Melanie Persson

Coeliac disease or gluten intolerance once meant giving up beloved foods like delicate pastries, springy noodles, and fluffy cakes. Now, Melanie Persson, an Instagram foodie and the first coeliac contestant on MasterChef Australia, is changing that.

Diagnosed with coeliac disease in her early twenties, Mel embarked on a journey into the realm of gluten-free cooking. However, she discovered that many recipes focused more on health and restrictions than on flavor and texture. Concerned that the dishes she cherished from Japan and Italy might now be beyond reach, Mel, a dedicated cook, was determined not to miss out. She delved into experimenting in her kitchen, spending years perfecting gluten-free versions of her favorite dishes, from fresh pasta to decadent pastries, udon noodles to baklava.

In her debut cookbook, The Very Hungry Coeliac, Mel generously shares 75 of her most exquisite gluten-free recipes. These dishes are not only rich and flavorful but also crafted for sharing, indistinguishable from their gluten-based counterparts.