Sun, sea, sand and drool-worthy food at every corner. That is the essence of Goa. For centuries people have been visiting India’s smallest state and falling under its spell. For foodies, it’s a haven with a unique melange of cultural and historical influences colliding on a plate. For internationally renowned Chef Gary Mehigan, Goa is weaving a new kind of magic.
The ex-Masterchef Australia judge has been on a food-centric tour of India, beginning in Kerala he enjoyed an Onam feast before moving on to Mumbai’s iconic street food and Irani cafes. He then returned to God’s Own Country to sample the magic of Munnar's spice and tea gardens and now he’s made a stop at everyone’s favourite holiday destination, Goa.
Getting acquainted with the beach bum life he started off the journey with the Goan staple of Chicken Xacuti with notes of cinnamon, coriander and coconut. And since no visit here is complete without sampling the iconic Goan sausage he enjoyed a helping of that and was especially enamoured by the Poee that came alongside. , “Bread made from bran flour was rock ‘n’ roll,” he says on his Instagram page, “Straight away you get the sense that the food here is totally different.”
He then made a stop at Mickey’s in Colva where he went behind the scenes to admire their Surmai Recheado. In Portuguese, the word Recheado means stuffed and according to Mehigan, their preparation includes red chilli, garlic, cumin, pepper and vinegar to name but a few of the ingredients. He liked it so much that he added a Prawns Recheado to that order plus he got another dose of Goa Sausage in their signature Sausage Special Naan. You can never have too much choris, right Chef?
He’s spoken often about his love of Indian food and culture so to see the country through his eyes has been a heartwarming treat. As he continues on his Indian adventures, we’ll be staying glued to our screens to check out what delectable dishes he’ll be diving into next.