3.07.2011

Welcome to GlutenFreeOntario and my new blog!

(Originally posted 10/16/10)

I have to admit that I have never blogged before. My goal is to write about USEFUL information for those with Celiac Disease, especially those living in Ontario. You know, restaurant reviews, product reviews, (cook)book reviews, Celiac stuff in the news, interesting articles, the odd recipe that I've had success with, etc.

I guess I should start off with a little about me.

I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease on April 7th, 2006. (Is it weird that I remember the exact day? Anyone else "celebrate" their Celiac anniversary?)

It was a huge shock to me since I love food, especially gluteny foods like pizza and pasta. Suddenly, my doctor was telling me these foods were off limits. I thought this diagnosis sentenced me to a life of rice cakes and other bland foods. I thought restaurants were a thing of the past.

I was wrong.

The more I researched, the more excited I was by the amount of restaurants I found that offered gluten-free options. In the beginning, I kept coming across the main ones in Toronto, like Il Fornello and Magic Oven - pizza and pasta, yes!! But I was determined to find MORE. And I did find more. With a little bit of research, restaurants were popping up all over Toronto with options I could safely eat.

I realized that other Celiacs in Toronto were not familiar with all of the restaurants that offered gluten-free foods so I decided to post my findings on a website and in the summer of 2007, www.glutenfreeontario.ca was born.
The website has continued to expand from my own research and input from Celiacs all over Ontario. (Thanks everyone for your suggestions!)

GlutenFreeOntario.ca now includes over 100 listings in Toronto alone, with many more in other cities across the province.

The Facebook page is updated daily with pictures of gluten-free products, restaurant meals, questions and anything else I find interesting or helpful.