Disneyland Imagineers have transformed the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square into the fabulous Tiana’s Palace and left no stone unturned in creating an authentic experience for its guests.
Tiana’s Palace will welcome guests starting Sept. 7 but Disney’s media friends were invited to experience the new menu during a private tasting event held Aug. 22.
The inspiration for Tiana’s Palace is from Disney’s Princess and the Frog which followed entrepreneur Tiana who loved to cook her father’s gumbo and wanted to open her own restaurant – Tiana’s Palace.
Imagineers were able to transform the space by repainting the building’s exterior yellow and adding smokestacks to the top of the building complete with twinkling lights that will light up the dark nights.
With my family roots in Louisiana, I was ready to dig in and see how the Disneyland chefs brought a “Taste of New Orleans” to Anaheim.
House-filled Beignet
If you love Disneyland’s Pineapple Churro with dipping sauce you will LOVE the House-filled Beignet. If you’ve been to New Orleans you know that Beignets are a local staple and Disneyland chefs adding the lemon ice box filling is perfection. The filling is a little messy so if you plan on enjoying this as you would a Mickey Mouse Beginet I suggest having napkins with you.
Joffrey’s Coffee Chicory Cold Brew
Chicory coffee is another New Orleans staple that has made its way to Anaheim. If you enjoy the Cafe Au Lait at Cafe Du Monde then you won’t be disappointed. The chicory flavor isn’t overwhelming and has just enough sweetener to be enjoyable. They have even added Ray the Firefly to the cup to light up your walk through the resort.
Seven Greens Gumbo
Next up was the 7 Greens Gumbo which was my least favorite dish. If you are a fan of Okra Gumbo or plant-based meals then you will enjoy it. The flavors mix well over the heirloom rice which is sourced from New Orleans but I preferred their other gumbo offering much better.
Beef Po-boy Sandwich with a side of Red Beans & Rice
This was a delicious addition to the menu at Tiana’s Palace. Po-boys can contain any type of protein but are dressed the same – mayonnaise, pickles, lettuce and tomato. The addition of the red beans and rice compliments the sandwich which is finger-licking good! The sauce and seasonings were on point and with the French Bread being sourced from Louisiana it made the taste more authentic. Special kudos to the chefs on the house-made pickles.
House Gumbo
This dish is simply AMAZING! The roux is the star of the dish wish is thick and creamy and aesthetically resembles a stew but once you put that first bite in your mouth you are in gumbo heaven because it is so flavorful – and spicy. The dish features heirloom rice and generous portions of andouille sausage and chicken, which are imported from New Orleans, that would make the Chase family proud.
Disneyland chefs spent a good amount of time with the family of Leah Chase, who was the inspiration for Tiana. Ms. Chase’s family continues to operate Dooky Chase’s restaurant which is located in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans.
Gulf Shrimp and Grits
I couldn’t WAIT to try the shrimp and grits and this was my favorite dish of all. The grits were cooked to perfection (meaning they weren’t clumpy or sticky) and the Disneyland chefs added two types of cheese to give it an extra kick! The gulf shrimp are also imported from Louisiana alongside the rice, sausage, and French Bread. I know you wouldn’t typically think of eating grits at Disneyland but I strongly encourage you to try it.
Kids aren’t left out. There are three kid’s meal options featuring Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Toasted Ham and Cheese Sandwich, and Roasted Chicken Drumstick with heirloom rice.
Overall, Disneyland has once again put together an authentic menu to stay true to the history and roots of the city of New Orleans and its cuisine. I could tell they did their research on not only the seasoning, food offerings, and decor they paid attention to the most important detail of any restaurant table in the Crescent City.
All of our tables were outfitted with Tabasco sauce shipped straight from Avery Island located in New Iberia, Louisiana. The McIlhenny family has grown, cured, and bottled their famous tabasco sauce since 1868, which continues to complement cajun dishes around the world.
Tiana’s Palace opens to the public on Sept. 7 and guests can save time and order their food on the Disney mobile app for pickup.
To purchase tickets and to make your reservation visit Disneyland.com.
The Disneyland Resort is accessible by public transportation so if you plan to Go Metro click here to plan your trip!