New Dishes Highlight Indian-African Flavors at Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village

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When Sanaa opened in 2009 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village, the cuisine was a new adventure for Disney chefs – a melding of Indian and African influences inspired by the resort’s African theme and the melding of the two cultures so closely connected on the ancient Spice Trade Route.

Now Chef Eddie Mendoza has added new dishes to the menu that he calls “African with an Indian touch.”

“We didn’t invent this fusion, it happened with the ancient spice trade,” says Chef Eddie. “Something magical happened once the Indian spices hit the shores of Africa.”

The restaurant is one of Disney’s top table-service restaurants, but many still consider it a well-kept secret (and a Cast Member favorite). For starters, the view is one of the best at Walt Disney World Resort, with zebras, giraffes and other animals grazing just outside the windows. Lunch is relaxed with lighter fare, and dinner is a bit more elegant and features a top-notch wine list that’s primarily South African.

“The service team is learning the stories behind our new dishes and also having fun learning their pronunciations”, says Chef Eddie. The popular curries remain on the lunch and dinner menus, as well as the butter chicken, but new favorites include a Traditional Sosatie cooked on skewers with lamb and apricots, and served with butternut squash, bacon, cashews and goat cheese. The Biryani, generally considered an Indian dish, gets African spice and seasonal vegetables “influenced from the Cape of Good Hope.”

How about “Boerewors and Slaphakskeentjies,” traditional South African sausages (boerewors) served with a Cape Malay Onion Salad (slaphakskeentjies). We promise it’s all delicious and described on the menu with a glossary that includes everything from Potjie to describe “slow-braised items” to Umngqusho, a “favorite dish of the Congo with samp (hominy) and beans flavored with butter” (said to be Nelson Mandela’s favorite dish).

You can be adventurous or stick with tried-and-true dishes such as grilled New York strip steak or seasonal sustainable fish – but we say this is the time to be adventurous, as Chef Eddie makes sure the dishes are just right (you can ask for more heat if you prefer). Lunch still includes the delectable roasted Peri Peri Chicken sandwich and features the new Kenya Coffee BBQ sandwich. We can make a meal of the Indian-style bread service and accompaniments: Coriander Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Tomato-Date Jam and Mango Chutney, for instance.

“Allergy-friendly menus and dietary needs are pretty simple in the Sanaa kitchen,” says Chef Eddie, “as much of the menu is plant based and easy to tweak for special diets.”

For reservations, visit DisneyWorld.com/dine or call 407-WDW-DINE.

New Dishes Highlight Indian-African Flavors at Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog

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