Goa Portuguesa spells love and passion! Elsie Gbariel

               Goa Portuguesa spells love and passion!

What I see in this passionate couple; and their labour of love -the restaurant Goa Portuguesa is a deep connection between food and love!

I recall a quote by Henry Ford-" Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success."

This is exactly what Dr. Suhas Awchat  and Master Chef Deepa Awchat  stand for.

The Goa Portuguesa  at Andheri Mumbai, bang opposite the  MHADA Telephone Exchange, near the Ambani Hospital is a Restobar which serves the best in Goan and Portuguese gourmet cuisines prepared by Master Chef Deepa Awchat .

The restaurant on the first floor is welcoming and has a warm ambience. The chirpy happy ring of the English pop music of the 80s filled the air while dining. Bringing back memories of when the Goa Portuguesa at Mahim, first started in 1988 by the very same gourmet couple, who I believe are madly in love as the first day they met.

Of course their food speaks of it and stands testimony. You should hear Dr.Suhas narrate his version of how he fell in love with this Goan girl Deepa, he recalls every detail of how they both then fell in love with food. That’s how the marriage took place between Goa/Portuguese and Maharashtran cuisine.

 Dr.Suhas speaks very fondly of  authentic Goan vegetarian food and how it is still a myth that people believe that Goans are all about non vegetarian food alone, like pork and fish. The menu spread does equal justice to both non vegetarians and vegetarians. The food spot is hounded by celebrities and socialites who enjoy the Goan Portuguese delights.

The restaurant is upbeat, filled with smells and essence of Goa alright. I was served piping steaming hot Portuguese Shrimp Dumplings with the wildest twist. It had cheese inside. This one is one of my absolute favorites also called  Rissóis de Camarão in Portugese. This was a good way to kick start all my taste buds. I couldn’t wait for more. This is what one calls clever cooking and good service. I left my hungry soul entirely on the staff and I wasn’t disappointed.

I was also served Goan sausage pulav, a little hot and tangy which went down well mixed with the Goan prawn curry in coconut milk. Aromatic and insanely smooth, it complimented the sausage pulav with ease.

I experienced the most refined Goan cuisine in all it’s splendor, believe me the Chicken Xacuti (pronounced shaa-koo-tee) was exotic. They say every Goan guards their recipe of their Xacuti authenticity with his or her life and believe me, this restaurant does the same, there is some hidden magic portion for sure here, I have never tasted better Xacuti anywhere in the world. The ingredients were smoothly fused and you could literally feel the burst of flavours in your mouth  with the smooth curry consisting of  Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, cloves, cumin seeds and of course red chillies and ginger-garlic as well. The coconut milk is not at all overpowering, there is just the right hint of it to sooth the palate. This chicken dish here takes food to a whole new level with the complex layering of flavors and textures.

The menu spelt out many other dishes in addition to serving iconic Goan dishes such as Vindalhoo and Balichao. They have a large offering.

Everything is very fresh and tasty. The Food served  echoes the ethnicity of Goan and Portuguese culture.

I have yet to hear of the Master Chef Deepa Awchat’s version of her love tales, both  about Dr.Suhas and Dakshin Culture Curry/ Diva Maharashtracha, I guess I will wait until my next visit. Meanwhile I washed  down my meal with tangy Sol kadi. So healthy and yet so uplifting!

I believe that Deepa Awchat is a table tennis champion, an ex Customs Officer and now an author too, while Dr. Suhas Awchat is an Ex Army Officer , who is a medical Doctor [F.R.S.H. (UK)], a special Police Officer, winner of President’s Medals and endless laurels, who now successfully plays the role of the Managing Director. 

Now you have Sudeep, their son, who gives back willingly to the food business I hear. Obviously coming from a highly acclaimed restaurateurs family, this second generation MBA expert has grown up on the eclectic cuisines of home made restaurant food which instilled into him the passion for food. His Inspiration, his parents Dr. Suhas Awchat  and Master Chef Deepa Awchat have so rightly passed on the value of good food.

                       Get Goa on your plate, right here in Mumbai, I say, it’s even better! 

Ecological baby footprints are all we need to start…..Elsie Gabriel

Ecological baby footprints are all we need to start…..

Meet Ridge Ferns, the little green man who just turned 12 and recycles his clothes very carefully. No, he doesn’t just wear a pair of jeans for half a day like most kids but he re-wears them for the second or even third day. No and there is nothing wrong in that, believes Ridge. Unless of course your clothes are soaking in sweat and are a dirty due to mud in the fields.

 What Ridge does comes from learning about ecological footprints and carbon footprints, all the energy that goes into washing, travelling or even making a dish. The less the item or product or dish ingredients have used energy ,the better it is, simply because it has used less energy. Most children and young adults simply redo and copy what they see, where behavioural patterns in recycling are concerned, therefore the next time you recycle or reuse ,'tell and show' your little ones….

Ridge will rise early and use his ‘power time’ to first water the plants in the front lobby of their home.He will also inspect and check each plant to see which leaves are dry or which plant has turned more towards the sun. Little details like these help kids connect to nature and have respect for planet Earth. Most children are rarely given the garbage bag to be disposed because the maid or elders in the house do that, traditionally male kids or boys in the Indian/Asian household are rarely taught about house hold chores. But collecting the weekly ‘dry garbage’ bag is what Ridge disposes off himself. Of course he is helped by the family, but then again Ridge is initiated well into recycling lessons from an early age. Ridge uses a timer while bathing and ensures that he puts the shower off while soaping.

 He also goes birding and rafting with his family. Ridge has a seed collection-'Seed Bank' from the fruits he eats. He segregates them according to germination and ready to dry to preserve, and then finds time to plant them in the garden.

Ridge even cooks fresh vegetable ingredients,teaching children to value vegetables from an early age can be a tedious job but none the less worth it. They learn that vegetables come from the offerings from the farm,the ‘mitti’ ‘dharti’ of Mother,so iniatiate slowly but try to buy local and eat local as much as you can.If you cant then simply be aware and you will be drawn into going green in daily life habits.Take them to a farm trip.Enable them to practise a little gardening on Sundays. Connect them to 'Earth'in every way you can...

End of the academic year,Ridge made rough work writing pads out of his left over school copybooks.He also took his school clothes and donated them to a charity where the concept of 're-purpose' was established without making him feel sorry for the under privileged kids he donated to.

Getting children to become green from an early age is good. Teach them to practice green daily like they would bathe daily or do homework daily, it is as simple as that. Ensure that all green habits are supervised and are healthy but none the less enforce them.

1]If we adults tend to preach and bark down at young adults to recycle suddenly in the middle of their teen years, they will snap right back, so tread cautiously.

2]So first of all, as an adult set a good example by not preaching but practicing recycling your self. You must remember to store away trash safely and be green also when no one is looking.

3] Help kids understand how recycling can save mother earth as early as possible. It does not necessary to fill your house with recyclable items just to achieve your goal. Not only making craft items or household gadgets of reused stuff but also connecting to deeply care for earth.

4]Let kids know-Recycling is one way of helping the earth to reduce waste and pollution that are filling the water system and the land as well. Involving yourself together with your kids to activities that promotes recycling is a fun activity for the whole family.

5] Enrolling your kids to programs and different seminars about environment can increase their awareness about recycling.

6]During your vacations take kids along to conservation sites and inculcate environment education which may later help them to take up environment as a career choice.

7]Only serve how much you can eat. Re-serve yourself when you want more. And store away food for the next day without a blink to re use …reusing food is no more a shame, thousands of people in India and Africa die everyday due to starvation. Thousands of garages and warehouses filled with grain in countries rot due to storage practices and hoarding. So keep a balance, eat fresh but don’t waste.They have more taste as the ‘’seasoning’ 'masala' permeates the dish and marinates the food.

8]Now there is no turning back, the only way is the green way, life has to come full circle.Tell your kids stories about the curd being set in earthen pots and grandparents using ‘kapde’ ke bags for the 'sabji mundi' and families using ‘patal’ leaf plates during religious and wedding functions..

Ridge at a cycle rally on no car day...

India was always eco friendly and suddenly the wave of new found wealth or may be fake modernism has gripped our society where we want everything ‘new’ and ‘more’ maybe ‘keeping up with the jones world’ or  through TV or the digital world.....just because…just because …period ..no reason….just want an instant coffee world and quick fix life……slow down …enjjoyyyyy, relish the moment…….get out more often..as much as you can....

So, if you want to learn more about, water foot prints, food footprints, carbon footprints or even clothes footprints, simply write in here at this blog and we will share.

CJ Elsie battles to save the Powai Lake

http://mytravefootprints.blogspot.in/

Dia Mirza - A Woman Of Substance

http://mytravefootprints.blogspot.in/

Ecological roots are found in clay idols. Elsie Gabriel Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. Young Environmentalists NGO.

Ecological roots are found in clay idols. Elsie Gabriel Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. Young Environmentalists NGO.

Ecological roots are found in clay idols . Eco Friendly festivals.

Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year.

Making idols of Clay is an ancient craft and is basically a tradition which can be revived in cities  too, to help find our ecological roots. Clay art has transformed but believe me till this day artists make idols for Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha, for the annual festivals out  of river mud or clay as a major source of employment. Making clay idols is nothing new. We simply have to revive it. Potters made a livelihood out of this creative art. 

Miss Earth Nicole Faria promoting Eco Ganesha environment with Actor Gary Richardson and Dr.Batra.

In the ancient times of course our first farmers were connected to earth through agriculture and then the potters were  also closely connected to earth by clay crafts. Local clay and earthen crafts are till today  an integral part in the Indian rural scenario, despite  the rapid social and technological changes that are taking place.

The most common example around you is the terracotta idols you see in art shops or in villages. Terracotta objects are mostly built by molding the clay with hand or with the wheel. Terracotta is extensively used for making deity images in temples and other monuments. Clay artists made utensils for cooking, made bricks and even curios.

There fore year after year we the Young Environmentalists NGO here in Mumbai keep teaching the youth and community how to make their own Ganesha idols.One can’t merely tell people to be Eco-friendly, but when you show them how, you bring out the artist in them.Not only do they understand the concept of an eco friendly idol, they pledge never to buy a POP idol. They in turn spread the ecological message during the festival,simply by doing and watching. This i sour tenth year teaching people to make eco clay Ganesha idols,which are fun and interactive clay therapy sessions as well.

Actress and celebrity activist promoting Young Environmentalists Eco Ganesha.

  Step one- take any good garden clay right from your own back yard which is free, potters clay for a minimal amount or silt from the river bed. For the last ten years we have been using clay from the  River Mithi and Powai lake silt to create awareness about the water bodies.Clean it and sieve it and cure it till it becomes earth which feels like clean soft putty in your hands.
Use the right amount of water,not too much and not too little.Y ou will know when it’s right enough when it feels like kindergarten clay. The fact that;you are playing with clay is healing and connecting you to Mother Earth ,even without you realizing it.  

 Make two parts.One portion gola or round earth bigger in size you can keep for the body or torso  of the Lord Ganesha. Remember to give the idol a sweet little
'paunch' or stomach by which Lord Ganesha is so fondly known for. Mold it in your hands and let it sit on the ground flat.You can create a clay platform  for the idol way in advance or have a wooden tiny stage to place your idol on. Now make another gola or ball using the smaller portion.This is what you will make the head with. Give good finishing touches to them. Now place the smaller portion on top of the bigger portion and smoothen out the attachment by pinching and pressing both parts to make the body look even.Use little water to smoothen. 

Actress Bhagyashree endorsing Young Environmentalists NGO eco Ganesha idol making workshop.

Keep a picture of Lord Ganesha near you while sculpting so you can get an idea of what you would like your idol to look like.Be free,let your energy flow and simply give  in to creating your own very design.There is no hard and fast rule.Now get a third portion and roll out a long trunk, twisting it to the right.Attach the trunk to  the body smoothly again. Use two cylindrical long portions of clay to make the hands and keep another two elongated portions to create the legs.Attach them to the torso like in the picture in front of you. Be as unique and creative as you want.The more you work on the idol the more you will see a beautiful Ganesha murti emerging right before your very eyes. Make two large button size clay ears.Make them large and fanciful or elongated to look artistic  like in the picture.  

Teaching how to make Eco Ganesha idols for the last ten years...

Actress TV Star Ritu Vij promoting eco Ganesha.

Teaching how to make Eco Ganesha idols for the last ten years...

Once you finish the hands, legs and trunk, shape and texture the sculpture into its final shape by using toothpicks or a carving blunt knife. Use your remaining clay to add details like ‘modaks’ in one hand of the idol, a ‘mukut’ crown for the Lord and even create the ‘mouse’ or vehicle of Lord Ganesha.Ganesha's divine vehicle as it is said, the mouse or mooshikam represents wisdom You may leave it artistically raw in colour or shape or colour it with eco friendly colours and flowers.

Ecological roots are found in clay idols. Elsie Gabriel Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. Young Environmentalists NGO.

Ecological roots are found in clay idols . Eco Friendly festivals.

Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. 

Making idols of Clay is an ancient craft and is basically a tradition which can be revived in cities
 too,to help find our ecological roots.Clay art has transformed but believe me till this day artists 
make idols for Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha,for the annual festivals out  
of river mud or clay as a major source of employment. Making clay idols is nothing new. 
We simply have to revive it.Potters made a livelihood out of this creative arts. In the ancient times
 of course our first farmers were connected to earth through agriculture and then the potters were
 also closely connected to earth by clay crafts. Local clay and earthen crafts are till today 
an integral part in the Indian rural scenario, despite  the rapid social and technological changes that are taking place.

The most common example around you is the terracotta idols you see in art shops or in villages. 

Terracotta objects are mostly built by molding the clay with hand or with the wheel. Terracotta is extensively 

used for making deity images in temples and other monuments.Clay artists made utensils for cooking, made bricks

 and even curios.

There fore year after year we the Young Environmentalists NGO here in Mumbai keep teaching the youth 

and community how to make their own Ganesha idols.One can’t merely tell people to be Eco-friendly, but when you show them how, you bring out the artist in them.Not only do they understand the concept of an 

eco friendly idol, they pledge never to buy a POP idol.They in turn spread the ecological message during the 

festival,simply by doing and watching.  

 Step one- take any good garden clay right from your own back yard which is free, potters clay for 

a minimal amount or silt from the river bed. For the last ten years we have been using clay from the

 River Mithi and Powai lake silt to create awareness about the water bodies.Clean it and sieve it and 

cure it till it becomes earth which feels like clean soft putty in your hands. 
Use the right amount of water,not too much and not too little.

You will know when it’s right enough when it feels like kindergarten clay.

1. 
   

The fact that;you are playing with clay is healing and connecting you to Mother Earth ,even without 

you realizing it.  

 Make two parts.One portion gola or round earth bigger in size you can keep for the body or torso

 of the Lord Ganesha.Remember to give the idol a sweet little 
'paunch' or stomach by which Lord Ganesha 

is so fondly known for. Mold it in your hands and let it sit on the ground flat.You can create a clay platform

 for the idol way in advance or have a wooden tiny stage to place your idol on.

Now make another gola or ball using the smaller portion.This is what you will make the head with.

Give good finishing touches to them.

Now place the smaller portion on top of the bigger portion and smoothen out the attachment by 

pinching and pressing both parts to make the body look even.Use little water to smoothen.

Keep a picture of Lord Ganesha near you while sculpting so you can get an idea of 

what you would like your idol to look like.Be free,let your energy flow and simply give

 in to creating your own very design.There is no hard and fast rule.

Now get a third portion and roll out a long trunk, twisting it to the right.Attach the trunk to

 the body smoothly again.

Use two cylindrical long portions of clay to make the hands and keep another two elongated portions 

to create the legs.Attach them to the torso like in the picture in front of you.

Be as unique and creative as you want.The more you work on the idol the more you will 

see a beautiful Ganesha murti emerging right before your very eyes.

Make two large button size clay ears.Make them large and fanciful or elongated to look artistic

 like in the picture.   

Once you finish the hands, legs and trunk, shape and texture the sculpture into its final shape 

by using toothpicks or a carving blunt knife. Use your remaining clay to add details like ‘modaks’ in 

one hand of the idol, a ‘mukut’ crown for the Lord and even create the ‘mouse’ or vehicle of Lord 

Ganesha.Ganesha's divine vehicle as it is said, the mouse or mooshikam represents wisdom.

 You may leave it artistically raw in colour or shape or colour it with eco friendly colours and flowers.

Clay and mud helps you connect with Mother Earth.

Teaching the blind and disabled to experience clay therapy. 

Eco Ganesha clay idol making workshop campaigns over the last ten years..by Young Environmentalists NGO.