Receta Goan Sanna | Goan Idly - Goa Breakfast
What do you guys generally say when asked, "How was your college life" ? Fun, good and some might even say awesome. But if you were to ask me, I would say it was "four years of vacation on paradise". Yeah, what could you expect if one was sent to a college campus that had a hostel like a resort overlooking a beautiful river, a lovely beach just few kms away and a bus-ride away to the main city that was buzzing with night life. It is a get away right!, after 12 years of school and perusal exams and scores. Once I got my admittance letter, I was on top of the world and excited to leave home for the first time in life. But everything changed once I stepped into that wide campus gate, that had rows of palm trees on either side of the road extending up to the horizon. It was overwhelming and scary, bizarre and confused and, it took almost a semester to settle down.
After overcoming the first semester blues and picking new friends, I got the hang of my new life. I was prepared to let go of my past, pet and pampered lifestyle and to accept the new independent and responsible life ahead. Being the first batch in campus, everything was fresh and brand new. Imagine getting a separate hostel room and a balcony with a view. What a delight that was! As mentioned in this post, I had quite a good food in my college. Surprisingly, my hostel mess (Atish's mess) served some good food when compared to other colleges that my school friends went. Then he himself opened a cafe in our shopping complex which catered to our weekend cravings and birthday treats! Then a year passed, and our campus grew along with us. There are three main additions that became a part of our life - College canteen, nestle maggi shop and a small confectionary nook from Monjinis besides the library and these three put an almost end to our hostel mess.
They were so ideally located that we have to pass through them to get back to the hostel and, all three attended to our needs at various time of the day. College canteen was for our breakfast. Their idly and upma along with the thick coconut chutney were unmatched for. I would not say that they were the best. But at that time, when we were away from home and our familiar surroundings, these were the welcome and homey foods that we could ask for. The lunch thali would be very similar to what we south Indians have at home. It was more than enough for us. Then the nestle shop, for our in between nibbling. The Monjinis confectioners were for our tea breaks especially during exams and for one other important need during college life - a perfect hang out for lovey-dovey couples at night.
Apart from the in-campus joints, Temptations and Annapoorna in Vasco city were our favourite eat out place. Temptations has the best pastries, especially chocolate ones. Unfortunately I hate chocolates and never touched them and was quite content with my other options. Annapoorna is the pure veg restaurant that we would always go for. Then there are others like monjinis, Ginzas and one chaat shop that is to die for. God! I am not able to recollect the name nor find it in google. Every Sunday the Karma plaza, where these are located will be flocking with college groups. These are real good places and has a youthful vibrant ambience to it.
Even though Goan food is a fabulous treat for the non veg people, it has few interesting veg options as well. In Goa, there are two cuisines that are predominant. Malvani cuisine, i.e., the Konkan cuisine and the other one is Goan catholic cuisine. The Goan catholic cuisine is heavily influenced by Portuguese and British. The two very popular dish from this type is Sanna and Bebinca - a layered dessert made during christmas, both my favourite. As I am typing this I realized two funny things. One, I have never tasted these two dishes during my college life and second, for me, Goa equals my college and nothing beyond that. Goa is widely known for its scenic beauty and its lovely beaches. We have had lots of fun sight seeing at Panjim, vasco and Madgaon yet the campus life is engraved so deeply in my heart that I can't think of anything else. I have no words to pen down and justify those four beautiful years in my life. This period in my life, significantly changed my thoughts, attitude, my lifestyle and almost most of my outlook.