto Friendly
If you are on a paleo or keto diet, you will be happy with the options for your Skipper Canteen dinner. Remember, most of the dishes can be customized to suit your dietary needs – just ask the chef. Lori narrowed the selection to two dishes – Trader Lamb and Sankuru Sadie’s Seafood Stew.
The lamb dish checked off all the boxes for a paleo or keto-friendly meal. The lamb is seasoned with salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, curry, and turmeric – all her favorites. Served with roasted vegetables and a brown butter-tomato sauce that is sweetened with honey, it is a paleo dieter’s delight. Omitting the sauce makes this a keto-friendly meal. However, this dish was not to be that night as putting the decision to the chef turned mom towards the seafood stew.
Sankuru Sadie’s Seafood Stew features an assortment of shrimp, mussels, bay scallops, octopus, and sustainable fish – this night, it was tilefish. The fragrant coconut sauce features coconut milk, clam juice, scallions, ginger, garlic, chili oil, and jalapenos. The dish typically comes with rice. However, for those on a paleo or keto diet, the chef can substitute an assortment of vegetables. Mom opted for a blend of julienne squash and zucchini and declared the dish a culinary masterpiece – down to the very last drop.
A Skipper Canteen Favorite – Not As Good As In the Past
I have a favorite Skipper Canteen dinner dish – one I refuse to pass up if I come here. As you saw, I was “told” I had to try the chicken dish this visit. Of course, that was not going to stop me from still ordering my “go-to” pork dish. The updated version of the “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork features a fattier pork belly instead of the previous pork loin. That was the main change and one that might have ruined the dish. What was once my favorite meal in all of Disney World is now a subpar comparison.
The fatty pork does not add much flavor and provides less actual meat than the prior version. While there were three pieces, I found that there was less meat than the previous two pieces. It is still a very delicious dish but was much less impressive than before. I was also surprised that the “seasonal vegetables” consisted of one large stalk of bok choy rather than the multiple, more tender baby bok choy as in the past. The bok choy was not well-cooked and too tough to enjoy. Upon speaking with the chef at the end of the meal, he acknowledged that they were not pleased with these changes and the dish would transform with the new spring menu.
Skipper Canteen – Desserts That Satisfy the Sweet Tooth
One of the problems we have had in the past is that we have always been too full from our Skipper Canteen Dinner to order dessert. Although you would think that would be the case after ordering three entrees, we still had room for something sweet. There are two gluten-friendly desserts, and we were determined to try them both.
Our first dessert was the Quick Sand!!! A jasmine rice pudding topped with a dollop of sorbet, mango sauce, lemon curd, a hibiscus meringue, and pineapple. The rice pudding is thick, almost a cake instead of a pudding. While not for everyone, we found it to be quite enjoyable and filling. Although it looks like a small portion, it will not feel like one due to how thick it is. Definitely one of the most unique takes on a classic dessert. Be warned, this dessert contains both soy lecithin and corn syrup and is not paleo or keto-friendly.
The other gluten-friendly dessert we tried is Panna Connie’s Congo Lime Delight. A lime panna cotta topped with a dollop of mango-lime sorbet and fresh fruit. What they do not mention is that the fresh fruit is actually a dollop of spicy fruit. It brings real heat to the dish – so do not try to eat it by itself. However, when paired correctly with the panna cotta in each bite, it brings out both the heat and the flavor of the lime with true wonder. The panna cotta is made with coconut milk and agar agar, the lime zest is candied with sugar, and the compote features pomegranate seeds, tangerine seeds, jalapeno, and cilantro – a truly unique blend.
This latest visit to Skipper Canteen brought surprises, both good and bad. Some favorites were not as good as in the past, while others were newly discovered. Check out our prior review here. For the latest menu offerings, visit the official Disney World dining page.