Millet pancakes in Mcleod Ganj: Yak café
The Indian version of a gluten-free pancake in the small Yak café.
Yak café
I accidentally came across the Yak café during one of our walks through the village of Mcleod Ganj. People who have been eating gluten-free for some time may well know it” the slight shock you feel when you see ‘gluten-free’ somewhere unexpected.
Of course we have to go in and explore the options. It turns out to be a gluten-free pancake, which is made from ‘millet’. Excuse me, millet? Yes, this kind of flour is not normally used in the Netherlands, so I was a bit confused. Eating gluten-free for almost 25 years and I’ve never heard of it. Fortunately for me, the term is not unknown, a day earlier we got into conversation with another restaurant owner who told about this. Google tells the rest I need to know: a grain which is gluten-free and eaten in western India.
So a millet pancake. My communication with the chef is not flawless as his accent is very heavy, but I need to know if he can make it with soy milk. This turns out to be possible, an extra 40 rupees (0.50 USD). Not really cheap anymore for breakfast, but I don’t care. I recently saw a pancake smeared with Nutella on Marnix’s plate and want it! Marnix decides to order exactly the same so as not to add to the confusion.
Milk tea and pancakes
I am waiting quietly, my hands slightly sweaty from fear. Our drink arrives. My ‘regular tea’ appears to be served as chai, tea with milk. A bad sign, the reason why I want soy milk is apparently unclear. Fear and trembling when the pancakes are brought, I hardly dare eat it. I bother the cook again with my questions, but he assures me that it is only millet and soy. So I brace myself and take a bite. The pancake is so fluffy, this can’t be gluten-free! I really like it. To be on the safe side, I eat it with sugar (which comes in a sealed bag, no chance of cross-contamination). What a delightful sensation, it looks like a kind of cake. I will definitely order this more often! But a very clear explanation is much needed during ordering.
Inside the restaurant
The restaurant is small, there are four tables in, and feels a bit crammed. It has a bit of a hipster look, nice and cozy. Locals also like to eat a cake or drink a cup of coffee here. The price for two gluten- and lactose-free pancakes, a cup of tea and a fruit shake costs us 460 rupees (6,30 USD). If we would stay in Mcleod Ganj longer I would order here more often. Highly recommended, but clear communication is absolutely necessary.
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