FROM school trips to Sunburn sojourns, Goa has been an annual pilgrimage for me for over a decade now. But on my last visit, I was determined to venture out of the usual fare of cafes and shacks I'd frequented previously. This time, I gave nostalgia a break and adventure a chance. As a vegetarian, I couldn't really go fishing, so I went vegan instead. Here's a guide to every meal I had during a day in Goa, from one moon to another.
Hot Pot For Dinner @ Thyme & Ash
Thyme & Ash, the continental restaurant on the top floor of The Westin Goa, offers a live hot pot experience like no other. We informed the chef a couple of hours before we intended to have dinner, so by the time we arrived, the back goods were chopped and the pot was already hot. We could choose from an array of options that included cilantro, scallions, Thai basil, asparagus, eggplant and mushrooms. It's a test of patience to see your handpicked vegetables soaking in your choice of sauce (tom yum, for the win) for about 10-15 mins, but let me assure you it's worth the wait. Once we got the chef's green signal, a healthy serving from the hot pot, along with a cocktail of choice, made for the perfect partner as we sat down at a table in the adjoining open space, bathed in moonlight and overlooking the green hills that separate the town from Anjuna Beach.
Goan Thali For Brunch @ The Market
I couldn't have visited Goa and not had the thali. You'd think that a vegetarian Goan thali would not be as tempting as its non-vegetarian counterpart. But the sumptuous servings of The Market at The Westin Goa proved me wrong. With a vegan substitute for every delicacy of the Goan thali, The Market turns out to be a vegetarian's delight. If you're not a fan of Solkadhi, you have the Kokum Sharbat to wash down your meal. I found myself sipping on the Kokum Sharbat after every couple of bites as the perfect palate cleanser.
Sundowner @ Nazare
The Goan thali was enough to keep us full till we drove down to a stunning sundowner spot at Nazare, the beachside restaurant at Beleza by the Beach in South Goa. As we saw the sun go down at Betalbatim Beach, we couldn't help but admire how aptly the restaurant was named. Literally translated as 'views', the "nazare" here weren't limited merely to the horizon. The "nazare" on the table were just as splendid. My sundowner snack was a green, healthy and light mix of crispy, melt-in-mouth avocado toasts, a Lebanese platter, and a dense arugula salad. Each of those dishes went just fine with my cocktail: Purple Haze, a potent blend of gin and raspberry.
Appam-Stew & Coconut Rasmalai For Dinner @ Juju Goa
I consciously chose to eat light at the sundowner only so I could binge more a few hours later at a nearby restaurant, Juju Goa. Tapping my feet to the live band playing Goan music, I indulged in the coriander-infused vegetable stew, served with appam that would melt in my mouth even before I could hum the next line. And of course, I had to end the long day with a dessert. I stuck to the theme and ordered the coconut rasmalai. As rich as the dairy-saturated rasmalai of my hometown Jaipur, yet as light on the stomach as a feather, it helped me stay with just the aftertaste I wanted, till I went to bed. It was the taste of going vegan, of a Goa that I knew existed but seldom experienced.