Caffe Strada Ivanhoe – 100% gluten free Melbourne
If you are looking for great tasting gluten free bread, this café and bakery has a great reputation among Melbourne coeliacs. This is particularly good if your family or friends don’t like gluten free bread, as it tastes almost “normal”!
If you are not from Melbourne, Ivanhoe is around 10km north east of the city centre.
They open during the day (including breakfast), seven days a week and the menu has a good variety to suit any food mood. There a is a decent sized menu, plus there some items that will appeal to kids. Breakfast is served until 3.30pm, so if you are a late riser, getting breakfast after lunch time is not a problem!
You can see a number of the menu items displayed in their cabinet, along with an array of cakes and other sweet treats. There are some ready made sandwiches, so if you are in a hurry this is a good take away option.
Breakfast
You can’t beat starting the day with a fresh juice – how lovely do these look?
There is also a wide range of hot drinks, and of course for coeliacs, the elusive hot chocolate even comes with marshmellows 🙂
My husband likes a ‘fry up’ style breakfast, as most Englishmen do! You can of course have bacon, but this is a bit healthier with smoked salmon instead. I haven’t managed to sneak a bite of the hash browns yet, but they are on my list for next time.
I have really enjoyed their corn fritters with poached eggs and smoked salmon and this has kept me full from breakfast until afternoon tea time! If you are after something a bit plainer, why not try some toast with some butter and jam?
Lunch
Since my very first visit I have been a fan of the pulled pork turkish toasted sandwich, with the coleslaw giving some added crunch. I have this almost every time as it is just so scrumptious!
I have once deviated from my favourite (although it was still pulled pork), but this time as a burger with an egg – also delicious!
You will also find pies, soup, salads, fish & chips, fructose friendly sausage rolls and a lot of other options to choose from. A sample menu is available online if you would like to see the the other meals on offer, including vegetarian options.
Bakery – bread and cakes
The shop has several shelves with a variety of breads available, although if you are after something in particular, you are advised to order in advance as they often sell out.
Below is a toastie I made at home from the above loaf – the bread is a great size, texture and taste and also freezes very well. The baguette is a home made version of, you guessed it, pulled pork!
Peruse the cabinets to see what cakes are on offer – the chocolate eclair is one of the best I have tasted, although the creme was a little frozen.
You can also get cupcakes, slices and the good old Aussie lamington. At Easter, look out for hot cross buns!
Their bread is available at a number of other cafés and shops (including Andrew’s Breadshop at Queen Victoria Market in central Melbourne and Leo’s supermarket in Kew, Hartwell and Heidelberg and Manna Fields in Essendon). Visit the website for more details of suppliers.
If you haven’t tried Caffe Strada bread, you really should! Visiting a 100% gluten free cafe is always great, but Caffe Strada really stands out because you can feel ‘normal’ by having a sandwich and there are so many options to keep everyone happy, gluten free or not.
My only criticism of the cafe, is that in winter it is cold inside (even with the heater going full blast), so go prepared! If it is a nice day, there is also a small amount of outside seating.
Caffe Strada also hire out their premises as a function venue or can provide catering at your home.
197 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe VIC 3079 Phone: 03 9497 4875
(Ivanhoe train station is only a 5 minute walk away.)Open 7 days 8am – 5pm
For more 100% gluten free options and travel ideas, please check the following links:
- 100% gluten free Melbourne
- 100% gluten free London
- 100% gluten free England (over 70 venues!)
- Foddies, GF & fructose friendly in Albert Park (Melbourne)
- Melbourne airport
- London Heathrow & Gatwick airport gluten free options
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