Veganism, promoted as a healthy dietary alternative with the objective to save the planet, eschews all animal products, from meats to honey, eggs and milk and its derivatives.
A difficult diet to sustain, especially while travelling as a tourist, restaurants may give you some vegan food, but it may not always be the healthiest.
What if there was a feasible tiffin service available that would help you adhere to your vegan diet, with food cooked in conditions that maximise health benefits and allow you a varied menu every day?
'Vegan Tiffin', by mother and son duo, Meena and Vikas Peswani, is here to provide you some of the tastiest vegan food you could tease your taste buds with.
FROM CARS TO GHAR KA KHANA
Vikas Peswani grew up in Mumbai, but has been in Goa for about eight years. His has been a journey of valleys and peaks.
After dropping out in his final year of BCom, he joined the automobile industry, selling new and used cars, as well as arranging car loans from various banks, for around 17 years.
His move to Goa came about when his business failed, and he fell into debt. Not willing to give up his entrepreneurial spirit, he started a juice bar called Pulp - The Juice Bar in Anjuna.
“Due to the seasonal nature of business on the coast, we wanted to do something that runs throughout the year. That's when we decided to move towards the city and start a tiffin service that serves only vegan food,” says Vikas.
That was when the Covid-19 pandemic struck and nearly derailed his plans. He says, “The irony here was the day after we moved to Porvorim, India and Goa went into lockdown due to the Pandemic. But, in about two months’ time, we started from scratch and have been serving ever since.”
Vegan Tiffin serves up a different menu every day. With a choice of 14 to 15 dishes, the menu is repeated only twice a month.
A SELECTION OF SCRUMPTIOUS VEGAN FOOD
Vegan Tiffin serves up a different menu every day. With a choice of 14 to 15 dishes, the menu is repeated only twice a month. “We mainly provide homemade North Indian food (ghar ka khana), but ‘veganised’,” says Vikas.
A meal usually includes a vegetable, legumes (either different dals or other legumes such as chickpea, rajma (red kidney beans), black eyed beans, etc, three chapattis, rice and salad.
You have dishes like Mixed Dal Tadka, Dum Aloo, Aloo Mutter, Channa Dal Tadka, Aloo Bhindi Masala, Bhaingan Bharta and many more to drool over and relish.
Vikas says, “Recently, we also started ‘Biryani Weekends Goa’, where we serve Veg Dum Biryani, Paneer Dum Biryani and mushroom Dum Biryani.”
The meals are fairly priced at Rs 120 for the day’s menu if you provide your own tiffin and Rs 130 for meals that come in disposables.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
The meals are fairly priced at Rs 120 for the day’s menu if you provide your own tiffin and Rs 130 for meals that come in disposables.
Regarding the pricing, Vikas says, “It's on par with the standard market rate. But, our quantity is far more than any other tiffin service, and has quality and taste. Above all, it’s made with mother's love.”
Special care is taken in the preparation of the food to maintain a high standard of quality. Vikas says, “We make sure proper hygiene is followed during the preparation. We get fresh stock, and it is personally chosen and selected by us. The vegetables are bought on the same morning.”
EVERYBODY LOVES VEGAN TIFFIN
Vikas admits quite honestly that it is not mainly vegans who avail of Vegan Tiffin’s services.
He says, “Well, since it's a very niche segment, the demand is not as much. We rarely come across vegan customers. Our customers are mostly either vegetarians or non-vegetarians looking for a veg option.”
The popularity of Vegan Tiffin is indication enough of how flavourful the food is.
“They love our food, and have, therefore, been with us for years together,” Vikas says of his clients, as he envisions growing his venture by serving the best food and continuing to satisfy his customers.
DETAILS
LOCATION: Vegan Tiffin, Porvorim
CONTACT: +91 70218 61746
E-MAIL: vic10011979@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/vegantiffinservices
INSTAGRAM: @vegantiffin