It’s the wee hours of the night and all of a sudden, I get
these hunger pangs that lead to rumbles in my gut, with the craving for
something that warms the soul beginning to take over. But at this odd hour, all
restaurants are closed and the only option is to visit a place named after
someone’s aunt: Aunty Maria. There are many like me who find themselves in the
same situation after a party or a movie or just out of pure hunger caused by
not sleeping on time. This around-the-clock, crave-quenching station has a very
regular bunch of ravenous individuals, ranging from band members to weary
journalists just coming off their shifts; students taking a break from
studying, party goers who came away semi satisfied and people like me who use
it as an excuse to prolong the evening, or rather morning, just a little
longer, everyone heads to Aunty Maria.
The food is of good quality, could be better, but at that
hour, it just manages to hit the spot, and makes you want to go back again and
again and again. The number one choice for most is the biryani, which is served
hot with a chilled bowl of raita, and the only thing I add for that extra
texture is some French fries; the combination of spicy succulent meat buried in
aromatic rice, topped with caramelised fried onions, drenched with chilled curd
and vegetables, and eaten with crunchy salty potato strips is a match made in
heaven. The mutton is the best option in the biryani range, but that’s just my
opinion. The only thing that can improve that combination is a side order of
finely sliced onion rubbed with lime, and a nice mango pickle.
For something lighter, the best option is the club sandwich.
The club sandwich would be my favourite anywhere, and although Maria’s version
is not in the top five list, it is on top of the list considering the time that
it is available. What is refreshing is getting a slice of pork ham thrown in
there, the way it’s meant to be, and not some wannabe compressed fowl
forcemeat.
The coleslaw is full of flavour, the vegetables are crisp
and the ratios of egg, chicken salad and ham are just right with a side of
chips, the one thing that is always ordered by anyone going out to a restaurant
in Goa, especially with kids. The chicken Caesar is not really a chicken Caesar
but is a nice chicken salad, and for the first time in the history of chicken
salad, served with too much chicken, which is not necessarily a bad thing to
the layman, but to a chef it’s all about ratios and balance. The grilled
sandwiches are good, but then how many things grilled in a load of butter will
not be awesome. Their stuff on the counter is nice, not thrilling, but nice,
and if time is not on your side, the thick non flaky croissants are not bad,
the cakes and pastries are good, in fact they are better than some full time
pastry shops around the city.
So, if late night hunger or just cravings get the better of
you, there’s a Portuguese nobleman’s aunt called Maria that can be of
assistance.
