‘Melanie Persson loves gluten … but her body has other ideas. Instead of taking her coeliac status as a solid break-up from this most glorious of proteins, she decided to lean in. Inspired by her childhood connections to Japan and Italy, from pasta and noodles to tarts and choux, this is a gluten-free cookbook for people who love gluten.’ – Melissa Leong, MasterChef judge 

‘Gluten-free cooking can be a challenge for all home cooks, but Melanie breaks this down into an easily digestible book absolutely packed with knowledge! With stunning photography and clear, simple to follow recipes, this book is a must have and one you’ll be going back to time after time!’ – Matt Adlard, social media chef, UK 

‘Here it is, an honest-to-goodness celebration of gluten-free food! So many gluten-free recipes are a sad substitute for the “real thing” – but not Mel’s. These ARE the real thing. As a fellow MasterChef contestant, I’ve been lucky enough to sample Mel’s food and can testify to the research and care that has gone into every dish in this book. Finally, food that will be loved not just by gluten-free humans but by everybody!’ – Julie Goodwin, MasterChef season 1 winner and TV presenter

Melanie Persson was on MasterChef Australia 2022 and was the first contestant to compete as a gluten-free cook. Since being diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2016, she has worked hard to develop recipes that replicate the foods she used to love. These are largely influenced by her experiences living in Japan and Italy, as well as her Swedish heritage. Mel is passionate about helping people on gluten-free diets rediscover their joy for food and cooking. Whenever she isn’t cooking and sharing recipes, she is working on her research as a PhD candidate in the field of children’s literature. You can find her on Instagram as @theveryhungrycoeliac.