Meet Up at MeeT Vegan / Vegetarian Restaurant at 797 Hillside Ave in the former Boston Pizza location

4 – 6pm on Sunday, April 16
RSVPs REQUIRED to ellen@theceliacsene.com

eatmeet.ca • Menu • Facebook • Instagram • info@eatmeet.ca • 250-704-2900

MeeT Reshapes the Restaurant Industry 

Never before in The Celiac Scene’s history have I interviewed a restaurant so aware of its ingredients and so committed to serving the unique needs of each and every diner.

Food sensitivities are not just accommodated, they are celebrated!

Because MeeT is committed to honouring the vegan and vegetarian choices of its diners, they visit with every supplier and build strong relationships with each one of them.

In the course of doing so, they become keenly aware which ingredients contain gluten along with a host of other food allergens. As a result, MeeT has effectively deconstructed the building blocks of food, and from there, created amazing meals in ways that meet almost any need – or want!

I spoke with Adam Twohey, former chef at MeeT’s Yaletown location in Vancouver, and now Victoria’s MeeT  Manager. He impressed me with his comprehensive knowledge of everything this 4-location offers. Be amazed!

• Dedicated gluten-free deep fryer
• Dedicated gluten-free grill
• All toppings used to dress meals are taken from fresh containers.
• If there is any doubt about the GF status of an ingredient container, a fresh container is taken from their walk-in cooler.
• Any loose flours used at MeeT are gluten free
• MeeT uses Little Northern (vegan) brand bread and buns for their gluten-free burgers and sandwiches. 
• MeeT’s menu is notated to indicate which meals contain gluten and nuts. Many of these meals can still be adapted to gluten free. Ask your server – they are eager to help!
• Please always assert your needs when ordering items that do not have a gluten notation to ensure that the kitchen can take necessary precautions.
• OATS! The oat-intolerant can rejoice in knowing that oats are not incorporated into any of MeeT’s offerings! 
• Oat milk however is used, and it should be noted that it is NOT gluten-free. 
• Specially ordered meals may take longer to prepare and cook. Please be patient. 

“I am thrilled that MeeT Restaurant has made its way to Victoria. I encourage our community to offer this breakthrough establishment its warmest welcome!” Ellen Bayens, The Celiac Scene

More About MeeT
“Ivo, Jason and Linda have spent the last 20 years in Vancouver, owning and operating a total of 8 restaurants and organic grocery stores throughout the city!”

“They launched the concept of MeeT with a purpose to re-engage in the restaurant industry – not just to succeed in this market, but to re-shape it!”

“From customers perceptions of comfort food, to staff perceptions of what a workplace should be, their goal is to surpass and re-imagine the restaurant establishment to be a better version of itself!” Learn more …

I have severe food allergies. Can I eat in your restaurant?
“We take food allergies very seriously. While we can never guarantee that our food is 100% free of allergens, there are several steps that we take to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. We are a peanut-free establishment, two of our deep fryers are used exclusively for gluten-free items, and our menu is egg and dairy free.”

“Our menu does make extensive use of ingredients such as nuts, wheat, and soy, but we take great care to process these items separately to avoid cross contamination. Please specify with your server the nature and severity of your allergy. Severe allergy bills do take us longer to prepare and cook.”

*Despite all of this, there is always a chance of human error in prepping or cooking of food, or cross-contaminated food from suppliers. For this reason, guests should be comfortable with these potential factors before eating with us. Learn more …

Do you have a kids menu, and are you kid friendly?
“OMG, we love ‘em! We were recently featured on a Kids Edition episode of You Gotta Eat Here! (season 5 episode 16, but who’s counting?) where we showed off a few of our favourite kid friendly dishes; the Chili Cheez Fries, Mac’N’Cheez Burger, and Chocolate Coconut Ganache Tart. We don’t have a dedicated kids menu, but there are lots of items on our menus that your kids will love!” Learn more …

Find MeeT  in Vancouver

• Main – 4288 Main St – 604-696-1010
• Gastown – Inner Courtyard, 12 Water St – 604-696-1111
• Yaletown – 1165 Mainland St – 604-696-1165

Let’s meet up and try one of the most elusive of gluten-free cuisines – celiac-safe Japanese food!

Room for only 7 attendees. 

Tuesday, May 16 at 6pm
Ebizo Japanese Restaurant
604 Broughton St
(250) 383-3234
MENU • Facebook • Instagram

Email ellen@theceliacscene.com to RSVP

Thank you to Pure Lovin’ for their donation of delicious organic, gluten-free, vegan chocolates as a very special ‘Treat to Go!’

Based on the great experience of one of our most intrepid Gluten-Free Foodies, I popped in to speak with Ebizo about their ability to serve celiac diners.

Server Nigh-Yee readily identified which rolls, nigiri and sashimi are already gluten free, or could be adapted to be so. They can furnish us with gluten-free soy sauce.

I asked that on this occasion, that the chefs be made aware that our group requires 100% gluten-free food and to take any extra precautions to necessary to assure our safety.

Ebizo is a small restaurant so they only take reservations for groups of seven or less. This means this meet up is quite exclusive and that if you are interested, best to sign up soon!

Arigato!

______

Pictures from the Meet Up! 

Langford Light Up & Truck Parade – Saturday, December 2.
Find B-glutenfreevictoria at Veterans’ Memorial Park 5 – 8pm

Look for the big white tent – warm up with Hot Mulled (non-alcoholic) Wine

Details here!

Order ahead!

• bglutenfreevictoria.square.site
• Instagram via DM
• bglutenfreevictoria@gmail.com
• 250-208-3646
• Pick up or delivery arranged when ordering.

Enjoy a selection of baguettes, bars , biscuits, bread, buns, cinnamon buns, coffee cakes, cookies, croissants, filled pastries, loaves (banana bread & orange cranberry,) muffins, pies & sourdough! Best of all! MINI DONUTS!

B-glutenfreevictoria appears throughout greater Victoria, including Goldstream Market, Moss Street Market, Esquimalt Farmers Markets, Westcoast Outdoor Markets  and seasonal events! SEE COMPLETE MARKET SCHEDULE
SEE TODAY’S LOCATIONS

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 and order online through bglutenfreevictoria.square.site, or stop by her trailer during her busy  market schedule this summer.