‘Eat it. Feel it. Love it.’
When it comes to passion, nowhere is it more evident than at Freghete. Freghete exists because of passion, following a couple’s desire to make great food, proudly building on the traditions of their various countries and sharing that love with others.
“I’ve always been interested in food and wanted to work in hospitality,” Freghete’s co-owner Giammichele (Michael) tells us as he relates his previous background, moving from his family company to National UK and ANZ Sales Manager of a company producing doors and windows, then changing career paths when Covid reignited his culinary passion.
Moving to the Gold Coast with his partner Petra, he began making focaccia to sell in local markets. Feedback was so positive that the couple opened a popup pizzeria in a local service centre. Their dream, however, was to own their own place, their hopes fulfilled in November 2023, when they opened Freghete, determined to make their restaurant stand out from the crowd.
Looking beyond the obvious, it’s easy to see how they are different to other pizzerias.
For one, Freghete is located on a leafy corner in a suburban street in Florida Gardens, Broadbeach Waters, with little walk-by traffic. With plenty of room in the dining area, a delightful back yard and the ability to book out the restaurant for an event or celebration, the couple must rely on social media and recommendations of a great dining experience to drive traffic.
Secondly, they have taken a novel approach to their menu, blending time-honoured traditional techniques with innovation, resulting in an interesting menu that is sure to intrigue their customers.
On a short menu of starters, we find a mix of old and new favourites: Olives Ascolane (green olives stuffed with meat and truffles), Arancini, and Burrata from Byron Bay Mozzarella Co served with tomatoes and garlic pizza bread.
But it’s in the pizza that we see a point of difference and intrigue. Michael tells us that they use the traditional ‘biga method’ to make their pizza bases, pre-fermenting the flour before making the final dough (similar to a sourdough), resulting in a flavoursome, easy to digest crust that is crisp-edged and delicious.
From there, the toppings vary. Using mostly Italian ingredients, Michael takes us into completely new territory. From traditional Margherita to the Bari to Mallorca pizza, its yellow tomato passata dotted with sobrasada (minced chorizo) and stracciatella from Byron Bay Mozzarella Co., there is no end to Michael’s creativity. With each pizza handcrafted, he strives to improve the range and diversity of his pizzas. Using Italian ingredients, locally made where possible, Michael experiments with flavour, creating wonderful new combinations. At each monthly Wednesday’s Degustation Pizza Night, a new contemporary pizza is presented, with diners giving feedback that will help the couple decide which pizzas will join the menu and which won’t.
Contrasting Michael’s Italian heritage, Petra brings us something special from her own birthplace, the Slovakian Medovnik, or Honey Layer Cake. Claimed as their own by many countries in Eastern Europe, this delicately delicious honey-flavoured cake takes hours to prepare. Eight layers of handmade sponge cake are baked then layered on top of each other with cream filling between them before being covered with crumbs from the leftover cake.
A drinks menu of Italian and Australian wine adds to the experience. There’s even the Italian Menabrea beer, imported from Piedmont.
The couple hold pizza classes for children and adults and are open for events bookings at their restaurant.
If you love pizza, dine at Freghete and be intrigued. We Were! And make sure to leave room for the very special Honey cake. It’s a really special cultural treat.
Freghete Gold Coast, 1/1 Naranga Street, Broadbeach Waters, Qld 4211. Ph: 07 5511 7609 Open: Mon, Thurs, Fri 5 – 9.30pm; Sat 1 – 10pm; Sun 1 – 9pm.
NOTE: Good Food Gold Coast dined as guests of Freghete.