As 2016 draws to a close, what better than to close with a few of my most cherished restaurant experiences in the last year? And no such list would be complete without my experiences in Goa – so here goes the first one. Bhatti Village Bar and Restaurant is not a name you will hear often among the Goa experts – even though Zomato holds it in high regard. I suppose it is the location of the place – quite interior and away from the happening places of Goa. But I being me, that factor rarely stops me from seeking out such places – and even if I don’t drive, I forced my friend to drive us there for a dinner when I was in Goa this August. The rest, as they say, is history.
Located in a godforsaken by lane of Nerul Village – about a 20 minute drive from Candolim, Bhatti Village is the quintessential family-run Goan establishment. It is visited mainly by the locals, and as you park and enter the premises, you can only be filled with awe. Once you cross a few cozy tables in a dimly lit room, you step into a huge hall, academically filled with old, empty, and large bottles of alcohol in huge cabinets. You would also find some wine caskets mounted on the wall, as well as wine barrels, arranged on the sills. Throw in a large-ass whale bone collected by the man of the house a long time back, and you would have an image of how the hall looks like. We took a brief tour of the space, and made ourselves comfortable in the inner room.
The place is run by the husband, wife, and their son – who came to us to take the order. On knowing it was our first time, he called his dad to explain what is available to us. They don’t have a menu, but they do have an array of choice every day, depending upon the raw materials and fresh catch. We ordered for Chicken Chili Fry, White Bait Fish Fry, and Chonak (White Snapper) Rawa Fry for starters. They laid our plates and were they beautiful – looked like a lower variety of porcelain, but I am not so sure. Weren’t glass plates, I’m sure about that. The Chicken Chili Fry was spicy and tasty, as usual. The White Bait Fish was unique, in the sense that the fishes were just a few centimeters long and crisp fried, and he said we wouldn’t find it in any other restaurant in Goa. Tasted good, and goes as a dream with cashew feni. The White Snapper was fried to perfection, and the fish was very fresh. It flew off the plate in no time!
For the mains, we ordered the Prawns Guisado, and the Pork Bimbasol, along with Rice and Goan bread, or Poi. The preparations were served together – and I still salivate at the thought of the experience. The Prawns Guisado was absolutely yum – fresh prawns lightly stewed in a thin broth with tomatoes and bell peppers – this was light and hearty. The taste of the prawns defined the preparation and since they were absolutely fresh, the broth was delightful. We had this with rice. The Pois were incredible – fresh from the oven and extremely soft to the touch – and fresh bread was really beyond our expectation at 9 30 pm in the night. A winning moment.
But anyways, here’s the crux – the Pork Bimbasol is the best pork preparation I have had in my life so far. There, I said it. I have never had anything, absolutely anything involving pork, that can beat the kokum and garlic infused broth at Bhatti Village. The moment we dipped our Poi into the whitish innocuous-looking broth and took a bite, I went as close to the divine as possible. The boneless pork cubes, the garlic pods, and the kokum shavings created the most flavorful, the most arousing pork curry I have had in my life – and there has been some stiff competition from Coorg to Kerala to other places in Goa. If you haven’t had the Pork Bimbasol here – you are missing out on something important. In fact, you must call and ask for its availability before you visit. No point otherwise.
Well, the climax was over, but what’s in a film without the anti-climax? Enter Serradura – the Portuguese sawdust pudding that has made its way into the Goan cuisine. This was the first time I had it – and I have had it 5-6 times since, but nothing matched the quality, goodness, and taste of the one at Bhatti Village. We were all full, but we could not help but pack a couple of servings for late night cravings. Another item you must must try at Bhatti’s. We had also ordered the Bebinca, but that wasn’t really up to the mark.
Bhatti Village is one of the most treasured food experiences of my life, and I am obviously going to go back there – especially for their ox-tongue which is also supposed to be killer. Another hidden gem relatively untouched by commerce, make sure it is a part of your next Goa itinerary if you are a foodie. I would be very interested to hear your experience. :)
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