In the spirit of Celiac Awareness Month, combined with the onset of Mother's Day, Gluten Free Garage is a prime example showcasing what a mother's love can achieve.
What started as a small pop-up installation by RonniLyn Pustil after her daughter Lily's celiac diagnosis has grown into Toronto's go-to festival for gluten-free people and has become a haven for the ones who have to strictly monitor their diet. For one day every year, every food in sight is fair game.
"I just wanted somewhere she could go and eat everything she wanted," Pustil said. "Because we were always having to say like, 'Oh, no, you can't have that,' we wanted something where we could say, 'Yeah,' to everything."
This year, the event's 10th anniversary will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 28 at Wychwood Barns.
Gluten Free Garage began as a small pop-up marketplace at Wychwood Barn, modelled after the farmer's market that's held there weekly. Pustil said that she wanted a similar feel and energy for her event — not like a trade show of sorts, but just a place to bring everyone under one roof with all the offered products.
Her research into safe foods for her daughter led her to discover the wonderful food that local producers created for gluten-free people. She desired to bring all those under one roof and make gluten-free foods more accessible to people — along with providing a social atmosphere for those who have to always double-check before ingesting anything.
Over the years, the event has grown in size and reverence, evolving from a mere marketplace to a full-fledged event synonymous with the gluten-free community around Toronto.
"I would say in 2019, that's when I first realised, 'Oh, this was a festival.' It went from being a marketplace to a festival," Pustil said. "We started having more outdoor vendors like actually cooking and preparing food on site. And we had a DJ, and it just felt bigger than it had been before. So now it's a festival."
The family-friendly festival now features more than 70 curated vendors — bakeries, restaurants, food trucks and breweries — all carefully vetted beforehand for people with celiac disease. The event showcases a wide range of gluten-free foods such as baked goods (bagels, doughnuts, croissants); savoury items like pizzas, pupusas and falafel; and even gluten-free beer.
One of Pustil's favourite things about the event is walking around the day of, seeing attendees enjoy all kinds of foods they otherwise can't due to their allergies and intolerances. People are much more appreciative and grateful for this event because it allows them to enjoy foods they wouldn't typically be allowed to consume.
"I've had people at the events who are like, 'Oh my god, that was my first beer that I've had since I was diagnosed,' or, 'That was my first doughnut that I've had in six years,'" she said. "So those kind of things get me excited and just walking around and seeing people take their selfies and share with their friends; it's a very positive, upbeat event."
This year, to celebrate the 10th anniversary, Pustil said that the festival will see a myriad of delicious baked goods like the ones mentioned above. On top of that, they will be introducing corndogs to the list, too, something which she is very excited about.
It's not only the event that has seen big growth, but rather the entire gluten-free community has become much more mainstream — much to the delight of anyone who partakes in the diet.
Initially, all those years back, people might have considered this a "fad diet," but more than 10 years since and it has really ingrained itself into society, becoming as important as any other dietary preference. For people with celiac disease, this comes as a big win as they can go about their lives with enough trust in institutions to know how important zero cross-contamination is.
“Back when I started Gluten Free Garage, many people were writing off ‘gluten free’ as a trend. But our 10th anniversary and the growth of the event over the years is proof to me that the gluten-free lifestyle is a necessity for an increasing number of people,” Pustil said. “Not only has gluten-free come a long way, it looks like it’s here to stay.”
Every year, the festival hosts a food drive, encouraging all attendees to donate non-perishable gluten-free food to food banks. This year, the food drive will be hosted by Celiac Canada, which in turn is marking its 50th anniversary. All donations will benefit the Daily Bread Food Bank's allergen-free pantry.
While it is a grand old time hanging out at the festival, this part of the event is especially important to Pustil as it gives back to the community — especially one that sees a much larger food cost than normal.
"The cost of gluten-free food was already high. And it's very, very hard for people to afford. Being on a gluten-free diet, especially if they have celiac disease, the gluten-free diet is their only treatment," Pustil said. "So you know, when you can't afford the food, you're putting your health at risk. This year, it's so important to me that people bring their food donations, and just help each other be able to access this food."
Clearly, this event has its fair share of supporters, owing to its 10th year of operations. It is a haven for people with specific diets to come together for a day of carefree enjoyment. A day where they can focus solely on the people around them and have their pick off the menu. If you or someone you know are gluten-free, this event will be the place to be to eat to your heart's content without facing any consequences.
Gluten Free Garage will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 28 at Wychwood Barns. Tickets are on sale online or at the door on the day of the event. Kids 12 and under get in for free and all advance ticket holders are guaranteed a GFG tote bag for their gluten-free goodies.
For more information, visit glutenfreegarage.ca or check out the festival's Instagram.
