I haven't been getting as much time as I used to to cook, let alone to write about food. Still eating well though. A lot of time is spent reminiscing about the good grub of the near past. And given that despite being technologically backward I went and got myself a BlackBerry, I thought it might be a good idea to use my thumbs while on a flight to Bangalore. Speaking of which - I haven't had a good Dosa in a while. Pretty fed up of the Shiv Sagar type nonsense. Before that though I have a reheated meal out of a plastic container to look forward to!
Anyway, the past - one of my long held food beliefs was challenged in Goa recently. I am generally quite sceptical of food in multi-cuisine joints. May have something to do with all those road side laaris that read - Punjabi and Chinees/Chines (or something to that effect) Food. In this country Chinese and Punjabi seems to cover 75% of what can possibly come out of a kitchen.
If you've been to Goa, seen a typical menu at a shack and have the same apprehensions as I do, you wouldn't think of a shack as a place you'd go to for a meal - more like a place to go eat when you are slightly incapacitated by all the drinking. There are plenty of good, proper, restaurants in Goa. Many a portion of fried and quite a few Veg Manchurians later (thanks to my vegetarian friend) we chanced upon Bay View, in Candolim. The shack spots on the beaches get auctioned every year and Bay View has been around for 15. The menu is very typical, but order your food, from all over the world, and you'll know why I give the little joint special mention and a solid recommendation.
I did'nt hold back and ordered a Prawn Vindaloo (pronounced Vind-Aaloo I am told by a trusted beef griller), a Goan Prawn Curry and a Goan Sausage Curry. All with rice and rotis.
The prawn dishes were superb, but it was the Goan Sausage Curry that really did it for me. The Goan Pork sausage was cooked in a spicy gravy with potatoes. Quite full-on on the flavour front. Garlic, paprika, quite like a Chorizo. Very much like a Chorizo in fact! Now a lot of people will turn their nose away from a Goan sausage. Something to do with eating something that eats something that's already been eaten. - don't care. The damn thing is delicious. So Bay View scored on the Goan cuisine. And it should. It's in Goa after all.
And then came the surprise. Surprises rather. The Paneer Pasanda that the friend (he isn't really) ordered. Fantastic. Better than what I've eaten at most Punjabi or Muglai places. The richness of the cashews really came through. Its wasn't cooked in a hurry and you could tell. Another friend ordered a Spaghetti Bolognese. Brilliant again. Pasta was al dente, the tomato sauce was subtly flavoured (not something we Indians do well) and richly tomatoey!
Truly a multi-cuisine joint. A must go next time you are around during the season.
Anyway, the past - one of my long held food beliefs was challenged in Goa recently. I am generally quite sceptical of food in multi-cuisine joints. May have something to do with all those road side laaris that read - Punjabi and Chinees/Chines (or something to that effect) Food. In this country Chinese and Punjabi seems to cover 75% of what can possibly come out of a kitchen.
If you've been to Goa, seen a typical menu at a shack and have the same apprehensions as I do, you wouldn't think of a shack as a place you'd go to for a meal - more like a place to go eat when you are slightly incapacitated by all the drinking. There are plenty of good, proper, restaurants in Goa. Many a portion of fried and quite a few Veg Manchurians later (thanks to my vegetarian friend) we chanced upon Bay View, in Candolim. The shack spots on the beaches get auctioned every year and Bay View has been around for 15. The menu is very typical, but order your food, from all over the world, and you'll know why I give the little joint special mention and a solid recommendation.
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| The ordinary shack with an extra-ordinary kitchen |
I did'nt hold back and ordered a Prawn Vindaloo (pronounced Vind-Aaloo I am told by a trusted beef griller), a Goan Prawn Curry and a Goan Sausage Curry. All with rice and rotis.
 |
| Prawn Vindaloo |
 |
| fore - Prawn Curry, following - Goan Sausage Currry |
And then came the surprise. Surprises rather. The Paneer Pasanda that the friend (he isn't really) ordered. Fantastic. Better than what I've eaten at most Punjabi or Muglai places. The richness of the cashews really came through. Its wasn't cooked in a hurry and you could tell. Another friend ordered a Spaghetti Bolognese. Brilliant again. Pasta was al dente, the tomato sauce was subtly flavoured (not something we Indians do well) and richly tomatoey!
Truly a multi-cuisine joint. A must go next time you are around during the season.
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