Melbourne restaurants catering to dietary requirements and reaping the rewards

ONCE a headache for food operators, dietary requirements are now the new norm and a spate of Melbourne eateries catering for allergy sufferers and are reaping the rewards. SEE THE FULL CAFE LIST.

Anna Byrne and Dan Stock

3 min read

August 5, 2017 - 6:04PM

Sunday Herald Sun

Plenty of Australians are joining Anthea Alexander, Luciano Lima and Erin Older in turning down food loaded with dairy, gluten and fructose. Picture: Mark Stewart

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WHETHER it’s for fad diets or a bona fide medical condition, dietary requirements are the new norm.

While products like flour, milk, butter and cheese were once household staples, the ingredients are now being left out of dishes due to diner demand.

Jonathan Rowley, managing director of Order-In, says the corporate catering company receives specific dietary requests on almost 50 per cent of its orders.

“With one in five Australians currently living with an intolerance or allergy. as well as a steep rise in voluntary ‘free from’ diets, it’s not surprising that almost half of our orders now include dietary requirements,” Mr Rowley says.

“We’ve seen some very unusual, sometimes even questionable dietary requests over the years.

“You would be surprised how many special diets exist.”

Mr Rowley said the most prevalent requests were for dairy and lactose-free, nut allergies, vegan, gluten-free, FODMAP allergies, which includes onion and garlic, and nightshades allergies which includes white potatoes, eggplant, tomato and peppers.

THR1VE at Emporium’s signature grilled chicken bowl.

One of Delhilious’ gluten free dishes. Picture: David Crosling

Robyn Metz, owner of Camberwell’s Red Robyn cafe, one of the rare wholly nut-free cafes in Melbourne, which is also 100 per cent gluten free, onion free and garlic free, says she felt it was important to cater for the a growing market of allergy sufferers, from those with coeliac disease to the FODMAP diet — which is often prescribed for those with irritable bowel syndrome.

“Our philosophy was to be a good Melbourne cafe that happened to be gluten-free,” she said.

“People with coeliac disease can develop anxieties about eating out, because often it’s impossible to know if something is 100 per cent gluten free. That’s why I created the cafe.”

Ms Metz says customers have travelled to her cafe as far as Castlemaine in central Victoria.

“Catering to allergies is such a growing market. The FODMAP is a huge part of our customer base. The paelo side is dying down now but people requesting vegan food is growing.”

Raman Nakul, owner and chef of Delhilicious, Australia’s first 100 per cent gluten-free restaurant accredited by Coeliac Australia, said his motivation for going through the accreditation process — which took six months — was to make people happy.

“As a chef I felt so bad for people who couldn’t eat something. I just want to feed people,” he said.

Market on Malvern (MOM) Cafe in Prahran.

He has had diners had come from as far away as Lakes Entrance, Portland and Falls Creek to eat at his Ivanhoe restaurant that serves Indian and modern cuisine.

“I wish more people would follow our lead,” he said.

Cathy Di Bella from Coeliac Australia said to receive gluten-free accreditation, a restaurant had to show gluten-free food preparation including compliance audit, staff training and lab testing of meals made on site.

She said eating just one per cent of a slice of bread could make someone with coeliac disease sick. Many with the disease feared eating out and falling ill, due to cross contamination of ingredients and cooking equipment.

Catering to dietary requests have also become common courtesy at private events such as weddings with most couples welcoming dietary requests on RSVP cards.

MELBOURNE’S BEST EATERIES FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS

Red Robyn

393 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell

100 per cent gluten, nut, onion, garlic free. Vegan and fructose-free friendly

Website

Dehlicious

91 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe

Australia’s first 100 per cent gluten free restaurant (Coeliac Australia accredited)

Website

Mediterraneo

116 Bridport St, Albert Park

Coeliac Australia accredited gluten free (but not 100 per cent GF)