Exotic Goan food along with the 90s songs; a perfect ambiance indeed; Goan Food Festival by Swissôtel Kolkata Neotia Vista is just awesome to go back to the earthiness of Goa! I was invited by Swissôtel to sample the spread of Goan festival at Darbari, their contemporary Indian Restaurant. The menu is crafted properly with a perfect dose of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options and with traditional Goan sweets.
For me, Goa is all about boldness which is not typically Indian but so much Indian and Goanese food is actually reciprocate the same. A combination of both Portuguese and Indian flavors, Goan food is different altogether! It is versatile, it is bold, it is colorful, and comprising of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options Goan food is something that has potential to clean a regular palate. Swissôtel has tried to bring both the earthiness along with the boldness in their Goan spread.
The spread was started with an amazing drink Malichi Curry which I found both refreshing and tangy. I never expected the knock of spices before trying it and found just perfect to my taste-bud and ended of having two shots instead of one.
Malichi Curry! Spiciness at its best
Two types of soup were served; the vegetarian one was Calde Verde, a perfect blend of greens and potato and Supa De Kamaro which is a traditional Prawn based broth was full of taste of spices. Both were worth trying and Supa De Kamaro obviously a special mention as I found the clear broth just perfect.
Calde Verde; Aloo- loaded Goan Soup!
Calde Verde; typical traditional broth flavored with prawn and spices
Having Sabudana Vegetable Vada and Stuffed Mushrooms and listening to the 90s chart-buster was altogether fun! We, a group of food enthusiast and bloggers along with "D" and "H from the hotel itself and enjoyed the next thing served; a prawn cake which they called Ressios de Camarao. It was soft; it was fluffy and full of the flavors. Most of the starters were good but my pick from the spread is nothing but the Sizzling Char Grilled Chicken; perfectly grilled juicy chicken loaded with the flavor of Butter was obviously the best of the lot.
Sabudana Vada; a west Indian delicacy
Stuffed Mushroom
Rissois de Camarao
Sizzling Char Grilled Chicken
Coming to the main course, my best two picks are Goan Fish Curry prepared with King Fish and Goan spices and Prawn Balchow (medium sized prawns cooked in Goan spicy gravy) along with the Sausage Pulao. The Pulao is actually a special mention; perfectly cooked rice with tender Sausage pieces ware worth trying. Apart from those Bhindi Sukhem (Lady's finger fried with coconut and spices) and Vegetable Caladreen (Goan Style Vegetable Stew) were served and taste good. Chicken Xacuti was there and taste moderately good. I found Pao perfectly baked and soft and was going well with the Chicken Xacuti.
Bhindi Sukhem
Vegetable Caladreen
Sausage Pulao
Pao
Prawn Balchow
Goan Fish Curry
Chicken Xacuti
In dessert there were Bhaat (Goan cake prepared with semolina served with Vanilla Sauce) and Crepe Mum where Rice flour crape was served with a scoop of Ice Cream. I found both the dishes moderately sweet and good for my appetite.
Bhaat and Crepe Mum
The Goan Food Festival by Swissôtel Kolkata Neotia Vista is on from 12-22 May, 16 as Ala carte spread.
Disclaimer: Debjani was invited by Swissôtel Kolkata through Kolkata Food Bloggers and the the view presented here is not biased.
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