Vegan Mallorca are excited to announce we’ll be presenting a series of interviews with vegan and vegan friendly businesses on the island. Today we interview Lalina – a vegan/vegetarian friendly healthy fast food cafe located in the centre of Palma. Lalina create delicious wraps to eat-in, takeaway or for delivery in Palma. We talk to Selina, the restaurant owner about her journey and what she thinks about the future of veganism in Mallorca.
1. What makes Mallorca a unique place for vegans?
All the local farms and markets are perfect for the vegan community. It’s very easy to find local produce and work with local farmers. I have always been a strong believer in knowing where your food comes from.
2. How long have you been vegan and what made you switch?
I am vegetarian/vegan. I made the shift a few years ago because I never really enjoyed the taste of meat. I quickly realised that I prefer the vegan diet. I am now also getting a lot more of the essential nutrients and vitamins my body needs.
3. Tell us about your business… What do you do?
I am the proud owner of LALINA which is a healthy fast food restaurant on Calle Sindicat. Our concept is mediterranean street food. A concept which I brought from Dubai, where I lived most of my life, to Mallorca. We are known for our delicious and unique wraps which you can easily grab-and-go or order for delivery (via Deliveroo or just Eat). Everything is fresh and homemade, down to the flatbread, which we prepare to order on a special convex oven known as a “Saj”. The Saj is the heart of LALINA and not something many people have seen before although it’s been used for centuries in the Levant region. It has actually turned out to be quite the instagram magnet.
4. What is your signature dish and why?
We have several but I would say our “Falafelicious” wrap is a star on the menu. Everything on our menu is homemade and often our falafel is infused with different flavours such as turmeric or spinach. Our customers are always in for a surprise and enjoy this wrap a lot. I would say one of our unique wraps is the “Zesty Zaatar” wrap which is an absolute explosion of flavours. Zaatar is a mixture of spices which we receive from Jordan and then turn into a paste to spread on the flatbread.
5. What is your favourite local ingredient from Mallorca?
The first thing that comes to mind are figs. They are incredibly juicy and delicious and we’re lucky to have them many months of the year. I can’t wait for the season to begin and we get to bring back our special “figs & poms” wrap which is loved so much by our customers – a special flavour combination of figs and pomegranate seeds & syrup.
6. What has been your proudest moment during your career?
Opening my business LALINA was definitely a huge step for me and a proud moment. I am so pleased that customers enjoy our food and most importantly have confidence in our menu. I noticed that our customers don’t just stick to one ‘favourite’ item on the menu but are always willing to go through the menu and try different wraps or salads because they enjoy the variety of flavours.
7. If you had to share some advice for anyone thinking to start a vegan business in Mallorca, what would it be?
Go for it. If you have a unique idea in mind, do it! However, I do think that location is key..
8. Do you think the vegan community is growing on the island? a. How do you see the future of veganism in Mallorca?
I definitely see the community growing. More vegan concepts and businesses are emerging on the island because of the growing demand. I think in the future it will continue to expand. Non-vegan restaurants are also starting to provide more alternatives which is nice to see. We also have apps such as Happy Cow which help the vegan community a lot, as well as informative blogs, Facebook pages etc.
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