GFG exhibitor!

Fries before guys

26 Apr

Serving up some attitude with a side of fries.

Flashback to Gluten Free Garage in the fall of '14 with gluten-free girl Lily and her pal Axel going to town on some Hero Burger fries.

Flashback to fall 2014 Gluten Free Garage with gluten-free girl Lily and her pal Axel going to town on some Hero Burger fries.

This year Gluten Free Garage is hosting an unprecedented number of vegan and vegetarian vendors. But we know that there are many gluten-free carnivores out there who will be asking: “Where’s the beef?”

Enter Hero Certified Burgers.

You know what my beef is with Hero Burgers? Their french fries, which themselves are gluten free, are made in a shared fryer, so there is a risk of cross-contamination. Hence, my daughter, and everyone else with celiac disease, cannot have them. Which is a bummer, because Lil loves fries.

But I appreciate that Hero Burgers is very clear about this in their communications, because it keeps people with celiac and gluten intolerance safe. Also on the plus side, most of their proteins (except for the hot dog) and condiments are gluten free and they have gluten-free buns from O’Doughs that are warmed in a dedicated toaster. And, most recently, they added gluten-free naturally smoked beef bacon to the menu.

Click here for a full list of the gluten-free offerings at Hero Burgers.

Back to the fries. You may wonder why Lily is eating them in the above photos. Is it an act of gluten-free child rebellion? No, she knows how much it sucks to get glutened. It’s because at Gluten Free Garage the Hero Burgers food truck serves up fries—and poutine!—made in a dedicated fryer with fresh, clean oil. So Lily and her fellow celiacs get to order a side of fries with that!

GFG sponsor Hero Burgers / Photo: Lewis Mirrett

Keep on truckin’ / All photos by Lewis Mirrett

Hero Certified Burgers is a Silver sponsor of Gluten Free Garage.

Marni Wasserman keeps it clean

25 Apr

Marni and her adorable new pup Goji

5 QUESTIONS for culinary nutritionist Marni Wasserman

What’s your motto?
Everyone can eat more plants!

3 things you’d bring to the desert island.
Sweet potatoes, almond butter and my dog Goji.

Why gluten free?
It’s so much easier for my gut to digest. Also, when you choose clean, wholesome gluten-free foods they are fun to prepare and build recipes with. The versatility and variety of meals to make is off the charts!

What’s your go-to gluten-free breakfast?
Green chia porridge.

Tell us a little-known fun fact about you.
I love ’80s music and butterflies.

Get the recipe for this Green Chia Porridge on Marni’s Instagram @marniwasserman

Marni will teach you how to “Clean Up Your Gluten-Free Act” at 3 pm in The Stop at Gluten Free Garage!

Ashley Wittig, baker boss

19 Apr

Ashley literally lets them eat cake (and so much more)!

5 QUESTIONS for Bunner’s Ashley Wittig

What’s your motto?
I don’t really subscribe to any hard-and-fast motto. I just try to be mindful and optimistic every day.

3 things you’d bring to the desert island.
Now, if this was a dessert island, I wouldn’t need to bring anything! But for a desert island I would bring my favourite oversized hoodie, my running shoes so I don’t lose my mind, and my imaginary solar-powered Vitamix so I could whip up smoothies with all those tropical fruits lying around.

Why gluten free?
Simply, Bunner’s is gluten free because my business partner Kevin is (along with being vegan). But, broadly, when we opened over five years ago, there wasn’t anything available that was delicious and gluten free in Toronto. We were really set on making vegan and gluten-free baked goods that were traditional and tasted as great—if not better—than their gluten, egg and dairy-ful counterparts.

What’s your go-to gluten-free breakfast?
I love a good old-fashioned smoothie. My favourite of all time is frozen banana, frozen watermelon, vanilla almond milk, a handful of baby spinach, and matcha. It’s so out of control, and especially perfect on summer mornings.

Tell us a little-known fun fact about you.
I can do this thing with my tongue that only one in a thousand people can do, apparently. Come find me at the Gluten Free Garage and I’ll show you!

Ashley will show you how “Bunner’s Does It Savoury Style” at 2 pm in The Stop at Gluten Free Garage!

Spring has sprung!

18 Apr

Spring vegetables are the star of this gluten-free pasta dish.

Italpasta’s radish, green pea and cucumber pasta salad with grilled chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1 pkg (340 g) Italpasta Gluten-Free Fusilli
1 cup (250 mL) peas
3 radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup (250 mL) sliced and quartered cucumber
1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
1 tbsp (15 mL) balsamic vinegar
1 tsp (5 mL) honey
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) dried thyme
1/4 tsp (1 mL) paprika
1 lb (500 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts

Buttermilk Dill Dressing
1/2 cup (125 mL) buttermilk
1/4 cup (60 mL) mayonnaise
2 tbsp (30 mL) apple cider vinegar
4 tsp (20 mL) chopped fresh dill
1½ tsp (7 mL) Dijon mustard
4 green onions, sliced
3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper

Whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, dill, mustard, green onions, salt and pepper.

Instructions
Cook fusilli according to package directions, adding peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Rinse under cold water; drain well. Toss pasta with 3/4 cup (175 mL) of the Buttermilk Dill Dressing; stir in radishes and cucumber.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat; grease grate well. Stir together olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, thyme and paprika; toss with chicken. Marinate for 15 minutes.

Grill chicken for 5 to 7 minutes per side or until grill-marked and cooked through. Let stand for 10 minutes; slice diagonally. Toss chicken into pasta salad. Serve with remaining Buttermilk Dill Dressing.

Tip: Substitute sugar snap peas for peas if desired.

Italpasta is a Gold sponsor of Gluten Free Garage.