A former Portuguese colony, Goa is situated on the western coast of India which has a rich history. There is a unique amalgamation of Portuguese and Indian architecture and culture which attracts many tourists all year round! Compared to the other Indian states, Goa is overtly different. The population of Goa consists of Roman Catholics, Hindus and a small portion of Muslim community.
Goan Cuisine: A Perfect Balance Of The West And The East
The Goan cuisine consists of a blend between the numerous cultures which existed in this place over the centuries such as the French, Portuguese, Brazilian, Arab, African, Malabar, Konkan, Chinese and Malaysian. Goan cuisine reflects the blend of the cultures that existed here.
The major influence of the Goan cuisine was from the Portuguese culture. When they started trading they also brought in an assortment of goods which led to a change in local food habits and new dishes such as the Prawn Balchao, Pork Vindaloo and Pork Feijodda.
The Goan cuisine is quite special since delicious and rich. The staples are rice and fish curry which is quite popular among the local people. The most common fish that is consumed are Kingfish, tuna, pomfret, mackerel, doumer and shark. Some popular dishes are fish Caldeen, fish Rechado, fish Caldeirada, caldo verda, pork Assad, prawn balchao, sorpotel and bebinca.
Even though modern cooking techniques have become quite popular, many of the households make use of the traditional cooking methods which provide unique aroma to the dishes.
Best Eateries in Goa
The mixture of Indian and Portuguese cuisine is evident in the Goan cuisine. From the candle lit posh restaurants to the street food sellers, the dining scene is quite vibrant in Goa. These are top restaurants that can fulfil the bon viveur in you.
1. Upper House : A restaurant that serves traditional Goan cuisine and is situated opposite to the stunning Garcia de Orta gardens.
2. Hotel venite: This restaurant serves the famous vegetable Vindaloo over rice along with the spiced sausages.
3. Tuscany gardens: The cosy Tuscany gardens are the perfect choice for you if you are craving Italian food.
4. Bhatti village: This family owned restaurant can serve you some of the best Goan homemade food.
5. A Reverie: This unique restaurant serves up some of the best contemporary European dishes that has an occasional South Indian and Asian twist to it.
Goan Food Recipes
There are a great number of recipes that are quite famous in the Goan culture. Two of the most prominent dishes are those are the Pork Vindaloo which includes pork cooked in gur, chillies, garlic and ginger. This sweet and tangy dish is preferred by many tourists who visit Goa.
Another quite prominent dish is the Recheado recipe which is a spicy Goan masala that has a blend of onions, tomatoes and an assortment of spices. This is added in many of the Goan delicacies to give that kick of spiciness.
There are weekly or daily cooking classes and workshops that are held by either the local people or sometimes famous cooks and celebrity chefs. You can enroll yourself in those and learn to cook some of the best traditional Goan dishes!
How To Travel To Goa
One could avail flights that fly to the Dabolim airports or choose to go by train or bus. There are regular flights from New Delhi, Bangalore, Cochin, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The two main railheads in Goa are Thivim and Madgaon.
Where To Stay In Goa
The best 5 star hotels in South Goa are:
• The Leela
• The Lalit
• Alila Diwa
• Resort Grand Hyatt
• Taj Exotica
There are a lot of hotels in Goa that you could stay in and depending on the time of your travel make sure to book your hotels accordingly.
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