Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar brought down Chef Vithal Naik all the way from Grand Hyatt Goa for the Goan Food Festival at Eighty Eight which begins from the 11th until the 27th January 2019.
We decided to jot down our experience of the of having tasted the traditional flavor and a wide – ranging variety of Coastal food on the first day of the festival.
The Vegetable Rissois, a savory fried crepe filled with vegetables were fried to crunch perfection and the vegetables were seasoned to such perfection that they vanished from the table much before the prawn version!
Prawn Risois
The Peri Peri seasoning for the Paneer Peri Peri was made in house goan style and had the zing peri peri dishes are known for!
Grilled to a charred perfection on a live counter set up, the Peri Peri Paneer was yummiest at its hottest.
Next up, Chef grilled the Chicken Cafreal and Fish Recheado.
The Chicken Cafreal served with soft extremely well seasoned potato wedges was highlight number one of the meal and had we not known what all was yet to come, we would have filled up on the juicy well marinated chicken.
The Fish Recheado held its place amongst the appetizers but hands down the Chicken Cafreal was out favorite.
For main course we went on going back to the Crab Xec-Xec (highlight number two of the meal) that was cooked to crabby perfection with the crab meat so easy to reach.
The ever famous xacuti both mutton and vegetable was authentic, flavorful and spicy, as it should be.
The Bhindi Bardez was a dish we tried for the very first time and recommend it only if you are a bhindi lover. The flavours were lost amongst the other dishes that had so much more of our attention.
The Goan Pulao and Goan Dal Fry got the whole meal together were well and ofcourse we had to have a last round of Crab Xec-Xec.
The desserts were packed with surprise! Most of us picked the Dodol over the much more famous Bebinca and shocked ourselves at having finishing the whole coconutty flavoured sweet dessert.
The Bebinca was as promised seven distinct layers of sweetness and perfect in everyway, but hands down shocking highlight number three of the meal was Dodol, a toffee like coconut flavored dessert.
All in all a meal that took us to Goa and got us back with your tummy full and satisfied.
Do head to the Goan Food Festival for a rich potpourri of seafood specials and curries of exotic Goan flavours and prepare yourself to be captivated by a blend of spices, characteristic of Goan recipes which are incredibly rich and delicious.
Date: Friday 11th – Sunday 27th January 2019
Venue: Eighty Eight at Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar
Time: Dinner Buffet
Price: 1500 + taxes
For Reservations: 8806751234
Pune Nightlife 