Gluten-Free Events on Vancouver Island

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!

Feb

Sat

Skate Fundraiser for Food Allergies @ Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre

Tickets

Feb 23 @ 2:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Fun skate from 2:45 to 3:45 (admission and skate rental at the door). Meet members of the Victoria Grizzlies hockey team!

Food Allergy and Oral Immunotherapy Q&A session with allergists Dr. Cameron and Dr. Cook, 4 to 5 p.m.

Click here for more information.

Door prizes, 50/50 draw and lots of fun for the whole family!

Oral Immune Therapy All proceeds from the event go to the Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) Research Program at the BC Children’s Hospital. OIT is a cutting-edge desensitization treatment for patients living with serious food allergies — come to the Q&A to find out more!

http://www.bcchf.ca/OITforBC • Facebook • oitforbc@gmail.com

Categories: Gluten-Free Events Tags: allergy food allergy oral immunotherapy

Nov

Sat

CANCELLED – Benjamin’s Bites @ Glenlyon Norfolk School Fair

Tickets

Nov 23 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

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.

Categories: Farmers Markets and Fairs Tags: allergy friendly Benjamin's Bites glenlyon norfolk gluten free

Mar

Thu

Gluten-Free Foodies Meet Up @ Dosa Paragon

Tickets

Mar 19 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join Victoria’s Gluten-Free Foodies for Fabulous Dosas & Sauces at Dosa Paragon!

Thursday, March 19th at 6pm. 735 Yates Street – tucked inside St. Andrew’s Square Building – across from Cineplex Odeon.

RSVP to ellen@theceliacscene.com

DOSA – a cooked flat thin layered rice batter, somewhat similar to a crepe.
PARAGON – a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.

• dosaparagon.ca • Facebook • Instagram • Contact • 778.440.2206
• Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 11-8:30 • Fri-Sat 11-9 • Sun11-8 • Closed Mondays.

• About Dosa Paragon
• Dosa Paragon Menu
• Order Online
• Take Out Menu
• Skip the Dishes

Thursday Special – Vegetable Biriyani

A bold and flavorful Indian rice dish with bell peppers, peas, carrots and potatoes in a spiced rice dish made with turmeric, garam masala and other warm spices.

Friday-Saturday-Sunday Special – Chicken Biriyani

a delicious savory rice dish that is loaded with spicy marinated chicken, caramelized onions, and flavorful saffron rice.

About South Indian Cuisine

DOSA – a crispy savoury rice crepe cooked flat thin layered, made from fermented rice and lentil batter, then filled.
UTHAPPAM – thick pancake made from rice and lentil batter, with different toppings.
PAPADUM – a thin crisp disk shaped lentil wafers, made from seasoned black gram flour, either fried or grilled with dry heat.
VADA – a savoury fried snack from India. It is made from lentils.
IDLY – a savoury, steamed rice cake very popular in Southern India and Sri Lanka , from Indian subcontinent. IDLY are made by Steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils and rice. Learn more about this super food here.
SAMBAR – lentils and Vegetables cooked with tamarind and blend of spices.
INDIAN PICKLE- known as Achar, made from a variety of vegetables & fruits, preserved in brine, vinegar, edible oils and a blend of various Indian spices.
Click here to view the complete menu.

Victoria Buzz Review by Brishti Basu ¹

On July 8th, Prashant “Bob” Unnikrishnan and his wife Lathika quietly opened the doors to Dosa Paragon, a south Indian restaurant that is one of its kind in Victoria, and perhaps all of Vancouver Island. Unlike other East Indian eateries in town, this restaurant specializes in cuisine local to the south Indian state of Kerala and everything on the menu is made from scratch by the husband-and-wife duo. Bob, who has lived in Victoria for the past 6 years, brings his dishes straight from India after having worked in major cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Before opening Dosa Paragon, he worked as a chef at several restaurants around town including Irish Times Pub, John’s Place, and Varsha Indian Kitchen.
Some of their highlights include the Masala Dosa (a rice crepe stuffed with spiced potato), their Onion and Cilantro Uthappam (a savoury pancake topped with onion and cilantro), and for meat eaters, an aromatic and flavourful Chicken Biryani (a spiced rice and chicken dish). Of course, no Indian meal is complete without a drink to go with it.
Those who prefer a cooler beverage may choose the thick, sweet concoction that is their mango smoothie. For those partial to hot drinks, the restaurant offers an authentic ‘masala chai’ or tea flavoured with a mix of spices and herbs.
While Bob and his wife have done practically nothing to advertise their new restaurant, the small eatery always has a steady stream of customers to keep them busy – a testament to the nearly addictive flavours and aromas emanating from Dosa Paragon. They have been so busy, in fact, that the owners have had to extend their business hours up to 9 p.m. to keep up with the demand.
“That’s our motivation,” said Bob when asked about how customers have been responding to his restaurant. “We just want to maintain that momentum as our main goal is customer satisfaction.”

¹ https://www.victoriabuzz.com/2019/08/victorias-first-south-indian-restaurant-is-now-open-on-yates-street

Categories: Gluten-Free Foodies Tags: dosa paragon foodie meet up south indian victoria

May

Thu

10% Senior Discount @ Urban Grocer

Tickets

May 2 all-day

10% Seniors discount every Thursday

excludes eggs, milk, and advertised sales
must be 65 years+

Urban Grocer’s Gluten-Free Flyer!
Urban Grocer’s Complete Weekly Flyer – Friday to Thursdays
Subscribe to Urban Grocer’s news & receive a 10% off coupon!

Click on image to see map

Urban Grocer! Your better every day grocer!

Reviving the grocery tradition at the Junction of Oak Bay Ave and Fort Street! The people behind Urban Grocer have been in the grocery business on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands for more than 50 years.

1625 Fort St (see map) • 778-265-0934
Open 7 Days a Week 7am to 10pm

• www.urban-grocer.ca • Facebook • Instagram • TikTok
• community@urban-grocer.ca
• Subscribe to Urban Fare’s news & receive a 10% off!