Australian cuisine – Sinéad McManus

Grilled Snapper I have followed Sarah Todd and her journey since she arrived here in Goa, from her culture shock of setting up a brand new beachside restaurant to where she is today. Now in its fourth season, Antares Restaurant & Beach Club in Vagator, North Goa has been carrying the baton of making dining a truly unique experience ever since its inception with their highly skilled chef, TTT Sarah Todd, of Master Chef Australia and now joining the team as their executive chef is Kaustubh Haldipur making it a must-visit destination in Goa. Chef Kaustubh who hails from Goan heritage but travelled the world and acquired his unique skills over a decade brings his influence to this new menu by introducing modern Goan inspired dishes that are ever-evolving at Antares. The all-new avatar and was inspired by Sarah’s travel around India cccc and researching for the second restaurant in Mumbai with partner and friend from Antares, Ashish Dev Kapur, called Wine Rack. Ashish, a renowned restaurateur in his own right, a partner in Antares, award-winning Whiskey Samba, now Wine Rack, The Wine Company and Yo China! bring his unique experience and know how to this fourth season.

Antares offers modern Australian cuisine with Asian and Indian influence giving a diversified and carefully yet creatively curated menu. Subtle condiments paired with unconventional dishes is the prowess of the Antares new which leaves one craving for more. A combination of Barbecue Chicken and Pomegranate makes for Australian grilling techniques merged with tropical freshness a unique yet favorite dish at Antares. The menu is an assortment of small and large plates making it easy for customers to Turkish Bread with Hot Hummus and Chorizo choose from with easy to share dishes such as Hummus, spiced toasted chickpeas, za’atar Turkish bread. The Croquettes with their simplistic presentation, the Pork Ribs, covered in a spiced, chipotle-tomato flavored barbecue sauce and Lamb Bao are but a few of the dishes on offer this season.

The Goan inspired menu has such delights as The Kale and Cranberry Salad, with walnuts, kokum dressing, gruyere is delicate and summery in every way yet with that fresh tanginess. Moving on to the Roasted Pumpkin with peanut coconut masala, with peanut Pan cooked whole Red Snapper with Chilli Oil chutney, fresh coriander, toasted peanuts, fresh coconut served on a soft tortilla, hopes to bring back memories of grandmothers cooking from south of India to life at Antares, perfectly balanced flavors with Sarah’s modern touch. The Chicken Cafreal with pomegranate, roasted cashew nuts served on soft tortilla envelopes you in Goa with every bite of tradition meets Antares. There is The Grilled Snapper with its orange beurre blanc, salt baked beetroot, rocket, couscous, perfectly flaky fish that just melts in the mouth offset with the orang beurre balances each bite. Fresh Wok tossed Mud Crabs are a mush try for the seafood lovers. The Stuffed Pointed Gourd with tomato Stuffed pointed gourd, tomato cashew sauce, poi (veg) cashew sauce and poi or even the Zucchini & Lotus Root Xacuti offers up interesting Goan infused flavours for all the vegetarian. The Pork Vindaloo served with Sannas (traditional Goan steamed rice cakes) fresh coriander, julienne red chilli and garlic chips yet another new addition to the menu. Furthermore, the chef’s here have married Goa with Italy to bring you Goan Sausage Spaghetti with calamari. This is to mention by a few of the new Goan influences on the menu.

Antares still, however, retains it past season favorites such as the Surf and Turf, beef fillet, tiger prawn, seasonal vegetables, red wine jus and Pulled Lamb with mint raita, pomegranate, chilli jam, soft tortilla and much much more. For that sweet tooth there is the Layers of Chocolate Orange, chocolate mousse, chocolate fudge cake, orange chiboust and as always there is Sarah’s Famous Master Chef Iced Nougat with candied orange, streusel.

The only thing better than Antares food is the Antares cocktail selection, with its amazing quantity. The Spicy Mango Martini, a mixture of vodka, mango and green chilli, an old favorite on the menu. To the addition of Plum Berry Martini. The taste of plum came to life in this refreshing cocktail. It was an easy mix of galangal, lemongrass & gin which is mellowed by cranberry juice and was a delightful blend sweet and sour. Antares is now truly an Austrailian star on the Goan coast.