Since my trips to Goa has become more frequent and in my quest in this forever evolving culinary paradise, I venture into places out of the ordinary. In this blog I shall be updating about my discoveries and experiences in the Goan Food scene.
Burger Factory: Morjim
I admit am not a burger fan but if you are looking for a boozy sundowner by the sea in a laid back seashore ambiance filled in with some groovy music then this is the place. You don’t need to dress up, in fact you can walk in from the Morjim beachside and be welcomed on their sunbeds or big benches with a thousand tiny lights hanging from the top or tables surrounded by swings. The fries that come with every serving are cut in-house so they look like wedges but paper-thin slices. I believe in eat local kind of sustainable tourism so love their choice of beef and pulled pork which is easily available. Also the avocado filling and the bacon jam filling is equally commendable.
While we all know bloody mary is a hangover cure but the one served here can give you a hangover. Made with a lot of love and alcohol this one has pure tomato juice and the liquor is infused with Celery and they add a bacon slice on top! One can drink a pitcher full and would never want to get over the hangover. We tried some other cocktails too and were not disappointed either. Moon, the girl behind the bar is pretty awesome!
One corner of this café also has an ice cream truck serving some awesome homemade gelatos.
Run by a bunch of girls and owned by former actress Shweta Salve and her husband, this place makes one feel relaxed, the very Goan feeling one gets at a shack. They make sure to visit each table and talk to each customer and that service is a big silver lining in this whole culinary experience.
7short 1long: Moira
Why would anyone go to Moira when everyone’s going to the beach. A sleepy goan village with beautiful Portuguese houses hidden away in the plantations surrounding them, it’s difficult to find a café or a restaurant in here to sit down and eat. So one Sunday afternoon we decided to cross the highway from our touristy north Goan hub and in 20 mins we were sitting in the balcony of a quaint yellow bungalow with a wooden terrace running all around the ground floor.
The village silence was broken by the old English numbers playing inside the house. They have both inside and outside seating. Their personal living quarters are upstairs so the whole ground floor serves as the restaurant and kitchen area. Mother daughter duo stir up all the dishes while the brother, who is travelling mostly at work, takes the orders and interacts with the guests.
The menu is small but focused which is what we like. All they serve is Goan fare so we started with some tongue chilly and beef cutlets as we ordered our drinks. They had experimented with some beef kebabs that day so we got to try it, hope they include it in the menu. Earlier they had only dinner servings but a few days back they have started lunch menu as well which is what I would recommend. One gets to sit outside and enjoy their beautiful garden and have a long lazy lunch. For the main course we tried meatball curry made in a green sauce, served with poi (goan bread). In dessert section they have only a few options which means its mostly homemade. One trip is not enough to try all the dishes so we would go back for some pork soluntolem. Keep watching this space for more updates.
Ruta’s roadhouse: Assagao
A small quaint old bungalow converted to a café, Ruta’s Roadhouse is the perfect place for anytime tea-coffee meet up. Opened from 8:030 AM, this place uses up the main room and the garden area on the front of this old bungalow to serve up simple freshly made food till 6:30 pm in the evening. One long hall with high ceiling and fans hanging from the wooden planks of the ceiling, it’s a big airy room with wide windows and minimal mix and match furniture. This place has good wifi which is a blessing in Goa. Their choice of music is quiet eclectic and its loud enough to enjoy while having your conversation.
Their in-house bakes are displayed the end of the hall and I do recommend to try one. I personally prefer to come down here to work and enjoy a hot pot of tea with one of their fresh bakes. The menu is locally sourced ingredients served up in a global menu. There’s a mix of Mexican, Asian and American menu so one can choose from meats to vegan to gluten free dishes.
I loved their cold pressed juices and salads the most. The chickpeas salad with an Asian dressing was quite light and juicy lunch for me. Their juicy pork carnitas are served up perfectly soft tacos some freshly made salsa but I found the cold noodle bowl a little dry for the lack of a more juicy sauce. Their menu changes a bit according to seasonal ingredients.
So if you looking for a light meal after many indulgent lunches and late night parties while holidaying in Goa then this is the perfect place to be in.
Am going back next time to try their deserts!
Journeysbylane 