Who would have imagined that our Goan cuisine has become so popular beyond the beautiful coasts of Goa that it has taken root in the tiny Chinese territory of Macau? A region with half the population of Goa and more than 4,000 km away, Macau seems like the most unlikely place for dishes like cafreal, pork chops, and desserts like serradura to be on display at a major event. Well, that’s exactly what’s happening at ‘Goa Nights Goes Goan’ hosted by Goa Nights from the 6th of August to the 11th of August. For one week the restaurant will exclusively exhibit treasures from the Goan kitchen, the dishes we have all grown up loving, in collaboration with none other than the BBQ King of Goa, Vasco Alvares.
What is Goa Nights?
Goa Nights is a Goan restaurant housed in a Portuguese style building in the old Taipa Village of Macau. Being a Portuguese colony till just around 20 years ago in 1999, it wouldn’t surprise many that there is a sizable number of Goans who call Macau home, and Goa Nights is the perfect place for reigniting your connection to Goa. With cocktails named after Goa, the renowned cafe Infantaria, the picturesque Doodh Sagar Waterfalls and one of the oldest and most famous shacks of Goa, Curlies, they have managed to encapsulate the prominent facets of Goan culture. The fact that they have clinched the title ‘Bar of the Year, Macau’ in just 16 months of opening shows how well they have introduced the idea of Goa in Macau. Already equipped with Goan delicacies like Pork Vindaloo and Bebinca in their menu, they are all set to take Goan cuisine to the next level at ‘Goa Nights Goes Goan’ with Vasco Alvares.
The Role of Vasco Alvares
We all know about our Barbecue King, Chef Vasco Alvares but what is he going to be doing there? For starters (pun intended), he is going to be the star attraction of the event as he serves delectable Goan food that will leave the Macanese wanting more with each bite. Having previously participated in Lusofonia 2013, he is no stranger to Macau and his brilliant experience from last time has him excited for the event as we learned in conversation with him. After working in a large scale event like Lusofonia, he is looking forward to this small scale experience of working with Goa Nights. When asked about what he felt about Macanese culture, he said that is predominantly Chinese with notable Portuguese influences such as in the architecture. However, Portuguese is spoken rarely and more confined to old Portuguese-Chinese hybrid restaurants and cafes. In addition to Goan cuisine, he would be open to creating a mix of Chinese and Goan dishes if required. He has drawn a comparison between his style of grilling and the Chinese Xikao technique, which he says is a close variant to the Tandoor style in India.
The Way Forward
Such cultural events help take our Goan culture and cuisine beyond the realm of Western Europe, East Africa, Latin America and the Middle East and into relatively uncharted territories such as China. We hope that more events are organized in the future that will not only give Goa a more global exposure but also help the world discover the hidden treasures of Goa. In case you can’t make it, take a look at their drool-worthy menu!
How exciting is this? Would you try Goan food in Macau? Let us know in the comments below!
