Gluten Free 4U - Bakery in Moorabbin, Victoria

When Gluten Free 4U first opened in 2012, I was very pleased to see a gluten free related business open up in my area of the South Eastern suburbs.

I soon became a regular customer and these are are a few of the gluten & dairy free items that I regularly buy.

Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry Muffins

I buy these in a pack of six and freeze them so that  I always have some on hand. A great staple for me with a cup of tea.
(There are other muffin flavours like chocolate, orange & poppy, but these contain dairy)

Brownie slab

Brownie

This is a very nice, light chocolate brownie which I buy as a slab and then cut up and freeze.

Bread rolls

Bread Rolls

The plain dinner rolls, and long rolls have a great texture & flavour. (Not crumbly)  I often have one of these as my work lunch.

Wraps

These are delicious, with a nice flavour & not crumbly.
I like mine with avocado, chicken & salad. Be sure not to over stuff your wrap.

Jam roll

A "sometimes" treat. A "real" Jam Roll.

Sausage rolls with carrot

If you are like me and also need to avoid fructose, these onion free sausage roles are very tasty.
Party size for me.

Meat pie

They also have a fructose free meat pie which is delicious & also dairy free.

Donuts

Another special treat are the donuts they make. I understand that they are very popular with many customers. These are better than many non-gluten free donuts!

There is a large range of goods that are gluten free (but not dairy free) so I can't be trying, but you might. Check out their website, which is excellent, as it has full ingredients lists.  Online shopping with delivery is available.

They must be doing something right as the shop can be very busy at times.
I highly recommend that you give Gluten Free 4U a try, if you haven't already.

Gluten Free 4U

5 / 1-3 Bignell Road, Moorabbin VIC 3189
Phone: 03 9555 5175
Fax: 03 9555 5739
Email: info@glutenfree4u.com.au
Web: http://glutenfree4u.com.au/

Silly Yaks Lamb and Rosemary Pie

Sometimes you need a quick and tasty lunch and a pie often hits the spot especially in the colder weather.

I recently tried one of the many pies made by Silly Yaks here in Melbourne.

I heated this one from frozen in the microwave. As it heated up I started to smell a lovely combination of lamb and rosemary.

As for eating, the chunks of lamb were very tender, with plenty of flavor in the gravy.

As I used the microwave, the pastry was heavy but has a good texture.
If you have the time, I'd recommend using the oven and following the detailed heating instructions on the Silly Yak website for a crispy pastry crust.

Very handy product to have in your freezer.


Ingredients list and excellent, detailed heating instructions are available on the Silly Yaks website.
http://www.sillyyak.com.au

I bought mine from Sunnybrook in Ormond.
http://www.glutenfreeshop.com.au

Melinda's Heavenly Chocolate Fudge Brownie

You can always find one or two packets of this brownie mix in our pantry.

It is fast and easy to make and is very delicious. The finished brownie doesn't last long in our house.

The box shows that the brownie is gluten free, wheat free and yeast free and the recipe only asks you to supply 2 extra large eggs and 120g of butter.

We like to make a dairy free version of the brownie and the recipe recommends using soya margarine for this. Instead of butter or margarine, we use a quarter of a cup plus two tablespoons of vegetable oil and find that this works well.

Update: Late in 2013, Melindas changed the recipe and combined all the ingredients into one packet. We still make a version that is also dairy free but with an additional step to separate out the chocolate chips.

Making the brownie couldn't be much easier. Our daughter often makes the brownie with only a little help from Mum or Dad.

1. Sift the brownie mix into a bowl and separate out the chocolate chips.
2. Melt the chocolate chips from the packet with the butter/oil in the microwave
3. Add the melted chocolate mix and two lightly beaten eggs
4. Mix it all together with a big spoon
5. Pour it into your lined baking tin
6. Bake

This takes only 10 minutes to mix and 20 minutes to bake (depending on how "fudgy" you like your brownie).

The result is a very addictive brownie. It's hard to stop at one piece.

If you need a gluten and dairy free treat, this is a fast and as delicious as they get. Thanks Melinda's!!

I buy these at our local Woolies or Coles for $5 to $6

See the Melinda's website for ingredients and their other great products.

Report: 2011 Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show

September hosted the 2011 Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show at Jeffs Shed in Melbourne.
For us, this is an event that is not to be missed.

This year, the major sponsor was Macro Wholefoods Market. (You might remember that Macro was bought by Woolworths in mid-2009)

Presenters included: Tobie Puttock & Dr Sue Shepherd.

Here are some of our highlights:

• Macro Wholefoods Market
  Macro had a large display of their products, most of which you will find in your local Woolworths/Safeway.
  Recipe brochures from Toby Puttock, Spencer Clements, Dr. Sue Shepherd & Rowie Dillon were given away.
• Larder Fresh
  Roast Pumpkin & Chickpea Burger. Gluten Free, Egg free, Dairy Free, Wheat Free, onion & garlic free, preservative free. We picked up some of these. Very tasty. Great for a snack, or light lunch. No onion but still full of flavor. They also produce Falafel but these have onion.
  http://www.larderfresh.com.au/
• Bayview
  Bayview is an Australian owned company producing a wide range of crumbed fish, chicken and related products, including a gluten free range.
  New products are in the works, including: Calamari & easy to cook Fish in a bag.
  You can always find their fish fillets and chicken tenderloins in my freezer.
  A suggestion for Bayview: Please include the ingredients list for your products on your website.
  http://www.bayviewseafoods.com.au/
• Melindas
  You will always find some of the Melindas range in our pantry, especially the "Heavenly Choc Fudge Brownie Mix".
  They were promoting their own Gluten Free Self Raising Flour mix and their iPhone Allergy Free Entertaining app. (Android version soon)
  One of our clan sampled their Tuscan Style Rissotto Cakes, which received the thumbs up. These are gluten free, but do contain onion and cheese is part of the recipe.
  http://melindasgfg.com/
• House of Biskota 
  had a very interesting display of biscuits that are gluten, dairy, egg and yeast free.
  For those conscious of fructose, be aware of the biscuits that have jam as the ingredients show this contains apple.
  http://houseofbiskota.com.au/GlutenFree
• "Uncle" Rick Grant
  Rick & Rhonda were showing off a new range of seasoning mixes that are gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, egg free, soy free and fructose friendly (no onion or garlic).
  Expect to see a lot more from Rick during 2012.
  http://www.rickgrant.com.au/
• Well and Good
  were present again with a fantastic range of products. Always full of enthusiasm and coming up with something new. They were showcasing several new products.
  http://www.wellandgood.com.au/
• Table of Plenty
  Gluten free Mini rice cakes but with a delicious top coating of chocolate.
  http://www.tableofplenty.com.au/
• Mary's Gone Crackers
  This range of crackers and cookies are made in the USA but distributed in Australia by Real Food Distributors.
  The Love Cookies range are fantastic, with our favourites being the N'Oatmeal Raisin (No Oatmeal!!) and the Double Chocolate.
  You can find these in health food stores and independent supermarkets.
  http://www.realfooddistributors.com.au/page/products.html
  http://www.marysgonecrackers.com/
• F G Roberts
  Regular show attendees, F G Roberts were presenting their new Palmira's bread mix which is gluten and wheat free and the bread can be made without yeast. Detailed information packs with recipes were made available.
  http://www.glutenfreehealth.com.au/
• Celebrate Health
  have an interesting range of gluten free baking mixes based on Chestnut flour (contain dairy), and a range of flavoured Quinoa: Tomato & Basil; Moroccan Spiced and Lemon & Thyme. (I've spotted these in Coles since the show)
  http://www.celebratehealth.com.au/
• Peppercorn Food Company
  were cooking up their range of gluten free sausages which are delicious.
  Not all of the them are fructose friendly as they contain garlic & onion.
  Unfortunately, the website does not list ingredients. These should be available at your local Woolworths. Ask your supermarket manager if they are not.
  http://www.peppercornfood.com.au/
• Gluten Free 4U
  This is a new bakery that has opened in Moorabbin and covers bread, pizza bases, tarts, cookies & cakes, all manufactured in a dedicated gluten and nut free enviornment.
  5/1 Bignell Rd. Moorabbin
  http://www.glutenfree4u.com.au/
• Kez's Free
  were launching their new Vienna Eclair gluten free biscuits.
  Not dairy free. Try the Melting Moments for a gluten and dairy free biscuit.
  http://www.kezs.com.au/products-kezs-free.asp
• Deeks Health Foods
  We first tried this bread while traveling in the ACT a few years ago and found it to be very good.
  Deeks is now becoming available in Victoria and definately worth a try. Available at Sunnybrook.
  http://www.deeks.com.au/
• Vitality Bakehouse
  Have a large range of gluten free baked goods.
  Their Christmas Pudding is also dairy free along with our favourite, the Orange Poppy Seed Muffins. (Hard to find on the Internet)
  http://www.raffleshealthyfoods.com.au/
• San Remo Pasta
  This is our first stop for gluten free pasta. Our favourites are the Penne & Spirals.
  http://www.sanremo.com.au/
• Yes You Can
  has a range of bread, cake and pancake mixes that are gluten, wheat and yeast free.
  Some have dairy free options including the cupcake mix.
  http://yesyoucan.net.au/yes-you-can/home

You can be sure we will be back in 2012 to see (and taste) the latest gluten free products on the market.

"Bitter Sweet" - Article on Fructose Malabsorption

During August, the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper contained a good article about fructose malabsorption and its contribution to the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

Melbournes very own Sue Shepherd is quoted.

Related Links:

• Fructose Friendly Dining Out


• Sue Shepherd coeliac.com.au

Fructose Friendly Dining Out

A reader sent the following email to us:

I am a fellow sufferer of fructose malabsorption. I found myself on Friday night in the middle of the city stuck for places to eat.
Finding wheat free is the easy part, but onion free seems to exclude so much (it’s in so many sauces and the basis for most dishes), that we ended up at Melbourne Central food court with tasteless salads feeling rather depressed.
I’ve managed to modify diets at home with ease, as we tend to cook everything from scratch which is actually a blessing in disguise, but eating out continuously proves a problem.
There is increasing awareness about gluten free at restaurants now, but nowhere is fructose friendly, or able to be modified to fructose free because of the onion. I was wondering if you’d come across or knew about any places in and around the city that you could find a quick, relatively cheap eat without having to worry about onion or simply order a bowl of chips (boy am I sick of ordering chips).
I thought maybe it would make a good blog entry.
If not, and in the future I come across some myself I will let you know.

We couldn't agree more. Onion is everywhere and very hard to avoid. We have the same problem and get very disheartened to the point that we would rather not go out at all versus eating something and end up regretting it.

So, we have started a list of the places that we know of. These are places that either adertise themselves as being fructose friendly and/or they are flexible enough with their menu and attitude to enable diners to avoid fructose un-friendly ingredients.

The list isn't large, but with your help, we hope it will become so.

The usual disclaimer applies: Check with the venue first. Talk to the staff and let them know your requirements. We have no connection with these businesses other than as happy customers.

• Silly Yaks Bakery - 105 High St.,Northcote Phone: (03) 9482 3999
  This cafe/bakery will be well known to coeliacs in Melbourne as they sell a large range of GF cakes, bread, pizza bases and even their own range of GF beer. This is a must visit location especially for a great breakfast that goes most of the day.
  www.sillyyak.com.au


• S.Komatsu Restaurant - 62 Wellington Parade,East Melbourne Phone: 03 9415 7266
  We haven't visited here as yet but S.Komatsu advertises itself as gluten free, dairy free and fructose friendly. Some friends have dined there and really enjoyed it. This will be a dinner destination for us very soon. UPDATE: Unfortunately, S.Komatsu is currently closed
  www.nexgeneats.com/s.komatsu/index.html


• Crust Pizza - Various Locations
  This is a new gourmet style pizza chain that also is very aware of food allergies. Gluten and Dairy free pizza bases can be requested and you can build your own pizza using the high quality, fresh ingredients that they have. (None of that pink, processed stuff that other pizza joints call ham).
  Crust have been awarded the Heart Foundation Heart Tick for 6 of their pizzas. Reported in "The Age on 12 Feb 2008
  www.crust.com.au


• Sandbelt Club Hotel - 630 South Road Moorabbin, VIC 3189 Phone:(03) 9555 6899
  This hotel was recently renovated and the bistro now offers gluten free options and the staff are very knowledgeable and very willing to please. Dishes such as the roast of the day and fish of the day are my choice as the fish (salmon sometimes) is simply grilled and presented with a good selection of steamed vegetables.
  www.sandbeltclubhotel.com.au

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Please let us know if you try somewhere and would like others to know about it. Email us at: glutenfreevictoria@gmail.com

Related Links:

• "The Age" - Article on Fructose Malabsorption