Cafe Free

Another café has popped up in Mosman but this time its gluten and lactose free and I’m pretty excited. At Café Free you can indulge with an American diner style serving of gluten free waffles or enjoy a bacon and egg gluten free roll to feed your hangover.
I’m proud to say I wasn’t hungover when I visited Café free so I chose the waffle route — its not everyday you see waffles listed as gluten free on a menu. Ordering gluten free pancakes or waffles is usually disappointing as eateries struggle to create the fluffiness of normal pancakes. I am often faced with a small serving that is sparingly decorated whilst everyone else is enjoying a stack of buttermilk pancakes with banana, ice cream and maple syrup. Not fair.
Café Free is exempt from this gluten free bias. To my delight I was greeted with an epic stack of waffles covered in caramelised banana, strawberries and decadent dollops of treacle butter. The waffles were thick and doughy (who knew something gluten free could be doughy?), the banana was perfectly crispy and THAT TREACLE BUTTER.
The dollops were initially intimidating and I felt pretty guilty watching them melt amongst the grid of the waffle but I finished the whole plate. No regrets. I was full for the rest of the day but if you had to choose one meal to last you the day you want to make it waffles from Café Free.
Outside of the waffle experience is a menu full of items that we are used to seeing as gluten full. At Café Free you’ll find wraps that don’t crack, gluten free Vegemite spread and a steak sandwich on the menu. Beyond their breakfast and lunch menu they offer $ 20 take home dinners and are looking at moving into the evening with tapas. There were also talk of gluten free lasagna — win.
All of this is thanks to their Chef, Zoe, and her family and friends who have come together to provide a gluten and lactose free dining experience. On arrival I am greeted by Zoe’s brother, Adam and am served by one of Zoe’s friends and her mum. Even amongst people buzzing in and out for a late breakfast or takeaway coffee, you can really feel that family element. Speaking with Zoe I learnt about her seasonal menu and experimentation with the baked goods that are on display in store and on social media (so you can’t escape that almond milk custard tart that you’ve been thinking about all week). There is certainly plenty to look forward to as Café Free grows. Watch this space.