If you’re looking for gourmet treats without the guilt of gluten and dairy, Gourmestan in Quest mall, right next to Serafina, is a spot you must check out.
Opened in Mumbai around six years ago, the brand is the brainchild of chef Shivani Sharma, who herself is gluten intolerant and was hence on the lookout for baked treats that gluten-intolerant and lactose-intolerant people could enjoy.
Six years later, the bakery now has a cloud kitchen in Mumbai, a cafe in Goa and a supply kitchen in Delhi. The outlet at Quest is their first retail outlet in Calcutta.
Brought to the city by Niyati Parekh of Global Kitchens Pvt. Ltd, Gourmestan was launched last week amidst a fun and elegantly setup high-tea that showcased some of their bestsellers and t2 thoroughly enjoyed.
(l-r) Cranberry Pistachio Truffle Parekh Cheese, Pistachio Rose Tea Cake
Cranberry Pistachio Truffle Parekh Cheese: Our favourite of the lot, this cheese tasted nothing like a dairy-free one. The tartness of cranberries, the nuttiness of pistachio and the umami notes of truffle were just spot on.
Pistachio Rose Tea Cake: This tastes as good as it looks. This gluten-free cake is loaded with the goodness of ground pistachio, white butter, rose water, and jaggery.
(l-r) Krish and Mridul Ajmera, Deepa Nayar, Pinky Dalmia
(l-r) Niyati Parekh, Shivani Sharma
“I had tried their food in Mumbai over four years ago and it took us a year to finally settle things and launch the brand in Calcutta. Apart from takeaway and delivery, we also want to highlight our catering service that deals in meticulously crafted grazing tables. Calcutta is a very event-centric city, and our tables would be a great fit at most events,” said Niyati Parekh, partner, Global Kitchens Pvt. Ltd, the Calcutta partners for the brand, along with husband Samarth Parekh.
“I’m a trained chef from Le Cordon Bleu London and Gourmestan is my first venture. I started it owing to a dearth of gluten-free affordable options. I also wanted to bridge the gap between Indian-origin millets and their presence in the international market. All our cheeses are also dairy-free and come in a number of flavours. We also bake everyday bakery items such as bread, buns, pizza base etc,” said Shivani Sharma, founder.
