Gluten-Free Events Calendar
If it’s gluten free and happening in Victoria, Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands, you’ll find it listed here! From tastings to contests, farmer’s markets to food trucks – this is your calendar to Gluten-Free Paradise! Join Victoria’s Gluten-Free Foodies and add a new restaurant – and possibly a new gluten-free friend – to your repertoire!
2019 Class Schedule: Saturdays on February 23, March 16, May 11, June 15, July 20, September 21, October 19 & November 16.
Learn How to Be Gluten Free! Two-hour information sessions are open to anyone adversely affected by gluten: celiacs, gluten sensitive, and the wheat allergic. No diagnosis needed. Taught by the experts – volunteers with the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Receive information, optimism and plenty of gluten-free goodies to go from The Celiac Scene. Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com for more information.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria • Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas • Bake My Day • Bard’s Beer • Big Wheel Burger • Canadian Celiac Association • Care Bakery • Cascadia Gluten-Free Foods • Chef Pola Culinary • Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery • Corn Thins by Real Foods • Country Grocer • Deep Cove Market • Duinkerken Foods • Floating Fish Store • Gluten Free Resource Directory Canada • Glutenull • Grimm’s Fine Foods • Hertel Meats • Hornby Organic • Joint Pizzeria • Judy G Gluten-Free • Lifestyle Market & Select Stores • MCLEAN MEATS • Mother Nature’s Market & Deli • Noodle Box • O’Doughs • Okanagan Rawsome • Pepper’s Foods • Pirate Chips Nanaimo • Pomme Natural Foods Nanaimo • Portofino Tested-to-Be-Gluten-Free • Rawthentic Eatery • Rock Cod Cafe • Route 14 Sooke • Royal Nuts • Royal Spice Indian Restaurant • Schar Canada • Selena De Vries, RD • Six Mile Pub • Stella’s Perogies • Taco Revolution Food Truck • Taste – A Place For Coffee • The Market Stores • Thrifty Foods • TOTAL PREPARE • Two Stickers • Union Street Grill • Wendel’s True Foods • Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro • Wise Bites • WOLF Meal Prep
Click on image for printer-friendly version
Gluten-free? Thrifty Foods has got you covered. Gluten-free living starts with gluten-free grocery shopping. To help make your next trip down the grocery aisle a little easier, print out or pick up an in-store copy of their Gluten-Free Grocery Guide.
That’s not all! To make the hunt for great gluten-free options even easier, Thrifty Foods has put GF (gluten-free) signs on the shelves to mark all of their gluten-free items.
Thrifty Foods Gluten-Free Services
About Thrifty Foods
- Find a Store
- On-Line Shopping
- Services
- Community
- Contact • 250-544-1234 • 1-800-667-8280
- thriftyfoods.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube
2019 Class Schedule: Saturdays on March 16, May 11, June 15, July 20, September 21, October 19 & November 16.
Learn How to Be Gluten Free! Two-hour information sessions are open to anyone adversely affected by gluten: celiacs, gluten sensitive, and the wheat allergic. No diagnosis needed. Taught by the experts – volunteers with the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Receive information, optimism and plenty of gluten-free goodies to go from The Celiac Scene. Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com for more information.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria • Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas • Bake My Day • Bard’s Beer • Big Wheel Burger • Canadian Celiac Association • Care Bakery • Cascadia Gluten-Free Foods • Chef Pola Culinary • Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery • Corn Thins by Real Foods • Country Grocer • Deep Cove Market • Duinkerken Foods • Floating Fish Store • Gluten Free Resource Directory Canada • Glutenull • Grimm’s Fine Foods • Hertel Meats • Hornby Organic • Joint Pizzeria • Judy G Gluten-Free • Lifestyle Market & Select Stores • MCLEAN MEATS • Mother Nature’s Market & Deli • Noodle Box • O’Doughs • Okanagan Rawsome • Pepper’s Foods • Pirate Chips Nanaimo • Pomme Natural Foods Nanaimo • Portofino Tested-to-Be-Gluten-Free • Rawthentic Eatery • Rock Cod Cafe • Route 14 Sooke • Royal Nuts • Royal Spice Indian Restaurant • Schar Canada • Selena De Vries, RD • Six Mile Pub • Stella’s Perogies • Taco Revolution Food Truck • Taste – A Place For Coffee • The Market Stores • Thrifty Foods • TOTAL PREPARE • Two Stickers • Union Street Grill • Wendel’s True Foods • Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro • Wise Bites • WOLF Meal Prep
Click on image for printer-friendly version
Gluten-free? Thrifty Foods has got you covered. Gluten-free living starts with gluten-free grocery shopping. To help make your next trip down the grocery aisle a little easier, print out or pick up an in-store copy of their Gluten-Free Grocery Guide.
That’s not all! To make the hunt for great gluten-free options even easier, Thrifty Foods has put GF (gluten-free) signs on the shelves to mark all of their gluten-free items.
Thrifty Foods Gluten-Free Services
About Thrifty Foods
- Find a Store
- On-Line Shopping
- Services
- Community
- Contact • 250-544-1234 • 1-800-667-8280
- thriftyfoods.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube
Learn How to Be Gluten Free! Two-hour information sessions are open to anyone adversely affected by gluten: celiacs, gluten sensitive, and the wheat allergic. No diagnosis needed.
Next classes: May 11, June 15, July 20, September 21, October 19 & November 16.
Taught by the experts – volunteers with the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Receive information, optimism and plenty of gluten-free goodies to go from The Celiac Scene. Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com for more information.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria • Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas • Bake My Day • Bard’s Beer • Big Wheel Burger • Canadian Celiac Association • Care Bakery • Cascadia Gluten-Free Foods • Chef Pola Culinary • Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery • Corn Thins by Real Foods • Country Grocer • Deep Cove Market • Duinkerken Foods • Floating Fish Store • Gluten Free Resource Directory Canada • Glutenull • Grimm’s Fine Foods • Hertel Meats • Hornby Organic • Joint Pizzeria • Judy G Gluten-Free • Lifestyle Market & Select Stores • MCLEAN MEATS • Mother Nature’s Market & Deli • Noodle Box • O’Doughs • Pepper’s Foods • Pirate Chips Nanaimo • Pomme Natural Foods Nanaimo • Portofino Tested-to-Be-Gluten-Free • Rawthentic Eatery • Rock Cod Cafe • Royal Nuts • Royal Spice Indian Restaurant • Schar Canada • Selena De Vries, RD • Six Mile Pub • Stella’s Perogies • Taco Revolution Food Truck • Taste – A Place For Coffee • The Market Stores • Thrifty Foods • TOTAL PREPARE • Two Stickers • Union Street Grill • Wendel’s True Foods • Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro • Wise Bites • WOLF Meal Prep
Click on image for printer-friendly version
Gluten-free? Thrifty Foods has got you covered. Gluten-free living starts with gluten-free grocery shopping. To help make your next trip down the grocery aisle a little easier, print out or pick up an in-store copy of their Gluten-Free Grocery Guide.
That’s not all! To make the hunt for great gluten-free options even easier, Thrifty Foods has put GF (gluten-free) signs on the shelves to mark all of their gluten-free items.
Thrifty Foods Gluten-Free Services
About Thrifty Foods
- Find a Store
- On-Line Shopping
- Services
- Community
- Contact • 250-544-1234 • 1-800-667-8280
- thriftyfoods.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube
The CCA’s GF 101 Sessions are normally ‘Members Only’ BUT because we know that so many people need this kind of support, we have opened up the webinar to the public. Everyone welcome! Who is Ellen Bayens?
Communication is the key ingredient to every successful gluten-free restaurant meal. When diners, chefs and servers are able to collaborate on what is required and what can be reasonably delivered, there is cause for celebration!
But where to begin?
The following is a list of suggested questions to help Start the Conversation on Celiac-Friendly Dining©. In very short order, the responses you receive will allow you to gage any given restaurant’s degree of gluten awareness – and willingness. For the very best outcome, call ahead or take your host or server aside before ordering.
NOTE: Restaurants that have carefully researched how to serve us love going into detail. If your questions are met with impatience and exasperation – go with your gut. When restaurants get gluten free right, reward them generously!
Question #1
- Please tell me about the meals you recommend to diners who need to eat gluten free?
Ingredients
- What ingredients will be used to make my order?
- How do staff know whether ingredients are really gluten free?
- Says so on labels?
- Checked product website?
- Called the manufacturer?
- Checked with The Celiac Scene? The CCA?
- Will pure spices, prepared seasonings or soy sauce made from wheat be used to make my meal?
- What other food items are cooked in the oil that ‘gluten-free’ items are cooked in?
- How are sauces and dressings thickened?
Procedures
- How will my server communicate with the kitchen that a gluten-free order has been placed?
- How are gluten-free orders prepared in relation to the regular flow of the kitchen?
- Will staff wash their hands / change gloves / change aprons clean surfaces before preparing my order?
- How do staff ensure that all utensils used in preparing my food are free from any trace of gluten?
- Separate or scrubbed frying pan? Griddle scrubbed? Aluminum foil barrier? Dedicated pots? Dedicated colanders?
- What other precautions do staff take to minimize / prevent cross contamination?
- How will my server confirm with the kitchen that the order they are collecting has been prepared gluten free?
- How will my server confirm that the order they are delivering to me is gluten free?
How did the restaurant learn how to meet the needs of gluten-free diners?
- Through The Celiac Scene? Canadian Celiac Association?
- Registered dietitian? Local health authority?
- Staff members with celiac disease?
- The risk of cross contamination with airborne gluten flour is HIGH. Partake only if strict protocols are in place to protect your safety.
- Are ‘gluten-free’ crusts prepared on-site?
- During regular operations? Before regular production? During downtimes / days?
- See questions in Ingredient section above.
- Are pre-made ‘gluten-free’ crusts purchased from a dedicated gluten-free manufacturer? Who is the manufacturer?
- How are gluten-free sauces and toppings prepared?
- During regular operations? Before regular production? During downtimes / days
- See questions in Ingredient section above.
How do staff ensure that all utensils used in preparing gluten-free orders are free of any trace of gluten?- How are utensils, crusts, sauces and toppings protected from cross-contamination with gluten while waiting to be used?
- How will my order be protected from cross-contamination with gluten once it has been prepared and/or while waiting to be served?
How do staff ensure that all utensils used in preparing gluten-free orders are free of any trace of gluten?If the prospect of grilling restaurants about their gluten-free friendliness feels intimidating, you’ve got options!
Visit The Celiac Scene for restaurants that enjoy an excellent reputation within Victoria and Vancouver Island’s celiac community.
Join Victoria’s Gluten-Free Foodies to dine with a gluten-free group at carefully vetted restaurants. With more than 100 Meet-Ups under our belts, choose from a huge inventory of tried and tested celiac-friendly restaurants.
Learn How to Be Gluten Free! Two-hour information sessions are open to anyone adversely affected by gluten: celiacs, gluten sensitive, and the wheat allergic. No diagnosis needed.
Next classes: June 15, July 20, September 21, October 19 & November 16.
Taught by the experts – volunteers with the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Receive information, optimism and plenty of gluten-free goodies to go from The Celiac Scene. Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com for more information.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria • Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas • Bake My Day • Bard’s Beer • Big Wheel Burger • Canadian Celiac Association • Care Bakery • Chef Pola Culinary • Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery • Corn Thins by Real Foods • Country Grocer • Deep Cove Market • Duinkerken Foods • Floating Fish Store • Gluten Free Resource Directory Canada • Glutenull • Grimm’s Fine Foods • Hertel Meats • Hornby Organic • Joint Pizzeria • Judy G Gluten-Free • Lifestyle Market & Select Stores • MCLEAN MEATS • Mother Nature’s Market & Deli • Noodle Box • O’Doughs • Pepper’s Foods • Pirate Chips Nanaimo • Pomme Natural Foods Nanaimo • Portofino Tested-to-Be-Gluten-Free • Rawthentic Eatery • Rock Cod Cafe • Royal Nuts • Royal Spice Indian Restaurant • Selena De Vries, RD • Six Mile Pub • Stella’s Perogies • Taco Revolution Food Truck • Taste – A Place For Coffee • The Market Stores • TOTAL PREPARE • Two Stickers • Union Street Grill • Wendel’s True Foods • Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro • Wise Bites • WOLF Meal Prep
Thank you to Thrifty Foods for providing classroom space.
- Living Gluten-Free
- Gluten-Free Resources
- Gluten-Free Menu Planning
- Gluten-Free Recipes
- Gluten-Free Options on Pinterest
- Browse for Gluten-Free Items
About Thrifty Foods
- Find a Store
- On-Line Shopping
- Services
- Community
- Contact • 250-544-1234 • 1-800-667-8280
- thriftyfoods.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube
APOLOGIES TO ALL! BENJAMIN”S BITES WILL NOT BE APPEARING. Special orders up to Christmas still welcome at info@benjaminsbites.com or 250-884-3093.
benjaminsbites.com • Facebook • Twitter
About Benjamin’s Bites
Benjamin’s Bites Cookies and Brownies are made with documented to be 100% gluten-free, peanut/tree nut free, soy-free ingredients. These vegan treats are produced in a “home kitchen,” using a strict cross-contamination prevention protocol. For further information, please contact Benjamin’s Bites directly at info@benjaminsbites.com or 250-884-3093.
-
Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Soy-Free, Sulfite-Free
-
Vegetarian, Vegan, Kosher, GMO free
-
Camino chocolate is organic and fair trade from LaSiembra Cooperative
- Complete Ingredient List: GF flours (rice, potato starch, tapioca starch, sorghum), vegan margarine or palm shortening, vegan sugar, flax, chia, water, cocoa, chocolate, organic apples, GF oats, cinnamon, chai spice, raisins, coconut milk, non-gmo canola oil, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, sunflower butter, skittles candy, molasses, custard powder, coconut, vegan icing sugar.
S’mores Cupcakes
Benjamin’s Bites’ Back Story
Benjamin’s Bites Cookies were borne out of necessity. At fourteen months, Tony and Debbie discovered that their son, Benjamin, had multiple food allergies. It was heartbreaking and frightening to see his body react with real physical symptoms.
After eliminating everything that Benjamin’s body was reacting to, the next step was to eat as many whole foods as possible. Debbie had always been a “label reader” but became increasingly concerned when she picked up product after product and realized, “No, he can’t have this.” It was challenging, but after searching they found a variety of foods which were safe for Benjamin. The one thing we were unable to find was a cookie which tasted both homemade and was also appealing to those without food intolerances. The family had some tough critics when it came to sweets. They were the perfect test subjects!
Like Debbie’s Grandma and Mom, I loved to bake. She challenged herself to create a cookie that contained no gluten, eggs, soy, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, or sulphites. The flour blends found in the stores just didn’t seem to have the taste she was searching for. Why not mill her own, she thought? She purchased a home grain mill and, after many combinations of grains, came up with ‘Benjamin’s Bites Flour Blend.’
Debbie began to bake cookies and bake cookies and bake cookies! After almost two years of test baking (and some real hockey pucks), she had a cookie that was free of gluten, eggs, soy, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sulphites. The best thing? It tasted really good.
Our mission has never changed: to create a gluten free/allergy friendly cookie that tasted homemade and used familiar and pronounceable ingredients.
They were developed for people who can’t eat a regular cookie due to allergies or gluten sensitivities, but the upshot is that people without food intolerances are enjoying them, too! We encourage everyone to taste Benjamin’s Bites Cookies, always checking the ingredients before sharing. We do have some tricks up our sleeves, so be on the lookout for more Benjamin’s Bites products soon.
