Even though a lot of restaurants cater to Celiacs and will offer gluten-free meals, the risk of cross-contamination still exists. So many people with severe sensitivity to gluten will often avoid eating out altogether.
Well, if you’re in the Calgary area, you’re in luck! I’ve found a 100% gluten-free restaurant. They have only been open since 2007, but they have taken every precaution possible to ensure the establishment remains free of cross-contamination.
Cooking up everything from gluten-free pizza, to burgers and desserts, A Tasty Menu is a quaint place to enjoy a great gluten-free meal. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if you have other allergens, this restaurant has options to meet your needs. They can do dairy/casein-free, egg-free, vegetarian, etc.

Location:
105, 4202 – 17 Avenue S.E.
Calgary, AB
Tel: 403-235-0031
www.atastymenu.ca

Believe or not, I didn’t have my first bite of sushi until I was 21 years old! I think this may have been because I grew up in a smaller city with not much diversity.
Now that I live in Vancouver, it’s almost impossible to avoid great sushi! In more recent years, however, sushi has fallen from my list of frequent foods. I used to find it extremely difficult to find a good Japanese restaurant which could also accommodate gluten-free dining.
I’ve now found another place in a perfect location which can serve up some decent gluten-free sushi. Kibune Sushi is right across from Kitsilano Beach and will provide gluten-free soy sauce upon request.
As with ALL sushi, make sure the staff is aware that they must use a clean cutting board and wash they’re hands when preparing your meal. The chances of cross-contamination can be quite high in sushi places, but if you are careful, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy some rolls or sashimi with everyone else.

Location:
1508 Yew Street,
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-731-4482
www.kibune.com

Cravings Restaurant and Lounge isn’t in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver. It’s a nice alternative for those who can’t be bothered fighting the traffic of Robson Street.
Serving up everything from salmon to pizza, Cravings indicates that they are well aware of Celiac Disease and can accommodate a gluten-free diet with ease.
There is no gluten-free menu on their website, but I was able to get my hands on a list of gluten-free options they will cook. Be sure to let them know of your dietary needs and ask questions. Since this menu is not on their site, I can’t guarantee its accuracy. Items may vary, but have a peek:

GF Options
Cravings gave the following quote:
“Although our kitchen is not a Gluten Free environment, we are aware of Celiac Disease and are willing to accommodate your special dietary needs.”
Another nice casual place to safely dine in Vancouver!

Location:
1032 Alberni Street,
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-689-9749
~or~
101 8th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
Tel: 403-537-1160
www.saltlik.com

www.gomacro.com

There’s a lot of energy and health bars on the market, and if you read the labels you may be surprised to find many of them are gluten-free. However, I was impressed with Macrobars and the size of the lettering which prominently displays the words ‘Gluten-Free’.
Not all Macrobars are gluten-free, but the ones that are GF are well labeled so it’s pretty tough to confuse them. I’ve been able to buy Gluten-Free Macrobars in Capers (Wholefoods), Famousfoods, Choices, and a few other places. They aren’t too difficulty to find.

www.cheecha.ca

Since going gluten-free, I’ve come to appreciate potatoes on a whole new level. Although it’s not the same thing as biting into a fresh loaf of bread, I find potatoes can trick my mind a bit and give me sensation of eating something starchy or bread-like.
There are quite a few brands of potato chips that are gluten-free, but I stumbled across another potato snack food the other day when I was in Safeway. I was walking down the junk food aisle (remembering the days when I could eat a bag of chips without guilt) when a package with the big black letters “Gluten Free” just about jumped off the shelf at me. I was surprised and impressed with the predominance of the gluten-free letters on the Cheecha Potato Puffs package. I couldn’t fight the urge to pick the bag up for a closer look. Sure enough, Cheecha offers a selection of Gluten and Dairy free snack foods. The company even emphasizes the fact that they use a dedicated line for preparing their gluten-free products.
Ok, so the aren’t quite as healthy as juice apple. But just because I’m gluten-free doesn’t mean I can’t have some jnk food, too. Am I right? Cheecha Puffs are actually relatively healthy compared to some of the other garbage on the market.
They are a very light snack, but quite tasty.