Review of an Allergy-Friendly Bakery: de Floured

This allergy-friendly restaurant was reviewed by guest blogger, Liz Frederiksen. Liz is a proud Torontonian and a lifelong food allergy thriver. A copywriter and social media coach by trade, Liz is happiest when hula hooping, hiking, or sharing good food with her family. All opinions are her own.

Editor’s Note: While select items contain other allergens, like sesame and soy (to name a couple!), the baker is careful to keep these ingredients away from the rest. For example, sesame is an ingredient in her quinoa cookies, but she keeps these cookies in a separate container behind the counter. She uses organic soy flour to “fatten up” her chocolate chip cookies, but all of her other baked goods are soy free. If you aren’t sure about a particular allergen, or if you aren’t comfortable with the possibility of cross contamination, ask lots of questions before you order.

As October begins, Toronto’s local farmers’ markets are at their peak, exploding with a riot of locally grown vegetables, fruits, and, believe it or not, allergy-friendly baked goods! When I started frequenting the Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market four years ago, I assumed all the lovely baked things were off limits, until I discovered de Floured.

From their cozy bakery in Bloordale, owner Krista Tobias and partner Chris Brown, pump out a delectable assortment of gluten-free, peanut/tree nut-free, and corn-free sweet and savoury goods to satisfy any cravings. They also have a regular selection of vegan goods, which are obviously meat, egg, and dairy free.

On a recent visit, Chris explained that they have a separate counter and separate equipment for creating their vegan treats, but they are baked in the same ovens as the rest. If you are concerned about cross contamination, it is best to call them in advance.

Krista, who grew up in a foodie family, and whose father owned a bakery, has a gluten intolerance and several food allergies herself. She told blogTO that she started de Floured “so [she] could eat!” In conversation with me, she added “I get sick a lot, [due to my gluten intolerance] and I read a lot and I’m very aware.” It is both a comfort and a joy to find a baker who deals with food limitations, and therefore, understands. Customers also benefit from the relationships Tobias and Brown have developed with their fellow market vendors. Approximately 70% of their ingredients are organic, and locally sourced. They also change up their menu to reflect seasonal availability.

My most recent visit was the day before our family’s Rosh Hashanah dinner, and I confess I couldn’t bring myself to order a lot, knowing how much I’d be eating the next day! I picked up a couple of their personal-sized pumpkin pies for my partner and myself.

Chris also gave me a mini chocolate chip banana loaf to try. I love banana bread, however, I’m not usually a fan of chocolate. But this loaf certainly won me over! The banana and chocolate flavours compliment each other well, and the loaf is moist and delicious. And the pumpkin pie? It was light and fluffy, with a hint of spice, just the way I like it. Krista told me that October is one of their busiest times of year because of their pumpkin pie sales—and I’m not surprised!

Over the past four years, I’ve sampled many of their treats, and I can say without a doubt that their seasonal* maple butter tarts are among the best in the city. I think by the time my baby was born, she was 90% butter tarts! Their savoury galettes, a mainstay of their business, are also fantastic. Our family is particularly fond of their Swiss chard one, and the mushroom galette is also delicious. Their quiches are also worth a try, especially the smoked salmon. I realize it’s an acquired taste, but it works for me, and it isn’t something I would’ve thought to try at home.

Much of de Floured’s business is through word of mouth. They don’t have a website, and, aside from their Instagram page, they aren’t terribly active on social media. I like to think of them as one of Toronto’s best kept secrets – one I’m happy to share!

West-enders, look for them at the Sorauren Park market on Mondays or the Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market on Thursdays. East-enders can find them at the Brickworks on Saturdays. Or you can always stop by their bakery, and even call in custom orders. Bakery hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

*If, after reading Liz’s review, you find yourself craving a butter tart, make sure to call in advance. This editor hastily headed over with visions of deliciously ooey gooey butter tarts in her head, and learned that they are, in fact, seasonal. Sadly, there were none to satisfy my cravings. The good news is, they’ll be available very, very soon. So I guess their season is coming. And I guess that means I’ll be back! 😉

Friendly. Supportive. Encouraging.

Want to join a community of like-minded food allergy folk? Join the AllergyBites Community on Facebook.

Restaurants that appear on AllergyBites may have updated their menu or changed management since a review was posted. Please confirm that they are still allergy-friendly & that menu items don’t contain your allergen(s) before visiting or placing your order.