Like a lot of people, Michele came to Goa on holiday. Little did she know she would spend the next 38 years here, starting an entirely new, French food filled life on the verdant coasts of India.
Michele grew up in Normandy, a beautiful region of northern France. Her family members, passionate foodies that she learned from, inspire most of the distinctive dishes on her menu.
Michele’s Garden cafe — formerly known as La Vie en Rose — was started eight years ago, and is one of the only cafes in Goa that specializes in French food. The garden is spacious and delicately adorned with furniture and fabrics from her home, with a lot of feminine patterns and of course, the color pink. Michele’s pleasant presence adds to an already refreshing ambience. She works with her chef very closely, guiding him with every dish, and her enthusiasm for her guests and her food too, is evident.
Michele’s food is all made from scratch. Her crepes, desserts and jams are all homemade, including a unique, mouth-watering onion marmalade. Some of the most popular dishes on her menu include the French classic ’Boeuf Bourguignon’ originating in the wine region of Burgundy; and ‘Chicken Normandie’, a favorite dish from Michele’s hometown which is loaded with cream and mushrooms, with a hint of mustard. The beef is marinated and slow cooked in red wine and beef broth, resulting in the meat being succulent and tender. Michele describes how every dish in Normandy is served with a little jar of cream on the side, just like we eat pickles with all our food in India.
Michele has also crafted some signature dishes that reflect her long tryst with Goa. ‘Fish Mish’ is made with ‘pastis’, a star-anise based sauce, capers, garlic and cream, of course. And the ‘Douala’ salad is made with prawns, avocado, sweet potatoes and papaya. Her salmon crepe is inspired by her aunt. Michele fondly describes how her huge family would sit on the dining table on special occasions, and relish a large plate of the highly anticipated creation.
French cuisine, according to Michele, was more popular 38 years ago when she first came to Goa, when it used to be less accessible. Although French food can be expensive since some recipes are complex, but Michele makes an effort to offer simple and affordable home cooking, that is exquisitely tasty. She definitely knows how to do both!
Above the garden cafe, Michele has four lovely rooms for her guests to stay, all surrounded by trees, and a number of adorable cats and dogs. One of the rooms is a rustic looking tree house, designed to make one feel like they’re in a home away from home. Two of the rooms are themed, orange and blue. They each have their private balconies with views of a lot of greenery and blue sky. The name of the Bed & Breakfast property, ‘La Vie en Rose’, which is a way of seeing life through rose tinted glasses, as you do when you are in love, is the kind of experience Michele wants her guests to have when they visit.
Sinéad McManus 