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!
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.
What do you get when a commercial fisherman owns a seafood restaurant? “Food that is fresh, makes you feel good and reminds you of home! The perfect place to warm your soul!”
Take advantage of Cowichan Bay’s 34th Annual Wooden Boat Festival – July 6th & 7th – to try Rock Cod Cafe – 1759 Cowichan Bay Rd (250) 746-1550
- Free, family friendly festival attracts over 1,500 people to Cowichan Bay Village. Children’s boat building and fishing derby, a children’s RC boat pond, a People’s Choice Awards Salmon BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, marine demonstrations, a ‘Best of the Bay’ chowder contest, brown bag dinghy races, live entertainment and more. Check out the Silent Auction table! We are very happy to donate a Rock Cod gift card. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will go towards the programs and activities offered by the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Rock Cod Cafe saluted by Shaw TV and You Gotta Eat Here!
Watch Tourism Victoria’s lovely two minute Rock Cod Cafe Video!
It’s not just the food that gives Rock Cod Cafe its great reputation. Owner Jacob Hökanson commits, “If the ocean is going to look after me, it’s my obligation to look after the ocean.” Rock Cod Cafe is a proud participant in both the Ocean Wise Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Program and the Marine Stewardship Council. Look for menu notations that indicate that the catch is local, from the Island area and sustainable.
Rock Cod Cafe also commits to taking care of gluten-free and celiac diners. “Our waitstaff are pleased to walk you through Rock Cod’s comprehensive celiac-friendly offerings to customize your order according to your sensitivities. When we prepare celiac-friendly meals, we use clean, separate pans, separate flippers, a separate cutting board and employ good hand-washing techniques to minimize the risk of cross contamination. Your health and enjoyment are important to us so we caution our diners that our deep fryer is used to cook wheat item. Please choose accordingly.”
Rock Cod is determined to make all their offerings the best that they can be from fish, veggies, chicken and beef! Give them a try – you’ll be hooked for life! Now serving Wow Factor Gluten-Free Desserts!
View Celiac-Friendly Menu • RockCodCafe.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
View Regular Menu.
www.oceanwise.ca
www.msc.org
What do you get when a commercial fisherman owns a seafood restaurant? “Food that is fresh, makes you feel good and reminds you of home! The perfect place to warm your soul!”
Take advantage of Cowichan Bay’s 34th Annual Wooden Boat Festival – July 6th & 7th – to try Rock Cod Cafe – 1759 Cowichan Bay Rd (250) 746-1550
- Free, family friendly festival attracts over 1,500 people to Cowichan Bay Village. Children’s boat building and fishing derby, a children’s RC boat pond, a People’s Choice Awards Salmon BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, a pancake breakfast on Sunday morning, marine demonstrations, a ‘Best of the Bay’ chowder contest, brown bag dinghy races, live entertainment and more. Check out the Silent Auction table! We are very happy to donate a Rock Cod gift card. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will go towards the programs and activities offered by the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
Rock Cod Cafe saluted by Shaw TV and You Gotta Eat Here!
Watch Tourism Victoria’s lovely two minute Rock Cod Cafe Video!
It’s not just the food that gives Rock Cod Cafe its great reputation. Owner Jacob Hökanson commits, “If the ocean is going to look after me, it’s my obligation to look after the ocean.” Rock Cod Cafe is a proud participant in both the Ocean Wise Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Program and the Marine Stewardship Council. Look for menu notations that indicate that the catch is local, from the Island area and sustainable.
Rock Cod Cafe also commits to taking care of gluten-free and celiac diners. “Our waitstaff are pleased to walk you through Rock Cod’s comprehensive celiac-friendly offerings to customize your order according to your sensitivities. When we prepare celiac-friendly meals, we use clean, separate pans, separate flippers, a separate cutting board and employ good hand-washing techniques to minimize the risk of cross contamination. Your health and enjoyment are important to us so we caution our diners that our deep fryer is used to cook wheat item. Please choose accordingly.”
Rock Cod is determined to make all their offerings the best that they can be from fish, veggies, chicken and beef! Give them a try – you’ll be hooked for life! Now serving Wow Factor Gluten-Free Desserts!
View Celiac-Friendly Menu • RockCodCafe.com • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram
View Regular Menu.
www.oceanwise.ca
www.msc.org
