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Goan Food And Drink
Goa has few of the dietary restrictions or taboos that apply in their
regions of India, both Hindu and Muslim. Here the idea of vegetarianism is
probably more equated with poverty than purity, and drinking alcohol is
not the shameful activity as it is elsewhere. The Goan Palate relishes
meat, especially pork, and all kinds of fresh seafood.
Eating Patterns
Food is usually served in bowls and placed on long tables surrounded by
several chairs, where the whole family can sit together for a meal. A meat
or fish dish is a must in every meal, but vegetables are also essential.
The vegetables are usually cooked without any spices or masalas unlike the
northern cuisine. There is no special style as such in eating food in Goa.
All the dishes are eaten together as usual in plate.
The Portuguese Delicacies
Not unnaturally, after 450 years of colonization, Goan cooking has
absorbed a strong Portuguese influence. Palm vinegar, copious amounts of
Coconut, Garlic, Tangy Tamarind and fierce local chillies all play their
part.
Goa is the home of the famous Vindaloo, originally an extra-hot and sour
pork curry, but now made with a variety of meat and fish. Other Pork
specialties include Chourico red Sausages, Sarpotel, a hot curry made from
pickled pig's liver and heart; Leitao, suckling pig; and Balchao, pork in
a rich brown sauce. Delicious alternatives include vinegar chicken, spicy
chicken or Mutton Xacutti, made with a sauce of lemon juice, Peanuts,
Coconut, chillies and spices. Sea Food
The choice of seafood, often cooked in fragrant masalas, is excellent -
Clams, Mussels, Crab, Lobster, Giant Prawns - while Fish, depending on the
type, is either cooked in wet curries, grilled or baked in Tandoor clay
ovens. Try Ape de Camarao, a spicy prawn pie with a rice and Semolina
crust. Sannam, like the south Indian iddli, is a steamed cake of fermented
rice flour, but here fermented with palm Toddy (also spelt as Todi). Sweet
tooths will adore Bebinca, a rich, delicious solid Egg Custard with
coconut.
Fruits
When it comes to fruits Goa have the Pineapple, the Melon, the Banana,
the Pawpaw, the Custard Apple etc., but surpassing them all is the MANGO.
One can find a huge variety of them but the sweetest, the most luscious
and the most ravishing in taste, are the "Alphonso", the "Fernandina"
and the "Malcorada", and without exaggeration, the best in the
world.
Pastries
Pastries are almost a part of every common meals as well as occasion and
feast in Goa. 
Christmas
and the Ganesh Festival are occasions when they are prepared in all their varieties. Being the
land where coconut is abundant it is not surprising that in quite a good
number of these sweets coconut milk is used. However, the queen of the
delicacies is the "Bebinca". It is made of eggs, pure ghee,
flour, coconut milk and sugar. Other Goan pastries would include "Doce",
"Cokad", "Dodol", "Bolinhas" and "Jia
de Aronhas".
Rice Dishes
Rice is an important item of Goan diet. One will find it at every table
and almost at every meal. Rice is eaten with delicious fish or meat curry,
or in the form of "Pulao", and many other ways. A leavened and
steamed bread called "Sana", another a round pastry called "Oddo",
the steamed South Indian "Dossa" and "Iddli", a great
number of sweet dishes made with rice and jaggery etc. are some of the
regional preparations of Goa.
Cocktails
As for drinks, locally produced Wine, Spirits and Beer are cheaper than
anywhere in the country, thanks to lower rates of tax. The most famous and
widespread Beer is of course Kingfisher, which tastes less of Glycerine
preservative than it does elsewhere in India.
Goan Port, a sweeter, interior version of its Portuguese namesake, is
ubiquitous, served chilled in large wine glasses with a slice of lemon.
Local whiskies, brandies, rums, gins and vodkas come in a variety of brand
names come at affordable prices a shot, but at half the price, local
specialty Feni, made from distilled cashew or from the juice of coconut
palms, offers strong competition.
Feni
- The Most Popular Drink of Goa
Besides its other delicacies, Goa is famous for its exotic drink - Feni. On your travel trip to Goa don't forget to
buy Feni, an idle gift back home. It is a strong drink usually made through Cashew apple.
