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!

Dec
8
Sun
Kids’ Cookie Decorating @ Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro
Dec 8 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Wild Poppyt Bistro Cookie DecoratingKids Christmas Cookie Decorating Sessions! Join Baker Kate Cram for a lesson in gluten-free food & fun! Two seatings. (10+ years and up.) Children will go home with a small decorated gingerbread house and one dozen assorted cookies.

Sunday, December 8 10-11:30am First Seating
$30 Buy Tickets Here
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Sunday, December 8 12-1:30pm Second Seating
$30 Buy Tickets Here

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Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro
A must-visit destination for anyone who loves fabulous baking – full stop!
(Closed Sundays, Mondays & Stat Holidays)

Wild Poppy serves savoury breakfasts and light lunches with soup, baguettes and everything you could ask for in a deli – all from documented to be gluten-free, peanut-free ingredients. Nut-free and vegan options available.

Daily Specials – with delicious photos – are posted on their Facebook page!

Find Wild Poppy just one quick block off the Trans Canada Highway 1 in Ladysmith – turn left at the Buller Street lights. 541 1st Ave. Click here for map.

Hours: Tues-Fri 8-5 Sat 8-4 Closed Sundays, Mondays & Stat Holidays • 250-924-8696

Gluten-Free Tarts

Testimonial: “We had Madeline’s cousin visiting from Halifax for a couple weeks. When we toured them up to Chemainus/Ladysmith all eight of us (one celiac) enjoyed a delicious meal at Wild Poppy. We had to have take out as the restaurant was full. Wonderful to see.”

Kids Menu Wild Poppy Bakery

“After every bite, Sophie said, “Yum! Best eggs I’ve ever had.”

Wild Poppy Front Case

Wild Poppy Gluten-Free Breakfast.Wild Poppy Gluten-Free LunchWild Poppy Gluten Free BrunchWild Poppy Gluten Free BrunchWild Poppy Gluten-Free Baking PlatterWild Poppy Gluten-Free Wedding CakesWild Poppy Gluten-Free Birthday Cake Wild Poppy Gingerbread House


Old Town Wild Poppy Bakery

As co-owners of the Old Town (Wheat) Bakery at 510 1st Avenue in Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, Kate Cram and husband Geoff could easily be considered local celebrities!  As an ‘Associate with the Culinary Institute of America‘ who also undertook to certify as a Red Seal Baker in Canada, Kate is truly baker’s baker!

Watch the video that tells the tale of these husband and wife bakeries. Wild Poppy starts at the 3 minute, 15 second mark!

Two children later, Kate and Geoff’s young sons began to experience persistent health issues that had them resorting to a gluten-free diet in search of relief.  The improvement was nothing short of remarkable and a heads up to Kate that gluten may be taking a toll on her own health. The couple found themselves at a professional and personal cross roads with Kate contemplating the end of a career she loved, and their children unable to  set foot within the family business.

That’s how Wild Poppy Bakery and Bistro was born! 

 

Kids’ Cookie Decorating @ Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro
Dec 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Wild Poppy Cookies IGKids Christmas Cookie Decorating Sessions! Join Baker Kate Cram for a lesson in gluten-free food & fun! Two seatings. (10+ years and up)

Sunday, December 8 12-1:30pm Second Seating
$30 Buy Tickets Here

_____

Sunday, December 8 10-11:30am First Seating
$30 Buy Tickets Here

Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro
A must-visit destination for anyone who loves fabulous baking – full stop!
(Closed Sundays, Mondays & Stat Holidays)

Wild Poppy serves savoury breakfasts and light lunches with soup, baguettes and everything you could ask for in a deli – all from documented to be gluten-free, peanut-free ingredients. Nut-free and vegan options available.

Daily Specials – with delicious photos – are posted on their Facebook page!

Find Wild Poppy just one quick block off the Trans Canada Highway 1 in Ladysmith – turn left at the Buller Street lights. 541 1st Ave. Click here for map.

Hours: Tues-Fri 8-5 Sat 8-4 Closed Sundays, Mondays & Stat Holidays • 250-924-8696

Gluten-Free Tarts

Testimonial: “We had Madeline’s cousin visiting from Halifax for a couple weeks. When we toured them up to Chemainus/Ladysmith all eight of us (one celiac) enjoyed a delicious meal at Wild Poppy. We had to have take out as the restaurant was full. Wonderful to see.”

Kids Menu Wild Poppy Bakery

“After every bite, Sophie said, “Yum! Best eggs I’ve ever had.”

Wild Poppy Front Case

Wild Poppy Gluten-Free Breakfast.Wild Poppy Gluten-Free LunchWild Poppy Gluten Free BrunchWild Poppy Gluten Free BrunchWild Poppy Gluten-Free Baking PlatterWild Poppy Gluten-Free Wedding CakesWild Poppy Gluten-Free Birthday Cake Wild Poppy Gingerbread House


Old Town Wild Poppy Bakery

As co-owners of the Old Town (Wheat) Bakery at 510 1st Avenue in Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, Kate Cram and husband Geoff could easily be considered local celebrities!  As an ‘Associate with the Culinary Institute of America‘ who also undertook to certify as a Red Seal Baker in Canada, Kate is truly baker’s baker!

Watch the video that tells the tale of these husband and wife bakeries. Wild Poppy starts at the 3 minute, 15 second mark!

Two children later, Kate and Geoff’s young sons began to experience persistent health issues that had them resorting to a gluten-free diet in search of relief.  The improvement was nothing short of remarkable and a heads up to Kate that gluten may be taking a toll on her own health. The couple found themselves at a professional and personal cross roads with Kate contemplating the end of a career she loved, and their children unable to  set foot within the family business.

That’s how Wild Poppy Bakery and Bistro was born! 

 

Mar
2
Sat
El Faro Market Flour @ Qualicum Beach Farmer's Market
Mar 2 @ 8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Qualicum Beach Farmer's MarketSaturdays, March 2 to April 27 8:30am to Noon
El Faro Flour Market Table at Qualicum Beach Farmer’s MarketFacebookInstagram
Gluten-Free Cookies and El Faro Market’s famous flour for sale!


El Faro Artisan Flour Blend IGEl 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


El Faro Fusion GF Fish & ChipsEl 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

El Faro Fusion IG ReviewAbout 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.”