Australiaʼs first gluten free accredited pizzeria

Gluten intolerant and missing the taste of authentic wood fired Italian pizza?

Not anymore! Shop225 in Pascoe Vale, acclaimed in the top 10 best pizza shops in Melbourne* is the first pizzeria in Australia accredited for its gluten free options by Coeliac Australia.

The fragrant aroma and taste of their pizza is so delicious it will transport you straight to Italy! Business co-owner Lorenzo Tron learned how difficult it is to find suitable gluten free options dining out, after his partner was advised to follow a gluten free diet for medical reasons.

“Our dining out experiences prompted us to develop a menu where people with allergies, intolerances and specific food choices can enjoy genuine Italian food without worries or having to compromise on taste,” said Mr Tron.

Coeliac Australia project officer Ms Cathy Di Bella said, “Shop225 had to meet our stringent requirements including laboratory testing, on-site audit and staff training to become accredited by Coeliac Australia. We are so excited for the gluten free community to be able to once again be able to put pizza back on the menu.“

People with coeliac disease canʼt eat gluten - a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. For them eating gluten free is not a lifestyle choice but the only form of medical treatment currently available.

One of the biggest concerns dining out is ensuring meals are completely free of gluten contamination, even crumbs. While there are many businesses offering gluten free food, Coeliac Australia Accreditation gives Shop225 customers that extra confidence. At Shop225 dishes are made from scratch every day using authentic Italian ingredients and local produce. A wide selection of homemade pasta and pizza can be prepared as gluten free options and the menu also caters for lactose free, vegetarian and vegan choice.

“We believe Italian food is about simplicity, respect for good produce and family. When people come to eat at our shop, it is like having family at our table. We want our customers to share memories and great Italian food,” said Shop225 co-owner Roberto Davoli.

Pizza shops are traditionally a very high-risk area due to the nature of pizza and pasta making, but Shop225 has implemented many processes to ensure that the risk of cross contamination is minimised. The Shop225 kitchen is divided into zones. Wheat containing pizza and pasta dough are made in their own area and only rice flour is used to ‘dust’ the dough, further eliminating any cross contamination issues from airborne flour. When it comes to the cooking in the wood fired pizza oven, all the gluten free bases are placed on baking paper, so there is no contact with the floor of the oven. Gluten free product are also handled using different pizza paddle and cutting tools.

“We are immensely proud of becoming the first Pizzeria in Australia accredited for its gluten free options, we know it is important for our customers and we hope more pizza shops will follow this path to make dining out an enjoyable experience for everyone,“ said Mr Tron.

Coeliac Australia has developed a suite of resources to help food businesses prepare gluten free options that comply with national food regulations. For more information about Coeliac Australia’s Gluten Free Accreditation Program and Gluten Free Online Training go to coeliac.org.au/food-industry

Shop225

225 Melville Road, Pascoe Vale South 

For menu and booking: shop225.com.au

Shop225, 12^th November 2018