Topic: Booked a holiday in Goa

[spicysarsy]

 Myself and my little flower have just booked a fortnight in Goa {March 2007 } staying Baga which is North Goa, and I was wondering if anyone else out there has been before, and could share some idea's where to eat ect. I understand it is the birthplace of the vinderloo {too hot for me though }. . Cheer's Paul

[Chilli Prawn]

We are trying also to get a holiday in Goa later next year Paul, when the docs have finished messing about with my wife's heart :.  We also want to tour the Indian sub-continent a little and go back to where she taught up North. 

I believe Goa is a beautiful place and a lot of Brits are now buying property and living there now so it will soon be ruined and be full of burger bars, drunks, and fish & chips shops : . 

It was part of the Portugese Empire, and yes they introduced Vindaloo (and Piri Piri) which is a bastardised Portugese word I think meaning wine and potatoes originally.  I guess someone knows here.  I am told that the Portugese introduced Chillis there and some of the other spices.  The Portugese used to uses them for pickling and preserving food.  Did you know that Goans don't like/use Cardamoms?

CP

[spicysarsy]

Hi Chili, I've been looking up The Lonely Planet Guide On Goa, and I've found that the Portuguese apparently used the wine and spices to disguise the smell and taste on rotton meat {Yuk } . I've also discovered that there is a lost colony of hippies in a jungle out there {been there since early late 60's-70's } properly being trained as timeshare touts as we speak. cheer's Paul

[adamski]

I stayed in Baga about 7 years ago with my wife, it was very rural, the food is mainly seafood based.

Very cheap seafood like tandoori lobster, lots of fish dishes.

But the traditional portugese food like pork sorpatel and vindaloo were very odd, nothing like I have ever tasted, the sorpatel was not for the feint hearted (lots of offal).

Try and find either the beach places that serve food or the "posher" hotels, most have live music and the food is fantastic.

Also try the local brew feni (distilled cashnew nuts) its dynamite....

oh and take a torch, at night it's pitch black.

[Chilli Prawn]

Wot no electricity then  :  Bhaji on the beach sounds good.
Cp

[spicysarsy]

In reply to Adamski I've heard that the tastiest dishes can be found served in the beach huts. The local fish delicacy is called pomfret which is caught fresh every day usually by fisherman employed by the beach hut owners. However a friend of mine recommends to refrain from eating from most of the hotel restaunts as the risk of food poisoning is quite high. She also stated that most of the quality open air restaurants cook your meal alfresco and sometimes invite you to take part. Which I would love.