On this week’s Humans of Goa series, we have a quick chat with Yellow Mehra, proprietor of Fiesta Goa Resort and Restaurant in Baga.
We spoke to her about her journey from Germany to running Fiesta in beautiful Baga; and her preference between North and South Goa?
Humans of Goa is our original and official series that shares inspirational stories from the lives of Goans.
Let’s get a glimpse of her life.
Yellow Mehra was born in Munich to an Indian father and a German mother. She spent her early years in the throes of the hippie movement, her name itself a vestige of its colourful sensibility.
“My childhood was filled with haute couture, silks and brocades, the theatre and drama of fashion, and the path-breaking vibrancy of colour that her parents brought to Germany’s then muted palette.”
Both her parents were fashion designers, with her father being an overnight success after a particularly risqué show.
Passionate about the hospitality industry, Yellow started her restaurant Fiesta – A fine dining experience, at age 19.
Her restaurant was the first Italian restaurant in Goa and also the first to have a wood fired pizza oven in India.
“I debuted in the modelling world at age 12 and started my own restaurant when I was just 19. Initially I was a self-taught chef, but later I trained under a German chef. I always wanted to be in hospitality.”
Shuttling between Goa and Munich gave her a unique opportunity to learn under one of the best chefs in Germany, Alfos Schubeck, and used the knowledge to develop Fiesta into one of the best restraints in India.
“I loved the supermodels of the 90s all of them. As a model I was not successful, I was sadly so always at the wrong time at the wrong place. In India the industry wanted Indian models. And in Germany they wanted German models. Since I was mixed, there was no market fit for me at that time. People wanted stereotypical faces.”
“I started Fiesta Beach Resort in 2016 in a charming colonial home. Here you’ll find yourself far away from the bustle right outside, but as the sun sets and you step onto the strip, you’ll discover another world that awaits you outside those heritage wooden doors.”
Yellow’s creativity expands to interior design as well. She has also designed the interiors for Hotel Clematis in Candolim, Club Fresh in Morjim, Coco do Mar in Candolim and Fiesta The Resort in Baga.
“I think the moment that changed everything was the birth of my son, Kaii.”
Yellow has also indulged in modelling, and has worked for big brands in Europe and India, including Allen Solly, the Times of India, Wills Lifestyle and Fiama di Wills.
She has advertisement campaigns including Airtel, Fair & Lovely and Kinder Joy to her credit.
As a business woman, chef, interior designer, model and epicurean, she has brought creativity and passion together, and like a prism, dispersed it in many wonderful ways.
The owner of a restaurant, Fiesta, on Goa’s Baga beach, Yellow is also an interior designer and salsa dancer.
“The biggest challenge of being a restauranteur is that it takes a lot of your time and you are always working when others are on holiday.”
“I don’t want to leave a legacy behind, just a financial and emotional secure space for my son.”
“Between North or South? Well, North is work and South is my time.”
You can catch a snippet of this conversation on ItsGoa‘s Instagram page. Humans of Goa is our original and official series that shares stories from the lives of Goans. ‘Humans of Goa’ celebrates the spirit of every Goan.
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