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3Feb/133

Panago Gluten-Free Pizza

Finally! A large chain with delivery has a decent option for us gluten intolerants. They do warn, and you'll see from the sticker on the delivery box, that the environment where the pizza is made contains gluten i.e. the gf pizzas are made alongside normal ones. So, if you're very sensitive or celiac then it probably won't work for you, but I've had it many times now and with no adverse side effects.

There's only one size choice for gluten-free crusts, but no complaints here on that. Sure, it's still the typical non-traditional square shape for gluten-free pizza that seems to have become the standard identifier, but the 12" medium size is totally satisfying. I mean, come on, which box of gluten-free pizza from a national chain would you rather open... the one below, or this one from Boston Pizza?? There's a toonie beside each pizza so you can get an idea of the sizes of pie - and I see a clear winner. This Panago gluten-free pizza tastes good too, and isn't too high-priced for what you get compared to elsewhere. Recommended!

7Apr/125

Gluten-Free Pizza in Vancouver!

In my continuing quest to find satisfying and tasty gluten-free pizza in Vancouver, I have found a new favourite in Vancouver's West End called Mainly Organics. There's none of this 'using gf crusts from other manufacturers' stuff at this place because they make their own gluten-free crusts. This also allows for the added bonus of getting a gf crust in any substantial size (not just measly "personal size" crusts like other places offer... see my Boston Pizza review). Below is Mainly Organics' pizza vs a $2 coin; now that's a substantial size, and it's their smallest size offered to boot! It's really good, I'm a regular customer. There's even free delivery if your order is over $20.

Click here to see my taste-test of Me-n-Ed's Gluten-Free Pizza.

15Jan/1110

Boston Pizza Gluten-Free

I was so excited when I heard Boston Pizza had starting selling gluten-free pizzas. To someone who can't have wheat and has to make their own pizza crust (since store-bought ones taste in the realm of paste-like slabs of uninteresting rice flour mixed with water), the ability to buy a pizza at an iconic restaurant chain held high promise. I giddily ordered one for take out, brought it home, put it on the counter, took my shoes off, put my purse away then opened the cardboard box to reveal what I was envisioning to be a delicious, juicy, tender, yummy mess of a cheesy pie.....

Disappointment. Not to say I don't appreciate large chains like Boston Pizza making an effort to cater to us growing number of gluten intolerants, but there's a Canadian two dollar coin so you can see the size of this pie in relation. Check out the awesome gluten-free pizzas you can get at Me-n-Ed's, Mainly Organics and Panago. Boston Pizza's offering only comes in this size. How does this function as a meal? And why does it have to be square-shaped? It reiterates to the person eating it that, "Hey you, you're odd and abnormal." Yes, the shape of the pizza probably is, in fact, the feature itself that distinguishes it to be gluten-free and secure the mindset of the person eating it, but can't there be some other indicator? How about make it a normal circular pie shape and put a sticker on the take out box indicating it's gluten-free, or for those eating in the restaurant they could stick a little plastic flag on the pie along the lines of the indicators they put on steaks to signify the rareness. Just my perspectives and ideas. And I'm still hungry. Sigh.