Win Two Passes Gluten Free Garage in Toronto November 9!

I am a big fan of the Gluten Free Garage that's held in Toronto each November. It's a bit different from most other gluten free events I've attended because it focuses on local gluten free products and producers. Rather than being bombarded by all the big international brands, it allows locals to get to know and support smaller local businesses. I've discovered many new products at this event in the past. It's also small enough to walk through in a few hours, making it a great way to spend about a half day eating, drinking, and connecting with others who "get it" when it comes to gluten free living.

Upcoming Event: Gluten Free Garage and an Interview with RonniLyn Pustil

If you live in or around Toronto, there is a great gluten free event taking place this Sunday, November 17th at Artscape Wychwood Barns. The Gluten Free Garage, Toronto's pop-up gluten free marketplace is back for another day. I attended this event in April, and was impressed by all the local vendors and speakers who came out to support the gluten free community. Want to know what my experience was like? You can read about it in my Gluten Free Garage Recap Post .

This event brings together local producers, artisans, and vendors in one place for a day of sampling, learning, and fun. Unlike many of the bigger events, this event focuses on the local, and has more of a farmer's market style feeling, rather than a large convention set-up. It's a chance to get to know where to go locally for gluten free food and information.

Gluten Free Garage 2013 Recap

Sunday morning I went down to Wychwood Barns in Toronto to check out the Gluten Free Garage, a pop-up market of all things gluten free.  I try to attend events like this one whenever possible both to learn about what's new on the market and to support the cause.  A portion of proceeds from ticket sales went to support the Canadian Celiac Association. 

Unlike the Gluten Free Expo, which is fantastic as well, this event focuses mainly on local businesses and organizations.  It was a much smaller event, but allowed for more time to speak with vendors and learn about their businesses, something that is more difficult to accomplish than at the expo. 

Bakeries were well-represented, as always, but so were health food products, restaurants and beauty products.  More and more people are moving not only to substitute gluten free baked goods, but to a healthier lifestyle overall.  The atmosphere was relaxed, the vendors were happy to share samples and sell their goods at a discounted price, and the visitors left with full bellies and bags full of samples and information. 

Since there are so few times my son can eat whatever he wants, we let him try all the samples and we fed him some treats he normally doesn't get to eat. 

We stopped at Bunner's for a Chili Cheese Empanada for my husband and a chocolate cupcake for my son. 

Then he had a Watermelon Lemonade popsicle, while my husband and I tried out some sausages and chatted with the man from Pimentos about paella.  I enjoyed a cup of coffee from Ezra's Pound (the name alone made me have to try some.)  The Mad Mexican served me more tortilla chips and salsa than any one person should consume. 

Finally, we stopped at the food trucks for some lunch.  My son wanted fries from Hero Burger.

 

 My husband and I hit up the Gourmet Bitches food truck.  I had the fish tacos, and my husband had the pork belly sandwich.  Delicious.  

 

 

 

We went home full and happy, with business cards, flyers, and contacts for future events.  If you're in Toronto the next time the Gluten Free Garage pops-up, I recommend you check it out. 

***Updated: This post initially stated that ALL proceeds go to the Canadian Celiac Association.  The update states that a PORTION of proceeds do.  Sorry for the error***

Gluten Free Event: Gluten Free Garage

Every now and then, great events pop up close to home.  This Sunday, the pop-up gluten free marketplace Gluten Free Garage is returning to Toronto.   Located in that Artscape Wychwood Barns in Toronto, the event offers the chance to meet local gluten free vendors, hear guest speakers, and try new products. 

A few of the vendors attending include O'Doughs, Gourmet B*tches, Popchips, Rawlicious, The Wheat Free Girls & Magic Oven.  The list is long and varied, a mix of local vendors and larger companies.

Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids, with proceeds from ticket sales being donated to the Canadian Celiac Association.  A great way to support the cause and have a great time. 

Date: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Place: Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street, Toronto
Time: 10 AM -4 PM

For all the details, visit the GLUTEN FREE GARAGE website.

Hope to see you there!