Allergen Information at Varenik&Pelmen
At Varenik&Pelmen, we take food allergies and intolerances extremely seriously. We want every customer to be able to enjoy our Eastern European dumplings, bliny, and syrniky safely and with confidence. This page provides comprehensive allergen information for all items on our menu. If you have any questions or concerns about allergens that are not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact us or speak to our staff at any of our market stalls.
Common Allergens in Our Menu
Gluten (Wheat)
All our dumplings (pelmeni and vareniki), bliny (pancakes), and syrniky (cottage cheese fritters) contain wheat flour in the dough or batter. This means they contain gluten and are not suitable for people with coeliac disease or severe gluten intolerance. Wheat is a fundamental ingredient in traditional Eastern European dumplings and cannot be substituted without significantly altering the product.
Dairy (Milk Products)
Several items on our menu contain dairy products. Our syrniky are made with cottage cheese (tvorog) and are served with sour cream. Our cheese and spinach vareniki contain cheese. Bliny batter may contain milk. Sour cream and butter are common accompaniments. Customers with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance should be aware that dairy is present in many of our products and accompaniments.
Eggs
Our dough and batter recipes may contain eggs. Eggs are used as a binding agent in syrniky and may be present in our bliny batter. Customers with egg allergies should exercise caution with all our products.
Meat Allergens
Our pelmeni contain various meats depending on the filling: chicken, pork, beef, turkey, and lamb. Each meat filling is clearly labelled at our stalls. If you have an allergy or intolerance to a specific meat, please check the filling description carefully and speak to our staff if you have any doubts.
Allergen Information by Product
Pelmeni (Meat Dumplings)
All pelmeni contain wheat (gluten) and may contain eggs. Specific fillings contain: Chicken Pelmeni — chicken. Pork Pelmeni — pork. Pork and Beef Pelmeni — pork, beef. Turkey Pelmeni — turkey. Lamb and Beef Pelmeni — lamb, beef. Kids’ Pelmeni — meat (please ask staff for specifics).
Vareniki (Filled Dumplings)
All vareniki contain wheat (gluten) and may contain eggs. Specific fillings contain: Potato Vareniki — may contain dairy. Cabbage Vareniki — cabbage. Cheese and Spinach Vareniki — dairy (cheese). Mushroom Vareniki — mushrooms. Cherry Vareniki — cherries (stone fruit). Strawberry Vareniki — strawberries.
Bliny (Pancakes)
All bliny contain wheat (gluten), eggs, and may contain dairy (milk in batter). Specific fillings contain: Spinach and Feta — dairy (feta cheese). Mushrooms and Onion — mushrooms, onion. Cottage Cheese — dairy (cottage cheese). Jam — various fruits (check specific jam variety).
Syrniky (Cottage Cheese Fritters)
All syrniky contain wheat (gluten), dairy (cottage cheese), and eggs. Toppings: Sour Cream — dairy. Jam — various fruits. Honey — not suitable for children under one year.
Drinks
Our traditional drinks — lemonade, uzvar, kompot, and kissel — are free from gluten, dairy, and eggs. They may contain various fruits. Kissel contains starch (potato or corn).
Cross-Contamination Notice
Shared Preparation Areas
All our products are prepared in the same kitchen and at the same market stalls. While we take precautions to minimise cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that any item is completely free from traces of allergens present in other products. This includes gluten, dairy, eggs, and all meat types. Customers with severe allergies should be aware of this risk.
Nut-Free Environment
Our recipes do not contain nuts as an ingredient. However, as we operate in shared market environments and source ingredients from various suppliers, we cannot guarantee a completely nut-free environment. Customers with severe nut allergies should exercise appropriate caution.
How We Help You Stay Safe
Clear Labelling
All items at our market stalls are clearly labelled with their fillings and main allergens. We update our labelling whenever recipes or suppliers change.
Knowledgeable Staff
Our staff are trained to answer allergen questions and can provide detailed information about ingredients. Please do not hesitate to ask — we would rather answer a hundred questions than have a single customer experience an allergic reaction.
Contact Us Before Your Visit
If you have severe allergies or complex dietary requirements, we recommend contacting us before your visit. We can discuss your needs in detail and advise on which items are safe for you to enjoy.
Regulatory Compliance
Varenik&Pelmen complies with UK food allergen regulations, including the Food Information Regulations 2014 (as amended by Natasha’s Law). We declare the 14 regulated allergens wherever they are present in our products as ingredients. Our allergen information is kept up to date and reviewed regularly.