THE GOAN NETWORK | MELBOURNE
Melbourne was swept by a deluge of rain resulting in floods galore. However, when the Goan community decided to celebrate their annual Goan Food Festival on October 16, even the gods relented and gave the Goans a great opportunity to gather and enjoy the festival.
Over 450 people participated in the festival and the hall was jam-packed with people. All the chairs at the tables were already taken, and the rest of the folks just stood around, plates in hand, savouring the delicious food that was on offer. Both sides of the hall were lined up with food stalls, each of which bore the name of a Goan village. It was a very nostalgic scene that brought memories of Goa. Many of the people slipped into talking Konkani.
People visited and checked out every stall to see what was on offer and many were in a dilemma, not knowing which food was the best, as there was a wide variety and they all looked superb.
The stall from Agassaim had their menu up on a board and listed thereon were dishes like Bombil Pickle, Brinjal Pickle, Lemon Pickle, Sannas, Sausage Bread, Beef Patties, Sorpotel, Pork Aadmass, Chicken Xacuti, Shark Ambotic, and Pomfret Caldin.
There were many more stalls offering the same and more, making it so difficult to choose what to order.
For desserts, the stall listed Jaggery Sannas, Bol, Alebele, Bebinca, Dodol, Gram Doce, Baath and Nankhatai. Folks from Mapusa had among other items, a Goan Fish Thali that was popular. There were crowds around most of the food counters at the festival.
Prize-winning stalls were declared after everyone was satisfied with a sumptuous meal and the winners were Sarzora (first), Agassaim (second) and Benaulim (third).
