Jax is nominated for a gluten-free award!

(Yes, I enjoy referring to myself in the third person.)

Anyway, I've been nominated for an award!

I received an email a couple days ago, reading:

You, your client or boss has been nominated for the inaugural FOGGY (Free of Gluten) Awards presented by Find Me Gluten Free. This is the first awards program in the gluten-free industry to honor the individual people that shine light on the gluten-free industry.

Aww shucks!

I am in the Top 40 Under 40 category, going for the title of 2012 Young Executive of the Year.  Wouldn't you love to see someone local win?!  I am up against people like Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Steve Nash, Novak Djokovic and some other pretty big people in the gluten-free world.  I am honoured to represent Canadians everywhere.

I would certainly love to win and I would like you to vote for me please!

Please and thank you!

Event - VILLA Restaurant - February 2012

On Wednesday February 22, Gluten-Free Ontario had its first ever event.

The event took place at VILLA Restaurant on Bloor West Village (between Runnymede and Jane) and the total attendance was 20 people.  Not bad, for a first event. I had met some people in person before, others I had been in contact with online and there were some who I had never talked to before.

When I arrived, there was a pretty Prix Fixe menu with my logo on it!  I had chosen the menu a few days prior but I had no idea the menu would be tailored so perfectly for the event... take a look!

We had the choice between soup and salad to start and then an entree of either pasta or pizza.

Prix Fixe Menu

Mixed Greens Salad

Mushroom Leek Soup

Fusilli Alfredo with Grilled Chicken

Fusilli Primavera

Wild Mushroom Pizza

Special thanks to my friend Lat from The Experimental Cupcake for taking the above pictures!!

The last of the four entree choices was Margherita Pizza but I don't recall seeing anyone with that one.  I ordered the Primavera since I had never tried it before but the Margherita Pizza was second choice in my mind.

Conversation just seemed to flow between tables, discussing Celiac-related topics and beyond.  I tried my best to spread my time between tables, making sure I got a chance to meet everyone.

I would be lying if I said the planning of this event was a piece of cake.  There were hiccups along the way.  First, I had a guest list of 38 people, which suddenly dwindled to 30 just a couple days before the dinner and then only 23 people arrived.... and 20 people stayed for dinner.  I wish everyone who had RSVP'd had made it to the dinner but I know sometimes things pop up last minute.

Feedback from the event has been extremely positive!  Everyone seems to be asking for monthly events (what are they trying to do... make me crazy?!)  Give me a few weeks and I'll see what I can do.

I would also like to send a special thank you to PatsyPie for sending yummy cookies, biscotti and pie crusts to me to hand out as door prizes at the end of the dinner.  I can't wait to see what kinds of pies you guys come up with!!

PatsyPie goodies

 I know I mentioned this before but I will say it again...

If you would like to plan an event in your city, please set up a Facebook event with all of the details (you will be responsible for confirming details and reservations with the restaurant)

and I will be happy to repost the event to help spread the word.

Want to be featured on GFO?!

I have just recently added a new Blogroll feature to the blog.  If you have your own gluten-free related blog and want to appear on the list, please comment below with your blog link!

It would be appreciated if you return the favour ;)

It's super easy... if you are using Blogger, just go to "Layout" on the left hand side, click "Add a Gadget" and scroll down a bit to find the "Blog List" gadget.

Add the links to your favourite blogs and share them with your own blog readers!

So how 'bout it?

Who's got a blog to share?

My Celiac Tattoo

Here's my tattoo.  It is a green Celiac Disease Awareness Ribbon on my right shoulder blade.  I got it done when I was 21 and no regrets :)

Anyone else have a Celiac-related tattoo?

Getting Ready for Buffalo Gluten Freedom Day!

I will be attending Western New York's Gluten Freedom Day on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.

Of course I'll post the many delicious gluten-free foods I devour so stay tuned.  Can't wait!  If you see me, come say hi ;)

In true Gluten-Free Ontario fashion, I'll be sporting my custom made Gluten-Free Ontario shirt!

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.