Dee’s Guide to Goa ;)

Goa is a place to enjoy the sands and the sea… the freedom to be and some truly inspired cooking.

If you’re picking up canned Goan food to take home you’d want to visit the Costa’s store in Panaji for the largest variety of Goan treats…from the famous Goan Sausages, Goan delicacies of Bebinca, Doldol, Frankfurters, Corned beef… or any of the fantastic foods in their range!! We’ve feasted on Costa’s for years now… and only just discovered more about this brand.

 

King’s Beer: A local produce of Goa, interestingly owned by former poltician Monte Cruz. If you don’t get your hand’s on a bottle of King’s beer… your Goa dream won’t feel complete . Interestingly, it’s also among the top 5 Indian beers This time however, local sources tell us … that Kingfisher Draught and Tuborg are the brands flying off the shelves of Goa  

George’s Bar and Restaurant at the Church Square in Panaji is the place to sample your first taste of Goan cuisine. My favourites, well, the Tongue Roast, Beef Chilly Fry, Beef Roast, Rawa Fry King Fish and the Chicken Xacuti. If I were to choose my top favourite, it will be the Chicken Xacuti for the fact it’s nice and spicy and just super perfect with plain rice. Another should try at the restaurant is their Goan Sausage Pulao which is a top favourite in my sister’s list of things to eat at George’s.

LLoyd’s Restaurant

Oh! the food at Lloyd’s is divine… When were in Goa last year and were recommended this restaurant by Anthony… the K.J. ( Karaoke Jockey). Our first bill at Lloyd’s came to us as a surprise… since they claim to change their menu’s each day and so haven’t spent much on a menu card This year… Since he didn’t quite recognise us… we got the repeat performance of the dialogue of last year… Only to realise a couple of minutes later… to our surprise… that each of the dishes he mentioned last year were the same… Ha ha

So here’s what we recommend: Pork Chops, they’re super awesome… 2 years in a row… well… they’ve made me smile. The Sorpotel too is brilliant… I guess more so because it’s the closest to the fantastic sorpotel my mother makes.

The Grilled King fish can be given a miss The beef chilly fry on the day we went had a stench and the three people who did eat it called it couchy and landed up with a day of running faster to the loo than they could possibly have… a wasted day in Goa.

If you’re travelling to Goa for the first time on your own and are looking for someone to drive you around and double up as  your tour guide and food guide… I’m passing on a number that could make all the difference… I’ve kinda forgotten his name, since I saved his number on my phone as GoaAuto. I met him on one of my long walks… and was impressed by his hospitable tone and ever helpful ways…  you can reach him on +919850678453. He has an auto as well as a van… and a super understanding of Goa. He’s been living in Goa for the last 30 years and will give you some truly interesting gyan on getting around Goa. He’s the reason why I was able to find the Grand Finale food destination in Goa. The only question we asked… “We’d like to eat at a small restaurant which serves the most authentic Goan cuisine and more importantly it needs to be a rustic place with a view”

Star Bar and Restaurant Panaji-Old Goa road, Sao Pedro, Old Goa, Goa –403402. Landmark: Near Mandovi River…. a beautiful view and awesome food… we’d recommend this to almost anyone who’d want to dine with a view. We’re told that this restaurant is 15 years old and is visited by the Goan’s themselves for a simply tastelicious treat of fresh fish preparations. They have a jetty as well and take their boat out in the morning haul in the fish they serve at this restaurant, the menu is limited and yet each dish will make you want MORE!!! A must visit for the foodie for sure  

The other must try food in Goa would definitely be  the White Snapper, locally known as Chonak… I’m wishing I’d taken a picture… fantastic for all of you who DON’T like fish bones getting the way of enjoying your fish.  Bombil Fry which is another delicacy in Goa and yes I’ve managed to get you an online picture so you will know what it looks like… for most people… Bombay Duck is the dry version of it, that has the fishiest odour ever the freshly friend version is far tastier

I hope I’ve been able to give you a reason to go food crazy in Goa… I know I did

Christmas Presence

Catching up with the thoughts in my head is getting a little easier now...

Just yesterday, I had this fantastic idea of wanting to take a flight to Delhi and get away for the weekend, went online looked for tickets for Goa instead...is there something insanely wrong.... nah... 2 weeks to Goa and I am still wondering if I really really want to go.

This year Christmas is going to be different... I am starting a new year of my life with a completely new experience, should I be excited... well... I guess YES!! what is missing is the familiarity of my Christmas in Delhi.

Midnight mass at Cathedral with the regulars... well ... most of us meet  twice a year... Easter Mass and  Christmas mass... what is so beautiful... are the warmest hugs and the wonderful conversation... there is a sense of completeness. Its mighty cold in Delhi on the 24th night...

The first sound you hear while entering the cathedral compound is the strains of the choir... and for the fact that it was once all of us singing in the cold, we've changed and so has the choir... and whoever said we are good sports is wrong... we find fault in almost every song, its either too shrill or too loud or too something or the other, the truth is... at Christmas is when we most miss being in the choir... its such an uplifting experience... memories are witness of the fantastic time we've spent singing... getting our vocal chords trained and letting every word hold its own. Gasper & Fr. Paul... brilliant!!! The mass format has changed, certain parts seem commercial, the sermons are politically correct, the love is genuine... and the most special part... well... "Peace be with you"... atleast that is my favouritest part of the mass... it is simply uplifting to turn to just about anyone you can see and wish them the same.

Midnight mass ends with a huge hug to the family, ensuring that they are the first ones you wish... that is before the cellphone begs to be wished too and noticed. Then comes the social networking time... often conversations focus on the freezing temperature and the number of people diminishing for midnight mass... and well... phone  numbers are exchanged over coffee and cake... and promises to keep in touch... are made... smiled at... and then we figure... well... we'll meet for Easter midnight mass :)

While we're busy doing our chatting bit, we all also want to get home soon. There's a tree surrounded with Christmas presents waiting to be opened... there is cake waiting to be cut ... and we're hoping we didn't forget to ensure that there is enough milk for all of us. The drive home, is all about the goss we'd just been a part of, the conversations with long lost church pals and the sermon of course, which every year has something really special or spooky.

This year may not be the same... this year... there isn't cake being made... or a tree being decorated back home... this year has been a year of many changes... I changed city... changed profession... changed focus... and in the flurry of change... well I guess I forgot to check and see what else is changing. So, it looks like I am going to Goa for Christmas... and I so believe its going to be really special.

There is a new experience waiting to unfold... Goa... here I come :D