What is your business called and what does it do?

My business is called Handled With Care. It’s an online shop selling a thoughtfully curated selection of allergy-friendly products, from food to skincare to cosmetics.

What made you start this business?

I’ve lived with anaphylactic food allergies my whole life. I am allergic to peanuts, nuts, dairy, soy, and legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans). I have never been satisfied with the online shopping experience as a person with food allergies. When I’m shopping for my Enjoy Life chocolate chips online and the etailer suggests other customers like me also buy bulk peanut butter, I raise an eyebrow.

What problem does this solve?

Handled With Care is all about discoverability and curation. We are an online retailer who really understands what people with allergies are looking for. We sell a number of curated bundles that make excellent gifts, care packages (perfect for your kid who is away at school!), or classroom stock-ups, and offer excellent value. There are so many incredible food, skincare, and cosmetics brands catering to those with allergies and my goal is to make them all available in one place. Come for the products you know and trust, and discover something new as well.

Who are your clientele?

Anyone with food allergies, plus their families and friends! Our clientele is not age-specific, but there is a focus on parents of young kids up to university/college age. The thing that sparked this idea for me was that I realized many teens would love to receive an allergy-free care package while away for school, as safe products are not always accessible for everyone especially when on a budget.

How does your business make money? How does it work?

Handled With Care is an online shop. Customers can pick up one of our care packages or scroll through our individual product offerings for food, skincare, cosmetics, or accessories. Shipping rates are affordable, and we ship anywhere. It’s a great place to try many different brands at once!

Where in Toronto can we find your profession?

shopallergenfree.com

What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services?

What is the benefit of shopping at Handled With Care over another major online retailer? And here’s the answer:

– Handled With Care only carries products that were developed for people with food allergies in mind
– Discover new brands of skincare, cosmetics, and food that you may not have heard of before
– We offer affordable shipping rates, and you can try all these wonderful products without having to ship individually from different companies or retailers
– The clarity of our product information and links to each company’s allergen information takes the guess work out of shopping

– We offer frequent promotions on care packages
– A portion of our sales goes towards charities supporting food allergy awareness and education

What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?

The best part is that I also get to discover and connect with food allergy brands all over the world! The worst part is that I end up eating a lot of cookies (though that’s not so terrible)

What is you favourite jokes about your own profession?

That I must have all sorts of free time now that I’m self employed!

PAY IT FORWARD: What is another Toronto business that you love?

I love Hype Food! It’s a new allergy-friendly casual dining restaurant and it was so sorely needed in Toronto. The owner is a food allergy blogger and it’s really making waves in our local community

About Amanda Orlando
The author and photographer of Allergen-Free Desserts (2015) and Everyone’s Welcome (2019) cookbooks, a long time allergy blogger, and not only does she have allergies herself, but she is a food allergy aunt/sister/daughter and friend!

Help support this local business by shopping with them. Visit their website for more info.

The post Amanda Orlando chats allergy-friendly products from Handled With Care appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Snacking and coffee

It’s nice to have a snack in the market while you browse, so my regular game plan is to pick up a black coffee (I’m allergic to dairy) from Balzac’s and then grab a fresh fruit salad from one of the many fruit and veggie vendors. Balzac’s coffee is so popular in Toronto and for good reason. Rich taste, friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere; it’s everything you need. They also do soy latte’s which is perfect for anyone with lactose intolerance. If fruit salad is unavailable, my second choice is a half pint of berries or heirloom cherry tomatoes, plentiful year-round. Fresh produce is a great option if you’re vegan, vegetarian, or managing any of the Big 8 food allergies.

For a casual healthy lunch: B Good

Celena, Assistant Manager at the B Good location across from the market, was happy to talk to me about their whole food and allergy policies. She takes great pride in the fact that everything they serve is made in house, except for the bread which is made by a local independent bakery. They even grind the meat that goes into their all beef burgers. B Good is not a “fast food” place, it’s a casual dining spot that serves high quality, healthy food, quickly. The staff are no strangers to allergies; Celena’s sister has a peanut allergy and one of the B Good kitchen staff members is allergic to dairy, nuts, banana, and gluten. They don’t use peanut oil and the bread they source is free from egg and sesame. Celena advises that when you visit B Good let them know about your allergies and their severity upon ordering. It’ll go onto the order ticket and the kitchen will take care to avoid cross-contamination. They will likely even recommend what you order based on your restrictions.

Perfect for a family meal: Hot House Restaurant & Bar

Elinor and Andrew have owned Hot House for 22 years and have served over five million people. It’s a local staple and one you must try if you’re in the St. Lawrence area; fantastic service is their specialty. I also spoke with Chef Amanda who gave me the low down on their allergy policies. Their Wednesday night buffet and weekend brunch buffet are very popular, and I can confirm – very delicious. Any diner with a food allergy or celiac disease gets a walk-around with Chef Amanda so she can identify what contains/does not contain allergens. She advises that since buffets are easily cross-contaminated, it’s up to the customer to determine if they want to take the risk. She’s always happy to prepare something from the menu which has something for everyone.

In regards to their allergy policy, Andrew says they take every precaution but it starts with the diner. If you have a severe allergy, let the server know it’s severe so they can communicate that with the kitchen. Most dishes can be altered but if one can’t, they will make a recommendation to the guest instead. Gluten-free pasta is boiled in new water, gluten-free crust is wrapped individually and kept separate, and the few nut products they have are kept in a sealed container away from other ingredients. New utensils and pans are used to prevent cross-contamination. The restaurant is big so it’s ideal for a family gathering or group outing. But it’s also cozy and homey, a fantastic place to have a comfortable meal.

The post Where to Eat in St. Lawrence Market if you have Food Allergies appeared first on Toronto Guardian.