The Goan Culinary Club Event at O Coqueiro on the 14th August,2012 Four months after initiating the Goan Cilinary Club, co founders Odette and Joe Mascarenhas with members declared the Club opens to the public. As a kick start to the Culinary festivities to herald in World Goa Day on the 20th August, the meet was held at O Coqueiro one of the first restaurants in Goa serving traditional Goan food. Co founder Odette Mascarenhas introduced the Panel members namely…Master Chef Urbano Rego, noted historian Maria de Lourdes Costa Brava Rodrigues. former GM of Taj Joe Mascarenhas son of the legendary Goan Chef Minguel Arcanjo (Masci), and herself, who with their expertise bring to the fore authentic Goan recipes of member establishments. She explained the objectives of the Club namely 1. To promote and Preserve Goan cuisine globally… Recipes shortlisted are put on a ‘Global’ net online and sent to different countries with the help of Mr Rene Baretto (forefather of World Goa Day), so that Goans across the world could avail of the ‘standardized recipes’. 2 .Educating the youth and help preserve the legacy of our culinary culture … Conducting classes for students where food writer Odette Mascarenhas gives a lecturette on the history of Goan cuisine followed by a demonstration by the Chefs. MES college demonstration was by Mr Sylvester D’Souza of Sheela Bar and Restaurant followed by a demo for Fr Agnel Catering Institute by Edia Cotta of Alila Diwa and Don Bosco college students by Mr Peter Fernandes. 3. To promote Christmas sweet making in villages … 4. To work to ensure quality ingredients’ …tamarind, kokum, toddy, vinegar, poie, sausages etc are available to be used and served in all restaurants. 5. Starred Hotels are working in tandem to promote a ‘corner’ for Goan cuisine. 6. Star Hotel chefs as well as local chefs interact with each other to gain the right methods and ideas on Goan cooking from each other. Forgotten preparations like the Samarachi Kodi, Godshem, Aard Maas etc are brought to .the fore for discussion. She also introduced the members of the club who over the months have worked tirelessly in forming the platform of learning and participating to authenticate Goan recipes. Maria de Lourdes Costa Brava Rodrigues then gave a presentation of the History of food down the ages. Keeping in mind with the themes of Gen Next involvement with the Club, Joel Gonsalves gave his own composition of the famous beatles number ‘Yesterday’ his lyrics on nostalgic the youth were about the Goa of yesteryears. Followed by impromptu speeches by Shoanan Gonsalves(St Xaviers College Mapusa), Jinelle and Fatima (Don Bosco College). There was an interactive question and answer session on how the Club should now progress.
The event ended with happy hour, tambola and traditional Goan delicacies prepared by Chef Peter Fernandes of O Coqueiro.