Newly opened- Goan Tiger Restaurant and Bar – Candolim Goa.

I am pleased to inform you all, that Sheryl and Francis the previous owners of Tiger Bar, Candolim have now opened a new garden restaurant. Their new place is called GOAN TIGER. Located after Highland Holiday Resort, Candolim. Next to Flambé Restaurant.

Open now all day for: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Serving Indian, Goan, Chinese and continental.

Seriously! When your husband wakes you at 1am and there is a cyclone in Goa.

At 1 am this morning, hubby woke me.
"Jo, we need to get the lounge terrace blinds down."
Seriously! I was having a really.... nice dream about Michael Bennett a fictional detective I was reading before going to sleep. "Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously."
Shuffling into the lounge, hubby fetched the ladders.
"Seriously, there's a frigging cyclone out there and you afraid of heights, want to get on a ladder two floors up in a cyclone?"
Holding the ladder, the rain thrashing down and the wind so strong I thought it would take the blinds and hubby.
As 16 feet of blinds fell to the floor in a heap, hubby disembarked from the ladders.
"Seriously?" I said, as he went back inside to close the doors. "You’re just leaving them here?"
"Jo there's a frigging cyclone. Are you happy now, the blinds are down? Go back to bed."
SERIOUSLY! 

Lunchtime review of Great-E-Punjab Fort Aguda Road Calangute Goa

Great-E-Punjab is a recently opened restaurant, near Jambhleshwar Temple, Fort Aguda Road Calangute. Menu offers veg, non veg, Punjab, South Indian, tandoori and seafood. Service was okay, staff seemed pleasant and surroundings, clean and tidy.

What we ordered

Veg Kofta Masala, Mixed Veg Masala and Veg Biryani.

Veg Kofta Masala-Rupees 170/£1:94/€2.19/₽155.20/$2.40 2 medium sized koftas

lightly browned on the outside, but oh my! So light and fluffy on the inside, they just melted in your mouth. Then the gravy sauce. Tiny shards of garlic that just gave an extra something to the masala gravy.

Mixed Veg Masala- Rupees 170/£1:94/€2.19/₽155.20/$2.40 Plenty of vegetables and paneer in a medium, spicy gravy.

Veg Biryani- Rupees 120/£1:37/€1.54/₽109.55/$1.69 more often than not, restaurants use cheap rice, that personally I find to stodgy and sticky for my palate. This was not the case today due to basmati rice being used for a lighter taste. I loved the addition of star anise and cinnamon sticks. Something I always add to my own biryani when cooking at home.

TOTAL SCORES

Staff and ambience: 2.5/5

Food: 5/5  4/5  4/5

Overall score 3:9 Red Hot Chilies Certainly worth a revisit.

My Slow Cooked Coriander Chicken with Cumin and Cardamom Bread Sauce

We customarily have Coriander Chicken for our Christmas Day dinner. However, every so often it makes a welcome change for Sunday dinner. Chicken legs, in a coconut gravy, with lots of fresh coriander and fresh green chillies. Yummy. This Sunday, I tested out a new idea, bread sauce infused with cumin and coriander. Winner, winner to my chicken dinner!

Chicken from Azavedo Farms Candolim Goa Opp Candolim veg market.

Because Azavedo  Farms chicken breasts are so big, there was enough on each leg for Mr R and I to have cold chicken and bread sauce cobs for tea. Spreading the bottom of the cob with horseradish sauce, then spread on the cold bread sauce. Top with chicken and then spread the top of the cob with cranberry sauce. Mummmmm….

Coriander Chicken Serves 2

(Remember just double the amounts for 4)

1 ½ tbsp. sunflower or Vegetable oil       2 large chicken legs      20g fresh coriander leaves

 1-1 ½ large fresh green chillies, deseeded and chopped      1 large onion thinly sliced

3 cloves of garlic chopped      1 tsp turmeric      3/4tsp ground cumin      ¾ tsp ground

 coriander    75ml chicken stock (This can be boiling water with a stock chicken stock

 cube)      150ml coconut milk      1/2tsp salt      Fresh coriander to garnish.

1.       Heat 1 tbsp. of the oil in a frying pan and brown the chicken legs on both sides. While the chicken legs are browning, place the coriander and the green chillies into a processor or blender and blitz until it makes a paste.   Remove chicken and put into slow cooker.  In the same pan, heat the remaining oil and fry the onions over a medium heat until they are soft but not brown.

2.       Stir in the garlic, turmeric, cumin and coriander, stirring for 2-3 mins.  Reduce the heat to very low and add the coriander paste, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes.

3.       Add the stock, coconut milk and salt and bring to the boil. Then pour over the chicken legs.

4.       Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 1/2 – 5 hours. Or until the juices of run clear when skewered.

5.       Transfer to plate, cover with a little of the gravy sauce and sprinkle with coriander. Put the remaining gravy sauce into a gravy boat.

NOTE IF YOU WANT YOU CAN DO THIS ON THE OVEN TOP IN A HEAVY BASED PAN. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, INSTEAD OF PUTTING CHCIKEN IN SLOW COOKER ON STEP 1 JUST LEAVE TO ONE SIDE. CARRY ON UNTIL STEP 4 AND INSTEAD, ADD THE CHCIKEN, COVER AND SIMMER FOR 50 MINS.  CAREFULLY TURNING THE CHCIKEN OCASSIONALLY.  

Cumin, cardamom Bread sauce. Serves 2

1 large onion peeled      4 cloves      1 bay leaf      3 peppercorns     3 cardamom pods      

2 tsp cumin seeds       ½ pint milk      2 slices medium sliced bread broken up into bits

     20g butter       salt and freshly ground pepper

1.       Stud the onion with the cloves then place into a milk saucepan with, bay leaf, peppercorns, cardamom pods and cumin. Bring to the boil then remove the pan. Leave on the side for 5-10 minutes longer if you wish a more intense flavour.

2.       Remove the onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and cardamom pods. Mix in the bread bits.

3.       Return the pan to the heat and cook gently stirring so the bread is absorbed into the milk and it becomes quite thick. But don’t let it stick to the bottom of the pan.

4.       Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and then season to taste.   

Lunchtime Review – Husna Dine family restaurant Panjim Goa

MR R and I have frequently passed Husna Dine. Obviously a popular place, as always seeing people coming and going. So it will come as no surprise, Husna Dine has been on my- to review list, for some time.

Husna Dine, is a small, simple restaurant, but I always say, I’m not bothered about plush surroundings as long as the food is good. And it was.

Upstairs, there is an air conditioned section.

The menus covers a wide selection: Indian Chicken, Mutton, North Indian, Seafood, Goan South Indian, Tandoori and snacks. All reasonable priced.

What we ordered:

Veg Diwani Handi, Bhendi Masala, Rice and 2 Roti

Veg Diwani Handi Rupees 160/£1.85/$2.59/€2.33

Oh my goodness, this was a never ending bowl of sheer delight. A rich creamy curry made with cashew paste, onions, tomatoes and cream. A sweet and mild taste.

Bhendi Masala Rupees 160/£1.85/$2.59/€2.33

Boy this was darn good. The tangy gravy lifted sweetness of the okra

Rice Rupees 40/£0.46/$0.56/€0.50

Roti Rupees 15/£0. 17/$0.21/€019 Great rotis.

Ample size portions for two and value for money.

THE SCORES:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3/5 

STAFF SERVICE 5/5

HYGIENE 3.5/5 I only give this score as the restaurant was a worn, almost certainly from the amount of customers passing through. But as far as food wise, i.e. cutlery, food and staff I found no issues.    

FOOD 5/5 5/5  

OVERALL SCORE 4.2 Red Hot chillies 

Would I go again? Oh yes, now on my places to eat in Panjim list.

Husna Dine family restaurant

EL-Dorado Plaza

Municipality Market

Panjim

Goa

Lunchtime review Krishna’s Café - Panjim Goa

I was contacted by Krishna’s Café via Instagram, to sample their Famous Mumbai’s Amul Pav- Bhaji.

On this recommendation, Mr and I scheduled a visit during our shopping trip to Panjim, on Monday.

First Impression

A bit of a Subway vibe going on, with the light wood tables, steel chairs and colourful murals. Downstairs are a four tables, with more seating upstairs. Both areas were clean, tidy and well maintained.

The menu is small, but offering a good selection of snacks, sandwiches, thali, Bhaji, Mocktails, juices, ice cream and hot beverages.

All the staff, very pleasant and attentive.

There is also a toilet and hand wash area upstairs, again clean and looked after.

What We Ordered

Mr R and I decided to share two meals. Krishna’s Veg Thali and as recommended, Mumbai’s Amul Pav-Bhaji.

Mumbai’s Amul Pav-Bhaji Rupees 80/£0.93 /€1.04 /$ 1.16  

A Pav-Bhaji began a fast food lunch for Mumbai’s mill workers in the Mid-eighteen hundreds. Now served in restaurants and street carts around India and aboard.

There are many variations of Pav -Bhaji, but it is essentially a spiced mixture of mashed vegetables in a thick gravy and served hot with a soft white bread roll.

If you worry about your cholesterol, then I suggest to choose the plain Pav-Bhaji. This dish is seriously a butter overdose. A warm bread roll soaked in butter. As I type I can almost feel it dribbling down my chin. The bhaji itself, was very tasty. Not spicy just pure indulgence of a buttery decadence. Combing the accompaniment of chopped onion, really enhanced the flavour for me. 5/5

Full Veg Thali Rupees 110/£1.28/€1.43 /$1.60  

Thali is actually the name of the metal plate it is served on. The idea of this dish is, it combines all the six flavours for a balanced meal. Sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy.

This dish, rocked my world. Three Sabzi (vegetable curries and pickle)

The paneer (Firm cottage cheese) and mutter (pea) was awesome. A good portion of paneer and peas, in a superb, thick gravy.  Pepper sabzi was scrummy.

Two potato fritters, in a light batter. Just right for dipping!

A good size portion of rice, 2 chapatti, 2 poppadum’s and yoghurt. The sweet custard and fruit was very good.

On a negative point the dal was wishy, washy. In fact it wasn’t nice at all, and skimpy salad. Nevertheless because I loved everything else, the flavours and value for money, I am still going to give the thali 5/5

THE SCORES:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 4/5  STAFF  (I give this only because, in the downstairs eating area was an electric fly catcher on the floor. It put me off a little hearing it cissing. Although I noticed it had been removed as we were leaving. )

SERVICE 5/5

HYGIENE 4/5  (Again the fly catcher. )

FOOD 5/5 5/5   

     OVERALL SCORE 4.6 Red Hot chillies 

Would I go again? Oh yes, will certainly be back. Great food, good service and my favourite- value for money.

Thank you Krishna’s Café for inviting us.

Krishna’s café

18^th June Road Panjim

Next to HDFC Bank, opp Yes Bank

https://krishnas-cafe.business.site/

Instagram @Kirshnascafe.panjim