Gluten Free Pizza in Maui

We spent the afternoon at a small beach near Paia known to locals as "Baby Beach."  (There is also a "Baby Beach" near Lahaina -- we tried both and liked this one on the North Shore better.)

It's a great little beach with protected lagoon, perfect for kids who can swim, but aren't strong enough to deal with the strong currents common on Hawaii beaches.

Our kids on Baby Beach

Having worked up an appetite, we headed next to the funky little town of Paia.  Paia couldn't have been more charming, though we had to park in (well marked) public lot and walk a few blocks to get to our destination.  We were headed for the Flatbread Company, a pizza place offering organic-locally grown-sustainable agriculture-recycled-nitrite free-etc. goodness.  I was putting myself on the line with this one -- a baby, three picky kids and my picky brother James, plus my sister-in-law and husband who appreciate good food and wouldn't appreciate a meal in Maui at the equivalent of Pizza Hut.  So, I was justifiably nervous about insisting that we eat here, but their website had the magic words: "gluten free."

Fortunately, it was a total win.  Everyone loved this place.  James even went back the next day and ordered a pizza to take back to the ship.  The only issue was that, because they cook their pizzas one at a time in an (organically grown) wood-fire clay oven, they aren't fast.  That's ok, since it goes with the laid back vibe of Paia; however, babies don't care if you are hangin' loose brah.  They want their nap at nap time, darn it.

Wood-fired Clay Oven

Most of their flatbreads can be made on a 12 inch gluten free flatbread instead of their regular whole wheat crust.  I chose to have half "Mopsy's Kalua Pork" and half "Jay's Heart."

Gluten Free Pizza at The Flatbread Company in Paia

Mopsy's Kalua Pork = Kiawe smoked free-range pork shoulder, homemade organic mango BBQ
sauce, organic red onions, Maui pineapple, Surfing Goat Chevre, premium whole milk mozzarella,
imported Parmesan cheese and organic herb mix

Jay's Heart = Homemade wood-fired cauldron organic tomato sauce, premium whole milk mozzarella and
parmesan cheese with organic garlic oil and a blend of organic herbs

In order to combat cross-contamination, they wrap the gluten free flatbreads in aluminum foil before putting them into the clay oven.  It was delicious.  I can't even decide which one was better (though it was Jay's Heart that James went back and got another of the following day).

I'm not a beer drinker, but they did offer gluten-free Redbridge Beer.  I had a Pineapple No-jito instead (pineapple juice, mint, lime, and sugar water -- but no alcohol).

As full as I was, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try their gluten free dessert -- a decadent chocolate brownie served hot with heaps of ice-cream.  It was large enough to share, even if I hadn't already been groaning in pain from over eating.  But the best part wasn't the brownie -- the best part was the ice cream.  Homemade coconut ice-cream; creamy and not too sweet.  Mmmmm.   Plain vanilla would have been fine, but the coconut ice-cream really made it special.

Gluten free Brownie and Coconut Ice Cream

I'm ready to start planning the next trip to Maui.  Between The Flatbread Company, the Feast at Lele, and Mama's Fish House, Maui has the best gluten free food in the Hawaiian Islands by far.

Sandy