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!
APOLOGIES TO ALL! BENJAMIN”S BITES WILL NOT BE APPEARING. Special orders up to Christmas still welcome at info@benjaminsbites.com or 250-884-3093.
benjaminsbites.com • Facebook • Twitter
About Benjamin’s Bites
Benjamin’s Bites Cookies and Brownies are made with documented to be 100% gluten-free, peanut/tree nut free, soy-free ingredients. These vegan treats are produced in a “home kitchen,” using a strict cross-contamination prevention protocol. For further information, please contact Benjamin’s Bites directly at info@benjaminsbites.com or 250-884-3093.
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Gluten-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free, Peanut-Free, Tree-Nut-Free, Sesame-Free, Soy-Free, Sulfite-Free
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Vegetarian, Vegan, Kosher, GMO free
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Camino chocolate is organic and fair trade from LaSiembra Cooperative
- Complete Ingredient List: GF flours (rice, potato starch, tapioca starch, sorghum), vegan margarine or palm shortening, vegan sugar, flax, chia, water, cocoa, chocolate, organic apples, GF oats, cinnamon, chai spice, raisins, coconut milk, non-gmo canola oil, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, sunflower butter, skittles candy, molasses, custard powder, coconut, vegan icing sugar.
S’mores Cupcakes
Benjamin’s Bites’ Back Story
Benjamin’s Bites Cookies were borne out of necessity. At fourteen months, Tony and Debbie discovered that their son, Benjamin, had multiple food allergies. It was heartbreaking and frightening to see his body react with real physical symptoms.
After eliminating everything that Benjamin’s body was reacting to, the next step was to eat as many whole foods as possible. Debbie had always been a “label reader” but became increasingly concerned when she picked up product after product and realized, “No, he can’t have this.” It was challenging, but after searching they found a variety of foods which were safe for Benjamin. The one thing we were unable to find was a cookie which tasted both homemade and was also appealing to those without food intolerances. The family had some tough critics when it came to sweets. They were the perfect test subjects!
Like Debbie’s Grandma and Mom, I loved to bake. She challenged herself to create a cookie that contained no gluten, eggs, soy, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, or sulphites. The flour blends found in the stores just didn’t seem to have the taste she was searching for. Why not mill her own, she thought? She purchased a home grain mill and, after many combinations of grains, came up with ‘Benjamin’s Bites Flour Blend.’
Debbie began to bake cookies and bake cookies and bake cookies! After almost two years of test baking (and some real hockey pucks), she had a cookie that was free of gluten, eggs, soy, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sulphites. The best thing? It tasted really good.
Our mission has never changed: to create a gluten free/allergy friendly cookie that tasted homemade and used familiar and pronounceable ingredients.
They were developed for people who can’t eat a regular cookie due to allergies or gluten sensitivities, but the upshot is that people without food intolerances are enjoying them, too! We encourage everyone to taste Benjamin’s Bites Cookies, always checking the ingredients before sharing. We do have some tricks up our sleeves, so be on the lookout for more Benjamin’s Bites products soon.
A very special appearance by Pure Lovin’ Chocolate at VIDEA’s Winter Fair
Enjoy handcrafted Holiday treats for everyone on your list. View full selection.
Saturday, November 25 11am to 4pm Details
Fernwood Community Centre 1240 Gladstone Ave
videa.ca • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter
- Can’t attend in person? Pure Lovin’ offers a $9 Delivery in Victoria. $15 Flat Rate Shipping Canada & US. Shop online.
Pure Lovin’ Chocolate is an artisan chocolate company located in Victoria, BC. We were inspired to create unique and delicious treats you can’t find anywhere else, without the common allergens that make it difficult for many people to enjoy the simple delight of high quality chocolate, so we keep all of our products vegan, gluten free, soy free, and free of artificial flavours and colours. Every one of our delicious treats are made in-house by hand, crafted by combining fair trade chocolate, and organic and natural ingredients. Our one of a kind selections of artisan chocolates are not to be missed!
2 Pure Lovin’ Locations to Serve You in Victoria
Pure Lovin’ Chocolate at Fan Tan Alley
3 Fan Tan Alley (facing Pandora)
Monday – Sunday: 11am – 5:30pm
This location only: soft-serve vegan ‘ice cream’ in hand-made waffle cones – chocolate dipped or with you choice of sauces and toppings made in house. Watch how gluten-free waffle cones are made!
Pure Lovin’ Chocolate on Douglas
2020 A Douglas Street
Tuesday to Saturday: 11am – 5pm (closed Sun-Mon)
250-590-0414
- For Good Measure • Mother Nature’s • Pepper’s Foods • The Grinning Goat Calgary • The Local General Store • Vegan Supply Metro Vancouver
Click to view Pure Lovin’ Chocolate Flavour Guide
Click for details
Custom Orders, Weddings & Corporate Events
- Whether you’re planning an event like a wedding or birthday party, or you need a little extra something to impress that someone special, we’re happy to offer custom orders!
Samples of Favours & Dessert Platters
- Gift Sets • Wedding & Party Favours • Chocolate Platters • Dessert Platters • Birthday & Seasonal Gifts. All of our delights are packaged with the utmost care and attention to detail in sophisticated and elegant packaging. Shipping available.
- Pure Lovin’ Chocolate was imagined, created and is now operated by a mother (Cyndy) and daughter (Leah) team. Leah fell in love with cooking at an early age, while helping Cyndy create delicious, healthy meals in the kitchen of their log home in rural BC. This is also where Cyndy taught her the art of confectionery: making Sponge Toffee, Brittle, Caramel and other treats for special occasions. Their collections are hand-made with the most important ingredient of all – love!
Shipping • What is Organic • What is Fair Trade • What is Vegan
- Facebook Reviews
- GoDairyFree
- BC Ferries’ on Board Magazine
- Victoria Buzz Advent Calendars
- Kristine, Veg Girl RD
- EAT Magazine Fan Tan Alley
- Local Adventurer – Best Places To Eat Victoria
- CTV Vancouver Island Foodie Friday
- EAT Magazine Valentine’s Day
- East Van Vegan
- Senior Living Magazine
TESTIMONIALS:
- “I used Pure Lovin’ Chocolate to send my clients and team members their holiday gifts and I was super satisfied! The process was painless – they took care of delivery and gift cards across Canada – and everyone who received a gift set raved about it. Thanks Pure Lovin’ Chocolate for making me look great!”
- I love you you, ladies! You made my vegan wedding absolutely amazing. The chocolate-coated “honeycomb” was pretty much the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Click for printer-friendly version
Enjoy baguettes, bars, biscuits, breads, buns, cinnamon buns, coffee cakes, cookies, croissants, filled pastries, loaves (banana bread & orange cranberry,) muffins, pies, sourdough, and best of all – MINI DONUTS!
How to order!
• bglutenfreevictoria.square.site
• Instagram via DM
• bglutenfreevictoria@gmail.com
• 250-208-3646
• Ordering information & locations
Market & Event Appearances!
- B-glutenfreevictoria’s ongoing appearances throughout greater Victoria! CLICK HERE!
- TODAY’S APPEARANCES!
Saturday, June 8 from 1 – 9pm
Saanich Fairgrounds at 1528 Stelly’s Cross Rd
Get ready for a summer festival of live music, spirits,= and summer fun! Plug into Victoria’s newest festival! Sips & Sounds is not just an event; it’s an experience!
Learn more • Tickets here.
About Tanja!
Listen to Tanja on ‘A Canadian Celiac Podcast!’
Tanja Blondin, Owner / Operator of B-glutenfreevictoria, has been baking for as long as she can remember. Her German heritage continues to inform the food that she creates.
With hospitality in her DNA, Tanja has done it all from baking to catering, always with the best in presentation.
When her daughter was born, Tanja started a cake business that allowed her to work from home. The business was so successful that it grew into a full catering and pastry shop in Ontario. From there, she went on to manage restaurants, including the Starbucks that she transferred to in Sidney, to be closer to family.
Seeking a change from the coffee business, Tanja assumed a position in the bakery department of Sidney Thrifty Foods. It was around this time that she began experiencing health problems that lead her, and her daughter, to be diagnosed with celiac disease. Her employer tried to accommodate her condition with a move to the cake decorating department, but the proximity to airborne gluten flour was too much for her. Tanja had to resign, but that does not mean she stopped baking. Their loss was our gain!
What to do with decades of experience baking European pastries? Tanja reimagined them using gluten-free, organic ingredients, freshly milled at the dedicated gluten-free Millstone Farm Organics in North Saanich:
- almond flour • baking powder • brown rice flour • buckwheat flour • chia • buckwheat flour • eggs (fresh!) • flax seeds • millet flour • potato starch • psyllium husk • oats (pure) • quinoa • sorghum flour • sliced almonds • tapioca starch • teff flour • xanthan gum • white rice flour
Tanja adapted her favourite recipes to gluten free in her dedicated kitchen, and set up a booth on Sunday’s Mary Winspear Centre to test the market. The response has been so positive that she has gone on to create a ‘B-glutenfreevictoria Food Trailer’ – a first for Vancouver Island and beyond!
View the possibilities below, order online through bglutenfreevictoria.square.site, or stop by her table during her busy market schedule this summer.
