Melbourne’s First Vegan Pizzeria Opens Next Month

The first all-vegan pizza shop in Melbourne, Australia is slated to open in early February. Red Sparrow Pizza—the brainchild of local chef Michael Craig—will feature nine pizzas on its inventive menu made with vegan cheeses such as mozzarella, feta, and parmesan, along with plant-based meat toppings including pepperoni and beer-infused bratwurst. Craig conceptualized the shop as a solution to a personal problem the 10-year vegan has had with ordering pizzas in the city. “My pet hate is when you go to a pizzeria and they’ve got 40 options, but they’re all pretty much the same,” Craig said. “You’ve got the vegetarian one, and then there’s the vegetarian with extra pineapple.” To make his menu even more welcoming, Craig will accommodate nut, soy, and gluten allergies, and has even developed one hummus and smoked eggplant pizza for veggie purists. Craig is also developing dessert pizza specials which will feature a housemade nutella. According to a Google Trends report, Australians are increasingly seeking cruelty-free options, and “vegan” was identified as the most popular dietary search term in 2016.