Marie Anita's Gluten Free Health Cafe & Bakery
Mermaid Beach
Marie Anita’s Gluten Free Health Café is a complete food treasure hidden in plain sight on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, tucked between the Turtle Beach Resort and Mermaid’s Cheesecake Shop.
Seek out this tasty gem which serves fabulous gluten free food to the Gold Coast, and you’ll be coming back forevermore.
Seamlessly combining the rustic nature of an artisan bakery with the vintage elegance of an enchanting café, diners can enjoy the aromas of freshly baked bread in the ambience of the quaint curb side tables, the cosy inside seating or the delightful garden out back. A steady stream of morning customers pick up their favourite loaves – hemp, spiced fruit, apricot and walnut, garlic and olive, activated nut and seed, tomato and basil, turmeric and black pepper.
Marie Anita is single-handedly trying to change the image of healthy eating. Believing that healthy eating should be a fusion of honest flavours, simplicity, fresh and local ingredients, with a touch of sophistication, Marie Anita’s has become a trail blazer on the coast. The simple but sophisticated menu is alive with plant-based gluten free delights. We couldn’t go past the all-day breakfast favourite of green pea, chickpea, lemon and mint smash which is perfectly balanced by the house kraut, activated nut and seed bread and raw smoky sour cream. And you simply have to add the beautiful baked almond feta.
If you’re after something sweeter for breakie, the warm winter fruit salad with cinnamon poached pears, banana, Medjool dates, blueberries and raw Chantilly cashew cream, is to die for. Again, you simply have to add vanilla & nutmeg coco ice cream for an extra dollop of decadence. Ever surprising lunch options include twists on pizza, tacos and salads with more delights like the cauliflower cheese toastie, crispy Vietnamese crepe and walnut mushroom meat balls. And the cabinet is full of sweet treats, slices and pastries to go with your cuppa.
Marie Anita’s will tell you they struck gold in finding the ‘Easy Rider’ roast from local Tweed based roastery ‘Ground Control’. Easy Rider is an 100% organic blend with a balanced roast profile between a traditional medium and dark. It’s big on flavour and easy on the palette, with dark chocolate, toasted hazelnut and blackberry notes, it will fire your up your engine without kicking things into overdrive. There are also plenty of loose-leaf teas and raw juices to choose from.
This place is truly special having thought of everything. Beyond superior coffee, Marie Anita’s serves reverse osmosis water, is microwave and plastic free, composts its grinds, feeds its scraps to the chooks, uses sustainable packaging and green cleaning products.
The dog-friendly back garden is open so bring your furry friends and the kids too!
By Michaela Lyons