After several years, Robin and I had the opportunity to spend several weeks in Goa on work. We re super lucky that our job allows us to travel and explore so much en route! The ad fraternity has always been shamelessly gourmandise!
Going down memory lane, I first met up with the best pork man in town, the legendary Brendan Barr,famous for his british bangers (sausage) in Goa. He has also been featured in various lifestyle and food magazines but remains an old dear friend who occasionally acts for me in tv commercials. Brendan s ham and chicken liver pâté are worth dying for. His sausages you can eat at the English breakfasts available at cafe Nicks in Arpora and the Skylark shack in Baga. He lamented the lack of good stock and how after decades in Goa, he still has visa headaches. His sons are also in Goa , one a DJ and the other in the family meat business. He promised to find me sausages to carry home.yummy!
We made one trip to Panjims famous Cafe Ritz. Mile- long queues, waiting like in a crowded local (which is exactly what it was), and we finally managed a table. Masala fried mussels, slices of surmai, the fish thali and their velvety caramel custard. But I wouldn't go back there unless I had too. It was a stressful, harried lunch with people standing at your table to grab your seat.
One disastrous lunch and Brittos has bitten the dust. Apparently with very good reason,as the old codger Cajetan Britto is no longer running the place. It now caters to Indian tourists with more and more tables,hindi music and terrible food that is neither fresh nor reasonably priced. I spent Rs 600/- on a prawn curry and rice only! Ad the prawns were rock hard and old. I d rather spend my money in Thalassa or Sublime!!
Lila cafe at the Baga Riverside is still great for coffee and breakfast. And their knackerbrot is always good to carry home!
More on Goa soon!
