By Marie-Antoinette Issa
If you’ve been treating mushrooms as a supporting act to the main character energy of slices of salami on your pizza, it’s time to think again. For one month only, Gigi’s Pizzeria in Balmain is flipping the script on fungi, putting umami-packed mushrooms in the spotlight, and showing carb-oholics just how versatile - and downright indulgent - they can be.
Jamie Oliver himself once hailed Gigi’s as serving some of the best pizza he’d ever tasted, and now chef-owner Daniel Semrani is back with a limited-edition takeover that might just have mushroom sceptics reconsidering their loyalties. Forget the usual slice of sliced mushrooms tossed on marinara - this is mushrooms stepping into the spotlight and starring in everything from whipped butter bases to seared, steak-like slabs that could easily steal the show from any protein contender.
Launching on Friday 6 February, the lineup is pure culinary theatre. First up: the Mushroom Whip. Gone is the classic tomato base, replaced instead with a silky, umami-rich whipped mushroom and herb butter. On top, sauteed white button mushrooms, peppery rocket, delicate Fior di latte, and ribbons of prosciutto create a texture and flavour play that’s almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Then there’s the Umamified, a cheeky twist on the traditional marinara. Swiss brown mushrooms are thick-cut, scored, roasted, and seared like a steak until they hit that perfect balance of juicy, meaty indulgence. Bite into one, and you might forget you’re not actually eating meat. It’s earthy, rich, and satisfies every craving you didn’t even know you had for pant-based pizza perfection.
Finally, for the true mushroom maximalists, the Mushroom Royale takes things to the next level. Here, a luxuriously blended creamy mushroom base is crowned with crispy Swiss brown and white button mushrooms, giving each mouthful a layer of deep umami flavour, glossy texture, and satisfying crunch. It’s decadent, it’s indulgent, and yes, it’s exactly what you want to be eating right now.
So why the mushroom takeover? Daniel Semrani explains it’s all about giving mushrooms the credit they deserve. "Most pizzerias have a fungi pizza on the menu, but we wanted to do something different. Mushrooms’ meaty texture, earthy flavour, and umami richness make them incredibly versatile - to hold their own or elevate other flavours perfectly,” he says. Pairing with Australian Mushrooms for this campaign, Daniel is shining a spotlight on fungi’s full potential, from base to topping, and inspiring chefs (and hungry Sydneysiders) to think beyond the usual slice.
It’s not just about a fleeting trend. Australian Mushrooms’ goal is to show foodservice professionals nationwide the endless possibilities of mushrooms. Meat-free, protein-rich, umami-packed - the fungi family is suddenly the culinary equivalent of a Swiss Army knife.
The Gigi’s mushroom takeover is running for one month only at Gigi’s Balmain, so consider this your official February intervention. Whether you’re a lifelong mushroom fan or someone who’s never strayed from pepperoni, there’s a slice here that will make you see mushrooms - and pizza - in a whole new light.
