Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality continues to contribute to the city's understanding of healthy living by offering a Gluten-Free Cafe for individuals with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. The cafe attracts attention during Ramadan and is highly appreciated by citizens.
The Metropolitan Municipality provides important services for healthy living and special nutritional needs such as celiac disease, with its 'Kayseri model' municipality approach.
Located on Tuna Street in the Mimarsinan Neighborhood of the Kocasinan district, the Gluten-Free Cafe offers a rich menu for those with celiac disease and those who prefer a gluten-free diet. Many products, from pita varieties to pizza, from breakfast items to desserts, ensure that individuals with gluten-free eating habits have a healthy and delicious experience. In addition, packaged products are also offered for sale in the cafe.
This project, which Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç specifically focused on, was also highly appreciated during Ramadan. The cafe offers citizens with celiac disease the opportunity to eat in a safe environment, while also encouraging a health-oriented lifestyle with its variety of products.
Zümrüt Öztürk, who frequently visits the Glutensiz Cafe, stated that she learned that she had celiac disease about four years ago, and said, “At first, we could not eat anything, there was not much variety outside, most markets did not have it at that time. I love pastry, it was very difficult for me then, then I met this place. When I first heard about it, I came here for minced meat, it was very delicious, I loved it.”
“I Come Very Often, I Am Here Morning and Evening”
Öztürk stated that he loved the products of the Gluten-Free Cafe and said, “I can’t list all of them, they are all wonderful, our masters make them all very well. I come here very often, I am here morning and evening. I also eat my lunch here, we have become like family with all of them.”
Öztürk, who recommended this place to citizens with celiac disease, said, “It is a place where they can come with pleasure, gluten-free nutrition is also good for health, their products are clean and healthy, they are all smiling, everyone can come here. Also, the desserts they make for Ramadan are legendary, we want this service to continue after Ramadan.”
Thanks to President Büyükkılıç
Mehmet Geben, who is the chef at the Gluten-Free Cafe in KAYTUR, said that those with celiac disease are particularly interested in syrupy desserts and that they have prepared special gluten-free desserts for Ramadan. Chef Selma Dolu stated that after seeing the happiness of people being able to access food, they started to do their jobs much more fondly and started to increase their product variety, and thanked Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç for this service.
Describing the satisfaction felt by the customers, Dolu said, “One of our citizens, who has celiac disease, could not buy any bagels for his child, so when he saw the bagel here, his eyes filled with tears. He was so happy that seeing him makes us embrace our work with all our hearts.”
Chief Dolu noted that they are trying to provide the best service to customers with the understanding of social municipality, adding that the Metropolitan Municipality offers these products to the people of Kayseri at the most affordable cost.
In addition, customers express their feelings and thoughts on the cafe's request and demand board and express their satisfaction. A citizen left a note saying, 'Your difference is that you are smiling. Everyone wants to be important, thank you for giving smiling faces, importance and value to each of your guests, it is a good thing that you exist.'
With such investments, Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality aims to increase the quality of life not only of individuals with celiac disease but also of all citizens who embrace a healthy life.
