Goa Food Guide at a glance

This is my Goan Food Guide -

http://tanyasarticles.blogspot.com/2009/11/goa-food-guide-at-glance.html

Those of you who are planning to visit Goa, this may help. Happy eating! :)

Recipes> Pork Vindaloo

Image: Pork Vindaloo

Image by: Father Jack

Text by: Tanya Munshi
For a change from the normal chicken curry and rice, you can try out Pork Vindaloo, a typical Goan cuisine. If you don’t eat pork, you can try the same recipe with chicken, beef, lamb or mutton.

Ingredients:

• 5-7 Kashmiri dry red chillies
• half to 1 cup White Vinegar
• 2½ teaspoons Ginger
• 6-8 flakes Garlic
• 1-2 sticks of Cinnamon
• 6-8 Cloves
• 1 tbsp Cumin seeds
• 5 tbsp Cooking oil
• 2-3 large Onions – finely chopped
• 1 kg Pork (or chicken) – all cut into small bite sizes
• ½ tsp Turmeric powder
• Salt – to taste
• ½ cup Water

Method:

1. Before starting to cook, soak the Kashmiri dry red chillies in a bowl of vinegar for about 2 hours.
2. Grind together chillies, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves and cumin seeds into a fine paste.
3. Instead of water, add the vinegar to the mixture till you use up the entire vinegar for the paste.
4. Heat the oil in a cooker and add the onions till they are golden brown.
5. Add the meat, ground paste, turmeric powder and salt and mix well for about 5 minutes.
   Add water and mix again.
6. Close the cooker and bring it to a full pressure on high heat.
7. After the first couple of whistles, reduce the heat and cook further for about 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Switch off the gas and allow the food to cook naturally.
9. Before serving, give it a boil and serve hot.

Published in CookingGoddess.com, on April 25, 2007
Link: http://www.cookinggoddess.com/category/Recipes/Pork-Vindaloo/

Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Ernesto’s

Image1: What's cookin' at Ernesto's!

Image2: A slice of heaven - Seradura

Image 3: View of the Panjim Municipal Garden
Imge copyright: Tanya Munshi

Ernesto's
Text by: Tanya Munshi
“This is life!” was the first thought that flashed across our minds when we entered Ernesto’s. A place to hang around with friends over beer, have lunch or dinner or a quick bite, Ernesto’s is the place. Their claim to fame, their dessert called Seradura. Its fresh cream topped with biscuit powder. One spoonful of Seradura transport you to paradise.

Ernesto's is an institution in itself. It is a place meant for people who are serious about enjoying life and their mantra is -friends, laughter, good food, beer and of course, music! By the way, don't miss the karaoke nights at Ernesto's. The name is enough, no glossy signpost that you will find to take you there.

Location:
Ernesto's,
At Club Vasco da Gama,
Opposite Municipal Garden
Panjim
Overall Rating:
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Published in Rediff.com, on February 11, 2008
Link: http://specials.rediff.com/getahead/2008/feb/11slide1.htm

Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Lila Cafe

Image: Lila Cafe
Image Copyright: Tanya Munshi

Lila Cafe
Text by: Tanya Munshi

Quite a serene atmosphere is what I would like to mention about Lila Cafe. The entire ambience is done up in white and green, with white painted wooden cane furniture giving it a more relaxing appeal. If you're looking for a stop over for breakfast, lunch or evening high tea, Lila Cafe is just the place.

Mushroom Omelet or Waterbuffalo Ham Sandwhich combined with Assam Tea is soothing on a lazy morning. A breakfast for two should come to within Rs. 300/-.

Lila Cafe is open from morning 8:30AM and closes for the day at 6:00PM. Don't miss their menu card which looks like a tabloid and is an interesting read, while you wait for your order. The staff is courteous, friendly and is a much relief from several snobbish restaurants that you may come across in Goa.

While you wait for your bill to arrive, take a stroll in their souvenir shop. I picked up some really nice incense sticks from Auroville, Pondicherry.

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Location:

Lila Café,

Near Baga-River,

Arpora-Baga, Bardez,

Goa,

Phone: +91 (0) 832 - 2279843

Email: lilacafe@sify.com

Web: http://www.lilacafegoa.com/

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Overall Rating:

Ambience - * * * * *
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Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Ritz Classic

Image: Sea food platter

Image copyright: Tanya Munshi

Ritz Classic
Text by: Tanya Munshi
One of the most popular family restaurants in Panjim that we highly recommend is Ritz Classic. Usually packed during lunch and dinner, it is worth the wait. The staff is highly courteous, in spite of heavy clientele lining up for the Fish Curry Meals. My husband and I decided to stick to one of the staff’s recommendation of a sea food platter and guzzle it down with beer and cola. A meal for two should be within Rs. 300 to Rs. 500. The quantity, taste and the prompt service was simply outstanding, so if you are a sea food lover, then Ritz Classic is the place to visit. The sea food platter is a must have!

Location:
Wagle Vision,
First floor,
18 June Road,
Panaji
Phone: 0832 - 5644796, 0832 - 2426417
Please note: Ritz Classic, is not the same as 'Hotel Cafe Ritz'.
E-mail: ritz17classic@rediffmail

Overall Rating:
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Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Sweet Chilli

Image1: The drummer!

Image2: Sweet Chilli

Image3: Ambience of Sweet Chilli
Image Copryright: Tanya Munshi

Sweet Chilli

Text by: Tanya Munshi
A brilliant family restaurant, one of our personal favourites, for the only reason these guys made us feel at home. In fact, this was the only restaurant that we came across that was more popular amongst the local crowd who had come here to celebrate anniversaries or birthdays. The master of ceremony seemed to know every localitie by name and gauged the mood of the crowd and the live band played amazing music. A meal for two would cost around Rs. 700 to Rs. 800.

Sweet Chilli is famous for its live Jazz shows, so don't miss that for the world! With a couple of beers, mocktails and chilli chicken, the ambience is just perfect!

Location:

It will be on your way to Fort Aguada

Off the Taj Fort Aguada Junction at Sinquerim,

North Goa

(Opp road to Taj Aguada)

Phone: +91 (0)236 247 9446),

Overall Rating:
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Travel & Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Horse Shoe

Image1: Interiors of Horse Shoe

Image2: Sans Rival
Image copyright: Tanya Munshi

Horse Shoe
Just 5 minutes away from Viva Panjim, you can walk down to Horse Shoe in Fontainhas. Owned by Vasco, Horse Shoe is an Indo-Portuguese restaurant, that must feature in your trip to Goa. We had the mouthmelting Chocolate Mousse and Sans Rival (made of cashew nuts, cream and eggs) and black coffee.

Quite an upmarket restaurant, Horse Shoe is an ideal spot for a quaint anniversary celebration. It is said, during courtship if a young man brings his lady to Horse Shoe to proclaim his love for her, that means he is serious about her. Nice thought, isn't it?

On that note, we savoured the deserts and browsed through the menu. Horse Shoe has some of the most exotic international dishes to offer, including popular Goan relishes.

Location:
Horse Shoe,
Restaurant and Bar
E-245,
Rua De Ourem,
Panjim,
Goa
Phone: 0832-2451788/ 5644044

Overall Rating:
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Travel & Food> Goa Restaurant Guide> Viva Panjim

Image1: Kingfish Masala fry

Image2: Look out for this board to spot Viva Panjim

Image3: Butter Garlic Squids
Image copyright: Tanya Munshi

Viva Panjim
Recommended by Lonely Planet, The Rough Guide and the Footprints, Viva Panjim is a Goan family restaurant at Fontainhas. It may take you some time to trace this restaurant in the lanes of Fountainhas, but it's worth the effort. With the delicious Goan food that is served hot on your table, you will forget the world.

"Viva Panjim is one of the most popular restaurants in Fountainhas, known for its Goan cuisine," says Ana Maria DeSouza Goswami a fellow Travel Expert (for Goa) for Yatra's Raahi.com. She further adds, "Viva Panjim is situated on the ground floor of Linda's house in Fontainhas (Latin Quarter). She serves excellent Goan food. I suggest you order (for two), prawn curry rice (1 plate), 1 fried reacheado masala king fish and 1 butter garlic squid, with a drink. The bill should be around Rs. 300/-. " Since she recommended that we visit this place, we recommend it to you!

Viva Panjim offers you an old world charm where you will come across the good old friends of the neighborhood visiting Viva Panjim for beer and prawns. It clearly showed that afternoon is a time for rest and more importantly meeting friends.

Try out the butter garlic squids, kingfish fry, rice and the Goan prawn curry to taste the Goan flavour. A cosy restaurant with an air conditioned, non-air-conditioned and a tiny outdoor seating is a delight. A meal for two, should be around Rs. 300/-. Viva Panjim opens as early as 8:30 in the morning and Sundays are a days of rest.

Location:
Viva Panjim
House No. 178, Rua 31 de Janeiro,
Behind Mary Immaculate High School,
Panjim
Phone: 0832-2422405

Overall Rating:
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