Gluten Free Epcot

A Gluten Free Lunch At Epcot’s Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Our morning in Epcot was filled with fun for all, from meeting some of little one’s favorite characters like Mickey and friends and Snow White to riding some of Epcot’s best rides. By lunch we were all famished and ready to give some place new a try. Dan and I love wine so we’ve been looking forward to giving Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy a try for quite awhile leading up to this trip, unfortunately I had a pretty bad sinus infection the week of our trip so the wine tasting didn’t quite happen except for one of my favorite glasses of wine. Food wise though I was very eager to test the waters and see how Tutto Gusto could lend itself to the gluten free diner. 

Tutto Gusto’s menu is amazing, including a large variety of meats and cheeses, paninis, and tasting portions of some more diverse dishes. After being seated, I spoke with the chef and he recommended a pasta dish using their gluten free pasta, topping it with a roasted tomato sauce, burrata mozzarella cheese, and basil. I was a bit hesitant to order something so heavy for lunch but by then at Epcot we certainly had walked up a huge appetite. I simply couldn’t resist the deliciousness that he had described so I was on board for the Pomodoro pasta dish done gluten free. After I had placed my specialty order, my husband ordered the Tuscan Pork Ribs and we ordered the chicken fingers for my little girl to enjoy. While our order was being made, we couldn’t help but to look around and enjoy the authenticity of the wine cellar architecture.

Dan and myself have been incredibly fortunate to travel to Europe both on our honeymoon and another time after that visiting a number of places in Italy, Greece, and Spain. We fell in love with every Italian city we had spent time in, most notably Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples (the Island of Capri). We hope to one day go back and bring our children there so they too can enjoy the beauty of one of our favorite countries but for now we relive our memories through pictures and visiting places like this. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar reminded us of the small restaurants that we once had the pleasure of dining in in Venice and Florence. It was such a wonderful memory to relive but this time with our little girl by our side. We can’t wait to introduce her to our favorite country’s beauty in the years to come, but for now we love being able to walk her around the world thanks to Epcot’s World Showcase.

Soon enough our food was placed on our table and all of the sights and smells were incredibly overwhelming. It was love at first glance for me, I couldn’t wait to dive in and take my first bite of my Gluten Free Pasta Pomodoro. 

Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.
Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.

Presentation wise this dish was exquisite. The whole roasted tomatoes scattered throughout and the mound of burrata mozzarella cheese placed in the center made my mouth water. And I must say, the portion was huge. I’m not sure if this was typically a lunch size portion but it was incredibly large, more than enough for two to share. 

Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.
Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.

Now onto the actual taste of this dish. The actual pasta component of the dish was very tasty and perfect in texture, not mushy in the slightest bit, just how gluten free pasta should be cooked. As far as the tomato sauce, I’m usually not a huge fan of tomato sauces but this one was very light and not overwhelming in the slightest bit. The burrata cheese was a smooth and creamy version of fresh mozzarella and was the perfect addition to the light tomato sauce and gluten free pasta. My first bite of pasta, tomato sauce, burrata cheese, and a smidgen of basil was pure heaven. The flavor combination was absolute perfection for my picky palate! I shared a bit with my husband when he had finished his Tuscan Pork Ribs and he too agreed that the gluten free dish was truly amazing! Thank you Tutto Gusto for such a filling and satisfying lunch, I can see many a gluten free lunch and dinner here in our future!

Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.
Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.

While we were certainly all filled after our pasta, ribs, and chicken fingers, who could seriously resist the temptation of a Gluten Free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries? We just had to give it a try, so we ordered one and shared it between the three of us. My little one who had become especially picky with food on our vacation (more than likely because of her brewing ear infection, which I’ll tell you more about that scary experience in another post) absolutely loved this treat! It was light and fluffy, and not too sweet but with the addition of the cherries, it was a perfect ending to a wonderful lunch! 

Just a few tips about Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, you can’t use your dining plan here, however the experience and different food options were totally worth an out-of-pocket dining for us. Also, they do not take reservations which I kind of like so you can just spontaneously stop in and give it a try if you’re in the mood for that type of cuisine. Most of their dishes are either small plate or large enough to be shared which they indicate on their menu, if you’re unsure just ask your server. To take a look at their menu in its entirety just follow this link. I personally can’t wait to stop in here again and either order my beloved Pomodoro pasta dish or a gluten free non-pasta dish (fingers crossed)! 

Stay tuned next week for more of my Disney dining likes and dislikes!

For now, have a magical holiday weekend,

Lindsay

Gluten Free At Epcot’s Flower And Garden Festival 2014: Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries

This Disney trip we were so fortunate to be able to attend the Flower And Garden Festival at Epcot, we’d never been but have heard fantastic things about how gorgeous Epcot is decorated by Disney’s finest topiaries and flower displays. On Day 2 of our trip, Epcot had extra magic hours so we decided to venture over in that neck of the woods for the day. The reviews that we had read on the festival prior to going did not do the hard work and creativity that goes into the elaborate displays placed everywhere throughout Epcot any justice. Just after scanning our magic bands to enter we were greeted by huge Donald, Daisy, and Goofy topiaries which my little girl couldn’t have been happier to see. The attention to detail was truly remarkable, not terribly surprising when you’re talking about Disney though. Here’s a quick look at Donald, Daisy, and Goofy who welcomed us into Epcot!

Welcome to Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival 2014.
Welcome to Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival 2014.

Our first stop was to do the parent swap for Soarin and then to revisit the revamped Test Track. Both were amazing as always, I have to say they did a great job with Test Track, it certainly is a bit more thrilling then what I can remember. By 9 am though we were in line to meet little one’s Disney favorites: Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. At only 1 1/2 she truly knows and loves each of Disney’s characters, Mickey and his friends being her favorites. After a quick wait she was in sight of Mickey, waving and saying hello frantically. Finally, it was her time to shine, she ran over to give Mickey a huge hug and kiss giving us so much to awe about. Visits with Goofy and Minnie were just the same, filled with so much love and happiness from out little baby girl. After an amazing start to our morning we were off to enjoy Nemo and his aquarium and then it was time to head over to the World Showcase.

I was excited to hear that there would be some different food stands offering gluten free treats at the Flower and Garden Festival this year. One item in particular that caught my eye were the Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries in China. While little one napped after her exciting morning, Dan and I meandered around the countries, trying tiny bites here and there and finally we came upon China. I couldn’t help but give the gluten free candied strawberries a try. 

Candied Strawberries Epcot Blog Pics (1)
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2014: China’s Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries

After ordering, three huge candied strawberries greeted me at the kitchen window. These were huge strawberries which was a fantastic sight to me as I happen to love strawberries. They were covered in melted sugar and dusted with sesame seeds which I thought was an interesting twist. I must say I really enjoyed the candying effect of the strawberries, which were perfectly sweet and delicious. However, the sesame seed addition wasn’t my favorite. While I wasn’t a fan of the sesame seeds, my husband, who has by far a much more adventurous palate, seemed to really enjoy them. 

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Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries dusted in sesame seeds.

All in all, they were a refreshing treat. I loved the combination of the candy idea with huge and sweetly plump strawberries but could have done without the sesame seeds atop, or at least on only half so my husband could enjoy them on the other half. It was so nice to be able to participate in this extra part of the Flower and Garden Festival so I’m so grateful for Epcot taking the extra step to indicate gluten content on any of these extra dishes at their food stands. These strawberries were definitely creative and worth giving a try! 

Stay tuned for Day 2’s lunch at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy!

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

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