Celiac patients following the smell of gluten-free donairs to Stony Plain
Just how strong is the lure of a beloved Alberta street food? To some, worth an hour's drive, the owners of a new restaurant in Stony Plain have discovered.
In the two-and-a-half weeks Wheet Nothings in the town's Multicultural Heritage Centre has been open, the Frechette family has sold nearly 300 donairs.
"We have people that are driving from Beaumont and Leduc and Westlock and Sangudo. We have people as far as coming from Edson just to have our food," Jodi Frechette told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday.
She was diagnosed with Celiac disease three years ago and quickly realized how much she may have to miss out on – including donairs.
Jodi Frechette says the idea for Wheet Nothings originated because she "missed having donairs."
"It's very hard to find safe places that don't have cross contamination with their food. They say gluten friendly, but I've had more than my fair share of reactions and it's very frustrating," Jodi explained. "All of this started because I missed having donairs. And you can't find a gluten-free donair anywhere."
She noted there are some really good gluten-free products out there, but not many, and eating out can be tough for families.
THE DONAIR RECIPE
The Wheet Nothings' rising star of a donair recipe is a creation by Jodi's son, Justice, and like most of the restaurant's offerings, is made in house. From sauces to dressings to the cured meats in in their Cubano, clubhouse and meatball sandwiches, "everything is safe," Jodi says.
"It's mostly just finding the right brands and all that for the spices," Justice added. "You just kind of got to watch what you're putting in it."
Jodi Frechette says the idea for Wheet Nothings originated because she "missed having donairs." Her son Justice created the recipe which has drawn Albertans from as far as Edson, nearly two hours away.
Wheet Nothings does source its breads from Care Bakery in Calgary and Kinnikinnick Fresh & Foods HQ in Edmonton, as well as its ice cream from Foothills Creamery. Altogether, it's a menu many families have thanked them for creating.
"The kids are so excited they can finally have ice cream in a cone, not just a cup, and there's no risk of having a sore tummy afterwards," Jodi told CTV News Edmonton.
Justice – a welder-turned-cook amid slow oilfield work – called his new job so far "super rewarding."
And busy.
"Little hard to keep up in the kitchen, sometimes," Justice laughed, "but doing the best I can."
The business sold out of donair meat – which takes three days to prepare – in the first three days of business. So he and Jodi have been making quadruple batches to keep up with demand.
"It's been a roller coast and a completely thrilling ride. We're loving every second of it," Jodi said, thanking the community and her family for their support.
She sees potential for the business to start a food truck or open a second location – but far in the future.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Evan Klippenstein
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
For moms-to-be, it's possible to take maternity leave without breaking the bank
Pregnancy is often an exciting and anxious time for parents-to-be. And while painting the nursery and choosing a stroller are typically on the agenda, experts say preparing financially for a maternity leave can help reduce stress later on as well.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Questlove was not happy with Drake and Kendrick Lamar's beef: 'Nobody won the war'
While some may have been excited and/or amused by the diss-track feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, the man many consider to be an elder statesman of hip-hop appears less than enthused about it.
Israel orders new evacuations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it prepares to expand operations
Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza's southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its operation and adding that it is also moving into an area in northern Gaza where Hamas has regrouped.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.