Product Review: 'Pamela's Chocolate Cake Mix' (available at Lifestyles and Planet Organic)

I will admit...I can be incredibly lazy when it comes to baking gluten-free goodies. Let's face it, it's not always easy to produce delicious and successful gluten-free desserts, and this is exactly why I choose to buy baking mixes. Is this considered cheating? Am I any less creative and ambitious? Frankly, no. I'm just not a baker.

I of course, enjoy jazzing up my gluten-free baking by making my own icings and frostings, even adding my own ingredients to the mixes sometimes too, like pecans or cranberries. My suggestion: just have fun with it and thank heaven there are gluten-free baking mixes that have already been perfected by the professionals.

Down to business! I love 'Pamela's' products! I've tried all the baking mixes, and they were all amazing with the exception of the "Vanilla Cake Mix"...it tasted strange, but I wanted to love it so badly. For all the other bagged mixes by Pamela's, you can't go wrong. My absolute favorite is the Chocolate Cake Mix.

For your information, Pamela's also makes bags of tiny gluten-free cookies. They come in Ginger Snap, Chocolate Chip, and Double Chocolate--they also don't use corn products (last time I checked anyways). I have been known to eat an entire bag of these tasty cookies in one sitting...it usually happens while watching back-to-back episodes of Friends.

[Image courtesy of http://www.pamelasproducts.com/]

Restaurant Review: Hernandez Cocina (735 Yates Street, Victoria BC)

Precious little tacos from Hernandez

Have you ever noticed how authentic Mexican food is generally really balanced and fresh? Forget that cheesy mess you get at other places (although, when craved, the cheesy mess can be welcomed). Hernandez isn't some Tex-Mex, artery-clogging disaster. No, Hernandez is simply put, AMAZING! Fresh, nutritious, satisfying, generous, and honest. An eatery like this one stands alone in Victoria.

I have to confess honestly though, I have had a "gluten-tummy" just once from eating at Hernandez, but that was a couple years ago now, and I have since learned to inform the staff that I have a gluten allergy so they can be extra careful. No problems since then...only blissful chowing on Victoria BEST Mexican food.
Everything Hernandez makes is done with care and integrity, and it really shows in the final product: perfect masa tortillas and delicate and flavorful meat (all hormone-free, organic, or local). They have many vegan/ vegetarian options as well like "Tacos de Frijoles" (black bean)...just $5 for 5 delicious tacos. Ask for no sour cream to make it vegan!

My favorite dishes are these:

• Huarache de Puerco (or de Pollo): its a thick handmade corn tortilla, topped with black beans, rice, shredded pork (or chicken) full of mexican flavor, and some greens.
• Tacos de Carne: three handmade corn tortillas with local organic beef, salsa, cilantro and lime.

Most of their menu is gluten-free, except the burritos, which are made with flour tortillas. Everything else is made just for you!

Check out their website at http://www.hernandezcocina.com/ and familiarize yourself with all their traditions and their love for their cultural, family-inspired cuisine.

Product Review: "Gluten Freeda's" Instant Oatmeal (available at The Market On Yates, and Lifestyles)

Last Spring, as I remember fondly, I was wandering the isles at the Market on Yates, conducting business as usual, just picking up groceries for the week. And then....I saw it....And bought four boxes.

Gluten-free Instant Oatmeal by Gluten Freeda. I used to LOVE oatmeal before I found out I couldn't eat it anymore, four years ago. I would eat it for a quick breakfast before a workout and I marvelled at how satisfied my tummy would feel for hours after. I went three years without any oats at all, and then everything was about to change.

Gluten Freeda's is my perfect companion--I would bring a couple packets to school and just pour on some hot water from the cafeteria, add a spoon, good to go!

I do find this brand to be a little bit sweet for my tastes, so I like to combine it with regular gluten-free rolled oats, add water, and microwave it if I'm in a hurry.

I won't forget the first morning I was reintroduced to instant oatmeal...I sat on the couch, grinning, staring into my bowl. It's amazing how such simple things can give you so much joy.

I give this product a big THUMBS UP!

Restaurant Review: The Joint Pizzeria (1219 Warf Street, Victoria BC)

Where would I be today without "The Joint"? This is Victoria's most popular alternative pizza places--they have a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and of course, gluten-free options!
Pretty much any kind of pizza your heart may desire can be made for you at The Joint--and yes, you can 'build your own' pizza if you're like me and you enjoy being creative and daring.
The Joint is awesome for these reasons:

1. They are open super late. Thursday through Saturday they are open until 3am, so if you're in the mood for 'fourth meal', swing by the joint for slice or a whole pie! They also sell gluten-free desserts!!
2. They offer delivery: it's not uncommon for our species to lay around in our pajamas all day Sunday, why leave the house if it can be avoided??
3. They have SUPER VARIETY! A ton of different meat and veggie toppings are offered for your choosing! Also, they have gluten-free, vegan cheese called "Daiya" and its delish!
4. They use separate equipment, and adhere to strict protocol when making sure there is no cross-contamination. I haven't had a stomach ache from eating there :)

Here's my favorite combinations:
-The House Special: ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, onion, black olives, green peppers. Sooo savory!
-Pesto Chicken: pesto sauce, spinach, chicken, sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, feta.
-My Own Special #1: pesto sauce, spinach, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, feta.
-My Own Special #2: chicken, bacon, pineapple, caramelized onions, spinach.

Gluten-free pizza is popping up all over Victoria actually--I've even heard that Boston Pizza is slinging out gluten-freeness lately. I'm curious to say the least...but I don't think anyone can beat The Joint.
[Image courtesy of http://www.eatatthejoint.com/] Visit their website to check out their menu!

Restaurant Review: Le Petit Saigon (1010 Langley Street, Victoria BC)

There are two reasons I love "Le Petit Saigon".

1. The have spring rolls: they're actually called Imperial Spring Rolls, and they're available vegetarian as well. They are made gluten-free--wrapped in rice paper, coated with corn starch, and deep fried crispy.
2. You have choices!! At least half of their menu is made gluten-free, just ask and your server will tell you everything you want to know. They have a lot of vegetarian options for those of you who don't do the moo.

Their menu is kinda crazy, and all over the place, but for me...this really works. Their portions are huge for both lunch and dinner, and the staff are always eager to please. This is one of Victoria's little gems.

I usually order a dinner combo; it consists of a spring roll, a summer roll, a brochette on a bed of rice vermicelli, served up with delicious and fresh nuoc cham for dipping. Eat Your Heart Out indeed!

Special: Have a sushi dinner party! Part One.

If you love potluck-y dinner parties as much as I do, and you love sushi and Japanese food...then this post is just for you!
Having the right ingredients and equipment on hand can feel like a little investment; but hopefully within a year of making your own sushi instead of dining out, your little investment will pay for itself.
There's a couple of Japanese grocers in Victoria: Fujiya at 3624 Shelbourne Street, and Sakura at 1213 Quadra Street. Also, Chinatown tends to have some Japanese groceries as well.
What you'll need:

• pickled ginger
• wasabi powder or wasabi paste
• bamboo rolling mat
• little dishes for dipping
• wheat-free tamari (San-J is my favorite brand, I prefer the reduced-sodium)
• Nori [seaweed! You get what you pay for...the varieties are usually graded A, B, C, or Gold and Silver. My suggestion, pay the extra! Your final product WILL taste better.
• sushi rice ( you can get white, or brown sushi rice. If you can't find specifically "brown sushi rice", go with a short grain brown rice and I'll give you special cooking instructions)
• rice vinegar (plain, unseasoned--check for additives...you don't need those.
• toasted sesame seeds, I like to use a mix of black and white sesame.
• a wood or bamboo rice paddle.

Once you have all these ingredients on hand, having a sushi party will be a lot easier! The next entry will include rice cooking techniques, ingredients for the actual sushi party, and my favorite homemade sushi rolls!

Restaurant Review: Little Thai Place (1839 Cook Street, Victoria BC, and three other locations)

At least once a week,  I don't feel like picking up groceries, or even leaving the house after a long day. The kitchen is a mess, there's no clean dishes, and energy and hope is running out.

Enter Little Thai Place...DELIVERY!

Little Thai Place has been well received in Victoria, and they now have four locations to serve your neighbourhoods at your convenience. They are very knowledgeable at the Cook Street location regarding gluten-allergies, and I have yet to get sick from their tasty noodles.

The portions are huge from Little Thai Place, one order of Pad Thai usually stretches into two dinners, even for me as a big dinner eater. When I place my order for delivery, I always tell them I have a gluten allergy and automatically, they know what to do when giving the kitchen my order. Delivery takes about 45 minutes on average, so plan ahead.

I'm not familiar with every item on their menu, and I don't know what all can be made gluten-free. However, Thailand's 'signature dish', Pad Thai, is what I always order (add extra vegetables, please)! It's always fresh, hot, and super flavorful. If you don't like Pad Thai, ask the restaurant what other options you could try. They are very friendly, and happy to help!

Special: Eating Sushi, The Saddest Reality of Lurking Gluten

I write this post with a heavy heart. I have yet to have sushi in Victoria and not become sick by it. It's usually just a very mild sickness, like some bloating and stomach cramps mostly. It's still always unfortunate though. Sushi is a very deceiving food--outwardly, its just rice, seaweed and fish. But once you deconstruct it, something terrifying happens; you realize it's something you just risk anymore.

If you're just adhering to a gluten-free diet because it's a healthier option for you, but if you don't get 'gluten-poisoning', then you can skip this part if you like.

If you have celiac disease, you cannot ingest more than 20 parts per million of gluten. That is a very narrow margin to work with--lets say its the equivalent of a single breadcrumb that attached itself to your gluten-free bread while using someone else's toaster. It's dangerous stuff, and while you might not feel physical symptoms of gluten-poisoning right away, the gluten WILL cause harm to your body, and this prolonged harm can lead to intestinal cancers.

Depressed yet? Sorry. I promise there will be light at the end of this tunnel (this post).

Going out for sushi is a gluten cross-contamination nightmare. Many sushi rolls, the 'special' ones included, like the tempura roll, unagi roll, spider roll, California roll and so on contain LOTS of gluten. Those rolls are made with all the same equipment that YOUR rolls are made on. The same work surface is used, the same bamboo rolling mats, the same knives for cutting the roll...its a gluten-dirty place!

Even more depressing...there can be wheat in pretty much anything at the sushi bar: the wasabi paste (I'm not lying), the pickled ginger (I wish I was lying), and even the rice itself can be seasoned with ingredients that contain wheat, like "seasoned rice vinegar" (I'm still not lying).

As many celiacs will do when dining out, one usually asks the servers and the chefs regarding gluten in the food. One might even call in advance. Unfortunately, there can be a language barrier, or even a misunderstanding on the restaurants behalf on what to check for when looking for gluteny ingredients.

With all this being said, it's always been a real risk when enjoying some Japanese cuisine. If any of my readers know of a place in Victoria that is really diligent when it comes to accommodating gluten allergies, please let me know!

The light at the end of this tunnel: make your own sushi! It's not hard to do, although it won't be perfect sushi as sushi chefs have years of intense training. You can make your own sushi for a fraction of the price, and no stomach ache. I really like the idea of having sushi parties: invite some friends over and ask them all to bring a sushi protein, like shrimp, smoked salmon, even raw tuna from a Japanese grocer. I'll post my recipe soon for making sushi rice, a list of products you'll need to have, and I'll provide instruction on how to make your own rolls.
[Image courtesy of Google Images]

Special: Out Smart Sneaky Gluten

When someone is trying out a gluten-free diet for the first time, it is difficult to ensure success without a clear idea of what contains gluten, and what doesn't. Something that many people underestimate is how many store bought sauces contain gluten: barbecue sauce, soy sauce, worcestershire, and many salad dressings all can be potentially loaded with gluten without you thinking twice about it. Thankfully, over the years, I've come up with my own formula when buying anything, ANYTHING, from the store--read the ingredients. Read them very carefully. Mysterious ingredients such as "malt" or "modified food starch" or "hydrolyzed protein" could end up irritating your stomach (or intestines I guess?)  and make you feel really sick.

I still make mistakes to this day, despite four years of practice. Just a few months ago, I picked up a box of Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs cereal. All looked fine on the ingredients list, mostly just corn and sugar and crap like that. I then passed the box to my friend so she could take the second read. All looked fine. We bought them. At home, I was crouched on the floor, my hand deep inside the cereal box which hadn't even left the grocery bag yet. I was gabbing away, munching away, and so pleased to have found a new treat I could eat. I picked up the box again, and I began casually reading it again. I was distracted by the cartoon drawings on the back on the box, but then I saw it: WHEAT STARCH!! The very last ingredient was wheat starch, it even started on a new line after the 40 or so other ingredients. I was horrified. That night, and for 3 days after I felt really sick...ya know, the 'gluten poisoning' as I call it. Lesson learned for now I guess.

And about a year before this, I bought "Three Peppercorn Hummus" from Save-On Foods. I didn't even read the label, because, well it's fricken hummus! What could possibly go wrong. I ate some... I learned my lesson again. There was wheat flour right in there. Yes, wheat flour. This was the "Western Family" brand mind you, I wasn't expected the best hummus I've ever tasted, but adding wheat flour seemed so unnecessary.

Restaurant Review: Mo:Le (554 Pandora Ave, Victoria BC)

Celiac Hipsters rejoice! Mo:Le is an awesome brunch place, conveniently located in the heart of Victoria's 'hipster district' where you can lock up your bike right outside Mo:Le's entrance, right before being promptly escorted by Mo:Le's friendly servers over to Habit Coffee to sip a delicious americano in the dimly lit corner (or maybe you just left your Raybans on, silly hipster) while you wait for a table to clear up at Mo:Le. This will be your Sunday morning, hipsters and hipster-hopefuls.

But in all seriousness, this is a true story. Mo:Le gets so busy on the weekend that it is not uncommon to wait in a line to get your name on the reservation list, and then be delicately sent over to Habit Coffee next door while you wait for a table. The system, however fragmented it may appear, actually works pretty well. As long as you don't mind being the least cool person in both establishments, you'll be well taken care of. You will be caffeinated, and then nourished...what more could you ask for on a Sunday morning?

Mo:Le is super celiac friendly. All their food is fresh, made to order, and they use many organic, local, and seasonal ingredients. It's always advisable to inform your server you have a gluten-allergy, and that way the kitchen can prepare for any modifications that your breakfast may require. Mo:Le now offers gluten-free toast, which is just fabulous for those of us who are reluctant to pass up our morning carb-overload, but it also provides a good alternative when ordering a dish like eggs benny.

My Favorites:
The Simon Whitfield Yam Omelette: a giant portion, served with pesto hash browns. Bacon goes well with it, if you're not a vegetarian hipster.
Huevos Rancheros: also a giant portion, I like it with a side of bacon.
Bliss Raw Organic Granola: a perfectly sweet option, I get mine with almond milk. And a side of bacon. I wish I was kidding...

Huevos Rancheros at Mo:Le

Restaurant Review: West Coast Waffles (1235 Broad Street, Victoria BC)

Have you ever walked down Johnson Street and passed Market Square only to have your nostrils assaulted by a sweet unnamed aroma? Sure you have. That delightful smell comes from a waffle joint called Wanna Waffle, and they want you to come in and enjoy their Belgian goodies. But wait...you go inside...and to your horror you see that there are NO GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS! Nadda. Zip. Zilch. You, disheartened and hungry leave Wanna Waffle and have a moment of self-pity and wheaty-resentment. Why you?? Why must you be so denied?!

Maybe this exact story hasn't happened to you...but it's happened to me. I lived it. I was just dying on the inside for a fluffy waffle topped with sweetness, but my gluten allergy has oppressed me once again.

Enter WESTCOAST WAFFLES!
This unassuming storefront across from Serious Coffee on Broad Street caught my eye one day...I mostly just liked their little logo of a bright yellow sun surrounded by shades of green and blue. Is this where I could seek my Wanna Waffle consumer revenge? Is sure was.
Now, I have enjoyed WCWs a number of times now...but I haven't tried everything on the menu just yet. It is worth noting that WCW has a special system for accommodating gluten allergies: they have a separate waffle iron, separate spatulas, and a tank of buckwheat batter that is always covered to avoid cross contamination. This sort of special care deserves recognition.
The waffles are amazing: fluffy and moist, flavourful and filling. I felt really lucky to have such wonderful food in my belly.
My two favorite Waffles:
The Blueberry Walnut served with whipped cream and maple syrup.
The Johnny Mac: apple, bacon, fresh basil and broiled brie topped with maple syrup and served with a little salad.


[Images courtesy of West Coast Waffles Facebook page]

Personal Recipe: Black Bean Brownies

Woah! Hold up! Black bean brownies?? How does that even make sense?? Am I supposed to actually eat them?? Whatever happened to regular brownies??

I can picture the doubt on every one's face as they read the title of this post. It's understandable...but it's also totally misdirected. A key element of gluten-free cooking and baking includes being adventurous and innovative...and these brownies will turn all you skeptics into believers. I promise. Give this recipe a try.

Firstly, I need to give a shout-out to my sister, Savanna. A couple years ago, she brought over a pan of decadent brownies and then LEFT IT in my fridge. They were black bean brownies....and they disappeared, square by square from that pan in my fridge. They were delicious, and unexpected. And by the way...they're so healthy, you can eat them for breakfast! Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of brownie recipes I have tried over the years, and many of them are super tasty, if not nutritionally void. I made my own recipe for black bean brownies after being so inspired by Savanna's creativity, and I'm offering it to you all now so your minds can be blown and you can proudly say "I ate brownies for breakfast!!"

The recipe has been doubled and tweaked as I found a single batch was just not enough for sharing.

Black Bean Brownies:

Butter, for greasing pan

1 can black beans (rinsed really well)

3/4 cup vegetable oil, or olive oil

3 eggs

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup sugar (I prefer organic, unrefined. ‘Panela’ is a good brand)

1 tbs instant coffee or espresso (optional, but its a good pantry staple)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips, divided

2/3 cup gluten-free flour (rice flour or buckwheat flour works well)

1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9 by 9-inch square baking pans

In a blender, puree the beans with the oil. Add the eggs, cocoa, sugar, coffee, and vanilla. Melt half the chocolate chips and add to the blender. Blend on medium-high until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, and baking powder. Add to the blender and pulse until just incorporated. Stir in the remaining chocolate chips. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until the surface looks somewhat matte around the edges and still a bit shiny in the middle, about 20 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and removing from the pan. Lightly dust with icing sugar if you wanna impress someone.

Restaurant Review: The Noodle Box (many locations in Victoria, and Vancouver)

Oh Noodle Box! It seems almost unnecessary to do a review as this particular chain has been so well received in Victoria. However, there's a gluten-free side to Noodle Box I need to share.
I'll be honest...I eat noodle box once or twice a week. As a student...its an affordable option, and if you haven't noticed, stirfrys are a very balanced meal (protein, carbs, veggies). I appreciate how The Noodle Box provides the option for making substitutions according to your taste or nutritional needs. Options like brown rice, low-carb, extra vegetables, no fish sauce (for vegans) and easy oil are available if you so choose. What the Noodle Box also has is a special system for accommodating gluten allergies--the work station gets cleaned, separate uncontaminated equipment is used, and all sorts of modifications take place to mime the box you've chosen into making it totally safe and delicious to eat! The staff is very knowledgeable, so don't be afraid to ask questions.

My favorite boxes:
Thai Style Chow Mein: gluten-free, made with rice noodles, and wheat-free tamari, add extra vegetables, with chicken or prawns, medium spicy.
Malay Fried Rice: gluten free, made with brown rice, and wheat-free tamari, medium spicy.

Be sure to take advantage of their frequent diner cards...get a stamp for each box you buy. It all adds up...especially if you're hooked on their dishes like me.
Note: Noodle Box takes pride in offering seasonal and local ingredients, and also free-range organic chicken.
[Image courtesy of http://thenoodlebox.net/]

Restaurant Review: Origin Gluten Free Bakery (1525 Pandora Ave, Victoria BC)

Last year, when this wonderful gem opened in Victoria, I was beyond excited to finally eat FRESH (not frozen) bakery treats like baguettes, cupcakes, focaccia bread, eclairs, and biscotti. The first time I went to Origin's, I bought a baguette and a focaccia loaf to bring home and devour with turkey chili my mom made for me during finals week for school. I ate half of the baguette and half of the focaccia loaf before I even made it home, and then ate the rest later that night with the chili. I was in carb heaven!
Since that enlightening day, I have sampled many other items from Origin's menu. While everything they serve up is delish, I of course have my favorites:
-Baguette (perfect with brie and apple)
-Hamburger buns (delightful clouds of sesame speckled love, they double as sandwich buns for breakfast, or pulled pork, or road trip turkey and lettuce bundles of joy)
-Cupcakes (it's hard to choose a favorite...but if a gun was held to my head, I would vote for the Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing--divine)
-Biscotti (chocolate cranberry)
-White Sourdough Loaf ( I'm a sucker for sourdough...nuff said)

Origin's is very accommodating for special orders I have found--if you place an order in advance, they can modify some products to suit your dietary needs.
Their lunch items are sinfully satisfying--their quiches must be the best in Victoria.

Image courtesy of Origin's Facebook page.

Favorite Products: San-J Gluten Free Cooking Sauces

I finally found Asian condiments in Victoria that are certified GF. I found these little puppies at Pharmasave on Foul Bay Road and Richmond Road. This pharmasave is one of Victoria's best places to buy gluten-free products at a fair price.
Here are three that I recommend for keeping in your fridge for making simple stirfrys, or an elaborate Asian tasting menu for your next dinner party. They're all delicious and San-J has consistently good products.  Highly recommended.

Personal Recipe: Curry Chicken Patties with Avocado Mango Salsa

This recipe sprung out of inspiration from simply wandering the isles at the Market on Yates in Victoria. I wanted a filling dinner, yet not a heavy dinner as we had plans to go out later that evening. I served it Lundberg's Mediterranean Curry Couscous (made with brown rice), and I recommend a light salad to be served with it too. The flavours in this recipe really stand for themselves and can be enjoyed with clarity. Here's the recipe.

Patties:
1 lb ground chicken (we used organic, local, hormone-free)
1/2 cup minced sweet onion
2/3 cup quinoa flakes (my favorite ingredient for binding, as well as adding nutritional merit)
3 tbs curry powder (any kind, if using curry paste however...I would use 2 tbs of either red or yellow)
1/2 tbs garlic salt
1 egg.
Combine the mixture by hand (wash hands well before and after folks!), form into patties and place on wax paper. Refrigerate while you prepare the salsa next. Makes about 6 patties.

Salsa:
3 cups of finely diced fresh ripe mango (roughly 2-3 mangoes)
1 avocados, diced
1/2  cup sweet onion, minced.
2 tbs lemon or lime juice
1 Thai chili, or 1/2 jalapeno finely minced
salt to taste (I use Himalayan pink salt for all my dishes as there are trace minerals and elements)
Mix all ingredients well in a bowl and let stand while you cook the burgers.

To cook the patties, I used a heavy frying pan. Barbecue would work perfectly as well. Heat olive oil in the pan. Cook three at a time, about 7 minutes on each side. Place in a preheated 200 degree oven to keep warm. Serve with generous amounts of salsa.

'Out-of-town-dining-around' Restaurant Review: RauDZ Restaurant (1560 Water St Kelowna, BC)

What I ate: 'Baked' fish and chips, 'Ultimate Greens' salad with hazelnuts, apple and chevre, vanilla pear creme brulee
When in Kelowna last month, my aunt and uncle came for a surprise visit to my gramma's house where I was staying and enjoying Ukrainian food, three meals a day. My aunt and uncle wanted to take everyone out for dinner, and had made a reservation for my whole family to go. First off, I was nervous. I seldom go to restaurants in unfamiliar cities without first doing my own research. RauDZ restaurant restored my faith in eating out.
Their menu frequently changes to ensure the use of seasonal, fresh, and local ingredients (thumbs up!)
They offered the table the drink specials-- loganberry martini, or pear martini. Members of my family ordered these and I sampled a tiny sip from their glasses...mindblowing delicious.
I started with the salad...it was perfect. My dad ordered a Cesar salad and he devoured it. (that's usually a good sign)
Next, I had some 'baked' fish and chips. The batter for the fish is actually made of chickpea flour, and was totally gluten free. It was served with baked 'chips' as well. RauDZ has a special oven, or so they said, where it makes things extra crispy without deep-frying. Whatever they do, it works well!!
This particular main was served with tartar sauce, and their special blackberry ketchup for the chips. It was awesome!!
The creme brulee was a special treat--I have a mild dairy sensitivity and I don't indulge too often in creamy confections...however, this one was worth the tiny stomach gurgles. Likely the best creme brulee I've ever had--and the poached pear pieces at the bottom were a nice touch of texture and added flavor to the dessert
I highly recommend this place if you're in Kelowna, and you happen to be craving fish and chips, which is typically something difficult to find gluten-free.

Restaurant Review: Irish Times Pub (1200 Government St. Victoria BC)

This is one of my favorite places to eat a casual lunch or dinner in Victoria. The first thing worth noting: their french fries AND their yam fries are 100% safe to eat. They are fried in a separate fryer, so you can rest assured there is no gluten contamination. The yam fries however, are served with a curry mayo. The curry mayo is NOT gluten-free, but they make a garlic mayo which is in fact safe to eat. The yam fries are delicious...like seriously SOOO good. Perhaps the best in Victoria.
What I ate: Halibut Burger (sans-bun) with a tasty slaw, yam fries, and La Messagere gluten-free beer.
The meal was awesome, I left feeling totally satisfied and very happy.
Irish Times Pub is very accommodating to gluten-allergies, their staff are very knowledgeable regarding food allergies as well, and I'd say about 1/2 the menu can be modified to suit your dietary needs.
Here's the full menu: http://www.irishtimespub.ca/food.php
Bon Appetit!

Here we go!!

Welcome to my brand new blog! The design and layout is surely to change in the coming weeks as I familiarize myself with web designing, but until then, this is THE place where fellow celiac-sufferers can get a leg-up on the world of food, and where to go to enjoy the best and safest meals. Going out for meals when you have a gluten-allergy (or any food allergy really) can be challenging, even downright bummer sometimes. Thankfully, in our ever progressing world, gluten allergies are becoming more recognized and accommodated. My hopes for this blog will include providing you all postings on the following: which restaurants are gluten-free friendly and delicious, which are NOT, personal recipes, grocery lists, tasty new gluten-free products available in Victoria BC, and any out-of-town ventures I take and where I end up eating.
I found out I had celiac disease 4 years ago, and while it can be difficult to always enjoy the food I'm stuck eating, I have found that with a little effort, I can enjoy meals around town without the unfortunate and painful bloat afterwards. While I enjoy cooking most of my meals, I do love any chance I get to taste new food around town. As a celiac, and food LOVER, I refuse to take a backseat while I explore all culinary adventures. Let's get started, shall we??