Skipper Canteen Dinner – Paleo and Gluten-Free
One of our favorite restaurants in all of Walt Disney World is Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at the Magic Kingdom. The name is a mouthful, so feel free to call it Skipper Canteen, for short. Speaking of a mouthful, that is exactly what you will want as you begin to salivate over the incredible menu.
Skipper Canteen offers an abundant array of allergy-friendly options for every member of your family. You will find meals that meet the needs of paleo, keto, and gluten-free diners, alike.
However, before we get to that point, we have to point out the fantastic décor of this restaurant. I highly recommend taking the Jungle Cruise right before coming to Skipper Canteen to put you in the mood. From the minute you enter the lobby, you feel as though you have traveled to an exciting outpost that could be anywhere in Africa, South America, or Asia. Spend some time walking around and enjoying the smallest details. We could easily fill an entire blog just with photos of this restaurant.
We also love the quirky puns we get from the servers throughout our “journey.” Two hints – a stop at the mirror and Mickey’s favorite cheese. Not telling you anymore – you will have to find out for yourself.
There are different dining areas, and if you sit by one of these china cabinets, make sure to examine the beautiful platters, teapots, and other artifacts inside. Pay close attention to the little details, such as how they fold the napkins.
We love walking past these bookcases with the elephant statues (my daughter’s favorite).
Another room features animal prints, settees, masks, and other artifacts gathered from the banks of the Jungle Cruise’s explorations.
Of course, there can be only one “special” table, and that is the butterfly booth. I was lucky enough to sit there on my first visit. If you have a butterfly aficionado in your party, request this table. It is worth the wait. Young children will enjoy looking at all the different butterflies. (Hint – make your reservations by phone and request to sit here or check in hours early and ask them to put your name down for this table.)
Paleo, Keto, and Gluten-Free Dining at Skipper Canteen
Ok, on to the wonderful menus and food at Skipper Canteen. One of the things that I love about the menus here is the many photos they include of the meals. It is nice to see what you will be getting before you order. I do not know why we don’t have a photo of the rolls, but they are the standard gluten-free dinner rolls you get throughout WDW. However, it is the fenugreek-infused honey that is not to be missed.
One of the things that I love about dining at table service meals at Disney is the personal attention by the chefs. On this trip, we were lucky enough to speak with Chef Dave who reminded me that he could also personalize many of the dishes to meet a variety of allergy and dietary needs.
My dining companion is a bit predictable when we come to Skipper Canteen. He always gets the Char Siu Pork. No matter what I say, he will not order anything else. It is not because he doesn’t want to try anything else on the menu. No, it is merely because he considers this one of the greatest dishes in all of Walt Disney World. I cannot argue with that. My only complaint with the meal is that it does contain sugar and soy. If they could switch to coconut aminos and honey, I would order it myself. However, if you are on a gluten-free diet, it will win you over, as well.
I guess I should not complain about sticking with the same thing. I happen to be crazy about the sustainable fish served at Skipper Canteen. On my first visit, I enjoyed the “Not Piranha” in the fragrant basil-lemon grass broth. The bowl was filled with Chinese broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and red bell peppers. I am sorry I do not have the photo to show you, but you can get an idea by looking at the menu. I will tell you this; it took every ounce of restraint not to lick that bowl clean. Now, if I can just find the recipe they gave me, I can share it with you – and make it at home.
On this trip, however, I was in the mood for salad, but I did not want steak. Chef Dave was happy to customize my meal by replacing the steak with the sustainable fish. Depending on the day, the fish served could be Stone Bass, Black Cod, or Black Grouper. Since they also have a plentiful array of veggies, you can make an easy substitution for rice or other unwanted sides. I omitted the croutons from the salad, which could easily fit into anyone’s paleo or keto diet.
We are always too full for dessert, but someday I hope to try the gluten-friendly Quick Sand – a jasmine rice pudding masterpiece. Now, if they would only make a tropical dairy and sugar-free pannacotta, I think they would have the perfect menu. If I were to recommend one restaurant above all others – it would be Skipper Canteen.