Posts Categorized: GFG updates

guest speaker: GFG muse Lily Eklove

Lily is the reason that Gluten Free Garage exists. Here she is with her fave gluten-free cupcakes from Almond Butterfly Bake Shop.

 

Ever since the early days of Gluten Free Garage, my daughter Lily has been asking to be a guest speaker. Since Gluten Free Garage is essentially a big party for Lily—and, by extension, other people with celiac disease and those with gluten intolerance—it only makes sense that the guest of honour gets to speak. Now, eight years after she was diagnosed with celiac disease, at 11 years old, Lily is going to take the stage at Gluten Free Garage and share the top 10 things she has learned from having celiac disease.

Come for the talk and stay for the cupcakes! After Lily does her top 10, gluten-free Almond Butterfly Bake Shop will join her to host a Cupcake Decorating Extravaganza! Bring your children to decorate gluten-free and dairy-free chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with colourful frosting, organic all-natural sprinkles, organic gummy bears, dairy-free chocolate chips, cookie crumbs, brownie bites, and more! Almond Butterfly does not use any artificial colours or sweeteners in any of its baking. The kids are sure to enjoy this yummy hands-on speaker session!

Here are a few of Lily’s favourite things:
Book: Percy Jackson
TV show: Gilmore Girls
Movie: The Wizard of Oz
Song: “Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara
Hobbies: reading, swimming, dancing, playing basketball, drawing

Lily Eklove will be speaking at #GFG17 on Sunday May 28 at 2:30 pm in The Stop,
followed by a Cupcake Decorating Extravaganza with Almond Butterfly Bake Shop.

guest speaker: Katherine Kremblewski, ND

Dr. Katherine Kremblewski is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a private practice in Toronto.

 

You’re in for some serious tummy love at Gluten Free Garage!

Aside from all the delicious gluten-free food you’ll be filling up on, guest speaker Dr. Katherine Kremblewski, ND, is going to talk about gut health in “Love Your Microbiome.” The gut is at the crux of our immune, digestive and even mental/emotional health, which is why we need to ensure that we’re doing all we can to take care of it! Dr. Kat will share tips and tricks to help you maneuver your way through the somewhat-confusing field of digestion, including what to look for in pre- and probiotics.

She will also touch on fermented foods, as they play a huge role in maintaining proper gut health. Fermented foods help to feed the good bacteria in the gut and work to allow the resident bacteria to flourish and the transient flora to survive even longer to do their jobs!

Here are Dr. Kat’s top 5 fave fermented foods (some of which you’ll find at Gluten Free Garage!):

1. Miso: I love miso because it tastes good and it’s easy to add to any recipe.
2. Greek yogurt and/or kefir: Delicious, full of protein, calcium and good fats—this one is a no-brainer. Unless, of course, you’re lactose intolerant, in which case coconut-based yogurt products are great alternatives. Kefir has higher concentrations of bacteria per serving than yogurt so it’s good to mix it up and incorporate both into your diet.
3. Kombucha: Kombucha is a refreshing way to drink your little pets (aka healthy bacteria). Just make sure it’s not loaded with sugar!
4. Sourdough: Although I have trouble personally growing my own, sourdough is a MUST ingredient for me when buying bread. It helps to digest the other grains in the recipe!
5. Sauerkraut: Or, as my husband’s Polish family calls it, kapusta. Fermented cabbage is super easy to make at home and can be incorporated into any recipe without adding an overwhelming taste.

Dr. Katherine Kremblewski, ND, will be speaking at #GFG17 on Sunday May 28 at 1 pm in The Stop.
Her talk is sponsored by Genuine Health.

 

look who’s coming to #GFG17!

 

The 6th annual Gluten Free Garage, Toronto’s original (and only!) pop-up GF market, is returning to Artscape Wychwood Barns on Sunday May 28, 2017. A one-stop destination for any and all gluten-free needs, Gluten Free Garage is a curated food festival where GF people can safely indulge in a wide variety of delicious offerings from 65+ vendors. Think of it as a farmer’s market for foodies that happens to be safe for people with celiac disease!

S P E A K E R S

In addition to the plentiful food and beverage options at Gluten Free Garage, attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from industry influencers and experts at GFG’s speaker panels. This year’s special guests include North America’s leading gluten-free expert, nutritionist and cookbook author Kathy Smart, who will reveal “The 5 Gluten-Free Foods You Haven’t Heard About—and Why You Need to Eat Them”; Yorkville Health Clinic’s Dr. Katherine Kremblewski, ND, who will teach you to “Love Your MicroBiome: The Importance of Digestion in Optimizing your Health”; and 11-year-old Lily Eklove, GFG muse and daughter of festival founder RonniLyn Pustil, who will share her “Top 10 Things I’ve Learned from having Celiac Disease” and co-host a Cupcake Decorating Extravaganza with Almond Butterfly Bake Shop. Lily was diagnosed with celiac disease when she was three years old, so she’s learned a few things over the years.

“Gluten Free Garage is a tummy-lovin’ party that I wouldn’t miss for the world! I’m looking forward to inspiring my fellow gluten-free fans with the new foods that are in MY kitchen!” says returning speaker Kathy Smart.

S P O N S O R S

With the reputation of a truly one-of-a-kind food festival, Gluten Free Garage is proud to have satisfied gluten-free community staples like Italpasta, Neal Brothers Foods, Fiesta Farms and Hero Certified Burgers (look for their food truck!) as returning sponsors while bringing additional celiac-friendly powerhouses on board.

“We are very pleased to continue our lead sponsorship of the Gluten Free Garage—an essential gluten-free community resource. Italpasta Gluten Free Pasta—now made with a delicious blend of four grains: corn, rice, buckwheat and quinoa—is a great alternative for pasta lovers who suffer from a gluten allergy or sensitivity without having to sacrifice good taste or quality. We look forward to sharing samples with our gluten-free pasta lovers on May 28!” says Frank DeMichino, COO of Italpasta Limited.

“Here at Neal Brothers, we love making sure our products are accessible to as many people as possible, and part of that is making sure a range of our products are gluten free,” say Chris and Peter Neal on why their involvement and continued support of Gluten Free Garage is a priority.

New to the sponsor roster is Ste. Anne’s Bakery, a dedicated facility in Grafton, Ontario. Its affiliation with the iconic Ste. Anne’s Spa allows gluten-free spa-goers to enjoy a delicious and stress-free dining experience to ensure total relaxation.

“Ste. Anne’s Bakery is proud to be a sponsor of the Gluten Free Garage. We can’t wait to share our passion for gluten-free products with everyone at the May 28th event. Come see us for some delicious samples of our breads and granola!” says director of operations David Navia.

C O N T E S T  A L E R T S

STE. ANNE’S SPA: Upon entry to Gluten Free Garage, fill out a ballot to WIN an All-Inclusive Day Spa for Two. This deliciously relaxing getaway includes (per person): $120 spa allowance, 3-course lunch, afternoon tea and complete use of the facilities.

 

FIESTA FARMS: Look for the Fiesta Farms shopping cart at Gluten Free Garage and grab a ballot to WIN all the gluten-free goodies inside! Valued at $700, this gluten-free grocery giveaway is packed with pantry staples, snacks, sauces, sweets and more! Ballots must be handed in at the Fiesta Farms store (200 Christie Street) to qualify to win.

GlutenFreedom’s Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake

This Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake, created and photographed by Rachael Hunt of GlutenFreedom Inc., is free from gluten, dairy and nuts!

 

Gluten Free Garage sponsors Italpasta and Fiesta Farms sent Rachael Hunt, founder of GlutenFreedom Inc. (and my good friend), on a shopping spree to gather the ingredients to create a delicious family-friendly and allergy-friendly (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free) pasta dish. She made a creamy tomato pasta sauce, otherwise known as a rosé. This kind of sauce is typically laden with heavy cream and butter, but not the GlutenFreedom version! (All the ingredients for this dish are available at Toronto independent grocery store Fiesta Farms.)

 

 

Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake

Ingredients
1 package Italpasta fusilli (or penne)
1 shallot, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 small eggplant, diced
1 bunch spinach
1 jar Neal Brothers tomato and basil marinara sauce
1/2 cup Yoso cashew cream cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
chili flakes (optional)
fresh basil (optional)


Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cook pasta according to package. When cooked al dente, strain but set aside 1/2 cup of pasta water.

In a large saucepan, sauté shallot, red pepper and eggplant until slightly softened. Add in marinara and season with salt and pepper. Mix in cashew cream cheese, stir thoroughly.

Wilt spinach in sauce. Remove from heat and add in cooked pasta.

Transfer pasta mixture into a large baking dish.  Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.

Allow to cool, garnish with fresh basil and chili flakes.

 

Rachael Hunt has been living with a severe gluten intolerance since 2013. She founded GlutenFreedom Inc.—a resource for dining, cooking, traveling and living gluten free—to provide a platform for others navigating the challenges of going GF. Here she’s at the checkout counter at Fiesta Farms with all the ingredients for her Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake.

 

We are so excited to welcome back Italpasta to Gluten Free Garage
for the 5th time as a Gold sponsor!

They’ll be sampling their new gluten-free pasta—made from a blend of corn, white and brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa—that’s GMO free and certified gluten-free from the Gluten-Free Certification Program. Available in penne, fusilli, elbows and spaghetti, it looks and tastes like regular pasta. We can’t wait to taste what they’ll be serving up at #GFG17!