Hamilton’s bright and sunny Coeliac safe haven
For The Wooden Spoon Café, gluten-free eating is the go-to.
In 2023, some dietary barriers were broken for coeliacs when Hannah Alley opened Kirikiriroa Hamilton’s only entirely gluten-free café, The Wooden Spoon. Located on London Street in Hamilton Central, and full of yellow-painted joy, this café allows coeliac eaters, or anyone with gluten intolerance, to eat without worry.
For Hannah Alley, the owner of the café, being able to have gluten-free options when eating out was a big push towards establishing the business. After being diagnosed with coeliac disease at the age of seven, Hannah, like so many other gluten-free eaters, was forced to constantly check and recheck labels, ingredients, and restaurant menus to make sure the food was safe to eat.
Hannah was driven to learn to bake and cook gluten-free goodies for herself to fill the gaps left by restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets. This passion continued to grow, leading to her creating a range of products and opening The Wooden Spoon café, including her best-selling scones and fried chicken.
Keeping the café entirely gluten-free is a top priority for the team at The Wooden Spoon. Constantly rechecking ingredients, informing suppliers, and training staff are just some of the things done to ensure that the Café stays a coeliac safe haven.
“It’s part of the staff training when people come on board here, letting them know that’s what our specialty is, letting them know the severity of what coeliac disease is, and how important it is.”
Hannah alley, owner of the wooden spoon
During tough times, it was the community that kept Hannah and her team going. With new people discovering the café each day and coeliacs from across the country coming to experience the gluten freedom, the reactions are emotional.
“We have people come in and burst into tears because they’re so excited.” Hannah said, “It’s a very emotional thing, because at the end of the day, food is literally a human right.”
The community hasn’t been the only thing keeping Hannah going, family is an important value to Hannah and her team, with her grandparents being a significant inspiration for her cooking journey, and her own daughter being her reason to keep the Café alive during tough times
“I’m setting us up for our future, and that’s the reason that I keep going everyday”
A large amount of effort and care has gone into The Wooden Spoon Café, and it shows in the food, the attitude, and the café itself.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere nice to go have lunch, breakfast, or dinner, whether you’re gluten-free or not, The Wooden Spoon might just be the place for you.
Tegen Moore is a Year 1 Bachelor of Communication student. This is her first story for the Waikato Independent
