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!
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.
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
• Everyone welcome! Gluten-free diners as well as significant others who may or may not eat gluten free! Family friendly!
• Tartan Toque’s token of appreciation! Complimentary Panna Cotta Dessert! (contains dairy)
• RSVPs a MUST before Thursday, April 18! Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com.
• Drop ins and ‘no shows’ are not cool. Notice of cancellation required or risk being excluded from future events.
• Additional food sensitivities / allergies? Please contact Tartan Toque directly at 778-265-9464.
- Monday Nights – Shafts – coffee-flavoured cocktails (GF)
- Tuesdays & Thursday – Pitcher Specials (contain gluten)
- Wednesdays – Wing Nights – second orders are half price! (GF)
- Sunday – Special pricing on Caesars (made with GF Worcestershire sauce!)
He is proud to have worked at some of Canada’s best hotels: the Lord Nelson Hotel in Halifax; the Shangri-la Hotel in Toronto; Weston Bayshore, Fairmont Waterfront & Pan Pacific Hotels in Vancouver and the Delta Ocean Pointe Hotel in Victoria.
- Perhaps what makes Brendan most qualified to undertake a makeover of this very popular restaurant is that his father has celiac disease. Brendan gets it!
1507 Pandora (right next door to Origin Bakery) Open 7 days a week! 12 – 9pm
tartantoque.ca • Order Online • 778-265-9464
Facebook • Instagram • Gallery • Menu (scroll down to view)
- Wings, their sauces and – wait for it – gluten-free deep-fried pickles, calamari, crispy chicken & fries
- All deep fryers are dedicated gluten-free
- No loose flour on site, gluten or otherwise. All desserts are gluten free
- Tartan Toque is pleased to offer us Whistler’s Forager Beer, ciders and a selection of carefully curated wines.
If you are a celiac or require a scrupulously gluten-free meal, make that crystal clear when ordering. * Staff will swap in Origin Bakery bread or bun, refresh their gloves and settings and, importantly, will use fresh toppings from un-opened bins. **
* As in any kitchen that also handles even the smallest amount of gluten, Tartan Toque cautions that the risk of cross contact, albeit remote, may still be a possibility.
** NOTE: for the oat sensitive: ‘pure’ oats are used in all burgers.
