Dining at Disney with Food Allergies: Sanaa Dining Experience
As a part of the Monkey Kingdom Event we were treated to a Disney Dining experience at the restaurant Sanaa. While there we had the opportunity to chat with Dr. M Sanjayan, Disneynature ambassador about the Monkey Kingdom movie and Greg Peccie, DAKL Animal Operations Manager about the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Monkey Kingdom is now playing in theaters everywhere and I hope you go out and support the film, by seeing the film you are support Disneynature and your support means more great films like Monkey Kingdom.
Image Credit: Dusty B @ As Mom Sees It
Dining out present special challenges for me, so when we sat down at Sanaa for lunch I knew I had to make sure I wouldn’t have any problems during the rest of my trip. While in college I learned I had an allergy to onions. The list of food allergies has grown to also include cherries, peaches, almonds and a few other things. Our menu for the day included quite a few Indian dishes so I wanted to make sure I would be able to enjoy the meal provided for us courtesy of Disney. When the server arrived he greeted the table, told us about the menu we would be trying and immediately asked if anyone had any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Bonus points from me because I am accustomed to having to ask myself and in some instances not knowing until food shows up that it contains onions. When I told him about my allergy he started to tell me about the dishes to avoid and then he asked me to hold on he wanted to consult the chef. Within minutes the head chef came out to talk to me.
Photo Credit: Carlee C @ Frugal and Fun Mom
When the chef came out she talked to me about my allergy and asked me several questions about what I could and could not have regarding onions. She was very patient and knowledgeable about the menu and about allergies. It really made me feel at ease and comforted me about the meal I was having at Sanaa. She ended up switching up the items I received for lunch just to be on a safe side. She then broke down the menu to the entire group and my dining at Disney with food allergies experience was off to an amazing start. I was beyond impressed.
We started out with bread service and our group had an option of three different bread choices and various sauce options. Our server initially recommended certain breads and sauces for me but then he ended up bringing me a fresh baked naan bread and a sampling of five sauce that the chef recommended to be safe for me. My sauces included: Red Chile Sambal, Mango Chutney, Coconut Chutney, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, or Tamarind Chutney.
The group tried a variety salads and I received a special sampling to ensure there weren’t any onions included. They were all delicious. I loved the watermelon and cucumber salad. It was so refreshing on such a hot day in Orlando.
Lunch was delicious. We had two of Sanaa’s top dishes. The most popular of the two was the butter chicken. The jasmine rice was so good. I enjoyed them both. I would definitely order them again if I had the chance.
Dessert was equally delicious. I couldn’t eat all mines because I was so full but I loved how colorful the plate looked when it arrived at our table. The dessert was just a flavorful and delicate like the rest of the meal. If you are ever at WDW I suggest you check out Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Disneynature Monkey Kingdom is now playing in theaters!
Life is an adventure for Maya, the clever and resourceful blonde-bobbed monkey in “Monkey Kingdom,” Disneynature’s new feature film set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya’s world is forever changed when she welcomes her son, Kip, into her complicated extended family. Like all families, Maya’s has more than its share of colorful personalities—and she’s determined to give her son a leg up in the world. When their longtime home at Castle Rock is taken over by powerful neighboring monkeys, Maya’s whole family retreats, and she uses her street smarts and ingenuity to uncover untapped resources amidst strange new creatures and unsettling surroundings. Ultimately, they will all have to work together to reclaim Castle Rock, where Maya can hopefully realize her dreams for her son’s future.
Check out the trailer below:
