THURSDAYS AT SOL DE GOA RETURN!

From the ashes of the old came a brand new experience – Sol de Goa’s famous Thursdays has risen with a vengeance. The chic, revamped urban hotel in Candolim-Nerul, north Goa, recently launched SOLDAY, an exquisite hospitality experiment with entertainment, fine dining and exquisite beverages.

The epic weekday banger was resurrected in style with powerhouse performances by international DJs Sashanti and Sense8, with mixes from Victoria Bourke of the UK and France’s Adrian Atma, as performers set the vibe aflame. The exclusive guest list was welcomed warmly by executive director of Unomas Hospitality Rainer Stoll and the team at Sol de Goa.

A specially curated menu was launched for SOLDAYs featuring spirited taste adventures that offer modern twists to traditional flavours with farm fresh produce and high-quality ingredients. Mixologists brought in the works to create innovative cocktails that perfectly suited the classy ambience and vibe.

The resurrected SOLDAYs has already found favour with both, the hotel’s Thursday night regulars and new faces, as each week brings stellar music performances and global dining and mixology experiences amid Sol de Goa’s svelte, edgy ambiance.

Expanding this experience is urban chic dining set in the raw environs of rural Goa. Food and beverage at the revamped Sol de Goa is young, zesty, and effortlessly straddles the line between classic and innovative.

The unique vibe is sewn together by Maia Laifungbam and Sanchit Behl, a creative duo who led an acclaimed restaurant through its launch and subsequent success before turning their sights to new avenues at Sol de Goa.

The urban chic feel recreates itself on the palate as guests share delicious tapas-style plates and dip into innovative mains that leave one eager for more. Maia and Sanchit bring to the table a strong passion for innovation through their adventurous menu with modern twists to traditional tastes, fresh takes on evergreen classics and other interesting encounters of the culinary kind.

Special menus for Solday on Thursdays and Fun Dining Journeys on Tuesdays bring technical virtuosity, flavour experiences and beautifully plated food to the fore. Guests can expect small plate nibbles, hearty mains, creative desserts and unorthodox beverages that span the range from traditional tastes to innovative amalgamations.

The new Fun Dining Journeys on Tuesdays touches a chord with the culinary heritage of

India, bringing centuries-old recipes to life with new reflections and interpretations. Every week puts the focus on a different region in India highlighting history with a contemporary lens.

Sol de Goa blends the local with the global, bringing in the best Goan products including organic vegetables from nearby farms, aromatic Devi Coffee and Tea Trunk chai, Susegado craft beer and cheese from the Swiss Happy Cow fromagerie in Siolim.  

Talented mixologists create exquisite drinks to suit your personality and mood for the day and night. With the re-designed open kitchen, guests have the pleasure of watching their food and drink of choice be brought to life before their very eyes as specially curated tunes by DJs of international repute drop through the day.

The newly built 80-cover restaurant, bar, lounge and verandah; lush lawns and poolside deck are designed for eclectic events including destination weddings that stay imprinted on the mind.

Indulge in the Sol de Goa experience at:

Candolim-Nerul, Goa 403114

Call:  +91 95521 34385

TORO TORO BAGA: A CELEBRATION OF FOOD

Japanese food is becoming quite the hit in Goa. But sushi requires an appropriate amount of TLC to be considered good. In my hunt for interesting new places to eat at, I chanced upon Toro Toro, a new addition to the North Goa strip – that served sushi and more – set up along a pristine spot overlooking the Baga river

Brought into being by siblings Rohan and Praveena D’Souza with their restaurateur friends Hitesh and Twinkel Keswani, Toro Toro combines Mediterranean and tropical styles to create a space that animates through both food and ambience, the latter highlighted by live music on most evenings.

The bar immediately caught my attention. On first glance, you’d imagine a caravan parked amid the alfresco and upscale shack-style seating arrangement. But it is, in fact, the bar. The colour palette and décor at Toro Toro are bright, yet local – woven baskets form an arrangement on a wall, cured drift becomes a signboard, and painted bamboo forms pretty roof supports.

Behind the food is chef par excellence Rohan D’Souza who has been known as the ‘conductor of gourmet symphonies’. His extensive experience at the Taj Holiday Village Goa, with Etihad Airways and with culinary stalwarts including James Martin and Marco Pierre White has laid a strong foundation for delicious and innovative options here at Toro Toro.

The menu is wide ranging – heading from delightful sushi from the east and good quality Goan food to Lebanese dishes, Peruvian classics and Italian favourites. Each dish comes well plated and presented, creating perfect Instagram-worthy images amid the chic restaurant laid out across various levels.

The sushi rolls on offer are well made, particularly the spicy yellow fin tuna uramaki and jalapeño salmon flavoured with shichimi spices. A couple of interesting options here are the cottage cheese and tempura vegetables sushi.

It’s rare to find vegetarian sushi that impresses and Toro Toro certainly does. In one, fried pieces of paneer are paired with seasoned radish, cucumber, ginger, spring onion, asparagus and jalapeño mayo. The second is crispy tempura vegetables served with chilli mayo, pickled carrots and given an extra crunch with tempura snow flaked crumbs.

The small sharing plates featuring such delights as char-grilled chicken, lamb kofta with hummus, coriander crab meatballs, mushroom risotto croquettes and mezze platter are ideal when visiting with a group of friends. My favourite were the pulled pork bruschetta with slow-cooked pork, chorizo, refried beans and fresh mozzarella. I also loved the fish baked in a banana leaf, which received an additional tropical hit with its pineapple coconut salsa.

Toro Toro serves delightful homemade pasta and thin crust pizza as well as rice or noodles to go with the appetising range of Asian gravies and stir-fries. Their signature section has already received rave reviews by revisiting guests.

Being a seafood lover, I was particularly interested in their Goan and mud crabs sections. A wide variety of favourite local dishes make an appearance – prawn balchao, stuffed papad, rawa fried fish, squid masala and prawn or fish curry rice. The mud crabs are served by the size, from large to XXL, and wok tossed in a number of ways, including recheado, butter garlic and black pepper.

There’s no better way to finish up than with a serving of Toro Toro’s signature chocolate fondant. It’s baked to order and well worth the 20-minute wait, oozing gooey chocolate that teams classically well with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

I have much more to discover at Toro Toro and will return often to indulge in their great food and quirky ambiance.

Reservations & Contact Details – 0788 767 4903

UNITING OVER FOOD: HYATT’S CULINARY CHALLENGE

The Hyatt Group has always focused on interactive experiences with the public, with an aim to bring people together while engaging with the brand. Recently, I was invited to be a judge at the semi-finals of the Hyatt Culinary Challenge – People Cooking For People at Grand Hyatt Goa in Bambolim.

It was such an honour for me to receive the invitation, seeing as it has been a dream of mine to judge a culinary show ever since I started diligently following the popular reality show Masterchef year after year.

This year was the fifth edition of the event, held on the gorgeous lawns of Grand Hyatt Goa with the beautiful bay in the background, where each participating business head was teamed with a child participant from the Bethesda Life Centre, a not-for-profit home that looks after the educational needs and cares for children of AIDS victims and commercial sex workers.

Eight participants rose to the challenge with the help of their ever-eager assistants to showcase their talents – vice president of operations at Casino Strike Dexter Pereira, allergist and clinical immunologist Anita Dudhane, managing director of Buzz Events Jerry Pinto, general manager of Eastbound Group John D’Souza, director of Nizanta Retail Ventures Lavanya Shet, director of Madame Rosa Distillery Mac Vaz, managing director of Vogue Luxury Weddings Shruti Tiwari, and COO of Snip Salons and Spas Sumeet Bhobe.

It was a tough decision as each dish looked beautiful, smelled delicious and tasted even more so. But I was helped along by my fellow judges – Fiesta owner Yellow Mehra, A Reverie owner and chef Aakritee Sinh and Grand Hyatt Goa’s executive chef David Ansted – and before long we had our winners.

It was a close tie, and the final decision rested on a neck-to-neck race between Jerry Pinto with his partner Reshma Bepari, and Lavanya Shet with her partner Anjali Talapathi. Lavanya’s Tiranga Pulav or Tricolour Rice was a riot of colour, aroma and taste, but Jerry won us over with the delicate flavours of his Camarões Portugueses.

This was a competition among the various Hyatt hotels in India, and all the winners and runners-up at the preliminary round are awarded a stay at various resorts across India. This means that Jerry Pinto will now travel to Hyderabad to participate in the Grand Finale in December this year.

We wish him the best of luck at the final round of this challenge, hoping he wins the amazing prize of a family holiday at an international destination of Hyatt. Overall, the entire event was well organised and offered a lovely day out for participants’ families and guests with engaging repartee and hosting by MC Ayesha Barretto, and a live band playing foot-tapping music through the day.

I wish the winner great inspiration and luck for his next round, and I only hope Grand Hyatt Goa will have me back next year as a judge once more.

PREMIUM EXPERIENCE AT DIVO CAFÉ & BAR, CALANGUTE

As the season comes around, Goa gets exciting with a flurry of new cafés, restaurants and bars. Sifting through to find the good ones takes time and it’s usually further afield, in places like Vagator and Morjim in north Goa, that I find gems most often. Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a new hotspot right here in Calangute.

Divo Café & Bar lies on the main trunk of the Calangute-Baga stretch, offering easy connectivity with all the hotels and resorts in the area, and a short walk from the beach. Its ambiance and décor is chic, laid-back and presents the venture with a smooth transition from day-time café to lounge and bar.

The interiors by Rhea Kumar and illustrator Manuela Mendonca Gomes are minimalist but very well thought out – clean lines, carefully chosen colour palette and warm hues for furniture. The design concept has beautifully moulded a contemporary space that still manages to represent the charming heritage of Goa with art inspired by the renowned Mario Miranda.

This venture by the young and dynamic Trivesh Ajgaonkar and Shikar Kumar focuses on global fusion food, delectable café bites and excellent cocktails that pair perfectly with the melodic strains of live music and sophisticated evening shisha experience.

The duo have chosen well, as this style of café-bar that aims at high quality food and beverage, as well as entertainment, is exactly what tourists are looking for in the area. Even locals are keen on premium hotspots that consistently offer good quality ambience through the year.

We were warmly welcomed by Chef Manas Patra who took us through the menu which he painstakingly curated based on his in-depth knowledge of fare that is expected to be popular. The bar menu itself is a well thought out list, offering just the right amount of choice for guests. It has everything from Champagne to premium gins and tequilas, while expert mixologists are on hand to whip up cocktails according to your mood.

Divo Café & Bar has an interesting shots deal – which gets guests six shots for the price of five, a pretty enticing offer for groups of young people starting a night on the town. Smoothies, decadent shakes and a variety of teas and coffees bring the beverage menu to a close.

The kitchen brings out a tempting range of global fusion food that offers guests everything from healthy options to full-scale comfort food. Through our delightful evening meal we were presented with a taste of delicious cocktails, particularly the outstanding Feel The Jalapeno and its lovely spice hit, and the Berry Berry Mojito.

Our palates were teased with a roasted tomato and basil soup, followed by a watermelon and feta cheese salad, and the chef’s special seafood salad featuring squids, prawns and fish tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.  

To keep us going while they prepared our mains, the staff brought us Divo’s already popular cheese balls – crunchy, crumb-fried globs stuffed with melted cheese and pesto, and breaded mushrooms stuffed with cheese served with a delightful tartare sauce.

Mains included a cottage cheese steak – a grilled slab of fresh cottage cheese served with house salad and sautéed vegetables, and grilled chicken marinated in mustard sauce and served with sautéed vegetables.

A beautiful surprise arrived at the end – Oreo Madness, a decadent chocolate-filled dessert that took me straight back to my childhood. This alone was enough to make me ensure I return for more.

Divo Café & Bar promises an exciting food and beverage experience within a beautiful space, with flair and style, more than enough to keep patrons sweeping through their doors.

 

For Reservations Contact – 7447400831

One of India’s most celebrated Italian gourmet restaurant `DIVA’ by Chef Ritu Dalmia launches in Goa

---

A dash of flavour, a pinch of creativity and ounces of passion for food! This is the recipe that created DIVA – a chain of restaurants, offering flavours from around the world. And now, Goa gets a taste of it!

Speaking on the Goa launch of DIVA at Andores Resort & Spa, Calangute, Goa, an excited and enthusiastic Chef Ritu Dalmia said, “I’m delighted to launch DIVA in Goa and very excited with the very good response it has received. Goa has always been my favourite destination, and now I have a legit reason to come to Goa and experience its business with DIVA. The support of the team is very encouraging and I would say so far so good. Our best is yet to come.”

The Goa signature flagship of DIVA – a premium Italian trattoria which boasts a 64-cover capacity; centrally located inside the property of Andores Resort & Spa, Calangute. Open throughout the season, it will offer lunch, apertivo and dinner experiences for guests with an authentic Italian menu curated for Goa, keeping in mind the State’s vibrant multi-cultural tastes, local flavors and ingredients.

A plush indoor seating with a vibrant outdoor terrace overlooks the resort’s pool perfectly complimenting an outdoor pizzeria in full view of the guests, so diners can enjoy a true Neapolitan slice whilst sitting beside the pool. A fully operational bar with a special menu of cocktails and a wide selection of wines and beer aims to enhance discerning tastes, for an experience that reinforces the award-winning brand philosophy of DIVA – that is, respecting and celebrating authentic food by combining clean, simple and fresh ingredients to create rich and unique dishes that promise to give your taste-buds an unforgettable experience.

There’s nothing in her lineage to explain why Ritu Dalmia is the brilliant chef and restaurateur that she is. And yet, there she stands, in her mid-40s, as one of India’s most celebrated chefs and co-owner of nine restaurants in Delhi, Milan and the UK; and a catering division that caters worldwide.

The story might well have gone some other way. Born in then-Calcutta to a Marwari business family, Dalmia joined the family stone business when she was just 16. Her work kept taking her to Italy, where she developed a liking for the local cuisine and learnt how to cook it proficiently. In 1993, at age 21, she set up Mezza Luna, a Mediterranean restaurant with an Italian accent, in Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village. The food was excellent, Mezza Luna’s fortunes weren’t. An undeterred Dalmia moved to London, where she opened Vama, an Indian fine dining restaurant. The restaurant was a big success and won rave reviews.

But Delhi beckoned, and in 2000, she came home to open her first DIVA. The fine dining restaurant was an immediate hit with food that Delhi had never encountered and a Wine Cellar that had no parallel. Dalmia never looked back, going on to open one winning restaurant after another and managing a staff of 200. With Cittamani, her new eatery in Milan, Dalmia has come full circle. She started her restaurateur life trying to introduce India to genuine Italian food; now she’s getting Italians to taste and enjoy the flavours of the Indian sub-continent. Cittamani’s menu is a fusion of Indian and Italian elements; with Dalmia cooking locally-sourced Italian ingredients with Indian techniques. Dalmia most recently inaugurated her second international venture Stella, at Linthwaite House, Lake District, UK.

Dalmia’s entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the hospitality industry has been recognized by many institutions, including Forbes which put her on its W Power Trailblazers List in March 2017 and the Indian Federation for Culinary Association, which in 2016 recognized her as one of India’s 25 biggest Chefs. Last September, she was awarded the Ordine della Stella d’Italia, the highest civilian honour of Italy. Dalmia has hosted Italian Khana and Travelling DIVA on NDTV Good Times and authored three cookbooks, Italian Khaana, Travelling DIVA and DIVA Green: A Vegetarian Cookbook.

DIVA at Andores Resort and Spa, Tivai Vaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa – 403516.

http://www.divarestaurants.com 

Reservations: 0832 -6654400

A little bit of Bali at Cinnamon Agonda

Goa has been home for nearly 15 years now, and even though I have lived up north for the last few years, the south will always have a special place in my heart. And when I say south, I really mean Agonda, for this picturesque little seaside village has forever been warm and welcoming.

On a recent visit back there, I was charmed to discover this same sense of warmth and love from the good folks at Cinnamon Agonda, the newest baby only a furlong from the beach but with enough panache to blow away the old-timers. 

As you head towards the southern end of the strip, a nondescript earthy laterite wall with Balinese-style entrance way breaks the colourful chaos of the street. The mix of chattai, stone and mud creates an immediately relaxing feel, one that you’re looking for as soon as you reach the beach.

Within, Cinnamon Agonda is a superb reflection of the paradise-like Indonesian island featuring lots of lush greenery, natural building materials, calming water bodies and the meditative gaze of Buddha statues.

Enter a caption

Rows of wooden cottages overlook gardens filled with young banana saplings, palm trees and other plants in their early years. All lead along a common pathway to a pristine blue pool and then on to the beach. In between it all, are palm trees shooting up towards the azure skies and a curtain of woven thatch that cocoons the resort from everything else.

Each pathway is lit by cute little lamps hung on wrought iron fittings which when turned on at dusk create a surreal ambience.

At the entrance, you are welcomed by a stone Buddha in prayer, accompanied as always by a small lotus pond and the ever-present, sweet-smelling frangipani tree. It immediately sets the tone for the rest of the peaceful resort, and by extension your vacation too.

It is quite evident that Cinnamon Agonda has laid great emphasis on unintrusive design along with comfort. Each of the 19 cottages has a bedroom, spacious verandah with a sit-out and a semi open-air bathroom. Nature finds its way into each cottage, by way of pretty orchids, house plants or even the odd coconut tree making its way through the bathroom roof.

For the comfort of its guests, the resort provides a large bed with mosquito nets, separate towels for the bath and pool as well as a safe. Some cottages even have air-conditioning. To adhere to local environmental laws, the swimming pool is actually a submerged metal frame pool, but one couldn’t really mind the difference for there is hardly any at all!

It’s worth noting here that the management is well-versed in hospitality. Cinnamon Agonda is the newest addition to its resort kitty, alongside Agonda Beach Resort, Agonda Cottages, Agonda Villas, Agonda White Sand, and The Cape Goa, the last located at Cabo de Rama.

An outstanding feature at Cinnamon Agonda, however, is its complimentary breakfast. It’s a simple menu but each option is more mouthwatering than the next. There’s the Breakfast Comfort featuring eggs, chips and baked beans and the Breakfast Sandwich, a whopper with chicken sausage, fried egg, mushrooms, a bread roll and marmalade.

For something a little more Indian, there’s a thick luscious aloo paratha served with curd and pickle. You can go easy on your stomach with the Cinnamon French Toast flavoured with banana, honey and cashew. Or choose a simple fresh seasonal fruit salad with some toast, butter and jam.

For those who need their cereal, there’s Homemade Muesli – a hearty mash-up of oats, dried fruit, seeds, nuts, fresh fruit, curd, and local honey. And for that everyday jam, you can have eggs your favourite way with toast and butter. All of these delicious options come with a choice of tea, coffee or seasonal juice. Nothing more you could ask for!

There may not be a fully functional restaurant for lunch and dinner at Cinnamon Agonda, but you’d never miss it, considering the village’s fabulous variety of excellent eateries and bars.

I’m always asked for recommendations of places to stay at this beach, and Cinnamon Agonda is one I would certainly put high on my list.

Contact Details: http://www.cinnamonagonda.com & info@cinnamonagonda.com

La Cabana: Your dream beach wedding in Goa

There’s something unique and spectacular about salty air, cool breeze and nature for miles in front of you. Now imagine all of this in your wedding photograph. The quickest way to make this real is hosting your dream beach wedding in Goa at La Cabana Beach & Spa in Ashwem.

I’ve been lucky to reach the far corners of Goa on work and the minute I reached this beautiful property, my mind’s eye immediately understood why it would make the perfect venue for a beach wedding in Goa.

Set against the backdrop of one of Goa’s most beautiful beaches, La Cabana Beach & Spa combines the best of luxury services with a drop-dead gorgeous locale. Carefully designed to blend into the landscape with warm log cabins and luxury tents, it makes for a rather picturesque setting without even considering the beach.

A stoney path picks its way past the cabins and tents, flanked by a well manicured lawn and an inviting pool down to the restaurant overlooking the sea. The venue can be pretty accommodating, morphing from solemn sunrise ceremony with the chants of hymns to a poolside high tea party with lilting background music or a fun sunset reception with a live band.

The best thing about La Cabana Beach & Spa is being able to offer your friends and family one of the most memorable celebrations they’ve ever had. With a collection of 39 cabins, luxury tents, beach-facing chalets, luxury villa and even a heritage Portuguese villa, you can have the whole family with you through every day of the celebration, with no worries about transportation and logistics.

Well aware of their potential, the team at La Cabana Beach & Spa certainly goes all out to ensure the stress is taken away from the hosts, so the couple are truly happy on their big day. Experienced professionals typically work closely with you well in advance to ensure every detail you’re looking for is taken care of when the time comes. They’ve already got a number of varied pre-set packages, but if you’ve got something different in mind, they’re happy to tailor it to your needs.

You’ll be mind-blown at the photographs that emerge from your beach wedding in Goa at La Cabana Beach & Spa – magazine-style images with the kaleidoscope of sunset colours as your backdrop to the antique décor of a heritage Portuguese home, an intimate cabana by the pool or in the frame of a rustic wooden porch. The opportunities are limited only by your imagination!

The beach resort also has its own in-house spa services so you can take advantage of rejuvenating treatments in the comfort of this very relaxing space.

Once you get here, everything is at your disposal. Even the food and beverage team takes the time out to customise menus and make sure you have the most delicious food made with the freshest ingredients. 

Given that the state is most popular as a beachside destination, I’m rather surprised with the small number of properties that are truly sought-after for beach weddings in Goa. But with the services and location of this beautiful place, I have absolutely no reservations recommending La Cabana Beach & Spa for the most memorable time of your life.

For Further Details: 

Website: http://www.lacabanabeachandspa.com

Tel: +91 98228 35550

SIMPLY UN-PHO-GETTABLE Vietnamese Food Festival at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji – Version 2.0.

Are you in search of an eclectic dining experience or an un-pho-gettable affair? Then look no further, as Vivanta by Taj, Panaji presents before you the Vietnamese Food Festival – Version 2.0. In association with Taj West End, Bangalore, Chef Sherap has curated an exquisite culinary journey narrating the flavours of Vietnam. His wealth of experience and passion for the art makes him an indispensable part of the culinary legacy at their speciality Vietnamese restaurant, Blue Ginger.

Explore the finer nuances of Vietnamese cuisine as you savour an extensive spread of traditional delights. Take your taste buds on a culinary tour by beginning your meal with the famous Vietnamese Pho – rice noodle soup with aromatic infusions of herbs, vegetables or meat.

For the next course, indulge in a sumptuous assortment of appetizers comprising Wok Tossed Preparations, Stuffed Rice Paper Rolls, Smoked Salmon and Grilled Lamb Chops among others delights.

The main course comes with a plethora of options and you will need more than one visit to try them all. The menu comes with enticing vegetarian preparations including Wok Tossed Broccoli, Water Chestnut and Bamboo Shoot in Saigon Sauce, Stir Fried Egg Plant and Tofu with Black Bean Sauce, Steamed Silken Tofu on a Bed of Pok Choy and much more. Take your pick from delectable non-vegetarian meals – Vung Tau Fish, Stir Fried Lamb with Satay Sauce, Prawn Mango Cari, Stir Fried Chicken with Lemongrass Sauce and others. To enjoy the subtle flavours of the region choose the Vietnamese Style Noodles or Steamed Jasmine Rice with Bok Choy, accompanied by your choice of vegetables, prawns or chicken.

For the grand and sweet finale, let your taste buds delight in the traditional Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding – Chè Chuối or the Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding – Chè Bắp or the Vanilla and Coconut Sorbet – Kem Nuoc Cot Dua.

Swing by Tamari for a delectable Vietnamese sojourn.

For more information, please visit http://www.tajhotels.com

Follow Vivanta by Taj, Panaji

SIMPLY UN-PHO-GETTABLE Vietnamese Food Festival at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji – Version 2.0.

Are you in search of an eclectic dining experience or an un-pho-gettable affair? Then look no further, as Vivanta by Taj, Panaji presents before you the Vietnamese Food Festival – Version 2.0. In association with Taj West End, Bangalore, Chef Sherap has curated an exquisite culinary journey narrating the flavours of Vietnam. His wealth of experience and passion for the art makes him an indispensable part of the culinary legacy at their speciality Vietnamese restaurant, Blue Ginger.

Explore the finer nuances of Vietnamese cuisine as you savour an extensive spread of traditional delights. Take your taste buds on a culinary tour by beginning your meal with the famous Vietnamese Pho – rice noodle soup with aromatic infusions of herbs, vegetables or meat.

For the next course, indulge in a sumptuous assortment of appetizers comprising Wok Tossed Preparations, Stuffed Rice Paper Rolls, Smoked Salmon and Grilled Lamb Chops among others delights.

The main course comes with a plethora of options and you will need more than one visit to try them all. The menu comes with enticing vegetarian preparations including Wok Tossed Broccoli, Water Chestnut and Bamboo Shoot in Saigon Sauce, Stir Fried Egg Plant and Tofu with Black Bean Sauce, Steamed Silken Tofu on a Bed of Pok Choy and much more. Take your pick from delectable non-vegetarian meals – Vung Tau Fish, Stir Fried Lamb with Satay Sauce, Prawn Mango Cari, Stir Fried Chicken with Lemongrass Sauce and others. To enjoy the subtle flavours of the region choose the Vietnamese Style Noodles or Steamed Jasmine Rice with Bok Choy, accompanied by your choice of vegetables, prawns or chicken.

For the grand and sweet finale, let your taste buds delight in the traditional Vietnamese Banana Tapioca Pudding – Chè Chuối or the Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding – Chè Bắp or the Vanilla and Coconut Sorbet – Kem Nuoc Cot Dua.

Swing by Tamari for a delectable Vietnamese sojourn.

For more information, please visit http://www.tajhotels.com

Follow Vivanta by Taj, Panaji

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, Goa presents Chettinad Food Festival with Curried Mojitos.

What makes Indian food famous all across the globe are the mixes of its organic spices & the scintillating aromatic smells, allowing its guests an unforgettable taste for its local cuisine.

Under the guidance of Head & Corporate Chef Sundar Sudarsan who has been at Planet Hollywood Goa since its conception, Chef Keerthi who hails from Tamil Nadu brings to us his experience with a showcase of Chettinad cuisine. When I heard of the Chettinad Food Festival, I was eager to try this south Indian culinary experience at their all-day dining restaurant – Planet Dailies.

Chettinad cuisine is among the oldest cuisines in India and is a speciality of Chettiyar community from Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Chettinad food is particularly hot and spicy and tenders an enormous variety in non-vegetarian dishes like mutton, chicken and fish dishes. The cuisine is uncommonly subtle and aromatic. It uses a variety of spices and the dishes are made with fresh ground masalas. Most of the dishes are eaten with rice or rice-based accompaniments such as appams, dosais, Iddiyappams, idlis and adais.  The most essential spices used In Chettinad Food are Anasipoo (Star Aniseed), Maratti Mokku (Dried Flower Pods) and Kalpasi (A Lichen Known as the “Black Stone Flower). There are more than hundreds of Chettinad recipes which one can delight while visiting Tamil Nadu.

Chef Keerthi has specially curated an A La Carte menu picking out the best dishes from the gamut of captivating authentic recipes. The especially crystallized menu includes dishes like MURUNGAI KEERAI PANAYARAM, a shallow fried Moringa leaf dumpling with tempered mustard, dry chilli and cashew nut. PALLIPALAYAM KOZHI VARUVAL a slow braised chicken with red chilli, garlic, fennel and spice & LAMB PEPPER FRY, slowly cooked lamb curry with coriander seed, garlic, chilli, ginger, shallots and whole spices, this was only for starters.

For the main course, we had the PATTANI THAKKALI KURUM, green peas cooked in fennel coconut curry served with delicious AAPAM, a thin pancake made with fermented rice batter served with fresh coconut milk. Also, KOZHI VARUTHARACHA KOZHAMBU a home-style country chicken curry with shallot, tomatoes and coconut paste accompanied with URULAI PODI THOOVAL, spicy potatoes tossed with gunpowder. Also, a side of MUTTAI ROAST, spicy boiled Egg with Indian spices all served with PAROTA, a flaky layered bread.

 

 

For dessert, the ELANEER PAYASAM was presented to us, a chilled tender coconut stew with cardamom and sugar, which was so refreshing that you would easily be wanting more.

On any visit to Planet Dailies Restaurant, you will always find Chef Sundar orchestrates his team of staff as well as meeting and greeting his guests. This way, he ensures his personal attention to each and every meal.

Planet Hollywood Beach Resort, 30/3, Acsona Waddo, Uttorda Beach, Salcette Goa – 403713.

For Reservations: +91 832 6751000 – reservations@planethollywoodgoa.com

https://www.planethollywoodgoa.com