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

• Weekly Gluten-Free Flyer
• 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

The Kelowna Celiac and Gluten Intolerant Wellness Group will meet Wednesday, January 30th with Registered Dietitian, Selena De Vries of Healthbean Nutrition.

No diagnosis required – just a need or desire to be gluten-free! This is a straight forward question and answer event. Cost FREE!

• Selena De Vries is dedicated to helping individuals who are struggling with digestive issues find food freedom. Selena understands that celiac disease not only effects one’s physical health but also effects one’s emotional health. Using an integrative approach in the management of digestive health conditions, she provides support for those with celiac disease/gluten sensitivity and nutrition coaching for other digestive health conditions.

Get Selena’s Gluten-Free Food Guide!

Selena De Vries hosts a ‘virtual office hour’ on the Canadian Celiac Association Facebook Group every Friday from 12 – 1pm Pacific Standard Time (3pm – 4pm Eastern Standard Time). Selena will post at 12pm stating she is online. Ask your nutrition related questions in the comment section within her post. Arrive early and post your question!

Selena is licensed to practice as a dietitian in British Columbia and her services are available to anyone in Canada. 

Living in the Okanagan or anywhere in British Columbia? View Selena’s services or book an appointment!

• Contact Selena for in-person or on-line support
• HealthBean.ca • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest • Videos • Blog
• selenadevries@gmail.com • 1-778-990-6047

Celiac Total Health Package – 5 sessions

• Includes one initial assessment, 3 follow ups and a meal planning assessment along with a one week meal plan. Selena will recommend labs/procedure to identify any underlying nutrient deficiencies, will provide you with all the education you need to feel confident going gluten free and get you feeling better throughout our appointments, and most importantly, help you prepare and choose healthy GF products and get healthy GF meals on the table that the whole family can enjoy. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Eating Out With Confidence – 3 sessions

• Are you avoiding eating out due to the fear of being ‘glutened?” If so, this package is for you. Selena will provide you with education and resources that will improve your confidence in eating out safely. You will also get access to her on the go! For example, if you are eating out at a restaurant and need help in ordering your meal to reduce risk of being contaminated, she will walk you through what you need to ask to ensure your meal is at low risk of being contaminated. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Meal Planning Initial Assessment – 1 hour In-person – Online, video chat or by phone

• If you are struggling with getting healthy meals on the table that everyone can eat, this is for you. Selena will conduct a meal planning assessment and based on your input, she will put together a sample one week meal plan along with brand name food recommendations. You will get recommendations that makes healthy eating (with food restrictions), convenient, healthy and delicious. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Initial Consultation – 1 hour 30 minutes In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you have been newly diagnosed with celiac disease or if you have celiac disease but are still struggling with symptoms. Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplements and lab tests will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Dietitian on Demand – 30 minutes – Online, video chat or by phone

• This is not for newly diagnosed celiacs or those who are struggling with digestive symptoms. If this is you, please book the initial consult (either celiac or digestive health). This is for you if your symptoms are fairly under control and you have brief questions. For example, a question on supplement use, the inclusion of GF oats in the diet, if you are grocery shopping and want to confirm if a brand name product is gluten free and safe to consume, if you are at a restaurant and want to know how to order an item that will be at low risk for being contaminated, or if you have questions on GF travel. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Initial Digestive Health Consult – 1 hour 15 minutes – In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you are struggling with digestive health concerns or have been diagnosed with a digestive health condition (if you have been diagnosed with celiac, please book the celiac specific consult). Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplement, lab tests and lifestyle recommendations will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

45 Minute Follow Up Appointment – In-person, online, video chat or by phone 

This service can only be booked after an initial consultation has been completed. We will identify how the individual is doing on goals, barriers they may be facing, and steps to take going forward. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Testimonial

• “I contacted Selena when I still wasn’t feeling well a year after my celiac diagnosis. I’d read so much on the Internet I thought I knew everything I needed to know. I was wrong.  
• Selena has important advice on how to do GF properly (it’s not as straightforward as I thought) and for regaining your health. She is organized, punctual, and professional.  And she has celiac disease herself , so she gets it.
• I think a lot of us, by the time we’re diagnosed, have had more than our share of health care practitioners and may not want to bother with a dietitian.
• Selena played a crucial role in my recovery, and I would highly recommend her, whether you’re newly diagnosed or just trying to feel better.”
• ~ Charlene (long-distance celiac disease client)

• HEALTHBEAN NUTRITION  specializes in digestive health.  We deliver easy to digest, bite-size pieces of information so our clients can, finally, achieve the healthy & happy digestive system they’ve been striving for. Learn more ...

• HEALTHBEAN PHILOSOPHY– Selena employs elimination diets and/or a specific diets in accordance with her clients’ conditions, and only when deemed necessary.  She reserves advice about the gluten-free diet for those who require it – not those choosing to follow the diet as a lifestyle choice.  Expect clear, concise instructions on the appropriate diet for you and, maybe even some myth busting! Learn more  …

Selena knows first-hand how her undiagnosed celiac disease affected her physical and emotional health. After telling her that, “Well, you have celiac disease,” her MD suggested she, “google the diet,” and out the door she went. Sound familiar?

That’s why Selena established Healthbean Nutrition.  She is dedicating her education, personal insights and her own recovery to helping her fellow celiacs make this enormous lifestyle transition – and find  joy in eating again! Learn more …

Selena’s Road to Diagnosis

Selena De Vries RD, Celiac Disease Specialist

• “When I was going through university, I was exhausted, ALL the time.  I had to drag myself out to hang out with friends, and if I had it my way I would have spent most days in bed sleeping.  It was not unknown for me to sleep 12-16 hours a day.  Call me crazy, but I related it all to the busy-ness of school.  I was even checked for anemia at one point (common with celiacs) and I was ‘fine.’  

• The symptoms continued through school and the brain fog was undeniable.  I distinctly remember during my dietetic internship (like a medical residency except everything is nutrition based) at Kelowna General Hospital sitting in the office, charting on a patient and, literally, feeling like my brain was so fuzzy that I could barely keep my eyes from nodding off.  It was awful. 

• Another thing I didn’t pay much attention to, was bowels.  I was always constipated.  Never the other way around. Never.  And, I also remember mentioning this to my gastroenterologist just before the endoscopy and he said ‘oh, well with your very low antibody levels and constipation, there is a very low chance that you are actually celiac but we will proceed with the endoscopy since you’re prepped and ready to go.’  

• The piece of paper I received after the endoscopy said to follow up with my GP.  I did follow up with my GP and the report came back positive for celiac disease.  My GP said “well, you’re celiac.  But, you’re a dietitian, right, so this should be easy for you!”  

• Perhaps I had a leg up in the nutrition part of it, but I think we all know that the gluten free diet is not a walk in the park.  And, although, I am so appreciative of the medical care I received, it did open my eyes to the lack of knowledge within the medical community when it came to celiac disease and the lack of support offered to individuals with celiac disease.  

That’s how Healthbean Nutrition was born!

Leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

• *Information and perspectives posted on  The Celiac Scene are intended to provide general information, without independent verification on the part of The Celiac Scene for  the accuracy of the information provided to it. The information is specifically not intended to be a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by your physician or other health care professional. Always consult your own physician or other health care professionals about any medical questions, diagnosis, or treatment, especially before trying any diet. Healthbean Nutrition does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on any content contained herein.

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

• Weekly Gluten-Free Flyer
• 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

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

• Weekly Gluten-Free Flyer
• 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

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

Hertel Meats is celebrating summer this Saturday at Thrifty Foods’ new Belmont location! They’re cooking up their very best bacon – always gluten-free, dairy-free with no added MSG! Catch them outside at 3011 Merchant Way in Langford.

Country Fresh, Naturally The Best!

Established in 1967, Port Alberni’s Hertel Meats pioneered the curing of meats without MSG and lead the way with dairy-free, gluten-free, preservative-free sausages. Their bacon? To die for! Who needs chocolate!

Hertel Meats – Member of  Thrifty Foods ‘Pick BC First Hall of Fame!

Hertel Meats Ltd. was created in 1967, a small family enterprise, providing slaughter, cutting & wrapping, and further processing, of beef, pork and game for local farmers and hunters.

• In the mid 80’s, Tom Hertel recognized and responded to a need he saw in his customers, developing Hertel’s now renowned line of fresh sausages processed without wheat gluten, lactose (milk) products, or artificial preservatives. 
• He also created a naturally smoked bacon cured without the use of sodium nitrite, nitrate or other chemical preservatives which quickly established itself as a top seller and remains in high demand today.
• Hertels was also a pioneer in the production of products seasoned without the use of Monosodium Glutamate. (MSG), a trend that was soon imitated by many other major meat processing plants.

Hertel Meats is renowned among Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland Grocery Retailers for the freshness and availability of their top quality wholesale fresh pork cuts.

Hertel Meats is a proud sponsor of The Celiac Scene and the Canadian Celiac Association’s Gluten-Free Living Classes.

• HertelMeats.ca
• Where to Buy
• About Hertel Meats
• Hertel’s Product Listing
• Cooking & Carving
• Facebook • Instagram
• Contact 1-866-723-9698
• Order Form

SAUSAGES*

Pork Sausage • Breakfast Sausage • Cocktail • Honey & Garlic • Apple & • Cinnamon • Maple & Brown Sugar • Bratwurst • BBQ Bratwurst • Hot Italian • Mild Italian • Chorizo • Turkey

• *British Bangers, Tomato Basil and Rosemary Garlic Sausages contain wheat crumbs. Careful practices are in place to prevent cross contamination.

BACON

• Thick Cut Bacon • Uncured Bacon • Ayreshire Bacon • Back Bacon • Piece Bacon • Piece Back Bacon •

HAM

• Bone-In Ham • Boneless Ham • E-Z Carve Ham • Smoked Picnics • Cottage Roll • Kassler Loin • Smoked Pork Chops • Smoked Ribs • Smoked Jowls • Smoked Hocks •

Where to Purchase Hertel Meats Products

Find Taco Revolution 100% Gluten-Free Food Truck at Car Free YYJ from 11am to 6pm on Sunday , June 16, 2019 on Douglas Street in downtown Victoria!

Click here to read Gluten Sake’s Review!

YES – Taco Revolution Caters! Scroll down for more info!

• Introducing the Beyond Meat Taco!Seasoned with Taco Revolution’s organic taco spice blend, topped with cheddar, shredded lettuce, diced onion, tomato, crema and salsa. It is non-GMO and can be ordered vegan style (without dairy). And as always – it’s 100% gluten free!

Taco Revolution’s tortillas are prepared fresh daily at their dedicated gluten-free facility, made with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free, non-GMO corn flour! Authentic Guajillo, Ancho, Achiote, Chipotle spices and cocao are imported from dedicated facilities in Mexico. All other ingredients are sourced fresh, and as locally as possible from cod to cilantro, carrots to tomatoes! No gluten is allowed on the food truck – full stop! Love, love, love the Revolution!

Taco Revolution tacos are so good you will want them every day, and that’s possible: Keep tabs on Taco Revolution no matter where they go!

• Taco Revolution Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Taco Revolution caters birthday parties, Christmas parties, corporate events, weddings and any kind of public and private events.

Bring the Taco Revolution to your event. They can can take care of your guests with their “All-you-can-eat taco parties”. Basically, it’s like having an open bar, but with tacos! Their prices typically range from $15 to $20 per person, depending on the menu.

Easy is their middle name! Taco Revolution provides all necessary biodegradable service ware (plates, napkins, forks, etc.) and for an extra cost we can provide non-alcoholic drinks as well. Let them give you the peace of mind you deserve during your event!

Contact uprise@tacorevolution.ca or call 250-244-6492 with the desired date, the proposed number of attendees and your preferred budget.

Taco Revolution serves in Victoria, Duncan, Chemainus, Ladysmith, Cedar, Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and anywhere in between.

Check the Events Schedule for Today’s Location

Find Taco Revolution 100% Gluten-Free Food Truck at the Victoria Pride Festival in James Bay Park in Victoria from noon to 6pm.

Learn more about Victoria Pride Festival

Click here to read Gluten Sake’s Review!

YES – Taco Revolution Caters! Scroll down for more info!

• Introducing the Beyond Meat Taco!Seasoned with Taco Revolution’s organic taco spice blend, topped with cheddar, shredded lettuce, diced onion, tomato, crema and salsa. It is non-GMO and can be ordered vegan style (without dairy). And as always – it’s 100% gluten free!

Taco Revolution’s tortillas are prepared fresh daily at their dedicated gluten-free facility, made with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free, non-GMO corn flour! Authentic Guajillo, Ancho, Achiote, Chipotle spices and cocao are imported from dedicated facilities in Mexico. All other ingredients are sourced fresh, and as locally as possible from cod to cilantro, carrots to tomatoes! No gluten is allowed on the food truck – full stop! Love, love, love the Revolution!

Taco Revolution tacos are so good you will want them every day, and that’s possible: Keep tabs on Taco Revolution no matter where they go!

• Taco Revolution Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Taco Revolution caters birthday parties, Christmas parties, corporate events, weddings and any kind of public and private events.

Bring the Taco Revolution to your event. They can can take care of your guests with their “All-you-can-eat taco parties”. Basically, it’s like having an open bar, but with tacos! Their prices typically range from $15 to $20 per person, depending on the menu.

Easy is their middle name! Taco Revolution provides all necessary biodegradable service ware (plates, napkins, forks, etc.) and for an extra cost we can provide non-alcoholic drinks as well. Let them give you the peace of mind you deserve during your event!

Contact uprise@tacorevolution.ca or call 250-244-6492 with the desired date, the proposed number of attendees and your preferred budget.

Taco Revolution serves in Victoria, Duncan, Chemainus, Ladysmith, Cedar, Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and anywhere in between.

Check the Events Schedule for Today’s Location

Mother Nature’s Market & Deli Celebrates 7 Years in Cook Street 

9am to 10pm – Sunday & Monday, September 1st & 2nd – 15% Storewide Discount

Be Healthy, Go Natural! It makes a difference!

Natural Foods, Organic Produce and Local Products. 

Mother Nature’s Market and Deli is committed to making every shopping experience a positive one. Proud to offer local and natural foods, Mother Nature’s feature organic fruits and vegetables and a wide selection of meat, fish and poultry, all non-medicated and ethically raised.

Competitive pricing values both the work and dedication of the producer (go farmers!) and the consumer, with no artificial ingredients, additives, GMO’s, preservatives or pesticides.

Gluten-free meal solutions, baking and snacks can be found throughout the store and enjoyed outside on surrounding patios while watching the world go by.

Cook Street Location – Think Paris in Victoria! 250-590-7390

 mothernaturesbc.ca • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram• Mother Nature’s Flyer • Location & Hours

• Tuesdays are Senior and Student Day at Mother Nature’s! Receive a discount of 7%!
• Thursdays are Family Appreciation Days! Shop over $50 and receive a 10% discount!

Mother Nature’s is  committed to supporting both local farmers and suppliers and offering our customers excellent service and the healthiest products available. Staff does their best to make every shopping experience a happy one. Mother Nature’s is gentle on the environment and always provides a positive face to the community.

Our Vision – Healthy store, happy staff, exceptional customer service, sustainable products, satisfied customers.

Our Mission – Provide top-quality natural foods, organic produce and local products priced competitively, both to value the work and dedication of the producer, and meet the needs of the consumer.

Our Goals

• Support local producers and growers, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and the local economy and reducing our environmental footprint.
• Provide our customers with access to healthy and local foods offered in a welcoming and friendly environment.
• Hire and retain well-trained, knowledgeable staff who excel in providing exceptional customer service.
• Foster a work environment that promotes health and wellness and evokes teamwork, loyalty and pride in the workplace.
• Provide all staff with the opportunity to grow within the structure of Mother Nature’s Market and Deli through continuous quality improvement and recognition of individual and team efforts.

Become a Natures Lover! Membership is free!

• Add the handy Nature Lovers’ member card to your key chain and earn valuable points each time you shop.  Points earned can be redeemed toward future purchases.
• Receive 10 points for every dollar you spend. Donate or redeem 1000 points for $1.00.
• SILVER LEVEL – Spend $500 within one month and receive a discount of 2% on all your purchase in the following month.
• GOLD LEVEL – Spend $750 within one month receive a discount of 5% on all your purchases in the following month.
• Students and Seniors need only $ 200 (Silver) or $ 350 (Gold) to achieve the respective levels
• Click here for more information

Mother Nature’s Market & Deli Celebrates 7 Years in Cook Street 

9am to 10pm – Sunday & Monday, September 1st & 2nd – 15% Storewide Discount

Be Healthy, Go Natural! It makes a difference!

Natural Foods, Organic Produce and Local Products. 

Mother Nature’s Market and Deli is committed to making every shopping experience a positive one. Proud to offer local and natural foods, Mother Nature’s feature organic fruits and vegetables and a wide selection of meat, fish and poultry, all non-medicated and ethically raised.

Competitive pricing values both the work and dedication of the producer (go farmers!) and the consumer, with no artificial ingredients, additives, GMO’s, preservatives or pesticides.

Gluten-free meal solutions, baking and snacks can be found throughout the store and enjoyed outside on surrounding patios while watching the world go by.

Cook Street Location – Think Paris in Victoria! 250-590-7390

 mothernaturesbc.ca • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram• Mother Nature’s Flyer • Location & Hours

• Tuesdays are Senior and Student Day at Mother Nature’s! Receive a discount of 7%!
• Thursdays are Family Appreciation Days! Shop over $50 and receive a 10% discount!

Mother Nature’s is  committed to supporting both local farmers and suppliers and offering our customers excellent service and the healthiest products available. Staff does their best to make every shopping experience a happy one. Mother Nature’s is gentle on the environment and always provides a positive face to the community.

Our Vision – Healthy store, happy staff, exceptional customer service, sustainable products, satisfied customers.

Our Mission – Provide top-quality natural foods, organic produce and local products priced competitively, both to value the work and dedication of the producer, and meet the needs of the consumer.

Our Goals

• Support local producers and growers, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and the local economy and reducing our environmental footprint.
• Provide our customers with access to healthy and local foods offered in a welcoming and friendly environment.
• Hire and retain well-trained, knowledgeable staff who excel in providing exceptional customer service.
• Foster a work environment that promotes health and wellness and evokes teamwork, loyalty and pride in the workplace.
• Provide all staff with the opportunity to grow within the structure of Mother Nature’s Market and Deli through continuous quality improvement and recognition of individual and team efforts.

Become a Natures Lover! Membership is free!

• Add the handy Nature Lovers’ member card to your key chain and earn valuable points each time you shop.  Points earned can be redeemed toward future purchases.
• Receive 10 points for every dollar you spend. Donate or redeem 1000 points for $1.00.
• SILVER LEVEL – Spend $500 within one month and receive a discount of 2% on all your purchase in the following month.
• GOLD LEVEL – Spend $750 within one month receive a discount of 5% on all your purchases in the following month.
• Students and Seniors need only $ 200 (Silver) or $ 350 (Gold) to achieve the respective levels
• Click here for more information

Kelowna Celiac Support Meeting takes place Wednesday, September 18th from 7-8pm at Mountainview Church (formerly St. David’s Presbyterian) at 271 Snowsell Street N.

Registered Dietitian, Selena De Vries of Healthbean Nutrition will be speaking about prebiotics and probiotics.

Everyone Welcome. No diagnosis required – just a need or desire to be gluten-free! FREE!

• Selena De Vries is dedicated to helping individuals who are struggling with digestive issues find food freedom. Selena understands that celiac disease not only effects one’s physical health but also effects one’s emotional health. Using an integrative approach in the management of digestive health conditions, she provides support for those with celiac disease/gluten sensitivity and nutrition coaching for other digestive health conditions.

Get Selena’s Gluten-Free Food Guide!

Selena De Vries hosts a ‘virtual office hour’ on the Canadian Celiac Association Facebook Group every THIRD Friday from 12 – 1pm Pacific Standard Time (3pm – 4pm Eastern Standard Time). Selena will post at 12pm stating she is online. Ask your nutrition related questions in the comment section within her post. Arrive early and post your question!

Selena is licensed to practice as a dietitian in British Columbia and her services are available to anyone in Canada. 

Living in the Okanagan or anywhere in British Columbia? View Selena’s services or book an appointment!

• Contact Selena for in-person or on-line support
• HealthBean.ca • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest • Videos • Blog
• selenadevries@gmail.com • 1-778-990-6047

Celiac Total Health Package – 5 sessions

• Includes one initial assessment, 3 follow ups and a meal planning assessment along with a one week meal plan. Selena will recommend labs/procedure to identify any underlying nutrient deficiencies, will provide you with all the education you need to feel confident going gluten free and get you feeling better throughout our appointments, and most importantly, help you prepare and choose healthy GF products and get healthy GF meals on the table that the whole family can enjoy. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Eating Out With Confidence – 3 sessions

• Are you avoiding eating out due to the fear of being ‘glutened?” If so, this package is for you. Selena will provide you with education and resources that will improve your confidence in eating out safely. You will also get access to her on the go! For example, if you are eating out at a restaurant and need help in ordering your meal to reduce risk of being contaminated, she will walk you through what you need to ask to ensure your meal is at low risk of being contaminated. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Meal Planning Initial Assessment – 1 hour In-person – Online, video chat or by phone

• If you are struggling with getting healthy meals on the table that everyone can eat, this is for you. Selena will conduct a meal planning assessment and based on your input, she will put together a sample one week meal plan along with brand name food recommendations. You will get recommendations that makes healthy eating (with food restrictions), convenient, healthy and delicious. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Initial Consultation – 1 hour 30 minutes In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you have been newly diagnosed with celiac disease or if you have celiac disease but are still struggling with symptoms. Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplements and lab tests will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Dietitian on Demand – 30 minutes – Online, video chat or by phone

• This is not for newly diagnosed celiacs or those who are struggling with digestive symptoms. If this is you, please book the initial consult (either celiac or digestive health). This is for you if your symptoms are fairly under control and you have brief questions. For example, a question on supplement use, the inclusion of GF oats in the diet, if you are grocery shopping and want to confirm if a brand name product is gluten free and safe to consume, if you are at a restaurant and want to know how to order an item that will be at low risk for being contaminated, or if you have questions on GF travel. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Initial Digestive Health Consult – 1 hour 15 minutes – In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you are struggling with digestive health concerns or have been diagnosed with a digestive health condition (if you have been diagnosed with celiac, please book the celiac specific consult). Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplement, lab tests and lifestyle recommendations will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

45 Minute Follow Up Appointment – In-person, online, video chat or by phone 

This service can only be booked after an initial consultation has been completed. We will identify how the individual is doing on goals, barriers they may be facing, and steps to take going forward. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Testimonial

• “I contacted Selena when I still wasn’t feeling well a year after my celiac diagnosis. I’d read so much on the Internet I thought I knew everything I needed to know. I was wrong.  
• Selena has important advice on how to do GF properly (it’s not as straightforward as I thought) and for regaining your health. She is organized, punctual, and professional.  And she has celiac disease herself , so she gets it.
• I think a lot of us, by the time we’re diagnosed, have had more than our share of health care practitioners and may not want to bother with a dietitian.
• Selena played a crucial role in my recovery, and I would highly recommend her, whether you’re newly diagnosed or just trying to feel better.”
• ~ Charlene (long-distance celiac disease client)

• HEALTHBEAN NUTRITION  specializes in digestive health.  We deliver easy to digest, bite-size pieces of information so our clients can, finally, achieve the healthy & happy digestive system they’ve been striving for. Learn more ...

• HEALTHBEAN PHILOSOPHY– Selena employs elimination diets and/or a specific diets in accordance with her clients’ conditions, and only when deemed necessary.  She reserves advice about the gluten-free diet for those who require it – not those choosing to follow the diet as a lifestyle choice.  Expect clear, concise instructions on the appropriate diet for you and, maybe even some myth busting! Learn more  …

Selena knows first-hand how her undiagnosed celiac disease affected her physical and emotional health. After telling her that, “Well, you have celiac disease,” her MD suggested she, “google the diet,” and out the door she went. Sound familiar?

That’s why Selena established Healthbean Nutrition.  She is dedicating her education, personal insights and her own recovery to helping her fellow celiacs make this enormous lifestyle transition – and find  joy in eating again! Learn more …

Selena’s Road to Diagnosis

Selena De Vries RD, Celiac Disease Specialist

• “When I was going through university, I was exhausted, ALL the time.  I had to drag myself out to hang out with friends, and if I had it my way I would have spent most days in bed sleeping.  It was not unknown for me to sleep 12-16 hours a day.  Call me crazy, but I related it all to the busy-ness of school.  I was even checked for anemia at one point (common with celiacs) and I was ‘fine.’  

• The symptoms continued through school and the brain fog was undeniable.  I distinctly remember during my dietetic internship (like a medical residency except everything is nutrition based) at Kelowna General Hospital sitting in the office, charting on a patient and, literally, feeling like my brain was so fuzzy that I could barely keep my eyes from nodding off.  It was awful. 

• Another thing I didn’t pay much attention to, was bowels.  I was always constipated.  Never the other way around. Never.  And, I also remember mentioning this to my gastroenterologist just before the endoscopy and he said ‘oh, well with your very low antibody levels and constipation, there is a very low chance that you are actually celiac but we will proceed with the endoscopy since you’re prepped and ready to go.’  

• The piece of paper I received after the endoscopy said to follow up with my GP.  I did follow up with my GP and the report came back positive for celiac disease.  My GP said “well, you’re celiac.  But, you’re a dietitian, right, so this should be easy for you!”  

• Perhaps I had a leg up in the nutrition part of it, but I think we all know that the gluten free diet is not a walk in the park.  And, although, I am so appreciative of the medical care I received, it did open my eyes to the lack of knowledge within the medical community when it came to celiac disease and the lack of support offered to individuals with celiac disease.  

That’s how Healthbean Nutrition was born!

Leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

• *Information and perspectives posted on  The Celiac Scene are intended to provide general information, without independent verification on the part of The Celiac Scene for  the accuracy of the information provided to it. The information is specifically not intended to be a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by your physician or other health care professional. Always consult your own physician or other health care professionals about any medical questions, diagnosis, or treatment, especially before trying any diet. Healthbean Nutrition does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on any content contained herein.

Looking for an opportunity for your celiac or gluten-free kids to hang out with kids just like them?

Are you wanting to meet families like yours, to care and share, ask questions and just to connect with others in our community?

Then you’re invited to the inaugural Celiac Kids – Victoria & Westshore Meet Up on Sunday, October 6 from 12:30 – 2pm at Beckwith Park at 857 Beckwith Avenue.

Super casual!

• Meet by the playground.
• Bring your own food & drink, and if you feel inspired, bring something to share.
• Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to make yourself comfortable.
• Soccer ball, scooters, skipping ropes or anything for the kids to play or do would be welcome!

Questions? Contact Anna!

• Ask to join the Celiac Kids – Victoria & Westshore Closed Facebook Group
• Ask to join Celiac Parents and Parents of Celiacs Closed Facebook Group

Kelowna Celiac Support Meeting takes place Wednesday, November 13th from 7-8pm at Mountainview Church (formerly St. David’s Presbyterian) at 271 Snowsell Street N.

Questions & Answer Night! Registered Dietitian, Selena De Vries of Healthbean Nutrition is eager to support your gluten-free journey!

Everyone Welcome. No diagnosis required – just a need or desire to be gluten-free! FREE!

• Selena De Vries is dedicated to helping individuals who are struggling with digestive issues find food freedom. Selena understands that celiac disease not only effects one’s physical health but also effects one’s emotional health. Using an integrative approach in the management of digestive health conditions, she provides support for those with celiac disease/gluten sensitivity and nutrition coaching for other digestive health conditions.

Get Selena’s Gluten-Free Food Guide!

Selena De Vries hosts a ‘virtual office hour’ on the Canadian Celiac Association Facebook Group every THIRD Friday from 12 – 1pm Pacific Standard Time (3pm – 4pm Eastern Standard Time). Selena will post at 12pm stating she is online. Ask your nutrition related questions in the comment section within her post. Arrive early and post your question!

Selena is licensed to practice as a dietitian in British Columbia and her services are available to anyone in Canada. 

Living in the Okanagan or anywhere in British Columbia? View Selena’s services or book an appointment!

• Contact Selena for in-person or on-line support
• HealthBean.ca • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Pinterest • Videos • Blog
• selenadevries@gmail.com • 1-778-990-6047

Celiac Total Health Package – 5 sessions

• Includes one initial assessment, 3 follow ups and a meal planning assessment along with a one week meal plan. Selena will recommend labs/procedure to identify any underlying nutrient deficiencies, will provide you with all the education you need to feel confident going gluten free and get you feeling better throughout our appointments, and most importantly, help you prepare and choose healthy GF products and get healthy GF meals on the table that the whole family can enjoy. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Eating Out With Confidence – 3 sessions

• Are you avoiding eating out due to the fear of being ‘glutened?” If so, this package is for you. Selena will provide you with education and resources that will improve your confidence in eating out safely. You will also get access to her on the go! For example, if you are eating out at a restaurant and need help in ordering your meal to reduce risk of being contaminated, she will walk you through what you need to ask to ensure your meal is at low risk of being contaminated. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Meal Planning Initial Assessment – 1 hour In-person – Online, video chat or by phone

• If you are struggling with getting healthy meals on the table that everyone can eat, this is for you. Selena will conduct a meal planning assessment and based on your input, she will put together a sample one week meal plan along with brand name food recommendations. You will get recommendations that makes healthy eating (with food restrictions), convenient, healthy and delicious. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Initial Consultation – 1 hour 30 minutes In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you have been newly diagnosed with celiac disease or if you have celiac disease but are still struggling with symptoms. Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplements and lab tests will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Celiac Dietitian on Demand – 30 minutes – Online, video chat or by phone

• This is not for newly diagnosed celiacs or those who are struggling with digestive symptoms. If this is you, please book the initial consult (either celiac or digestive health). This is for you if your symptoms are fairly under control and you have brief questions. For example, a question on supplement use, the inclusion of GF oats in the diet, if you are grocery shopping and want to confirm if a brand name product is gluten free and safe to consume, if you are at a restaurant and want to know how to order an item that will be at low risk for being contaminated, or if you have questions on GF travel. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Initial Digestive Health Consult – 1 hour 15 minutes – In-person, online, video chat or by phone

• Please book if you are struggling with digestive health concerns or have been diagnosed with a digestive health condition (if you have been diagnosed with celiac, please book the celiac specific consult). Selena will conduct a nutrition assessment & will provide an emailed lifestyle plan within 24 hours detailing the nutrition plan going forward. Supplement, lab tests and lifestyle recommendations will be recommended on an individual basis and the lifestyle plan will also include educational handouts, recipe ideas, and brand name food recommendations. Allow a minimum of 3 days advance booking as a 3 day food journal is required prior to the appointment. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

45 Minute Follow Up Appointment – In-person, online, video chat or by phone 

This service can only be booked after an initial consultation has been completed. We will identify how the individual is doing on goals, barriers they may be facing, and steps to take going forward. Book your appointment or contact Selena with questions.

Testimonial

• “I contacted Selena when I still wasn’t feeling well a year after my celiac diagnosis. I’d read so much on the Internet I thought I knew everything I needed to know. I was wrong.  
• Selena has important advice on how to do GF properly (it’s not as straightforward as I thought) and for regaining your health. She is organized, punctual, and professional.  And she has celiac disease herself , so she gets it.
• I think a lot of us, by the time we’re diagnosed, have had more than our share of health care practitioners and may not want to bother with a dietitian.
• Selena played a crucial role in my recovery, and I would highly recommend her, whether you’re newly diagnosed or just trying to feel better.”
• ~ Charlene (long-distance celiac disease client)

• HEALTHBEAN NUTRITION  specializes in digestive health.  We deliver easy to digest, bite-size pieces of information so our clients can, finally, achieve the healthy & happy digestive system they’ve been striving for. Learn more ...

• HEALTHBEAN PHILOSOPHY– Selena employs elimination diets and/or a specific diets in accordance with her clients’ conditions, and only when deemed necessary.  She reserves advice about the gluten-free diet for those who require it – not those choosing to follow the diet as a lifestyle choice.  Expect clear, concise instructions on the appropriate diet for you and, maybe even some myth busting! Learn more  …

Selena knows first-hand how her undiagnosed celiac disease affected her physical and emotional health. After telling her that, “Well, you have celiac disease,” her MD suggested she, “google the diet,” and out the door she went. Sound familiar?

That’s why Selena established Healthbean Nutrition.  She is dedicating her education, personal insights and her own recovery to helping her fellow celiacs make this enormous lifestyle transition – and find  joy in eating again! Learn more …

Selena’s Road to Diagnosis

Selena De Vries RD, Celiac Disease Specialist

• “When I was going through university, I was exhausted, ALL the time.  I had to drag myself out to hang out with friends, and if I had it my way I would have spent most days in bed sleeping.  It was not unknown for me to sleep 12-16 hours a day.  Call me crazy, but I related it all to the busy-ness of school.  I was even checked for anemia at one point (common with celiacs) and I was ‘fine.’  

• The symptoms continued through school and the brain fog was undeniable.  I distinctly remember during my dietetic internship (like a medical residency except everything is nutrition based) at Kelowna General Hospital sitting in the office, charting on a patient and, literally, feeling like my brain was so fuzzy that I could barely keep my eyes from nodding off.  It was awful. 

• Another thing I didn’t pay much attention to, was bowels.  I was always constipated.  Never the other way around. Never.  And, I also remember mentioning this to my gastroenterologist just before the endoscopy and he said ‘oh, well with your very low antibody levels and constipation, there is a very low chance that you are actually celiac but we will proceed with the endoscopy since you’re prepped and ready to go.’  

• The piece of paper I received after the endoscopy said to follow up with my GP.  I did follow up with my GP and the report came back positive for celiac disease.  My GP said “well, you’re celiac.  But, you’re a dietitian, right, so this should be easy for you!”  

• Perhaps I had a leg up in the nutrition part of it, but I think we all know that the gluten free diet is not a walk in the park.  And, although, I am so appreciative of the medical care I received, it did open my eyes to the lack of knowledge within the medical community when it came to celiac disease and the lack of support offered to individuals with celiac disease.  

That’s how Healthbean Nutrition was born!

Leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

• *Information and perspectives posted on  The Celiac Scene are intended to provide general information, without independent verification on the part of The Celiac Scene for  the accuracy of the information provided to it. The information is specifically not intended to be a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by your physician or other health care professional. Always consult your own physician or other health care professionals about any medical questions, diagnosis, or treatment, especially before trying any diet. Healthbean Nutrition does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on any content contained herein.

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

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

Enjoy these sumptuous delicacies on the spot and / or purchase ready-to-bake versions to take home and savor, warm from your own oven.  Dale’s pie shells and groundbreaking, ready-to-roll puff pastry dough let you become the gluten-free chef you’ve always wanted to be. Ask about their dairy-free options.

• Outlet Store at 3030 Dogwood Road, Duncan (Tuesday to Saturday 7am to 3pm)
• Complete Market & Craft Fair Schedule …
• Carrying retailers, restaurants and cafés …
• Facebook  • Twitter • Instagram

Puff Pastry Tips from Dale! 

• If you have time, it’s best to thaw puff pastry overnight in the fridge.
• If you don’t have time, thaw it on the counter until it’s pliable enough to unfold without cracking, but still cool to the touch. Keep a close eye on it — if the dough feels very limp, refrigerate it for 30 minutes to help it firm up again.
• One of the biggest mistakes you can make is leaving it on the counter for too long. A room-temperature atmosphere will cause the puff pastry to wilt and become floppy. That, in turn, will make the layers stick, and render it almost impossible to work with. If your puff pastry gets too soft, return it to the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes before moving forward.
• Lightly roll out the puff pastry: Dust the top of the puff with just a little GF flour, then use a rolling pin to lightly roll. Puff pastry should be rolled out to approx. 4-5 mm depth.
• Follow any puff pastry recipe, remembering that ALL pastry (gluten-­free or not) ­ bakes off flakiest when chilled for a short time before baking in a hot oven ie 10-15 min in freezer first after making your ‘creation.’
• If you’re making a filled pastry, like a pot pie, for example, cut a few vents in the dough so hot air can escape and circulate as it bakes. If you skip this step, and you’ll have a soggy interior.
• We generally egg wash pastry before baking to give it that yummy golden colour
• A very general rule for baking the puff pastry is the following – bear in mind that oven temperatures vary.
• Set the oven to 200° C (400° F – gas 6) and bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes to 25 minutes. Check after 20 minutes as it’s easy to burn the edges from cooking for too long.
• Scraps can be gathered up and be re­used. Make sure that scraps are layered on top of each other – not scrunched up into a ball, before re-rolling.

Ready to Eat!

Ready to Bake!

House of Yee’s Pop Up Potsticker Sale is Back!

• Saturday, November 14 from 1 – 3pm
• South Park Elementary School
• 508 Douglas Street
• ORDER FORM: https://houseofyeefinefoods.square.site
• Order deadline Thursday, November 12 at 6pm

A gluten-free first! Introducing House of Yee Premium Dumplings! Braised Shiitake Mushrooms with Pork or Chicken. Vegan Shiitake, Gold or Jade.

Gluten Free • No MSG • Handcrafted • Dumpling Sauce included for an Asian kick!

Coming Soon to Retailers in Victoria!

House of Yee • Where to Buy • Facebook • Instagram • christine@houseofyee.ca

Dumplings vs. Potstickers!
Dumplings are doughy on the outside and filled with vegetable or meat on the inside. Potstickers are an Asian twist on the concept; stir-fried so that they are crispy on the outside. No matter the name, if you are in the mood for a delicious pocket of gluten-free, doughy goodness, you’ll have your fill with House of  Yee’s Dumplings.

Cooking Instructions
Frozen when purchased, they are ready to eat in minutes. Instructional video on Google or Facebook

• Place non-stick pan on medium heat
• Add 1 TBSP oil
• Arrange frozen dumplings in pan so that they are not touching
• Add 1/2 cup cold water
• Cover and boil 6 minutes
• Remove lid, turn heat to high and fry to desired crispness
• Arrange on a platter along with House of Yee’s Dumpling Sauce
• Enjoy!

Braised Shiitake with Chicken
Filled with chicken thigh, braised shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, celery, fresh aromatics (shallots, garlic, ginger, green onion), eggs, classic asian seasonings wrapped in gluten free wrapper. Classic Dumpling Sauce is included in every package.

Braised Shiitake with Pork
Filled with marbled pork, braised shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, celery, fresh aromatics (shallots, garlic, ginger, green onion), eggs, classic asian seasonings wrapped in gluten free wrapper. Classic Dumpling Sauce is included in every package.

Vegan Braised Shiitake with Vegetables
Filled with braised shiitake mushrooms, kale, cabbage, shanghai bok choy, wood ear mushrooms and carrots.

Golden Vegan Dumplings
Filled with coconut red curry, chickpea and spinach in a turmeric wrap.

Jade Vegan Dumplings
Miso braised tofu with brown rice, edamame beans and water chestnuts in a spinach wrap. Classic Dumpling Sauce is included in every package.

Dumpling Sauce
Tamari, Rice Vinegar, Sesame Oil and Sugar, water. Use for dipping or as a vinaigrette for salads!

Metro Vancouver Tasting Events & Markets
New West, Riley Park, West End, Coquitlam, Mt. Pleasant and more!
Follow House of Yee on Facebook for Upcoming Dates
Pre-Order for Markets via Direct Message on Instagram

The House of Yee Story
House of Yee is a 3rd generation Canadian business that strives to produce high quality health food without compromising the texture, flavour and taste of traditional Asian cuisine. All their dumplings are made in a dedicated gluten-free production facility, using the freshest local ingredients, meat and poultry. House of Yee pride themselves on innovation and a continued ability to adapt to the healthy lifestyles of customers.

About Christine Yee, Founder
“My parents owned a Chinese Canadian restaurant in Regina, Saskatchewan. My dad would cook in the back with my brothers while I served in the front with my mom and sister. My parents were always at the restaurant, just trying to make ends meet. I have a lot of respect for people who run restaurants. It was a lot of hard work but it just wasn’t for me.

I went into real estate but one morning at 5am, I woke up and thought “I’m going to start a healthy food line” and somehow gluten-free dumplings just came to me. I went from real estate deals to researching gluten-free recipes.  A really steep learning curve.  It was like trying to build a house by yourself that no one’s built before, and then trying to sell it. I never realized it was so much work!

When the time came to name my business, I naturally chose House of Yee as a way to honour my hard working parents and grandparents. I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labour!”

Read more about Christine Yee in Sails and Spices

‘Dining-in’ is back at 900 Degrees Wood-Fired Pizzeria Langford 4:30 to 8pm

Introducing 900° 2 Go! Contactless Take-Out & Curb-Side Pick Up.

900 Degrees offers delivery up to 7km distance. Enter your address at https://900degrees.moduurn.com for eligibility and to calculate your delivery charge (between $3.50 and $5.50.)

Build Your Own

Organic tomato sauce, house-made lemon olive, aged balsamic reduction, brie cream sauce, chilli oil, house-made pesto, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, & pizza dough, to go!

Phone orders 250-590-4493. Special COVID-19 hours, open daily from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Order online here

• 900 Degrees Wood-Fired Pizza 101B 2401 Millstream Avenue, Victoria (250) 590-4493
• Menu • Facebook • Instagram
• Contact Executive Chef & Owner Adrian Ortiz-Mena

My curiosity about 900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria was piqued when I read in the September Edition of Eat Magazine (page 27)  that the owner’s son was a celiac. Executive Chef and Owner, Adrian Ortiz-Mena was quoted as saying,

• “I think the most innovative thing we have done is bringing really good gluten-free pizza to our customers. My son was diagnosed celiac when he was 5 years old … and he loved pizza. It broke my heart thinking that he could no longer have pizza, so I developed a gluten-free pizza dough just for him. It was a real challenge, a labour of love.”

The Celiac Scene needed to learn more!

I popped into this warm and inviting restaurant on a cold and rainy September night, hoping for the opportunity to speak to a chef or server about their gluten-free options.

I was pleasantly surprised when Adrian himself bounded from the back of the restaurant only too eager to share his son’s health journey and how he had worked at home to create a gluten-free crust that met his discerning chef standards. Using one of the best all-purpose gluten-free flour mixes on the market and few extra-special ingredients, he was able to create a crust that pleased his son – and one that Adrian believed would please his customers.

The details.

As our community well knows, it takes more that a crust to create a gluten-free pizza. Adrian set about to contact the manufacturers of every ingredient used in his entire operation to ensure that the components used in all of his pizzas were celiac-safe. Apart from the wheat flour used for his regular crusts and the garlic bread, every ingredient that 900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria in house is gluten-free.

What about the process?

Adrian brimmed with enthusiasm as he explained that gluten-free pizzas are entirely prepared in a dedicated gluten-free area, in a room away from the regular production area. Sauces and toppings are stored in dedicated containers and applied with dedicated utensils that are never used to dress regular pizzas.

When a gluten-free order is processed, the chef washes his hands – up to his elbows – before starting work on an the order. When complete, the  pizza is placed on a dedicated gluten-free pizza peel (handle) and transported to the 900˚ pizza oven where it is cooked to perfection.

Here’s where it gets complicated.

At 900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria,  pizzas are cooked directly on the hearth of their single pizza oven, where other gluten pizzas have also been cooked.  The concern on my face prompted Adrian to escort me directly to the oven itself where he proceeded to sweep to the side the burnt, charcoal dust of the pizza crusts that had been cooked.

While Adrian whole heartedly agreed with me that deep frying food at a standard 325-375˚F does not destroy gluten, he maintains that incinerating to 900˚residual gluten crumbs and flour from previously cooked pizzas and then sweeping them aside, most assuredly does.

That said,  900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria  is pleased to cook gluten-free pizzas on sanitized pizza pans for any gluten-free diner’s peace of mind. As a wood-fired pizza purist however,  Adrian cautions that cooking pizza on a pan may generate different results.

Final consideration.

900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria  is most assuredly a pizza lover’s pizzeria. Gluten pizza dough is thrown into the air with gusto, wheat flour coats the kitchen floor like dance dust and a fine coat of flour is evident on surfaces throughout the main preparation area.

That said after two  years’ serving gluten-free pizza, Adrian shared that there have been no reports from gluten-free diners that they have experienced gluten contamination.

As Adrian is quoted as saying in the EAT Magazine article, “I don’t think we really did anything new – we just did it better!”

I would have to agree: for celiac diners who are comfortable with these practices or those who avoid gluten as a lifestyle choice, 900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria sets the gluten-free bar as high as I have seen it on Vancouver Island.

Love Pasta?

900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria stages occasional pasta specials and always offer the option of Italy’s Schar Gluten-Free Pasta to gluten-free diners!

Gluten-Free Beer?

900˚ Wood Fired Pizza is pleased to serve 100% gluten-free Forager Beer, made in Whistler from sorghum and rice. 

“Where to Eat in Canada” adds @900.degrees to it’s list of worthy restaurants, calling their pizza “as close to perfection as it’s possible to get,” and one of only a handful of restaurants here in Victoria named “Good Buys”. Check out the full review on page 306 of the 2017-18 guide published by Oberon Press. Pick up your copy today!

🌮.  Hot Tamales! You’ve heard of them! Now you can experience them, the MAiiZ Nixtamal way at FernFest. Meet the Maker, Chef Israel!

🌮.  Saturday, June 25 from noon to ‘sold out’ at Fernwood Rd & Gladstone Ave

🌮.  What are tamales? A traditional Mexican dish made with a (gluten-free) corn-based dough mixture, filled with a chicken, beef, refried beans, then wrapped in a banana leaf. Enjoy with your fave sauce, rice, guacamole or all of the above!

Details • Facebook • Instagram

“I want to feel proud about the food I produce, and I want people to feel good about what they are eating!” Chef Israel Alvarez Molina

MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillas are made from certified organic corn grown in Armstrong, BC and lab-tested to be gluten free. Chef Israel Alvarez Molina’s technique, inspired in the traditional Mesoamerican Nixtamalization process is more than just authentic, providing taste and structure. MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillas have flavour, aroma, texture and elasticity. When eating a Nixtamal Taco you don’t just taste the corn, you taste the process.

• Maiiz.ca • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Contact • 778-433-1544

SHOP ONLINE for everything you need to ‘A-MAiiZ!’
CARRYING RETAILERS & RESTAURANTS!

PATIO DINING! Enjoy your take-out and watch the world go by. First come first served. Reservations accepted.

• Education | History | Culture
• MAiiZ’ Recipe Collection
• Subscribe to MAiiZ’ Mail
• MAiiZ Gift Card
• Watch MAiiZ’ Amazing video collection!
• Learn more about MAiiZ …
• Read the Review in the Times Colonist

Testimonials

• “Se siente el sabor de Mexico! I can taste the flavour of Mexico” @gtcanni
• “I love how the tortillas held together perfectly without breaking or getting soggy.” @propitiouspig

Carrying Retailers (call ahead to confirm)

• MAiiZ at 540 Fisgard St (Open Tuesday to Sunday) – see map
• Beauregard Cafe & Provisions
• Charelli’s Cheese Shop & Delicatessen
• Coco’s Provisions
• Cold Comfort Canteen
• Community Farm Store (Duncan)
• Country Grocer (Royal Oak & Esquimalt) 
• Fairway Markets (all locations) 
• Farm and Field Butcher
• For Good Measure James Bay
• Great Greens Farm Market
• Lifestyle Markets 
• Michell’s Farm Market
• Mother Nature’s Market & Deli
• Mt Doug Market
• Neighbourly Store
• Niche Grocerant
• NomadEx
• Old Farm Market (Oak Bay)
• Peppers Foods
• Pomme Natural Markets Nanaimo
• Rock Bay Market
• The Local General Store
• The Market Garden
• The Root Cellar
• Urban Grocer
• more …

What exactly is Nixtamalization?

• Corn holds the memory of culture, tradition, indigenous practices and history for many in Mexico. Nixtamalization, masa, fresh cooked tortillas; these textures and smells are ingrained within the best culinary experiences and come from a place of memory and authenticity.

• Nixtamalization is the process of chemically transforming dried corn kernels into a dough which is then used in a wide variety of Mexican dishes.

• Dried corn kernels is boiled in an alkaline solution using pickling lime (also known as slaked lime or calcium hydroxide) and then left to soak overnight. When the corn is drained and rinsed some of the outer membrane layer is loosened and rubbed off. Corn that has gone through this process is now called nixtamal, or in some cultures, hominy.

• The wet nixtamal is then ground to a dough using a specialized mill. The result is a silky, slightly elastic fresh “masa” dough that squiggles out the grinder. The masa is shaped into small balls called testalitos and pressed to create fragrant, soft, flavourful tortillas with a unique smell of Mexico!

How does this change the corn?

• The nixtamalization process not only transforms corn structurally, but also nutritionally. Corn on its own is seen as a low source of nutrition, often associated with pellagra, a disease caused by vitamin B3 deficiency common to impoverished communities where the process of nixtamalization was not introduced with corn.

• This issue can be traced back to the colonization of the Americas when corn was taken by Europeans to grow as a crop around the globe, but the nixtamalization process was not. This resulted in widespread disease and malnutrition. Through the process of nixtamalization the calcium in corn is increased as is the quality of protein absorbed by the body. Additionally, phytic acid is reduced making it easier for the body to absorb important minerals unlocked by the alkaline solution used during the nixtamalization process.

What is the cultural importance?

• “When you are an immigrant you go through a lot of stages to find an identity in your new home. The part of my life that I could not find was my diet. I could adapt to a different climate, harsh weather, assimilate into the culture and learn a new language, but deep inside of me nixtamal was missing. There is so much history and culture behind this process which is the foundation of Mexican Cuisine. The aroma, texture, flavour and feeling of a fresh Nixtamal Tortilla doesn’t compare to anything else, it’s like freshly brewed coffee when you’ve had instant coffee all your life. This transformative experience is something that everyone deserves.