Free from pesticides and chemical fertilisers, organic food is fast gaining the attention of Mumbaikars.
Does pure turn you on? Does getting your favourite food in its purest form, untouched by chemical fertilisers and pesticides pique your interest and your taste buds? Then organic food is the best bet for you. Though the concept has been around for a decade, it’s now caught on in full frenzy.
Championing the cause of organic food is eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi who set up Conscious Foods in 1990. From just raw ingredients, health snacks and jams that could be picked up at health stores or health sections of supermarkets or delicatessens, restaurants in the city will now whip up an organic meal for you.
“A lot of our guests ask for organic food - they are mostly those who come from abroad but yes we do have people who walk into our restaurants asking for organic dishes,” informs Jochern Kern, executive chef, InterContinental The Grand. While the dishes aren’t on the menu, they do have 10 interesting organic soups.
Hotel Orchid is stocked with organic dals, honey, flour etc. “Since we are an eco-friendly hotel, we promote organic food and yes, Mumbai has woken up to the positive aspect of organic food,” says Sujit Bose, executive chef at the hotel.
When you have a choice to not eat chemicals, you might as well have clean and pure food feels Zinobia Schroff, proprietor, Schfroff Foods who makes jams, pickles and squashes. “It’s a change in lifestyle and there has been a gradual 20 percent increase every year in our sales. There are all kinds of people who are interested in organic food and buy them,” she says.
Nutritionist Naini Setalvad has numerous offers from individuals. “Recently, I attended a Rajasthani dinner of which everything was completely organic including the cake. In Europe and US, organic food has taken over and we better wake up soon. Most of the chemicals preservatives in our foods lead to diseases and weight gain,” she says.
