melalouise.net

My husband and I recently took a drive to the Dandenongs and stopped for lunch at a small café in Sassafras (I think it was just called Sassafras Café - they serve Map Coffee). To my delight, they had a gluten-free menu with sandwiches, toasts, cakes and even scones! So I, being from Cornwall in England and very partial to scones, opted for the Devonshire tea. The scones were made in-house with a gluten-free flour bought from a local bakery. They were delicious, though a little crumbly.

So, I decided to try some out for myself, because I’m hosting an afternoon tea in a couple of weeks. I bought some Laucke Bakery flour from the health-food section at my local Coles and followed a recipe in my Stephanie Alexander cookbook (The Cook’s Companion). I used lactose-free milk, but normal butter, and needed a little more flour than the recipe called for. I was really amazed by the results, the scones were fantastic. They didn’t rise a great deal but they certainly weren’t crumbling apart. Definitely something I will have to try and reproduce for my upcoming afternoon tea!

Laucke Bakeries
www.laucke.com.au

Stephanie Alexander
www.stephaniealexander.com.au

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any new gluten-free dining options, but that’s because it’s been a while since I’ve discovered anywhere new.

I’m really pleased that I’ve found this place though. My mum came down for lunch this Monday and I remembered that our usual haunt, Pizza Piazza, is closed on Mondays. However, Hooked across the road from there was not and for a few weeks now I’ve had a craving for good fish and chips after discovering they had gluten-free options. So, we decided to go there for lunch.

Being from England we really appreciate good battered fish and “proper” hand-cut chips and such a thing is hard to come by in Australia - let alone free from gluten! We both ordered the standard battered fish and hand-cut chips (but gluten-free of course) and sat down at the long, cosy, communal table. After a 5-10 minute wait our meals were ready and we almost wished we’d ordered one serve between us because the plates were piled high. At $10 each, it was pretty good value and we both polished off most of the meal. We were both very pleasantly surprised at the lightness of the batter, the quality of the fish and the authenticity of the chips - especially given they were all gluten free. The meal really satisfied my hunger for a good plate of fish and chips such the likes of I haven’t had since leaving England 19 years ago. I’m not sure how “healthy” the meal was but it definitely wasn’t drowning in oil and there are plenty of alternatives such as salad. My mum, who spent much more time in the UK than I and is very choosy about her fish and chips, really enjoyed her meal.

I definitely recommend anyone, gluten-challenged or not, to try Hooked. I’ll avoid any jokes about being hooked, but I will say that I won’t hesitate to go there again. You can download the menu, which also includes dairy-free options, from their website.

www.hooked.net.au

172 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC

EDIT: I’ve been informed that Hooked cook their gluten free orders in the same oil they use for their regular fish and chips so there is a cross-contamination issue.  If you are Coeliac it would be best to check when you order.

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Caffe Si started out as a GF foodstore but later expanded to a small cafe with sidewalk tables. They sell their own brand of items as well as others. Soups, pies, pizza bases, cakes, tarts, biscuits, slices, quiches ready to eat or take home and all delicious. Try the coffee cardinal, it’s divine!!

Orrong Road (Alma Rd Junction), Caulfield North

www.caffesi.com.au

Note: Food Cube has since closed down - see comments below

This is a great little eat-in / takeaway that make gluten-free pizzas, risottos, curry, salad, toast, burgers, almost anything you ask for. They also make muffins and stock GF goodies like cookies and shortbread as well as treats for Christmas such as rum balls and christmas pudding. I’ve been eating there for years and never know what to choose! Food cube is open for breakfast and lunch weekdays and Saturdays.

Near cnr Little Bourke & Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne.

A favourite of mine, this pizza and pasta restaurant is conveniently located on Chapel Street near High Street in Windsor. They have one of the most extensive GF menus of any restaurant that I’ve seen, including garlic bread, pizza, pasta, focaccias, cakes and even beer! They also have a menu for “normal” people. The GF pizza is quite nice though I find that it still disagrees with me. However I love the focaccias for a tasty lunch alternative (the chicken and roast veg is my fave!) and the flourless orange cake was divine. I also really like the GF garlic bread and my husband is happy to share with me because it is as good as normal garlic bread. Pizza Piazza is open for lunch and dinner (closed on Mondays) and has a nice atmosphere as well as the usual street dining.

171 Chapel St, Windsor Vic
www.pizzapiazza.com.au