On Sunday May 1, 2016, Toronto’s original pop-up gluten-free marketplace, Gluten Free Garage, kicks off Celiac Awareness Month with its 5th annual event. With over 65 local and artisanal vendors, the event will feature Toronto’s best gluten-free finds. Inspired by her daughter Lily, now 10, who was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009, GFG founder RonniLyn Pustil created the event in 2012 to showcase the many gluten free options available in Toronto. RonniLyn aims to promote and provide better access to top-quality local gluten-free food, create awareness about celiac disease, and prove that gluten-free food can be super tasty!
“Gluten Free Garage is my way of sharing my best finds from the gluten-free marketplace and providing a one-stop sampling and shopping experience that is safe for everyone who is gluten free. People with celiac and gluten intolerance can indulge themselves at GFG without fear of being glutened. And the food is so delicious that even those who eat gluten will enjoy it, too.”
event details
Date: May 1, 2016
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Location: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street, Toronto
Admission: $10, free for kids 12 years and under
Tickets are available at the door (cash only) or online at universe.com. Keep reading to learn how you can WIN 2 tickets to this exciting event!
all about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity
Gluten is a protein found in wheat (and wheat varieties such as spelt and kamut), barley and rye. You will often hear gluten mentioned in reference to Celiac disease which is a genetic autoimmune disease in which the small intestine is damaged by gluten. For people with this disease, the damage leads to the body’s inability to absorb essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, folate and vitamins A, D, E and K. An estimated 1 in 133 Canadians are living with celiac disease.*
In addition to the rise in celiac incidence, there are increasing numbers of people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Some individuals with gluten sensitivities find relief from a number of other conditions by following a gluten-free diet, including conditions such as, asthma, skin problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ADHD, Crohn’s disease and bloating, as well as to manage weight and boost energy and mental clarity.*
past event highlights
I have been incredibly impressed by past Gluten Free Garage events, and in particular, by the abundance of foods that were not just gluten-free, but healthy and made with plant-based ingredients too. My highlight from the 2015 event was a cooking demo hosted by Ashley Wittig, the co-owner of local Toronto Bunner’s Vegan and Gluten-Free Bake Shop, where she prepared recipes from the Bunner’s Bake Shop Cookbook (one of my favourites!), including, Supersonic Granola and Breakfast Waffles. Ashely will be hosting another demo this year with "Bunner’s Does It Savoury Style" from 2 pm to 2:45 pm. For the full listing of Guest Speakers click here.
Ashley Wittig, co-owner of local Toronto Bunner’s Vegan and Gluten-Free Bake Shop, preparing recipes from the Bunner's Cookbook at the 2016 Gluten Free Garage event in Toronto. Photo by: Love Wild Live Free.
gluten-free vegan exhibitors
There will be a large number of exhibitors that will be exhibiting at the Gluten Free Garage who are strictly vegan or offer vegan-friendly options. I have listed some of my favourite vendors below who I highly reccomend you check out at the event. These are companies with high integrity, who create wonderful products that I purchase and/or use in my kitchen on a regular basis. I have formed great connections and friendships with many of the people who run these local companies and I have noted if they have been featured on the Love Wild Live Free blog so that you can read more about them!
- Bunner's Bakeshop
- Earth + City (check out my article about Earth + CIty here!)
- Giddy YoYo
- Good Food For Good (check out my article about Good Food For Good here!)
- Greenhouse Juice Co.
- The Healthy Crunch
- Jule's Baskets (check out my article about Julie's Baskets here!)
- Kupfert & Kim
- MadeGood
- Marni Wasserman's Food Studio
- Matcha Ninja
- My Little Chickpea Gourmet Foods
- No7 Mexican Hot Sauce
- Nona Vegan Foods
- Sudsatorium (check out my article about Sudsatorium here!)
- Sweet Hart Kitchen
- The Honest Leaf (check out my article about The Honest Leaf here!)
- Unbaked Cake Co.
- Urban Acorn Catering
- Wood and Water (check out my article about Wood and Water here!)
For a complete list of vendors click here.
Instagram giveaway details
WIN 2 tickets to this exciting event! Visit my Instagram post featuring Unbaked Cake Co's Chaga Brownie Cake, pictured below. In the comments below that photo tag a friend that you'd like to bring to Gluten Free Garage. You'll be super popular with that extra ticket! Contest closes April 27th at 8pm EST and you must be able to pick up the tickets at the show.
Gluten-free + Vegan Chaga Brownie Cake by Unbaked Cake Co. Photo by: Tim D (www.instagram.com/timdbmit).
Unbaked Cake Co. will be offering delicious raw-vegan, organic treats at Gluten Free Garage, including chaga brownies which top the beautiful cake pictured above.
For more information check out Gluten Free Garage on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and on their official website.
Special thank you to RonniLyn Pustil and Susanne Weinberg of Gluten Free Garage for providing all of the information and images for this post.
Hope to see you at the event!
Much love,
#LoveWildLiveFree
Sources:
* Canadian Celiac Association, Health Canada, Canadian Digestive Health Foundation