There was a time when chef Yashodhan Deshmukh was bordering on obesity. His weight was inching towards a century, but a health scare turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Today, the lean 34-year-old, who served as a personal secretary to former speaker Dilip Walse-Patil, is the go-to person for several actors and politicians, who want to undergo weight loss in a scientific manner.

"I spent two years researching nutritional food and natural sweeteners because I have an incorrigible sweet tooth. I wasn't ready to deprive my body of its cravings," he says. With an ammo of information that will make you swear off processed sugar, he has done what a chef knows best — opened a restaurant. Located in Vile Parle East, Sollasa — a Sanskrit word that refers to solace for distressed souls — specalises in sugar-free desserts and offers a wide-range of delicacies for diet-conscious Mumbaikars. "When we say diet, you think of boiled veggies and salads, but I say you can eat everything, provided you get the technique and ingredients right," he says.