PRESERVING GOAN CULINARY CULTURE

Chef Fernando’s
Nostalgia

Margarida Tavora e Costa

Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia, originally South Goa’s best kept secret, eventually found its way to the hearts of many connoisseurs driven by the urge to taste authentic Goan food. The legendary Chef Fernando was known to have a deep abiding love for all things Goan and so he devoted his extraordinary capacity for hard work to the cause of Goan cuisine and he served it with love. Today his wife Margarida, who runs the business single-handedly, is the champion of this cause.
The restaurant, which is popularly known as Nostalgia is the only Goan cuisine restaurant in the state serving the whole gamut of Catholic and Goan cuisine. Their speciality is Gosn-style pork dishes including sorpotel, cabidel, feijoada and pork sausage pulao. Just as her husband insisted, Margarida, too, doesn’t compromise on quality. Her policy remains the same as the one that the perfectionist chef Fernando followed , that of not being inthebustnessto serve’restaurantfood’.

Margarida’s keen eye for authenticity and love for home cooked food has gained a reputable name in India. The likes of NDTV, Times City, Outlook Traveller and tripadvisor.com have visited the restaurant and have come out with nothing but rave reviews of both, the food and ambience and ofcourse, Margarida herself. Surely Chef Fernando would have been proud to see the success of his restaurant and its raging fame.

Noltalgia Mask-a-Raid Carnival 2012 Goa

MASK-a-Raid : Carnival Blast at Nostalgia on 19-02-2012 from 7 pm onwards (Dance and Dine till Midnight)
Belinda & Tropicanos, Allan on Percussion, Aggy Santana on the Sax
Dress Code: Fancy Dress / Carnivalesque Attire
ENTRY FREE
(Ala Carte Menu at Reasonable Rates)
Contact Margarida 9822103467
Call Early to avoid Disappointment

CLICK HERE FOR TO VIEW THE CARNIVAL 2011 CELEBRATIONS AT NOSTALGIA

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/will-travel-for-food/a-very-goan-christmas-with-aneesha/219315

Margarida Tavora e Costa receiving the Times Award at the hands of Shri. Pratapsingh Rane at the awards ceremony held at Hyatt

The Time of India – Times Food Award in the Category of Best Goan Portuguese awarded to Nostalgia

“NOITADA PORTU GOESA” -  A Goan Poutuguese Nite

(SUNDAY 18TH DECEMBER, 2011 7.30 P.M. ONWARDS)

Music : VERSATYLE : The newest band in town to keep one in the mood and on the floor (English, Portuguese and Konkani)
Also get enchanted to the magical combinations of Latin/Reggae & Rumba by PANCHO & SAL all the way from Vancouver, Canada

Food: A typical Nostalgia Buffet with Goan & Portuguese delicacies inclusive of BACALHAU.

Rs.1000/- Adults and Rs. 500/- Child (5-10 years) inclusive of Entry/ Table/Chair/Buffet
Call now to avoid disappointment

Margarida 2777054/2777098/9822103467

Join the event on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/events/246002495464615/

BY JOE MASCARENHAS

Address:      Fernando’s Nostalgia, 608 Margarida’s Haunt, No
                          Bairo Ozro, Raia, Salcette Goa403720

Tel no          +91 832 277054, +91 832 277098, +91 9822103467

In the tranquils slow- paced village of Raia, nestled among the lush greenery, is an old Goan theme restaurant known as Fernando’s Nostalgia. The garden setting makes for lovely relaxed atmosphere. It is an extension of a beautifully preserved old Goan House

 Down memory lane is not just a phrase but an actual trip to one of Goa’s best kept food secrets. The legendary late Chef Fernando Costa, known affectionately as Ferdie, was instrumental in making this eatery an institution, and I am proud of anything truly Goan. In the tranquil slow-paced village of Raia, nestled amongst the lush greenery, is an old Goan theme restaurant known as Fernando’s Nostalgia. The garden setting makes for a lovely relaxed atmosphere. It is an extension of a beautifully preserved old Goan house, which is now the residence of Margarida Tavora e Costa … what an elegant gracious lady.

            A large personal collection of artefacts in the form of musical instruments, glass jars, wooden carvings and age-old culinary vessels adorn the restaurant creating a Goan museum ambience in the true Goan spirit.

        The inimitable bar has a wide range of liqueurs, wines to go with the Catholic Goan and Hindu Goan vegetarian cuisine. For starters, one must definitely try the Rissois de Camarao, which is crunchy on the outside and soft inside. it literally melts in your mouth. Another mouth watering dish is the crumb fried mussels that will put you in the mood for some hearty eating. Besides these appetisers there is also dry Bombay duck masala fried and salted ox tongue, which set your taste buds in overdrive.

The restaurant known for being the destination for Goa’s indigenous flavours, has a distinctly selected Goan and Portuguese menu for its esteemed guests with the likes of prawn almondegas, chicken cafreal, stuffed crabs, cataplana de marisco and a variety of seafood carefully prepared to suit your palate. Also hugely popular is the recheiado … be it prawn, fish squids or crabs.

Nostalgia is the only restaurant serving steaming hot sannas (rice cakes cooked with fresh toddy) as an accompaniment to Goa’s iconic sorpotel, -feijoada, prawn balchao, roast suckling pig cabidela and pork vindalho. For special occasions and festive nights Margarida also serves bacalhau – the Portuguese salted cod fish delicacy that one has to acquire a taste for. The signature dish served here is the thick prawn curry with Goan parboiled rice … to die for. The coconut extract and Goan herbs are subtly spiced and soured with kokum.

For the vegans, there is a wide selection of Goan preparations which include vegetables caldinho, chouli ros (black eyed beans cooked in coconut extract and freshly ground spices), alsande tondak (local kidney beans cooked in roasted coconut and spice paste), moongacheo ganteo (sprouted whole moong cooked in coconut paste flavoured with curry patta, mustard seeds and hing).

Desserts include ‘bolo sans rival’, which you will rarely find on any restaurant menu, alle belle and the famous bebinca.

If the upkeep of traditions is your forte, a meal experience here will revive nostalgic memories of Goan cuisine from the days your Shapai (grandpa) used to fancy your Shamai (grandma). Hats off to lady Margarida and her loyal staff sorry extended family. Keep rocking and Goa will rock with you always.