Tag: interview

Canada

Toronto’s GlutenFreedom Week

Erin Smith
Toronto Gluten Freedom Week
Toronto Gluten Freedom Week

Starting on November 8th, Toronto is kicking off their Gluten Freedom Week. The aim of this week is to create an enjoyable dining experience for individuals living gluten-free in Toronto and the surrounding areas. Think NYC Restaurant Week, with prix fixe menus and special promotions, with a gluten-free flair. I was excited and even a bit envious when I first heard about this week, wishing we had something like this in New York City.

In order to learn more about Toronto’s Gluten Freedom week, I connected with Rachael Hunt, founder of Gluten Freedom Week and blogger at Gluten Freedom Toronto, for a brief interview.

Toronto's GlutenFreedom Week
Toronto’s GlutenFreedom Week

Gluten-Free Globetrotter: What is Gluten Freedom Week?

Rachael: GlutenFreedom Week is an event based in Toronto involving restaurants throughout the city.  The second edition is taking place November 8-15, 2014!  Each participating establishment offers guests a 3-course gluten-free prix fixe meal for the duration of the week.  The goal of the event is to create a special dining experience where individuals living gluten-free (for whatever reason it may be) are able to enjoy incredible food for a great price.  We want to applaud the restaurants who are able to accommodate us, while demonstrating that gluten-free dining can be diverse, gourmet, and sexy.

GFG: When did you start GlutenFreedom Week and why? 

Rachael: I created the event out of a personal desire to dine out at the city’s hotspots without feeling excluded or worried. Upon developing a serious gluten intolerance 2 years ago, my social life was impacted by my inability to dine out with ease. I felt it wasn’t fair or necessary, so I took matters into my own hand and created an event that encourages inclusivity and brings the joy of dining to individuals like myself.

GFG:  Are there any specific criteria for a restaurant to participate in this week? Does the restaurant go through training?

Rachael: As part of the application process each restaurant needs to outline their cross-contact presentation methods so that they can easily be communicated during the week (and beyond). They also need to provide full ingredient lists to my partner and I prior to the event, so we can ensure that each dish is in fact gluten-free. We offer additional training workshops with interested restaurants so that they can have a better understanding of what it’s like from the guests standpoint and learn how to serve them better.

GFG: How frequently does GlutenFreedom Week occur?

Rachael: This is the second edition this year [2014].  We organized one in May.  We may just stick to doing one a year and focussing on making that one really amazing!

GFG: How many restaurants are participating in November?

Rachael: We’ve got 20 restaurants participating in November.

GFG: What restaurants are you excited to eat at during GFW?

Rachael: That’s a really tough one because I am so excited about all of them and it wouldn’t be fair for me to choose just one!!

GlutenFreedom Week Disclaimer (from their website)
GlutenFreedom Toronto and participating restaurants cannot guarantee that every meal is free from cross contamination of gluten, and as such we recommend that you use caution and due diligence before consumption for your health and safety. Each participating restaurant is fully aware of the risk of cross-contamination, and as such are taking extra precaution to avoid/eliminate this during GlutenFreedom Week and beyond.

GlutenFreedom TorontoAbout Toronto’s GlutenFreedom Week
This is a week-long event that will take place at Toronto’s finest dining establishments from November 8-15, 2014. The participating restaurants will offer patrons a delicious selection of 3-course gluten-free fare for a fixed price.

Rachael Hunt, founder of Gluten Freedom Week
Rachael Hunt, founder of Gluten Freedom Week

About Rachael Hunt, founder of GlutenFreedom Week and GlutenFree Toronto
“I am a self-proclaimed foodie who is living with a serious gluten allergy. I’ve been living in Toronto for four years now and enjoy checking out the city’s hottest restaurants, cruising through the city on my bike, picnicking in Trinity Bellwoods, and cooking with friends!”

 

 

I’m about ready to book a flight to Toronto to take part in this awesome gluten-free week! For those of you who are local, do you plan on attending Gluten Freedom Week? If so, which restaurant are you looking forward to the most?

 

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My Life as a Gluten-Free Globetrotter on LÄRABAR

Erin Smith
That's me, Gluten-Free Globetrotter, riding an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand!
That’s me, Gluten-Free Globetrotter, riding an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

One of the best parts of being a Gluten-Free Globetrotter is sharing my expert, gluten-free travel tips with others. I have been living with celiac disease for more than thirty years, so all of my vacations have been completely gluten-free. Not many people can say that!

My vacations have been local and international. My adventures have been exhilarating and memorable. I have been to beaches, mountains, deserts, jungles, lakes, islands, rainforests, volcanoes, cities, and countries around the world. Each trip is so much different than the last, but that is what makes them all so unique and fun. The constant throughout all of my travels is that every single trip has been 100% gluten-free.

I recently had the exciting opportunity to write two articles for LÄRABAR.com about my celiac story and my gluten-free travel top tips. Please visit The Nutshell on the LÄRABAR website to read my recent contributions!

My Life as a Gluten-Free Globetrotter
by Erin Smith
Do you need to eat gluten-free? Don’t let that stop you from traveling the world!

Gluten-Free Fun: My Celiac Story
by Erin Smith
Erin Smith chronicles her journey with celiac disease.

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Gluten-Free Globetrotter: How to plan your gluten-free vacation

Erin Smith

I am very excited to announce I am the guest speaker at the next Celiac Sprue Association Long Island chapter meeting on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Here are the details:

Join the CSA Long Island Celiacs Chapter #23 for a discussion with Erin Smith, Gluten-Free Globetrotter and lead organizer of the NYC Celiac Meetup group, to discuss gluten-free travel tips. Erin just got back from an amazing trip to Thailand and she is excited to share her gluten-free globetrotting tips with the CSA LI group.

Gluten-Free Globetrotter: How to plan your gluten-free vacation

  • Gluten-free travel tips
  • Safe food on-the-go
  • Gluten-free travel planning resources
  • Gluten-free friendly destinations
  • Q&A

Wednesday, May 1, 2013
7:30pm
Dr. Martin Spatz Conference Center, Room A
Winthrop-University Hospital
259 First Street
Mineola NY 11501

Conference Center is located on the Lower Level in the Main Hospital Building


Gluten-Free Globetrotter

Erin Smith

Erin Smith was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1981, so she’s been eating gluten-free almost her entire life. Erin has a unique perspective of growing up in the gluten-free community. She is passionate about sharing her experiences and expertise with others.

Erin has been writing her gluten-free lifestyle blog Gluten-Free Fun since 2007. In 2011, she launched Gluten-Free Globetrotter, a website that encourages those with celiac disease to travel the world and not be scared about eating gluten-free domestically and abroad. She has traveled to more than 20 states, 14 countries, and 3 continents all while maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet.

Erin is the lead organizer of the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group, a social community that has grown to over 1650 members in the 8 years she has been organizing the group. She is also a staff contributor to Delight Gluten Free Magazine, frequently writing about gluten-free travel.

Transportation: If you are coming out from Manhattan, the Long Island Rail Road Mineola station is right around the corner from the hospital.

Argentina, general

Gluten-Free Globetrotter in Aglutenados

Erin Smith

Aglutenados is a free gluten-free magazine distributed in doctor’s offices, health food stores, and some restaurants throughout Argentina. In August, I had the privilege of going to lunch with Carolina Rocha, a founder and editor of this magazine. Carolina (also a Celiac) and I chatted over a gluten-free meal at Heartland Brewery Midtown West about being gluten-free in our countries, challenges when dining abroad, and differences in ingredients across the globe. It was very interesting to learn about Carolina’s magazine and being gluten-free in Argentina.

Aglutenados is a wonderful Spanish-language resource for those living and traveling to Argentina. There are listings for doctors, gluten-free friendly restaurants, and many gluten-free lifestyles both in print and on the website.

Here is my article about Carolina’s trip to New York City and her interview with me. I am very excited about my first international magazine article and Spanish-language interview!

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Gluten-Free Globetrotter on CookBliss

Erin Smith

A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be interviewed by the extremely talented Elizabeth Barbone of GlutenFreeBaking.com. Elizabeth recently launched Cook Bliss, “the food lover’s podcast with a gluten-free and food allergy twist.” In her new podcasts, Elizabeth covers all things food and shares stories about what it like to navigate a special-diet lifestyle. In the interview, we talk about me growing up gluten-free, my Gluten-Free globetrotting travel, and the NYC Celiac Meetup group.

I met Elizabeth a few months ago when she was meeting with her publisher in New York City. I was beyond flattered that she reached out to me for this meeting. As we sat and sipped coffee together, I felt like I was talking to an old friend. If you aren’t reading Elizabeth’s blog or reading her weekly column on Serious Eats, you should be. Not only she is a talented gluten-free recipe maker, but she is one of the most down-to-earth people in the gluten-free industry today. Elizabeth has also written two cookbooks: Easy Gluten-Free Baking and How to Cook Gluten-Free: Over 150 Recipes That Really Work.

Visit Elizabeth’s new Cook Bliss website to listen to my interview or click on the play button below. My interview starts around the 33 minute mark. You can also download directly from iTunes.