I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post. See more details here.
As a mom of a child with severe food allergies, there is nothing more complicated than traveling and dining. We have been turned away from more restaurants in facilities than I care to mention.
Traveling and food are my passion, and often my son with severe food & life allergies will accompany me. Our latest travel to the Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos showed me hope for bringing him along. Parents, those of you with food allergies or those of you that are parents of children with allergies, pack your bags and get to a Great Wolf Lodge.
The Great Wolf Lodge will provide you with an outstanding place to lodge at, play at and dine in. From dairy intolerances to Gluten Free dining and all food allergies in between, the Lodge surpasses my test of allergen-friendly dining. This is our story on how to lavishly live allergen friendly dining out loud at the Great Wolf Lodge.
Allergen Friendly Dining At The Great Wolf Lodge
While our meals were hosted, please note, story, and images are my own based on my experience at The Great Wolf Lodge. Remember, this post is based on my son’s allergies, and allergies differ from person to person. Always check with the Food Manager and Chef do not assume that you can just order.
Today, food intolerances and allergies while considered commonplace, are not so commonplace when seeking out a restaurant, resort, or facility that will truly set the standard for what allergen friendly dining is.
I am always on the lookout for places that support Allergen friendly dining making it possible for my son to enjoy himself in order that we can all enjoy ourselves. Seeking out destinations that offer allergen friendly dining is one of my missions as we travel as a family and I hit the jackpot at Great Wolf Lodge.
MEET THE CHEF
First things first, we checked in and got settled and once I got the kids down to the waterpark I played for a while. Once he closed I took my son up to me Chef Stephen who helped us with our first meal and set us up for how to work with the other chefs at her other meals.
Great Wolf Lodge certainly takes pride in working with those that have food allergies, and my son was no exception. He has so many food allergies that it is often impossible to dine out but The Great Wolf Lodge made it possible for him to dine in a restaurant and order what he wanted. Chef Stephen made a list of Niko’s allergies and then he asked him what he wanted.
What I loved is that Chef Steven explained to us that Niko’s allergies were minimal compared to some of the allergies that they had to work with on a daily basis. Hearing this was reassuring as a parent and the fact that Niko could even have his favorite ‘fries’ was even cooler!
ALLERGEN FRIENDLY DINING
Chef Steven created french fries in a pan for Niko from scratch so that he could enjoy french fries. chicken strips, and french fries, without cross-contamination.
However, our story of dining with allergies does not stop here because we were here for a few days.
Our breakfast stop was made easy as we let our server know that we need to speak to the chef and it was not an odd request. Upon our request, the server brought us the chef and the chef prepared Niko’s breakfast. Niko simply wanted a bagel as well as bacon and he ate it all and had no issues with cross-contamination! Yeah!
On the morning of our departure, Niko kept things simple and had a bowl of cereal with milk. He is not allergic to milk so and the cereal is all packaged in cartons while the milk is in its own storage, so no cross-contamination. Niko went up to the buffet grabbed the cereal of his choice a few times and ate.
Dining Without Food Allergies
For those of you that do not have food allergies, the buffet is exceptional. You will find anything from rice to a pasta bar and several different cuts of meat. I found plenty of vegetarian options from pasta to asparagus and potatoes and other combinations of vegetables. There is a salad section so you can make your own salad, and soup.
DESSERT
Save room for dessert because there are cookies and cupcakes and other delectables that you don’t want to pass on especially after a day of working it off and that waterpark going up and down the steps as youtube LOL.
TIPS OF DINING AT GREAT WOLF LODGE
Do you make sure to make reservations ahead of your dining time because tables are reserved, and you simply make them by either heading up to the front desk or making them at the restaurant? While no one was turned away it did make it hard on the hostess to find seating for those without reservations, so plan ahead!
The restaurant is open all day long from breakfast until late dinner till 10 o’clock in the evening. There are plenty of soft drinks on the menu, there is also water and the coffee is really good.
We ate after coming out of the waterpark late one night which was way too late to eat before bed (our mistake). We also ate breakfast at a later seating and one at the earlier, both were equivalent in service and food options. The buffet is well-maintained.
Silverware or napkins, as well as condiments, are on your table all you have to worry about taking a fresh play each time you dine.
Lavishly live food and travel out loud as a family, where you can accommodate picky eaters, those with allergies and those that just love food. Plan your trip ahead of time, make a reservation and indulge in the lavishness of allergen-friendly dining at the Great Wolf Lodge.