Mel Greco and Zoe Murphy have decided to share their love for baking and vegan lifestyle through their healthy yet delicious venture, Nine Cupcakes.
Mel, 25, is currently studying at the University of Melbourne. He writes and produces music, but having spent many years learning the art of baking from his grandfather, he found his love of baking increased tenfold. Twenty-one-year-old Zoe, who is half-Greek, studies at Swinburne University of Technology and has been cooking since the age of 15, when she became a vegetarian.
Every two seasons, the pair comes up with nine new cupcake flavours which they supply to a variety of cafes across Melbourne and weekend markets. At the moment, they are experimenting with spanakopita and baklava flavours, hoping to deliver the most delicious gluten-free and vegan version of these classic Greek delicacies.
How was Nine Cupcakes born?
We started Nine Cupcakes when Zoe first became vegan. Mel was adamant about being able to bake something we could both enjoy over Christmas and decided to make cupcakes. After countless trials, he finally came up with the perfect recipe that was so good, we thought about selling them, even if it was just at small weekend markets. We thought we would try our hand at making at least one cupcake gluten-free so more people could enjoy them and we ended up making one so good that we converted the entire range to gluten-free, vegan and organic. With the approval of Mel’s grandfather, who worked as a baker for 52 years, and his mum, who had her own cupcake business at one stage, we created a product that was absolutely incredible.
Why did you decide to focus on vegan, gluten-free and organic cupcakes?
I guess our ethos has always been that we would like to serve as many people as possible with the one product. From people who have no allergies to those with coeliac disease, egg allergies and lactose intolerance, almost anyone can pick up one of our cupcakes and not have to worry about being ill. We serve nine new flavours every two seasons, hence the name Nine Cupcakes, and we now deliver to a variety of cafes across Melbourne and sell at markets on the weekend.
Do you feel the flavour is compromised when you replace basic ingredients?
Flavour definitely can be compromised when replacing basic ingredients such as flour, egg and milk, but we decided very early on that we would refuse to serve a product that isn’t just as good, if not better than those made traditionally. It took us close to four months to develop something we would be happy selling, and our products have only become better over time. The most important aspect of our job is to know how certain ingredients work together and how they work against each other. Eventually we were able to create the perfect balance of texture and flavour that rivals anything on the market.
How can a gluten-free diet benefit someone, even if they are not a coeliac?
A gluten-free diet can help in a variety of ways, from helping with sluggishness and general lethargy to reducing bloating in some. However, we always advise to consult with your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
What is the reaction you have been getting from people? The reaction from people is our favourite part of the job. Being able to serve a cupcake to someone who is not a coeliac or a vegan can be challenging as many are apprehensive, however, watching a frown turn to utter disbelief and excitement is really fun. We also love serving cupcakes to children with allergies and seeing their face light up as they can finally enjoy a treat with their family – it’s beautiful to watch.
Are you thinking of expanding to other foods as well?
We’d definitely like to try our hand at delivering high-quality vegan and gluten-free food and other baked goods, so keep an eye out, exciting things are coming this year.
Have you tried making Greek desserts the ‘healthy’ way?
We have! We love experimenting with traditional foods and have made things like spanakopita and baklava vegan but not gluten-free just yet, we’re working on it. We both really love the culture around the way Greek people prepare and eat food together. A meal in Greek families is more about sharing with your loved ones than simply sustenance.
For more information and ideas, check www.facebook.com/ninecupcakesaus