This week in our vegan interview series, we talk to Johnny y Li, the owners of the falafel bar Fal&Feel in Calle Sindicato in the city centre. We LOVE falafel, especially when it has done so well like in Fal&Feel. Let’s hear their story…
Tell us about Fal&Feel – why did you decide to create your business?
It was thanks to a family trip we took to my country, Israel. On every corner there is a falafel stand! Since I was little I love falafel. Johnny tried it and loved it too. We thought that there was no such thing as a vegan, gluten-free, Mediterranean fast food place in Mallorca and decided to give it a try.
How did you discover Mallorca?
My partner, Johnny, is from Mallorca and I’m Israeli. We met in a place where Johnny worked and we connected right away. I moved here when I was 3 years old because of my family’s work, so I’m almost Mallorcan!
How long have you been vegan and what made you switch?
I have been a vegan for 13 years. Johnny started almost 3 years ago. Since I was little, I love animals, I was always interested in what was behind the meat, dairy, egg business… I followed many YouTubers like Freelee, MommyTang, etc. As a child, most of them came thanks to the internet and people who inspired me to make this change in my way of life. Johnny and I always eat together, so he learned that there are many vegan alternatives to everything, and when we opened Fal&Feel he became much more interested in veganism.
What makes Mallorca a unique place for vegans?
We think that Mallorca is a unique place for vegans as it is quite a touristic place and as we are in the Mediterranean, we eat a lot of vegetables. Thanks to the fact that people travel, they are eager to discover new food, and what better than to be kinder to everyone?
What is your signature dish and why?
Our signature dish is falafel. Everything we make includes falafel. We have a variety of salads to choose from to combine falafel in either a bowl or a pita.
What is your favourite local ingredient from Mallorca?
It is very difficult to say just one favourite local ingredient, but one of the favourites would have to be lemon. We use it for all our salads!
What has been your proudest moment during your career?
Having worked so hard on the idea of what Fal&Feel is today, our greatest pride is every day when we see a satisfied customer. That makes us feel that it is really worth what we do and what we fight for!
Do you have any advice for new vegan/vegan-friendly business owners?
Our advice would be that if you really believe in your idea, go all the way. That would mean being there every day and taking note of your customers’ advice! It’s clear that at first you have to work hard but then the rewards are worth it!
Do you think the vegan community is growing on the island?
We definitely think so. The vegan community is growing on the island. I remember when I was little and I just started veganism, I didn’t have so many vegan options even in the supermarket. Now, I see a big change in the choices we vegans have and in people’s mentality. I think little by little, veganism is going to become more and more popular in Mallorca.
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