By Joe Mascarenhas

Frequent travellers to Pune must have heard of the famous Zamu’s situated at Dhole Patil road known for their traditional sizzlers and Parsi food. Now one does not have to travel that far, for Zamu’s Place is here in Goa.

Za comes from Zal and Mu comes from Murad, hence the name Zamu’s Place. As you approach the Sun Village resort you see the restaurant with its classy entrance of laterite stone. The restaurant has an awesome 150-year-old mango tree as the focal point and has well appointed table seating all around. In this place one can relax, unwind and just be.

We meet with Murad and his vivacious fiancée Niharika. They are recently engaged, must be the magical romantic influence of Goa. Murad is a Parsi and is passionate about food. Parsis and Goans have a lot in common - they enjoy their drinks, are full of spirit, eat heartily and enjoy life.

Shakunt, the manager known affectionately as ‘Shakey’ tells us that for the first time in Goa they will be introducing Parsi cuisine, which sure got my taste buds in a culinary twist. I started visualising the exotic Parsi weddings and Navjots we attended in Mumbai.

To start with we tried the crumb fried garlic mushrooms with roasted garlic mayo, which was nice and crunchy. The garlic mayo gave it that additional zing. Highly recommended. Next to follow were the patra ni macchi, sali boti and the mutton dhansak with dhansak rice. A veritable feast. The pomfret was fresh and delicately spiced and the flavours were awesome as you carefully opened the banana leaf. The fish flaked off the bone and was cooked to perfection.

The ‘piece de resistance’, as the French would say, was the mutton dhansak with dhansak brown rice and the sali boti; what a combo. The mutton was really delicious and succulent. The dhansak rice had the traditional mutton goli kebabs, which were a treat. I was in seventh heaven and was reminiscing of my student days in UK when I used to stay with a Parsi family. The sali boti was mind blowing and had me in a tizzy.

Let me share a secret with you, Gregory Misquith is the chef responsible for this fabulous food and has been with the family for decades…a chef after my own heart.

Murad tells us that Zamu’s Place is here to delight Goans with delicious meals and social interaction in an atmosphere that exudes fun, frolic, sophistication, and relaxation. In addition to the Parsi section there are beef steaks, drunken chicken, pork or lamb chops star marked on the menus, which are very popular, with an array of mouth watering sauces and accompaniments to enthral your senses. There’s enough for the health conscious vegetarian to excite, satisfy and further invite you to a completely novel experience in sizzlers. The homemade ice creams we tried were the mango and apricot flavours, which were a first for us. Very nice way to end a veritable feast.

So remember, if ever you feel famished and are looking for some hearty eating, make the effort to head for Zamu’s Place for a sizzling experience…you won’t regret it.

Address: Zamu’s Place , Near Sun Village Resort, Sanquawadi, Baga, Arpora,Goa

Tel No +91 9325251166, +91 9049483138