I can't explain how happy I was when I first found out about this place.

I found out about The Dirty Bird about a year and a half maybe two years ago now. At that time, it seemed like chicken and waffles was just becoming the next big craze so it was perfect timing for me to stumble upon it so that I could indulge as well! :)

My first time trying chicken and waffles was in Ottawa at this cafe called the daily grind which was entirely gluten free. After trying them once, I was OBSESSED. Unfortunately that place shut down. I was sooooo upset because it was one of the very few spots where I could eat and feel entirely safe. At the same time, I live in Toronto so either way, I needed somewhere more convenient for some Chicken and Waffles and I was determined to find it.

That's basically how I found out about The Dirty Bird. I first came across the Kensington location and later on found out about their Bathurst and Bloor location which has now become my second home. Just kidding, but I meaaaaan... might as well be. Anyway, the reason why I trust and recommend The Dirty Bird is because a) ALL of their chicken is coated with gluten free breading meaning that there is no risk of cross contamination in the fryers. What makes it even better is that the Gluten Free waffles are made separately in a separate waffle maker but ALSO in an entirely separate area all together!!! How awesome is that? :)

I don't know about anyone else, but my face lit up when I was told. To say that I was a very happy celiac is an understatement. I felt super safe knowing the procedures they took and I knew that I could trust them because they take the necessary precautions to avoid cross contamination.

For those who know me, you know that I don't like recommending places unless I myself feel safe eating there. So incase you're hesitating, rest assured it is safe and delicious. :)

Here are some pictures I took the last time I was there.
Pictured is the Dirty Bird'ger and the Dirty Fries.



I also have a vlog below of a visit earlier this year with some friends if you're interested in seeing the layout and what the food looks like, click below!



I hope this post helped you guys find a new spot to indulge with your friends without feeling left out! This place is awesome for anyyyyone.

Happy eating friends!
Love you all.
xox Léa S.

 Overall:
Pros:
- Entirely gluten free, 100% celiac safe
- Dairy options
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian

Cons: 
- Tight space
- Downtown Toronto (which might not be accessible for everyone)

Regardless, it is definitely worth making a weekend trip for. The location could also be a bonus with many other gluten free options around to grab a bite or sweet treat after your breakfast. :)

What are some of your favourite gluten free breakfast spots?!
Let me know in the comments below!
Happy eating!! <3

Léa S.

Last year, at the Gluten Free Expo here in Toronto, I came across a new brand of pizza: Oggi pizza. The fact that it was approved by the celiac disease association is what initially caught my eye. This pizza was also not a thin crust like most gluten free pizza's would be. That made me extremely ecstatic and I was so excited for it to be in stores.

Valentine's day is quickly approaching and we're always looking to surprise our loved one's with something extra special so I thought, why not start off the day with a thoughtful Valentine's day inspired breakfast. In this post, I'll be showing you guys how I created these adorable chocolate drizzled heart shaped french toasts.

What you will need: 

• Gluten free toast (Pictured: Udi's gluten free multigrain toast)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup of milk (I used Silk almond milk - my favorite!;))
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract 
• Cinnamon to taste 
• Maple Syrup, agave, or honey
• Chocolate Chips (Pictured: Enjoy Life's vegan chocolate chips)
• White chocolate melts 
• Heart shaped sprinkles
• Scissors 
• 1 Plastic bag

Getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, it is more than likely that you will have many deficiencies. Therefore, it's important for you to supplement with vitamins. I suggest following up with your doctor, a dietician, or a naturopath in order to run some tests and figure out which supplements you will need.

3. Get cooking! 
This is a big one! Seeing as you now have to be extremely cautious of what's entering your body, the luxury of just grabbing any food will no longer be a thing. That being said,  I suggest experimenting in the kitchen. This may seem very strenuous for some of you when starting out, but fear not as this will help you learn which foods and flours work best for you and your body. To top it off, the feeling is also very rewarding once you get into the swing of things.

4. Exercise!
Although I loved exercising prior to my diagnosis, autoimmune diseases affect several bodily functions and thus, celiac's amongst other autoimmune disease sufferers are more prone to other conditions such as osteoporosis. Therefore, it is extremely important to supplement a healthy diet with some exercise to keep them bones strong and healthy! I suggest at least 30 minutes of physical activity 3 times per week in order to reap the benefits. This will help you keep in tip top shape physically and mentally! :)

5. Last but not least, surround yourself with a great support group! 
What many do not know is that celiac also affects mental health which is why I believe that it is so important to surround yourself with a great group of friends and family who support you, help you, and love you when the going gets tough. It won't always be easy, but with some positivity, it will definitely get better.

Bottom line, don't surround yourself with people who make you feel bad about your lifestyle choices.

And that marks the end of my post! :) On a final note, whether you are living with an autoimmune disease or not, I believe that we can all benefit from these tips in order to lead a healthier lifestyle! :)

I hope this helps some of you and encourages you to take charge and start making some healthy choices!

Much love,
xox Léa S.

Are you craving a bite but not sure where to hit up for a gluten free treat?

I had a friend recently approach me asking me if I could give her a list of spots she could go out to enjoy a gluten free meal because she was feeling very limited in terms of options. So, I thought.. why not write a post out of it and share it with the rest of you to help some of you out or anyone that has some gluten free friends/family as well! :)

Eating out when Gluten Free can be quite the challenge at times and although many places claim to offer gluten free menus, the issue of cross contamination is still present making it a no-no. For people like me with celiac disease, that completely sloshes our chances of enjoying something at least half decent while hanging out with friends. The last thing you want to do is watch everybody chow down burgers, wings, pizzas, and fries while you sit there eating a plain steak with some kale (unless by choice ofcourse! :) ). I'm the type of person who likes to go all out and indulge when I eat out. If you're anything like me, then you've come to the right place. :)

After a ton of research, trial, and error, I've put together a list of my favourite and safest (celiac safe) gluten free spots in the Toronto area up to date. Here it is :

If you're looking for an actual meal: 

• Riz (Certified gluten free restaurant) : This is the only spot where I eat sushi in Toronto! This place is certified gluten free and sooo good! On top of being certified, they make sure to label all gluten free dishes with plates labeled gluten free (how awesome is that ?! :)).               This restaurant has 2 locations :  Riz on Bayview - located at 1677 Bayview Avenue and Riz North - located at 3321 Yonge St.
• The Dirty Bird : If you're craving some chicken and waffles this is going to become your go- to! The dirty bird is located in the Kensington market and their staff is very knowledgeable on celiac and will take precautions to allow you to enjoy some gluten free chicken and waffles. They also have a separate gluten free waffle maker which puts us at ease in terms of cross contamination. :) Overall, awesome chicken and waffles spot. You can't go wrong.
• The Relish Bar and Grill : This restaurant is a recognized gluten free restaurant since 2005. To add to that, they have a separate celiac friendly menu with a wide variety of dishes! Not only does this place serve food, but they have live bands which makes for a fun night out with friends. :) Located at 2152 Danforth Avenue. 
• Live organic food bar : Known as a Toronto plant-based, organic, gluten and refined sugar-free restaurant and live organic raw products since 2002.  So no worries about cross contamination here woo-hoo! :) You can find their products in many grocery stores. They also have 2 restaurants. The first one is located at 264 Dupont St., Toronto and the second at 134 Atlantic Avenue, Toronto. 
• Tori's bakeshop: Sweet little bakeshop located at 2188 Queen St. East. This bakeshop offers an awesome selection of GF treats. More so, they are a bakeshop by day offering after hours by night!! :) During after hours, they offer a menu of shareable GF platters and drinks! :)
• Basil Box and Salad King: Both these restaurants are located right at Yonge and Dundas, across the street from one another. Basil box is entirely gluten free which is awesome because you could eat anything off the menu while salad king offers gluten free items on their original menu. While Salad King is not entirely gluten free, you'll find a symbol indicating which of their dishes are gluten free. 
• Moxie's : While I have found that most commercial/big chain restaurants offer gluten free menus that aren't so gluten friendly towards celiacs, Moxie's made the list for me for the sole purpose that they take allergies very seriously and do their best to provide modifications to your meal so that you can have an equally awesome experience. My personal favorites are the Kale and Quinoa salad + they have a gluten free cheesecake! There are several locations so this place definitely won't be hard to find. 
• Hey Lucy's : I absolutely love this spot! Hey Lucy's has two locations, the 1st is located in the Annex at 440 Bloor St. West, and the 2nd is located in the entertainment district at 295 King St. West. The King St location also has a rooftop patio which I love. While this place isn't entirely gluten free, I love the atmosphere and they are very accommodating in terms of allergies and offer gluten free options. My personal favourites are the pizzas!

I came across a post today that talked about a bunch of desserts that every person living in Toronto should try this summer. While this post seemed pretty appealing - because let's be real, who doesn't love dessert.. - the subhead of the post is what really struck me which is what inspired this post. Under the title read "Gluten Free is SO 2015". Now obviously this was probably meant as some light hearted joke or what not, but this really struck me because it is the perfect example of the stigma around a gluten free diet being seen as a fad(which for some people it obviously is, but not all of us! Exhibit A over here :) ). You don't see people saying a peanut allergy is SO 2015 right?

Just FYI, you don't think gluten free people want to enjoy those desserts too?! I would die for a donut cone ice cream, some decadent donuts, or some next level ice cream cones. Those desserts would be on my bucket list just as much as yours IF ONLY I would even be able to indulge in them. IT actually sucks sometimes seeing these posts and knowing that I can't just go out and enjoy them while spending the day downtown. Instead, I start thinking up of ways to revamp the recipe so that I could make it at home which hey, don't get me wrong, I do not mind at all and actually enjoy doing :) but it's just a reminder that we do enjoy our dessert as well and Gluten Free is not SO 2015 for all of us but kind of more of a life long thing.

I get that saying "Gluten Free is SO 2015" was definitely just a light hearted joke, and I am not particularly offended (luckily I don't get offended easily, but some people would!) by it but I just wanted to point out that this just goes to show how many places don't take it seriously because it is seen as more of a fad rather than anything else. I'm sure I wouldn't only be speaking on my behalf but other celiacs as well by saying that it would be nice if there were actually more places who took the disease more seriously and took the right precautions so that we can enjoy their tasteful treats too! :) Although there are a few Toronto bake shops which already offer an extensive amount of Gluten free goodies (one of my favorites Bunner's bakeshop in Kensington Market), they are not widely available to us!!

For my fellow Celiac's/Gluten intolerants as well as the rest of you, here's a list of places you can enjoy gluten-free treats on the go, or on a nice summer day so you don't feel so bad about yourself ;) :

**Disclaimer: there are obviously a TON of GF treats found in grocery stores but this is for more of a grab and go type of thing!

- Menchie's Frozen yogurt : Many but not all are gluten free. The gluten free flavours will have gluten free listed on them which is your indicator to go nuts.
- Yogurty's : Same concept with the Gluten free flavours as Menchies.
- Bunner's Bakeshop: Located in Kensington market, this bakeshop has everything from poptarts, to cinnamon buns, cupcakes, and ice cream!! LOVE this place (* the french toast cupcake is to die for;) )
- Prairie Girl : Located on King St. West in Toronto, this place has amazing gluten free cupcakes. The first time I had one, I had to go back inside and make sure they were actually the gluten free cupcakes because that's just how good they were! They don't have that many flavours, but super worth your buck. :)
- Amadeus Cakes & Patisserie: Has some tasty macaroons and the best one's I have ever tasted to date (in my opinion) and they are all gluten free!! This sweet spot is located in Thornhill, right off of Clark and Bathurst.
- Olive and Chili : If you are located in the Ottawa area, then you have been blessed with this entirely gluten-free shop. They don't only offer desserts but a wide range of foods as well, ALL gluten free so you don't even have to worry about CC. In terms of desserts, they offer a wide variety ranging from Danishes, cookies(Oatmeal's my fav!), cakes, and ECLAIRS!!! (another one of my absolute favs). This has become one of my go to's.. but unfortunately because I don't live in Ottawa, it's only like a twice a year thing.

*(I have a couple pictures of some of these desserts that I'll link at the bottom of the post)

Those are the one's I could think of off the top of my head. Do you know of any gluten free dessert places?! If so, please let me know in the comments below or message me! :) I always love getting suggestions, and feedback.

Happy eating! :)
Léa S. :)

 Bunner's Bakeshop cupcakes                               Amadeus Macaroons 

The french toast flavor is the cupcake to the right in the second row from the top! :) So delish!!

Amadeus' Macaroons in Earl grey (my personal favorite!), salted caramel, and vanilla!

Red Velvet cupcakes!

Before going on my trip to Lebanon, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find Gluten Free options or that they wouldn't even know what being Gluten free/Celiac disease was. This was my first time travelling back home post diagnosis. Being gluten free let alone is quite challenging so travelling gluten free, I did not think was going to be easy. To my surprise, it was actually a lot easier than I expected. Here are a few things you need to know about travelling Gluten Free to Lebanon(or anywhere else).

1. Airlines are accommodating

For starters, most flights are actually able to accommodate your dietary needs. When booking your trip, if done through a travel agent, make sure you let them know you have a dietary restriction. If not, you could mention it while booking. Either way, the airlines will make sure to have a GF (or any other dietary restrictions you have) meal for you on hand which is neat. Although I don't usually enjoy airplane food, it's nice to know there are options available for you. That way you don't feel like you're missing out on much. Plus, you get your food before everyone else ;).

2. Most meals are made at home 
When I'm in Lebanon, I notice that most meals we eat are actually made at home. People would think that when you're on vacation you would be eating out more but being in Lebanon is like being home. If you do have a dietary restriction like me, this is awesome because it is much easier to tailor your meals at home where you could see how they're being done. You could also cook for yourself and not have to worry about what to eat!

3. Lebanese food has many options! 
Although some families eat a lot of bread with their meals, I am fortunate enough that my family does not. Despite that, we still do find the traditional pita or saj at the table. On the bright side, there are alot of Lebanese Mezza and food that are actually gluten free. Most appetizers consist of : Taboule, Labne, Hummus, Baba ghanouj, and nuts which are all GF. Traditional Lebanese meals include: Lahme(meat), Chicken skewers, Kafta, Fish, Fries. All of these options are gluten free which makes it easier for us GF peeps! :) If you are at a Lebanese restaurant, the only thing you would have to watch out for is making sure they do not place pita under your meats.

4. Most grocery stores in Lebanon now have GF options 
Always check for a gluten free aisle no matter where you travel. With the many trips I made to the grocery store, I noticed that most chain grocery stores now have a Gluten Free section. I found many options at Le Charcutier Aoun as well as O&C. I also found products that are not available here such as GF Lebanese Pita bread from O&C. I will be putting up a post shortly about my favorite GF products with more details.

5. Stick to what you know
Despite all of the options and all the homemade meals, it is inevitable that you will go out and want to indulge. This part is a little harder in Lebanon seeing as there aren't many restaurants who offer clearly labeled gluten free items or menus. Crepaway as well as Kitchen Confidential were the only two that I encountered with Gluten Free options. My advice would be to stick to what you know. Try sticking to plain foods like fries, meats, fruits, anything you can guarantee would not have gluten in it. It may be hard but it's possible!

For a more detailed post on my favorite GF products/meals in Lebanon and where to find them, click here.

I hope this gives you all some insight on travelling GF,
xox Léa S.

Every girl knows the struggle of finding truly GOOD products. This past month I've been getting so many compliments on my hair, skin and lashes, so I thought I'd share a couple of my favourite products that I've been using!

HAIR
- Keratin Leave-In Treatment ($8.99)
My sister and I purchased this product a couple months ago from Sally Beauty Supply, but it's not until this month that I really started to use it every time I showered. It's a spray keratin treatment that I put in my hair after every shower, which helps to strengthen and smoothen damaged hair. Plus, the product is perfect for straightened, permed or coloured hair! You only need a pump of two of product and it leaves your hair smelling amazing! I would definitely recommend giving this product a try.

FACE
- Simple Cleansing Micellar Water ($8.27)
This month I could easily say that I've fallen in love with Simple beauty products! My sisters and I purchased both these products at Walmart for super affordable prices. I wasn't able to find the micellar water on Walmart's website, but I've included a link to Simple's website. I use the micellar water to remove makeup and it works wonders. There's a bunch of multi-vitamins and cleansers in the product that clean and hydrate your skin, so you don't even have to wash your face after removing your makeup! Awesome for us lazy girls.
- Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturizer ($13.27)
My skin has been super dry and flaky lately so I was in need of a good moisturizer and once my sister bought this one I couldn't stop using it. This product also contains vitamins and nutrients to hydrate my skin, so I've been using it religiously because it makes my skin look and feel so smooth!
- Maybelline Age Rewind Dark Spot Concealer & Treatment ($9.96)
Whenever I get a blemish I would always use different products to try and cover it up but it never worked as well as I wanted it to and it would still always peek through. When I came across this product, I literally stopped wearing foundation. This concealer has been my holy grail concealer and my every day go-to product! I dab a little dot onto the blemish/dark spot and it basically erases the spot as if it were never there. The concealer has a more orangey/peachy tint to it, so it will colour correct any spots that have a darker grey/blueish tint. I've been recommending this product to everyone!

EYES
- L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Black Angel Mascara ($8.96)
If I could use one beauty product for the rest of my life it would be mascara. Every time I wear this mascara I always get people complimenting me on my eyelashes, and there's nothing I love more than big, voluminous, long lashes. I've been using L'Oréal mascaras for as long as I remember, and once I got my hands on this one it has been my favourite! I recommend that everyone gives this mascara a try at least once, because I guarantee that your lashes will look incredible ;)

So those have been my favourite beauty products for this month, I hope you will all love them as much as I did! What were your April 2015 favourites? :)

Carina, xoxo.