i scream, you scream, we all scream for...

soy ice cream! Okay, I've been inspired by an e-mail from Cheryl (thanks Cheryl!). She wanted me to know that you could find Tofutti at ice cream shops in both the Magic Kingdom, and at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It's an important message to get out there, because non-dairy ice cream is out and about at Walt Disney World, and has been for quite some time... and yet I've never seen it on any menu. I believe it's a little bit like the Divvies cookies I mentioned in an earlier post - Disney is doing a pretty good job of making a vegan alternative available where non-vegan treats are sold, but they are doing a dismal job of advertising it. My suggestion: any time you get a hankerin' for something sweet, ASK. If you're craving cookies, head for the nearest bakery and ask for Divvies. If something cold and creamy is calling your name head for the nearest ice cream shop and ask for Tofutti. And another suggestion: if the cast member you first encounter gives you one of those "looks" (you know the one, that one that makes you feel like you grew a second head), then don't hesitate to ask for a manager. It's possible that they won't have it, but it never hurts to ask... and you might just plant the seed that will help the next vegan who passes that way.

So, where are your best bets for the sweet creamy cold stuff? I've heard a couple reports from the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor at the Magic Kingdom. I believe it may also be on hand at Hollywood Scoops at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I'm afraid I haven't heard any reports from Epcot, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't lurking there somewhere. If I had to take a guess at the Animal Kingdom, I'd suggest Dino Bite Snacks.

As for sit-down restaurants, I've heard reports that Sci-Fi Dine-In keeps it on hand. And I can personally attest to finding it at 50's Prime Time Cafe. In fact, during our last visit there, Cousin Tommy started to hand me a nice sundae dish full of vanilla Tofutti, but then told me not to eat it yet. He felt it looked much too bland, so he insisted that I wait a moment while he made some inquiries. He returned shortly with some candy sprinkles and vegan chocolate sauce! Okay, so maybe it's a silly little detail, but gosh, I felt just like a little kid! He completely made my night! (Photo below is missing the chocolate sauce - he brought the sprinkles first, and I couldn't wait any longer to give it a try!)

At the Magic Kingdom, I'd be willing to bet that the Plaza Restaurant has it on hand, or can grab some from the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor. I heard a report quite some time back of someone getting a nice non-dairy sundae at the Garden Grill at Epcot. This was back when they had a sort of "ice cream social" thing, which, I believe, is long gone, but I thought I'd mention it.

Resort restaurants can sometimes surprise you, too. I've heard of Tofutti being available at Kona Cafe, at the Polynesian. Also, I've been told that Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club Resort is happy to create non-dairy sundaes with advance notice. And then there's my favorite restaurant in the whole World - Boma. On my last visit, Chef TJ was already gone, so I didn't get his special touch, but the chef was still quick to find me something. I ended up with a nice bowl of butter-pecan Tofutti, with raspberries and a Divvie's chocolate chip cookie. While it was very easy for her to put together, I still really appreciated the extra thought - it felt like so much more than just a scoop of Tofutti.


Now, back in the day when Chef TJ was at Boma - wow. He used to go all out! One year I got a fancy fried banana dessert with non-dairy ice cream. (Tasty, but it melted too quickly for a decent photo.) My favorite dessert *ever*, though, was the year he made me some chocolate soy ice cream (and, yes, I think he actually "made" it, as opposed to serving me Tofutti) with blueberries, and a fruit topping, and vegan chocolate-covered strawberries! Amazing just doesn't begin to describe it!


Well, I was actually going to share my thoughts on "non-Disney" frozen treats as well, but it seems that I managed to ramble quite a bit already on this tasty subject. I will say that while I'm at Disney, Tofutti always feels like such a treat. However, in the "real world" there are plenty of even better non-dairy ice creams. Soy Dream's Mocha Fudge is one of my favorites, and another is It's Soy Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter. But it's seems I've run out of time, so let me just leave you with one more: Turtle Mountain's Purely Decadent - absolute heaven. :-)