ABOUT THE BOOK: Coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance used to mean that favourite foods like delicate pastries, springy noodles and fluffy cakes were off the menu. Now Melanie Persson, Instagram foodie and the first coeliac contestant on MasterChef Australia, is bringing them back.

Mel was diagnosed with coeliac disease in her early twenties, and as she began to explore the world of gluten-free cooking, she found that most recipes focused on health and restrictions rather than flavour and texture. She was devastated to think that the foods she had grown up with from Japan and Italy might now be out of reach. As a passionate cook, Mel was determined not to miss out, so she got to experimenting. She spent years in her kitchen perfecting gluten-free versions of the dishes she craved – from fresh pasta to decadent pastries, and udon noodles to baklava.

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.