Supply up,demand down?

The city has many places like Asha Dining Hall on offer. But the principle of veganism continues to evade the understanding of most eateries in the city. At Aromas on FC road,chef Tejas Vilankar explains the reason for the lesser-known concept. “It’s easy to give any dish on the menu a vegan twist,but such requests are quite rare. That is one reason why most places would not even know what a vegan diet is all about.” At Aromas,he promises you a spiced up vegan dish from the Italian menu. Same for Dario’s situated on Lane 1,Koregaon Park. Owner Dario Dezio instantly understands a request for a vegan version. But even here,not many ask for it.

Then there are some who have tried to inculcate certain ideas of veganism in their menu cards. At the Cofee Café Day,the Vegan Shake comes with an interesting description – “Milk not your thing? This refreshing cold coffee on ice tastes smooth and creamy without milk. No one misses out on the fun!” Priced at Rs 76,the Vegan Shake is actually espresso coffee served chilled. Similarly,the Sorbetto at Ti Amo is a resplendent delight. The Musk Melon flavour that is available all through the year at Rs 70 fulfills the vegan’s need for yummy desserts.

Vegans have also given impetus to a whole new range of food products – right from packaged soya,tofu to exotic veggies. But this,according to 19-year-old Zuri Camille de Souza,is precisily the reason she quit being a vegan. “The market of imported vegan products have diluted the idea of veganism. I started it as a way to show my environmental concerns,but had to quit later,” says De Souza,who had no problems in being a vegan as her hostel in Pune catered to that food alternative. “After I finished school,I felt out of place at the dining table,” says De Souza. “I realised that I was practising something which was a part of the viscous circle of consumerism and market.” But being a vegan creates a demand for a whole new set of products like soy milk to make up for the lost protein. “Packaged soy milk has more carbon foot-prints than any other non-vegan food,so it is pointless.”

Shantaram Kane,the author of Diet and Lifestyle: Health in the 21st Century,does not reject veganism on ideological grounds,but on arithmetical grounds. “One gram of protein is required for every one kilogram of body weight. I wonder about their protein intake given the fact that they do not consume milk products.”