Brunch is the word, at least in any weekend-related context. It’s a
great way to meet up over a protracted meal, with no need to be up and about on
(usually) a Sunday, that one blessed day off from the usual routine. So let’s
assume that one is doing a drive through the state and looking at a few brunch
options. You would ideally be looking to cover certain regions from north to
south. Hypothetically, let’s drive in exactly that fashion, starting with
Anjuna.
Café Cotinga has been known for a host of reasons, from having great
entertainment on offer, to being open throughout the monsoon, providing a
meet-up point for gastronomical travellers in the area. Situated in the
picturesque Tamarind Hotel, the Sunday Brunch at Café Cotinga is replete with
live screenings of the matches as they play out, special offers on various
items and live music. The scrumptious buffet includes the crowd-favourite Butter
Chicken, Kingfish Masala, Chicken Biryani and others; not to mention the ever
popular homemade desserts such as the Banoffee Pie, Mango Cheesecake and so on.
As the drive continues further south, one can quite literally get lost
in the maze that is Baga, and wind up at the Tex-Mex hub that is Habanero – a
place where deadlines are forgotten and the fact that a gruelling work week is
only a few hours away no longer plays on one’s mind. Habanero’s Fiesta de
Brunch includes everything that people have come to love about Tex-Mex cuisine.
From burrito bowls to soft shell calamari tacos, you get the best of seafood,
meats and vegetarian options. The brunch also includes a newly opened
microbrewery offering three special brews, plenty of cocktails and a live burrito
station. Habanero is another establishment that will stay open throughout the
monsoon.
The drive southward now brings us to the capital, Panjim, where the Goa
Marriott Resort and Spa beckons. The property offers a series of signature
counters for their brunch spread, including a live oriental counter, with stir
fry, noodles and other oriental dishes prepared with ingredients chosen by diners,
a biryani counter, a live grill station with steak, pork chops and other meats,
and a chaat counter. One can also dig into the fresh pizza and
pasta on offer, which, like the oriental counter, is made with ingredients
chosen by the diners themselves. The dessert counter here has about 16 desserts
to choose from.
If by some chance you have it in you to move further south once again,
then a challenge certainly awaits you. The Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa in
Arossim has thrown down the gauntlet, saying that they have a brunch…and then
some. They’ve gone as far as to say that their Sunday ‘Pranzo’ ensures
that brunch is passé. Based at the property’s Italian restaurant,
Da Luigi, the affair showcases Italian family recipes served over an
interactive buffet as well as pan to plate offerings, customised to diner’s
preferences. In addition to the Italian-themed cuisine, the establishment also
showcases one distinct cuisine every Sunday. The food trail will encompass
Italian recipes like wood-fired pizza, exotic homemade pasta, authentic
risotto, balsamic roast chicken, braised lamb, a frito misto station, arancini,
an anti pasti station and more from Executive Chef Franco
Canzano’s family recipes as well as refreshing theme-based cocktails. In
addition to the Italian food and cocktail story, each Sunday will also showcase
one of five distinct cuisines from Asian, Indian, Spanish Tapas, Arabic or Thai
themes.
So if Sunday easy eating is your thing, depending on where you live and
what catches your fancy, there’s certainly a little something for everyone.
It’s just a shame that the weekend is so far away right about now.
