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!
‘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!
Gluten Free Expo is Canada’s largest gluten free event. Discover, Sample, and Save on hundreds of Gluten Free Products while learning from leading experts.
January 14 & 15. 10am to 4pm
Vancouver Conference Centre 1055 Canada Place
Website • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter
Tickets $20 per day. 12 & under FREE.
- Expo pricing – plan to spend!
- Leading experts educate & answer questions
- Children’s play area and so much more
OUR FAVES WILL BE THERE!
Silver Sponsor Alkeme Artisan Bakery – Specializing in Gluten-Free Sourdough – Booth 309
Alkeme is a family-owned, gluten-free, nut-free bakery dedicated to crafting wildly fermented sliced breads, buns, bagels & pizza crusts. Employing a centuries-old sourdough bread process, Alkeme’s products offer a hearty and wholesome texture, crunchy exterior and a soft, spongy interior.
Made with ancient grain blend (sorghum, millet and tapioca), arrowroot powder, water, sour-dough starter culture, psyllium husk, coconut sugar and sea salt. The most important ingredient is time. Learn more here …
• thisisalkeme.com • Facebook • Instagram
Bronze Sponsor – O’Doughs Too Good to Be Gluten Free – Booth 116
O’Doughs provides healthful, high quality, soft, gluten-free savoury bagels, bread & buns made with wholesome, nutritious ingredients – from their family to yours. Learn more here …
ODoughs.com • Where to buy O’Dough’s • Recipe Ideas • eatwell@odoughs.com • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest
CHOOSE FROM ALL OF THEIR DELICIOUS PRODUCTS • RESTAURANTS DO!
Taco Revolution – IXIM Foods – Tortillas, Seasonings, Salsas & More – Booth 409
If you’re in love with the fixings from Taco Revolution’s 100% Gluten-Free Food Truck, here’s your chance to enjoy their fresh IXIM tortillas and authentic Mexican spices, salsas, bean dips and taco fillings in your own home! All 100% gluten free!
Sample hand-made tortilla chips & hot sauce.
Expo Pricing on Taco Night and Chorizo Spice Mix, Revolucion Hot Sauce, Xocolatl (Mayan hot chocolate), Pico de Gallo Salsa, Tortillas and Taco Fillings – while quantities last!
ixim.ca • info@ixim.ca • Facebook • Twitter
IXIM Mexican Foods is Cowichan Valley’s own locally produced, fresh corn tortilla maker. Ixim tortillas contain only heirloom (non-GMO) corn, water, and lime; no artificial fillers, preservatives, or unnatural genetically modified ‘frankencorn’ like most tortillas you find in stores.
Corn Tortilla Chips • Fresh Corn Tortillas 100% gluten-free
Seasonings – Chorizo Spice Mix • Taco Seasoning Mix • Nun’s Mistake Mole
Salsas – fresh sauce. Ideal for dipping. – Fresh Tomato Salsa, Medium or Spicy Heat
Pico de Gallo – fresh, raw vegetables, never cooked. Ideal as a salad or a filling – Mild or Medium Heat
El Faro Gluten-Free, Vegan All-Purpose Flour. Hand-crafted in Small Batches in Parksville, Vancouver Island – Booth 613
From desserts to scones to fish & chips, El Faro’s Flour Blend forms the foundation of all of the baking at El Faro Fusion’s 100% Gluten-Free Restaurant. Now we can enjoy their artisan mix in our own kitchens! Learn more here!
- Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Sorghum Flour, Sweet Rice Flour, Arrowroot Starch and Xanthan Gum.
Expo Pricing – mention The Celiac Scene and enjoy a 10% discount!
elfaromarket.com • Facebook • Instagram • elfarofusion@yahoo.com • 250-951-6224 • Order via Amazon
Watch the El Faro Flour video!
Secret El Faro Flour Scone Recipe!
Wise Bites Plant-Based Quinoa Snacks Way of the Future!
You want something sweet, but you also want to make smarter choices about what you want to eat. Wise Bites lets you have it both ways. Sweetened mostly with pure fruit so you get all the taste and none of the guilt.
Wise Bites are a take-anywhere snack made with nutritious pure oats. Lightly sweetened with dried fruit. Re-sealable bag keeps them fresh.
- Certified Gluten-Free • Non-GMO Verified • Certified Vegan • Certified Kosher.
- Top 11 Allergen-Free – NO gluten, peanuts, nuts, sesame, dairy, eggs, soy, fish, crustaceans/shellfish, mustard or sulfites • Casein-free • Yeast-free • High in Protein and Fibre • Low in Sugar and Fat.
Gluten Free Expo is Canada’s largest gluten free event. Discover, Sample, and Save on hundreds of Gluten Free Products while learning from leading experts.
January 14 & 15. 10am to 4pm
Vancouver Conference Centre 1055 Canada Place
Website • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter
Tickets $20 per day. 12 & under FREE.
- Expo pricing – plan to spend!
- Leading experts educate & answer questions
- Children’s play area and so much more
OUR FAVES WILL BE THERE!
Silver Sponsor Alkeme Artisan Bakery – Specializing in Gluten-Free Sourdough – Booth 309
Alkeme is a family-owned, gluten-free, nut-free bakery dedicated to crafting wildly fermented sliced breads, buns, bagels & pizza crusts. Employing a centuries-old sourdough bread process, Alkeme’s products offer a hearty and wholesome texture, crunchy exterior and a soft, spongy interior.
Made with ancient grain blend (sorghum, millet and tapioca), arrowroot powder, water, sour-dough starter culture, psyllium husk, coconut sugar and sea salt. The most important ingredient is time. Learn more here …
• thisisalkeme.com • Facebook • Instagram
Bronze Sponsor – O’Doughs Too Good to Be Gluten Free – Booth 116
O’Doughs provides healthful, high quality, soft, gluten-free savoury bagels, bread & buns made with wholesome, nutritious ingredients – from their family to yours. Learn more here …
ODoughs.com • Where to buy O’Dough’s • Recipe Ideas • eatwell@odoughs.com • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest
CHOOSE FROM ALL OF THEIR DELICIOUS PRODUCTS • RESTAURANTS DO!
Taco Revolution – IXIM Foods – Tortillas, Seasonings, Salsas & More – Booth 409
If you’re in love with the fixings from Taco Revolution’s 100% Gluten-Free Food Truck, here’s your chance to enjoy their fresh IXIM tortillas and authentic Mexican spices, salsas, bean dips and taco fillings in your own home! All 100% gluten free!
Sample hand-made tortilla chips & hot sauce.
Expo Pricing on Taco Night and Chorizo Spice Mix, Revolucion Hot Sauce, Xocolatl (Mayan hot chocolate), Pico de Gallo Salsa, Tortillas and Taco Fillings – while quantities last!
ixim.ca • info@ixim.ca • Facebook • Twitter
IXIM Mexican Foods is Cowichan Valley’s own locally produced, fresh corn tortilla maker. Ixim tortillas contain only heirloom (non-GMO) corn, water, and lime; no artificial fillers, preservatives, or unnatural genetically modified ‘frankencorn’ like most tortillas you find in stores.
Corn Tortilla Chips • Fresh Corn Tortillas 100% gluten-free
Seasonings – Chorizo Spice Mix • Taco Seasoning Mix • Nun’s Mistake Mole
Salsas – fresh sauce. Ideal for dipping. – Fresh Tomato Salsa, Medium or Spicy Heat
Pico de Gallo – fresh, raw vegetables, never cooked. Ideal as a salad or a filling – Mild or Medium Heat
El Faro Gluten-Free, Vegan All-Purpose Flour. Hand-crafted in Small Batches in Parksville, Vancouver Island – Booth 613
From desserts to scones to fish & chips, El Faro’s Flour Blend forms the foundation of all of the baking at El Faro Fusion’s 100% Gluten-Free Restaurant. Now we can enjoy their artisan mix in our own kitchens! Learn more here!
- Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Sorghum Flour, Sweet Rice Flour, Arrowroot Starch and Xanthan Gum.
Expo Pricing – mention The Celiac Scene and enjoy a 10% discount!
elfaromarket.com • Facebook • Instagram • elfarofusion@yahoo.com • 250-951-6224 • Order via Amazon
Watch the El Faro Flour video!
Secret El Faro Flour Scone Recipe!
Wise Bites Plant-Based Quinoa Snacks Way of the Future!
You want something sweet, but you also want to make smarter choices about what you want to eat. Wise Bites lets you have it both ways. Sweetened mostly with pure fruit so you get all the taste and none of the guilt.
Wise Bites are a take-anywhere snack made with nutritious pure oats. Lightly sweetened with dried fruit. Re-sealable bag keeps them fresh.
- Certified Gluten-Free • Non-GMO Verified • Certified Vegan • Certified Kosher.
- Top 11 Allergen-Free – NO gluten, peanuts, nuts, sesame, dairy, eggs, soy, fish, crustaceans/shellfish, mustard or sulfites • Casein-free • Yeast-free • High in Protein and Fibre • Low in Sugar and Fat.
El Faro Flour Market Table at Qualicum Beach Farmer’s Market • Facebook • Instagram
Gluten-Free Cookies and El Faro Market’s famous flour for sale!
El Faro Gluten Free Flour – Artisan Blend – Hand-crafted in Small Batches in Parksville, Vancouver Island.
- “Your flour has given me my life back. I can bake again for the first time in years confidently.”
Watch the El Faro Flour video!
Secret El Faro Flour Scone Recipe!
El Faro Chocolate Cookies!
From desserts to scones to fish & chips, El Faro’s Flour Blend forms the foundation of all of the baking at El Faro Fusion’s 100% gluten-free restaurant. Now we can enjoy their artisan mix in our own kitchens!
HOURS: Thurs 4-8 • Fri + Sat 12-8 • Sun 12-5
“From hard times come small gifts. In the spring of 2019 we formulated our gluten-free flour and then sidelined the project. During Covid we couldn’t find our favourite gluten-free flour and everything we tried just didn’t measure up to our expectations in creating our favourite baked goods.”
“We pulled out the formula we created and made our favourite scones with it. We nailed it!! The quality, taste and texture were beyond our wildest dreams for anything gluten free. We then shared it with our valued customers and friends for feedback and their overwhelming positive feedback and encouragement led us to you!! We are so excited for you to try our flour for all of your baking adventures!”
“We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share your baking adventures with us at elfarofusion@yahoo.com“
Testimonials
“Little by little I am working through my favourite cookie recipes now using your flour. Nothing but success! These ones are particularly good, ginger crinkles! They turned out better than ever. With your flour I am actually thoroughly enjoying baking (and eating) my gluten-free treats again!”
…….
“Today I made one of my favourite recipes that I haven’t been able to make for years … Toblerone Shortbread. Oh my goodness, they turned out so well! You’ve restored my faith in baking. Thank you so much!”
Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Sorghum Flour, Sweet Rice Flour, Arrowroot Starch and Xanthan Gum.
Carrying Retailers
- BCause
- Better U Market (Qualicum Beach)
- Chemainus Health Food Store
- Country Grocer (Salt Spring Island)
- El Faro 100% Gluten-Free Restaurant & Market (631 Island Highway in Parksville)
- Edible Island (Courtney)
- Fairway Market (Quadra)
- Farmgate Store (Mayne Island)
- Gaia Grocery (Tofino)
- Lifestyle Markets (Douglas Street)
- Market on Millstream (Langford)
- Market on Yates (Victoria)
- Old Farm Market (Oak Bay)
- Pepper’s Foods (Cadboro Bay)
- Pomme Natural Market (Nanaimo)
- Tru Value Foods (Pender Island)
El Faro Fusion 100% Gluten-Free Restaurant in Parksville
“We put love in our food and it comes back to us! If you’re one of life’s adventurers, you will always be welcome at El Faro.”
HOURS: Thurs 4-8 • Fri + Sat 12-8 • Sun 12-5
About El Faro
“At El Faro, we create 100% gluten-free, oat-free naturally hand-crafted fusion cuisine. We believe that good food heals the body as well as the soul. All our dishes are vibrant, delicious, fresh and fun and made with locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients.” Learn more …
- “We stopped in on Sunday and this place is great. At first we drove right past it, the outside doesn’t jump out at you as a restaurant. Don’t let that fool you, the food was outstanding. To me, the hallmark of a good/great celiac eatery is that as you eat your food, you would never know that everything is gluten free. Four of us weren’t celiac and the meal was delicious. Any time we venture as far north as Nanaimo, we’ll be taking a detour through Parksville to eat here, we barely scratched the surface of the menu.”
