10 Jul Foddies, Port Melbourne

Starting off with an online store, the popularity of their low FODMAP food products prompted Chrissy and Luke to start up a cafe where the public can physically go to enjoy intolerance-friendly dishes. Taking their commitment seriously, gluten cross-contamination is minimised by keeping dedicated food prep areas, appliances and utensils. Though their emphasis is on low-FODMAP and gluten-free diets, they also cater for other dietary needs.

Their Fodmart store is still up and running, offering their own low FODMAP, gluten free and other allergy friendly products. Sauces, dips, protein balls, cookies and brownies are proudly displayed in the cafe, and take home meals are available for convenience.

Cappuccino

Everything on the menu has a gluten free option, and dishes are kept low-FODMAP with the use of substitutes and particular fruits and vegetables, such as berries rather than apples and pears, or Japanese pumpkin instead of buttersquash. Minimal amounts of higher-FODMAP foods are sometimes added in for flavour, whilst still maintaining the low-FODMAP classification. Apart from the typical coffees and hot drinks you might find at a cafe, Foddies also does milkshakes and hot chocolates spiked with house-made salted caramel syrup.

Shakshuka-Dukkah – Eggs baked in a spiced-sauce of tomato, capsicum, potato and spinach topped w house-made dukkah & labne, toast, garlic oil ($17)

Chicken Parmigiana – Chicken schnitzel w Foddies’ Napoli sauce and mozzarella, chips, garden salad ($24)

Pulled beef burger – 5-hour slow-cooked beef, bacon, swiss cheese, sweet potato chips, lettuce, carrot, fennel slaw, maple-mustard mayo in brioche, chips ($22)

Their warm and comforting shakshuka-dukkah is baked in a spiced-sauce of tomato, capsicum, potato and spinach, sprinkled with a house-made dukkah blend and crumbled labne. Chicken parmigiana is tender and features their own Napoli sauce, and their pulled beef tacos come on soft shell corn tortillas with coleslaw, guacamole, chilli-lime aioli and charred lemon. The pulled beef burger contains tasty meat, slow cooked over five hours. It’s sandwiched in the bun together with bacon, Swiss cheese, slaw, carrots, fennel, sweet potato chips (yes, inside) and maple-mustard mayo.

Lemon Meringue Pancakes – Two stack, served w house-made lemon curd, crumbled meringue, raspberry coulis and ice cream, choice of batter wheat or gluten free ($17)

Matcha Pancakes with choc-macadamia spread, raspberry chia jam, fruit, shaved coconut

GF French Toast – Fresh seasonal fruits, pure maple syrup, pumpkin pie-spiced coconut cream and dark chocolate bark served w your choice of toast ($16)

When it comes to the sweet side of things, it becomes harder to find gluten-free versions that taste as good as the regular, but Foddies does a pretty good job of it. Lemon Meringue Pancakes come in a two stack, served with house-made lemon curd, crumbled meringue, raspberry coulis and a scoop of ice cream that helps counter the tartness of the curd. The gluten free pancakes have a different flavour and texture, but are still moist and fluffy. Matcha pancakes are a special, drizzled with a chocolate-macadamia spread and raspberry chia jam, then topped with fruit and shaved coconut. They’re not quite as moist as the lemon meringue pancakes, and there’s a salty taste to them. The French Toast is a dark chocolate and fruit affair, jazzed up with maple syrup and pumpkin pie-spiced coconut cream. A more refreshing option if you’re not into tangy desserts. Freshly baked gluten free muffins are displayed on the counter, and they’re surprisingly light and fluffy.

Able to please both those with special dietary needs and those without, Foddies is perfect for mixed groups, or even just as a quick pit stop to pick up some of those delicious muffins.

GF blueberry and chia muffins

Disclaimer: I dined as a guest of Foddies. Opinions expressed here are purely my own and based on my experience at the time of the visit

Foddies
181 Victoria Ave
Albert Park, VIC, 3206
(03) 9696 9389
www.foddies.com