IN REVIEW

COPPERLEAF, PANJIM, MORE THAN JUST A GOAN THALI RESTAURANT!

by Aditi Malhotra Images - Armaan Malhotra

As far as I know, Copperleaf’ s name has always been synonymous with Goa ’ s best restaurants to experience the authentic Goan thali, but trust me when I say there is much more to it. Copperleaf has a very popular branch in Porvorim and just recently they opened a new one in St.Inez, Panjim.

One look, even from the entrance point and you know that this Copperleaf is every inch premium and exudes vibes that any fine dining restaurant should. The moment you step inside, the classiness is validated further. Stunningly decorated with hanging greens, hues of pastels and occasional graffiti walls, set the tone of the ambiance that is soothing as well as inviting. Also, they have taken complete care to make the restaurant friendly for those with physical disabilities. Right from a ramp at the entrance to a special toilet for the disabled, a diaper changing room for young mothers, everything is thoughtfully planned. The cleanliness and classiness of the washrooms can give five stars a run for their money, they are so well-kept. Coming to food, the menu is standardized and the same as the Porvorim branch, so you can be assured of delectable delights all through. The hospitality is top-notch and you will experience the warmth of their staff members at every level. Right from the servers to the managers, everyone is on their toes making you feel comfortable and paying heed to all your needs. Chef Kashish Thakral is always there to help you with his recommendations and going by his choice, we ordered Hariyali Gobhi, Chicken Tikka from the North Indian section, Prawns Butter Garlic, King Fish Masala Fry, from the local specialities and Dragon Chicken from the Oriental menu. Each and every item that came on our table is worth a mention, but 3 things that were truly outstanding include the Hariyali Gobhi, it’ s a must-have hands down, the butter garlic prawns too were simply amazing, unlike a runny butter sauce, these were creamy and beautifully cooked. The chicken tikka was so tender and charred to perfection that there is no way you can ignore it.

Coming to mains, the thali is something that is one of Copperleaf’ s best sellers and they have many different varieties of the same and thus makes for a must-try. But the menu also offers a great selection of other Goan, North Indian and Oriental delicacies. So other than the thali, we opted for Chicken Rahra, a thick chicken gravy that has succulent pieces of chicken cooked in a keema base. Best to eat with a hot & crispy butter garlic naan and enter a food coma. The next on my list was Butter Chicken, though a little on the sweeter side, the colour, the consistency, the texture and the taste were perfect. You can surely give it a try. If you are planning to have a simple yet soul-satisfying meal, nothing can beat their Prawn Curry & Rice. Finish the meal with a choice of Gulab Jamun, Serradura, or Caramel Pudding and I am sure you will enjoy your overall culinary journey at Copperleaf like never before. Restaurant Details Phone Number - +919075018463 Cuisines Mughlai, Average North I Cost ₹ ndian, Goan 600 for two , Chines people e, (a Biryani pprox) Address Ground Floor, Esmeralda Casa de Povo St. Inez, Taleigao, Panaji, Goa 403001 Table booking recommended

PLEASES THE PALATE BUT LIGHT ON YOUR POCKET!

Pocket Friendly Eats

By Team F&H

If you are feeling peckish and find yourself around the neighbourhood of Saligao, then here ’ s a pocket-friendly recommendation for a Goan twist to burgers and cutlets.

Atala

’ s food truck, parked right opposite the church lane is a family-run food truck named after the lady who is behind the tasty fish cutlets, beef chili fry and various other delights served here, Atala Conseicao DeCosta. She also takes orders for get-togethers and parties. Along with her husband Felix Agnello and son Alson, Atala started the food truck in January 2020 but was immediately affected by the pandemic and lockdowns. Despite the hurdles, her quick smile and the delicious menu have helped in bringing many customers flocking to her place once it reopened.

Hygienically prepared and extremely light on your pocket, you can opt for their burgers like Chicken and Fish cutlets or Chicken Liver Fry at Rs 50 or Beef Steak cutlets priced at Rs 70. The Chicken Chilly Fry, as well as the Prawn, Beef, and Squid Chilly Fry, are yummy treats priced at just Rs 50. each, while their Spicy Green Chicken and Crispy Chicken specialties are priced at Rs 70.

The Beef Tongue Roast priced at Rs 70 is another specialty of theirs that is a must-try. These items also come without the buns if you want a lighter version. The milk tea here with a hint of rose flavour is also worth a mention.Atala ’ s Food Truck, Saligao can be found opposite the lane of Mae De Deus Church every evening between 5.00 pm and 9.30 pm.

Pocket Friendly Stays

VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAMMORADIA DOS QUADROS, A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THIS SENTIMENT!

by Aditi Malhotra Images - Armaan Malhotra

You must have heard this phrase often. This phrase consists of several words: Vasudha (transl. 'The

Earth'); Eva (transl. 'Is Thus '); and Kutumbakam (transl. 'Family '). On the whole, it means, The World is

a Family.

How many people actually believe in this, and out of the ones who believe, how many actually practice? It takes a lot to actually believe and practise something like this. But I did come across a person, who genuinely believes in the concept and runs his homestay with the same faith. Welcome to Moradia dos Quadros Mansion. Located in Divar Islands, this mansion is run by Neves Quadros who not just calls it a home stay but makes you feel at HOME 100%. ‘Feel at home ’ or ‘home away from home ’ are not merely cliché terms when it comes to Neves. At Moradia dos Quadros, Neves makes you feel at home. Period. The moment you enter the home premises, Neves takes you on a 5-7 min tour around the house showing you not just your room but subtly start instilling the feeling of being at home. For instance, he will take you around the kitchen, and the pantry and show you where what is kept. Before you know it, he would be asking you to make yourself comfortable and help yourself with a drink or a snack and leave you alone for a few minutes. The simple concept here is if he is asking you too many times or getting things served then how will you feel at home? So to make you actually feel at home, at Quadros Mansion, everything is so organised and well planned, that you can be yourself, get things from the kitchen or do what you feel like without needing any help. But I am sure this makes you wonder, if you are just randomly picking drinks and say a pack of chips from the kitchen, how will you be billed? This is where the true concept of HOME and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam comes into the picture because all Neves has done is kept a book of honesty, where you yourself mention what all you took and account for it accordingly.

The pricing of items is also kept very reasonable if you buy stuff from there, from soft drinks to juices, beers, breezers, a fullfledged bar with wine, whisky, rum etc., chips, chocolates, biscuits to even shampoo and toothpaste, Neves has almost created a minimart from where you can but anything. He has even taken care of regular medicines and first aid if need be. On the other hand, you are also free to bring your own booze and your own stuff and even cook your own food if you like. They otherwise have an excellent Goan lady named Maria who prepares delicious food and there is a set menu to choose and order from. Trust me, you would actually love what Maria cooks, she is just too good. From simple dal chawal to her Goan delicacies, her food too, makes you feel at home. Moradia dos Quadros has a total of 8 rooms which are divided after the names of North Goa and South Goa beaches. The South Goa side of rooms are NON AC and their pricing starts from as low as 700 per night, the North Goa ones are all AC rooms and pricing starts from 1000 per night. The master bedroom with a bathtub and huge balcony is priced at 1800 per night and trust me, the kind of serenity, athome feel, beautiful location and hospitality that you get at this price is unmatched. The prices are also kept reasonable because of the HOME philosophy, Neves believes that if he makes you a part of his family, how can he charge you something that is so obnoxious or hotel like? Also, there is complete privacy that you get at this homestay. It’ s like your own place, whether you wanna blow the music till 5 AM in the morning, or sit quietly outside on a rocking chair and hear the crickets chirp at night, it’ s totally your choice.

You can even sit and chat with Neves and listen to the tales of Goa & Divar Island that can keep you intrigued. The best experience is the visit to the Eco Dream Lake which is developed and maintained by Moradia dos Quadros as a part of its CSR initiative. The lake is a 5 min walk on a narrow stretch of dirt path and all along you will witness open fields that would soothe your eyes and soul. One of the most unique things that you can do at the lake is take a clay bath. The water is waist-deep and irrespective of whether you know swimming or not, you can enter the lake and experience this surreal beauty of nature. The bottom of the lake is all soft mud that is exceptionally good for your skin and leaving your eyes, you can actually apply it on all parts of your body and wash it off once it dries. Ayurveda recognises clay as a great resource for skin nourishment. You must have heard of the dead sea in Jordan which people visit for the same reason. But now you have your own such place right in the heart of India and much more adventurous and private too. You can also indulge in fishing tiny fishes in the lake, carry your snacks and enjoy a picnic while you watch the sunset, or have an utterly romantic proposal or date with your partner where you enjoy some quiet time together. Whatever may be your reason, the place is just ideal to feel close to nature and experience something extraordinary. After the trail & mud bath, you can straight head to the jet shower that Neves has created using the water from the well and thus is always refreshingly cold. This natural and sustainable jet shower is also an experience in itself that you will not forget. I sometimes feel like going to Quadros Mansion only to have a shower. Overall, Moradia dos Quadros is my go-to place when I want to give myself a break and yet feel very much at home.