The café concept was started by joao Camilo Jorge in Goa way back in 1956, during the Portuguese era. He set up a modest little bar and restaurant nestled at the foot of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panaji. It was a time when students of the Lyceum College sipped on authentic Caju Feni and Vinho Tinto over crumb fried Pork Chops or Beef Courgettes, made by the matriarch of the house, the present owner Eddie’s mother. The students signed a little register as they staggered out in high spirits when they finished their meals, their payment were collected at the end of each month. Very little has changed from that period, except perhaps the mode of payment. The crumb fried Pork Chops (Rs. 85) and the Beef Courgettes are still the hottest selling item. Locals queue every morning to pick up a portion of those juicy croquettes as a mid morning snack which is sold out before 11 am.
The lower level of the restaurant has retained that cramped noisy charm with payment taking place at the cashier seated at the door. Old favourities like the crumb fried mussels and Aadache(bone) beef broth as mother makes it with the macroni, vauchi (home grown spinach), potatoes and carrots makes a wholesome meal. My personal favourite is the Sorpotel and the Sausage Pualo, the lemon yellow rice covering the spicy sausage meat takes me into a different realm of Sunday lunches in grnad salas. It’s an informal place steeped in homespun culinary history from Catholic Goan kitchens and joie de vie.
