Tripping on Goa!

This is going to be a detailed post on the eateries we haunted this time in Goa. And also some inane stuff I thought I should mention.

I have always binged on the food in Goa. Not because its a gourmand's delight but because just like Goa makes you thirsty for beer it also gives you hunger pangs at regular intervals.

This time since I had to curb the thirst pangs and satiate it with repeats of soups I made sure I compensated that with all the food I could get into my tummy.

- Lucky Star: Our favourite haunt though this time we didn't hang there as much as previous times. The Nepali waiters there know us by name and Mr. G loves speaking with them in Nepali and doing some serious bonding. Though I am yet to see it translate into some serious discounts for us. Lucky Star dishes out some yummy Butter Garlic Calamari and Squids which is Mr. G's staple diet whilst in Goa. Try their Manchow soup its yummy (can't beat the Kings though!). Also their Tandoori fish is nice with the yummiest salad served along with it. Evenings at Lucky Star are swell. Comfy chairs by the splashing sounds of the ocean. And Himesh Reshammiya competing with The Black Eyed Peas! The music is not worth writing about and its seems to be headed the 'party-sharty way'.

- Mambo's and Titos are best avoided. The Titos lane has lost its charm of being a beachy shacky by lane in Goa and has been transported straight into some by lane in 'the dilli'.

- Brittos is a lovely place to pig out on some scrumptious 'English Breakfast'. Greasy sausages and bacon. Stiff toast with sunny side-up eggs and a cool refreshing tall glass of Orange Juice. The latter being served in a jiffy and the former seems to take forever (almost like the cook has to catch the eggs as soon as its laid)!

- Walk down Brittos to our fave haunt this trip ' Athens'. Thanks to S and the oh-so-typical place he would frequent. The first day they killed us with some 'Fisherman from Goa' songs. Almost like an album made by them. But yes they did play some good Eagles and Don Williams after we made our displeasure clear. The cold coffee is to die for and the wood fire pizzas are outta this world. A must try is the Hot n Spicy pizza. The King Fish with Rechardo sauce is yummy by the beach at night. And not to forget the Goan fish curry and rice.

- Electric Cats. A small shack down Dom Joao's we discovered the last time round and into which we initiated our friends this time. Run by a small stocky ever-smiling Mallu chappie. So unassuming and you wouldn't believe that he owns four such restaurants in Goa. The Prawns and Calamari looked yummy enough to eat. But since I didn't want my tongue curling or me breaking into a rash I avoided those and stuck to (believe it or not) Dal and Roti. And Mr. Mallu sweetly gave me a Manchow Soup (Do I hear a not again!) on the house.

- Lousy Food and Warm Beer. A new place at Candolim run by some friends of S&S. Gavin with his sweet smile and lovely music. Zeereen with a constant cigarette dangling from her lips and her sweet chatter. Its was a lovely place. One that made you feel oh so welcome. I lived up to my oddities and had some palak paneer and rotis. Before I hear an 'Ugh!!' let me tell you that all would vouch that the palak paneer was simply delicious. I danced to some amazing retro that Gavin played a bit too loud and Savz did a crazy jig too.

- Do avoid Mike's hideout unless you fancy some hard-as-rubber Beef Chilly and runny soup.

- The best thing at La Calypso's Water-front was the mouth watering Nougat Butterscotch Cake. It was even yummier since it came complimentary for G's birthday. Its a lovely place but what makes it oh-so-sad is Himesh Reshammiya blaring out at you all the time in his nasal voice!

- The best part about Goa was sitting at the balcony at Dom Joao's bonding over endless cups of tea. Or just staring out into nothingness.

Thanks to all who joined us on this trip. It was great and the Goa hangover is yet to go!