IN REVIEW

NOTHING FISHY ABOUT FISHERMAN’S WHARF.. ONLY GOOD FOOD AND GOOD VIBES!

by Aditi Malhotra Images by Armaan Malhotra

Located in the by lanes of Panjim City, you would come across one of the most popular restaurants of the current times, The Fisherman ’ s Wharf. It is nestled in a huge and spacious Portuguese house that is exemplary from the word go. The place has multiple seating options, both indoor and outdoor and the pathway boasts an open kitchen that is a delight to watch.

The hustle-bustle of chefs dishing out culinary delights and the aroma of food being cooked alone are enough to keep you intrigued. The way each room and wall is decorated with art and artefacts that reflect true GoanPortuguese culture is hard to miss. You cannot help but admire them while you patiently wait for your food to be served. As we seated ourselves in one of the airconditioned rooms, chef Joel personally came to check on us and gave some recommendations on what dishes we should try from the menu. Although I have been a regular and some dishes are already a part of my favourites, it' s always good to know from the man behind the brand to ask for his suggestions. Fisherman ’ s Wharf is especially known for its fresh sea-food preparations along with local Goan delicacies and offers a wide array of dishes from multiple cuisines as well. For starters, we tried Fish Tikka, Butter Chicken Bao, Southern Fried Fish and Chilly Paneer. Let me give you a word of caution, the Fish Tikka and Butter Chicken Bao are definitely going to explode a burst of flavours in your mouth, so just be sure to take a small bite and let them tingle your taste buds slowly and gradually. The Fish Tikka was perfectly spiced and charred to perfection and makes for a perfect appetizer for a lazy afternoon or a chargedup evening. The Butter Chicken Bao is the most suitable example of dishes where fusion works beautifully. One of the most sought-after preparations of Indian gravies meets a super soft Chinese bun and together they create a riot of flavours. This is for sure a dish you must try, and trust me, you won ’t forget it ever.

I mean I keep going to Fisherman

’ s for this again and again and again. The Southern Fried Fish reminded me of cafés in the Fort area of Kochi that serve fresh catch and fry them in front of your eyes. The flavours were on point. Coming to mains, Chef Joel who is a master of Italian and Goan culinary cuisines, dished out a creamy Chicken Penne Pasta in white sauce which was to die for and must be given a try. Next on our table was a traditional prawn curry with rice and with Fisherman ’ s Wharf you can be assured of getting the authentic Goan curries to savour. It was to perfection, and I am sure you would enjoy it as much. For me, continental food is something I can never get enough of, so I also tried Country Fried Chicken. Marinated chicken breast, crumb fried and served with a side of fries and garlic mayonnaise. The garlic mayo is like magic that elevates the taste to another level. With a fully loaded bar that crafts out amazing cocktails and mocktails, you can never have a hard time finding your perfect match for the food at Fisherman ’ s Wharf. Most days they have live music and sports screening too are a regular part of entertainment at Fisherman ’ s. So if you are looking at spending some great time over good food and cocktails, Fisherman ’ s Wharf is your place to be.

Restaurant Details Phone Number: +918888493333 +917720089162 Cuisines: Goan, North Indian, Continental, Chinese Average cost Rs 1100/- for two people (approx.) Address: 13/139, Campal, Tiswandi, Panaji, Goa. 403001. Table booking recommended

Food trucks and local eateries as such are offering business opportunities to budding entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts across the state. Moreover, most of these food trucks in Goa serve a variety of good quality food at a pocket-friendly price for people who love to hit the streets for a quick bite. Food trucks in Goa are changing the perspective of how people see street food, where many businesses have already made themselves a name in the industry. Food Engine is one such food truck that is popular among the locals of North Goa for serving the most delicious local burgers & more, at a pocket-friendly price. Joel Moniz, a local Goan who owns and runs this food truck, has always been passionate about street food and hence decided to launch the Food Engine back in 2017, which is popularly known for its delicious burgers. Joel says, “I was really fond of food since a very young age. Cooking has always been something that I really wanted to do. This is a dream for me. ” Even with the pandemic that hit many small businesses, including his, he was able to revive his food truck purely due to the popularity of his burgers amidst returning customers. If you are heading towards Vagator beach, you will spot this fancy-looking food truck with themed graffiti and always surrounded by people munching on appetizing burgers, fries, and more. Providing solace on good and bad days, Food Engine is definitely a heaven for burger lovers, and why not. Served fresh & hot, these burgers are different from the regular ones as Joel uses only the Goan Bread (Poi) to make his burgers. You ’d be spoilt for choice BBQ Chicken, Schezewan Chicken, Grilled Chicken Steak, Pot Roasted Beef, Beef Chilly, Glazed Beef, and the list of burgers go on and on.

They are generously stuffed with Chicken or Beef to the rim so that you take pleasure in every bite of that juicy patty or lip-smacking filling of Chicken or Beef. Ask for a cheese topping and enjoy it till the last bite! Their burgers & sauces are made from scratch, keeping it all absolutely fresh and hygienic. Apart from Burgers, they also serve some mouthwatering Grilled Chicken Steak, Chicken Wings, and Beef Chilly. To accompany your burger, you can also try their choice of fries Fries with garlic mayo, peri-peri mayo, chicken & cheese, beef & cheese. Now that’ s something you ’d not want to miss! They are open from 5:30 p.m. and run till 8:30 or 9:00 p.m on all days except Thursdays. However, a tip here; try to head over earlier before they run out of stock - it says a lot about how much demand the food at the Food Truck has! What more? Food Engine serves some amazing off-the-menu stuff on weekends, which is why you should definitely drive down to Vagator on a Saturday-Sunday. The Food Truck is located on the Vagator-Anjuna road near AJ Supermarket and is easily found on Google Maps. Either way, you could visit the Vagator, Ozran, and Anjuna beach in the vicinity and then head to the Food Engine to grab a bite or rather take a special trip only to try out what’ s on their menu - it is going to be totally worth every penny!

CAPE GOA- THE PERFECT ROMANTIC GETAWAY!

By Jade Dsa Images - Jade Dsa

I visited the insanely beautiful Cape Goa in Cabo De Rama – a romantic resort that hugs the rocky hillside, overlooking the ocean. In the unlikely event that you haven ’t heard of the Cape Goa, I can bet you ’d have definitely spotted their iconic gateway on Instagram as most travellers and influencers make it a point to travel here just for that one epic photograph!

GETTING THERE Cape Goa is very close to the Cabo de Rama Fort, and about 20 minutes away from the more popular tourist areas of Agonda and Palolem. You should be able to get a taxi from anywhere in Goa (it may cost you an arm and a leg), or be able to drive up in your own vehicle with ease. Since public transport is scarce in Goa, and more so in the South, driving up to the Cape by yourself would be your best bet. It is a beautiful drive, by the way! Apart from the Cabo De Rama Fort, there isn ’t anything to see in the vicinity. The resort is surrounded by bare, rocky hills and plains. This is why the property is best suited to serenity seekers, and less so for families in search of the next thing to do. The minute you approach the Cape, you instantly know that paradise is waiting on the other side. With the entrance framing the sky, sea and palms beyond, it’ s literally like walking into a vacation! If only it was that easy to step into holiday-mode every time. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW The Cape Goa enjoys an absolutely incredible location, guaranteeing some great sunsets! Offering dramatic views of the sea and palm trees cascading down the hillside, there ’ s not an inch of the property that won ’t take your breath away! It is one of Goa ’ s most romantic hideaways and one of the best resorts in the south – perched on the hillside between sea and sky, with picture-postcard views in every direction. Unlike most luxury hotels in Goa, this one

doesn ’t have well manicured lawns, a huge swimming pool, a posh reception and all the frills that come with a five-star property. But given the sumptuous rooms boasting of an incomparable panorama of the coastline, combined with impeccable hospitality,

this magical property features on most bucket lists, captivating offbeat luxury travellers. The property is divided into 2 sections, with two beautiful entrances – one leading to the restaurant and one to the resort. While there is a connecting route between the hotel and the restaurant from the middle, it is guarded at both ends by security guards – so only hotel guests are allowed on the hotel premises. The restaurant is open for all. Something you should also know is that the Cape – both restaurant and hotel have several rocky steps that you will need to climb. And if you ’ re a hotel guest, expect to make several trips up and down to your room and to the restaurant for meals. So if you ’ re shaky on your feet or have week knees, you may want to park yourself in your fabulous room and order room service THE ROOMS You ’ll be torn between sitting on the deck and enjoying the view, or heading indoors to enjoy the plush comfort that Cape Goa rooms offer! With a jacuzzi on the deck of every room, large wooden chairs, a table, and two beach-beds to lie on and gaze up at the stars at night – it’ll take you the entire duration of your stay to believe that this is real life! Sliding glass doors lead you to your room that boasts of a California king bed, powerful airconditioning, TV, and tasteful wooden furniture – a dining table, a work desk and chair, a divan, wardrobe – a beautiful amalgamation of old-world charm, modern luxury and beachside calm. But wait, if you thought that the deck or the room were the highlights of the stay, you ain ’t seen nothing yet! The bathroom is where it’ s at! Spacious, with a touch of wilderness, half the bathroom had a thatched roof while the other half was open to sky.

It had a tree growing through it, lots of plants, both inside and out, wall decor made with sticks, rocks jutting out of the walls, and pebble-lined patch to stand on while you shower! The side of the bathroom that is by the shower has glass windows from end to end – and mustering the courage to shower by the window can take a few minutes! But don ’t worry, once you ’ re under the shower, watching the birds and squirrels in the trees and the the view of the horizon, will send a thrill down your spine, make you forget your inhibitions and leave you feeling so refreshed! That evening, I followed the steps down, passed a few other villas, down to a sleepy beach, occupied by a couple of friendly dogs who accompany you as you walk in the surf. It is barely half a kilometer long, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in serenity! Relaxation is the name of the game at The Cape – sleep, eat, drink, soak in the jacuzzi, walk on the beach and relax – there ’ s nothing more to do, which was great because that’ s exactly what I needed after a year of overworking myself. I headed back down to the beach early the next morning for about half an hour, before heading back and grabbing a coffee in the jacuzzi! AMENITIES The room closest to the ocean is the spa and the only regret I have is that I didn ’t pamper myself with what could have been a very relaxing massage with a view! A day ’ s stay was too short to enjoy a spa sesh. And given the choice between enjoying the sunset from the deck outside my room with a cup of tea, and a massage, I’d choose the former! THE FOOD AND RESTAURANT Whether you ’ re staying at The Cape Goa or not, you can take in cerulean blue sea from the restaurant – which is something most people visiting Cabo de Rama do. Day or night, the restaurant is abuzz with activity. Given that it is almost always full to capacity, the staff manage the restaurant with ease. Service is attentive and quick. I tried the Malai chicken tikka and Blue Cheese Salad on the afternoon that I checked in to the hotel on. I’d recommend choosing items from the Continental section of the menu during your stay. Oh yes, and needless to say, breakfast at The Cape Goa is complimentary with your stay. If you ’d ask me whether a stay here is worth the price, and I’d say it’ s definitely something you need to experience once in a lifetime –whether on a milestone birthday, an anniversary, honeymoon or a well-deserved treat to yourself. Keep in mind – this is not a hotel you go to if you ’ re looking for adventure and family entertainment. It’ s a hotel for rest, relaxation, spa treatments, and leisure. My time here was over in the blink of an eye, so it’ s nice to simply slow down and relish every moment.