Zero Food is a family affair for Greek-Australian father and son, Nick and Alex Karamouzis who along with their respective wives Dimitra and Athanasia, prepare a unique and delicious pizza crust in their kitchen in North Coburg.
The main ingredient in their innovative formula is organic rice, a crunchy delicious substitute, in a recipe that Nick Karamouzis has been developing since his son Alex showed the first signs of gluten intolerance when he was 7 years old.
“Obviously being Greek, food has always been a big part of our lives. I loved my pizza, my food, and one day pizza started making me feel a little bit ill. Of course back then gluten free wasn’t a thing. When we discovered that I was gluten intolerant, my dad, like any good father, found a way to allow me to still enjoy the food I loved by creating a new recipe from rice,” Alex Karamouzis told Neos Kosmos.
READ MORE: 131 Pizza sliced to sell
“So I guess, indirectly, the business started back then, though dad at the time was a lawyer. Anyone who came over and tasted my dad’s pizza base would tell him to put it out there and that it was an opportunity he shouldn’t miss.”
“Once I retired a couple of years ago, my friends encouraged me to commercialise this product,” Nick Karamouzis told Neos Kosmos, describing how the pizza he prepared at home evolved into a business project.
“As I started experimenting I realised that the best way forward would be to make it nutritious and healthy.
“We eliminated anything that was unhealthy from the initial recipe and refined the formula (hence the brand name ‘Zero Foods’). Then I started investigating the nutritional benefits of black rice, which led me to Indonesia, as I found out that Indonesia has the purest black rice, not to mention, organic as well. It is not unfortunately produced in Australia.”
READ MORE: And now for something completely new… Baklava milkshake
Black rice, also called forbidden rice or “emperor’s rice”, is gaining popularity for its high levels of antioxidants and superior nutritional value. Forbidden rice earned its name when it was once forbidden to everyone else, except the Chinese emperor for him it was reserved to sustain his health and longevity. It is an ancient grain, very rich in antioxidants, even more so than blueberries, as its hull contains one of the richest deposits of anthocyanin found in any food. For that reason alone it is considered a superfood.
As more and more people realise the nutritional benefits of black rice, but also brown and red rice, the Zero Food pizza crust and toasties have become increasingly popular in Australia.
It has become a favourite amongst people who are intolerant to gluten, celiacs and even vegans, but as our health is becoming paramount during the pandemic, it seems that healthy alternatives with zero ‘nasties’ are becoming the new norm.
“Michelle Bridges, who is a leading fitness trainer and nutrition adviser in the country, is our ambassador and has named our product the ‘smart carb’. She has been eating our food for three years, even before it became available to the public,” Alex Karamouzis said.
The business has grown significantly in the past few years, reaching its customers through 130 shops that stock the product across Melbourne, Sydney, Queensland, and all around Australia.
“At the moment we are at the cusp of getting some major distribution, though these plans have been delayed due to the pandemic,” he said.
“The demand is there. We get queries every day, from customers and shops that want to stock our product.”
Their favourite recipe? Pizza or toasties topped with tuna, feta cheese and capers or salmon with capers.
Greece holds a special place in their hearts, a place they visit nearly every year. Memories and traditions from Samos, to Athens, Lefkada and the Peloponnese, continue to inspire them every day.
For more information visit: www.zerofood.com.au
Zero Food is a family business. Pictured above Alex, Nick, and Dimitra Karamouzis showcasing their product. Below, father and son pictured with Athanasia Karamouzis. Photos: Supplied
