Eating out isn’t as easy an option today as it was a couple of years ago. And if you’re thinking that it’s difficult just for the diners, you’re definitely wrong. Restaurateurs and cafe owners in the city are increasingly trying to accommodate as many diner-types, if we may call them that, as they can. There are the conventional vegetarians, for starters, but now, we also have the vegans (No animal products, including dairy), the ovo-vegetarians (Vegetarians who eat eggs) and most recently, the gluten-intolerant.
Though the number of those who cannot consume the gluten protein, either because they’re biologically intolerant to it, or for other health factors, are steadfastly on the rise here in Chennai, the number of places that cater to them are mind-numbingly few. Places like Ashvita Cafe has gone the extra mile in serving their vegan diners even decadent cupcakes, but taking the first step towards solving the gluten-free dining predicament is the city-based Tuscana Pizzeria, who have introduced a range of gluten-free pizzas, pastas and desserts.
“The pizza base is made from different flours including millet flour, potato starch and tapioca,” says Chef Willi from the pizzeria. “The pastas are made from corn flour or rice flour and are imported.” As he takes a walk around the pizza stations, he adds that there are separate baking stations for the gluten-free pizzas to avoid cross-contamination, but is sure to add, “Just because we have two separate baking stations, we cannot promise 100 per cent gluten-free foods. We try our best to keep it safe, but certain things are beyond our control.”
Almost any pizza or pasta on their menu can be made into a gluten-free one, informs Vipin Sachdev, Managing Director of Pink Papaya Foods that runs Tuscana. “Except the ones with the white sauces, because of the ingredients involved,” he explains. The cost of eating their gluten-free range is also not significantly different, he adds, “Approximately Rs 100 extra,” he says.
Apart from Tuscana, the option of going gluten-free is pretty much unsupported in the city, save for the one or two kind cafe owners who are willing to customise the dishes on their menus on request. But store-bought gluten-free food is a trend that is definitely catching on. Says Sriram Sridharan of Gormei Market, one of the few stores in the city that stocks gluten-free boxed products, including pastas, flours and pastry mixes, “We have at least 10 people a week coming in to ask for gluten-free products. And that number is growing.” Explaining that it is difficult to gauge the size of the gluten-free market here in the city as it is still a fairly new concept, Sridharan adds that the awareness is surely growing. “People are becoming more aware of gut-related issues and the general perception is that adopting a gluten-free lifestyle will help with those issues,” he explains, adding that their gluten-free all purpose flour and gluten-free pastas are the top sellers at the store.
Sachdev is in complete agreement. “Those who come request for gluten-free food are not only those who are allergic to it. But also a number of those who are aware about its side effects,” he says, referring to the fact that those suffering from joint pains, neurologic and auto-immune disorders, may also benefit from a gluten-free diet, as studies have linked these and other gut-related illnesses to the consumption of gluten. To substantiate, he adds, “We sell 16 gluten-free pizzas and 12 gluten-free pastas per week at both Tuscana’s (Chamiers Road and Nungambakkam) put together.”