Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro - 80years old legacy
The city of Panaji never fails to surprise you, with many wonderful things to admire and appreciate. Fontinhas being the heritage precinct of the city, has many unexplored stories. Beside the beautiful bright colored Latin Quarters and narrow streets there is so much more to explore. Some where around the corner in this lovely place, you can smell hot biscuits, bread and cookies.
‘It dates back to 1930, when my father-in-law late Andrew Mascarenhas started it, with the aim of bringing some Goan flavor to life by giving some authentic Goan sweets to the people. The Cafe begged the 'Primeiro Premio" (first prize) on January 31, 1960, at the Exposicao de. Artes e Industrias, for baking skills. ‘The cafe got its name from the 'Rua 31 de Janeiro', where it is located at present. Its like the first thing that you find on this route.Hence the confeitaria is named as Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro” adds Gletta.
The cafe serves the Goan bread, mouth-watering savoury patties and traditional sweets like dodol (an egg less cake of rice flour, coconut and jaggery), pinaca (balls of rice flour, coconut and jaggery) and
doce (squares made with lentils, coconut and cardamom).
They also prepare traditional Goan sweets like the moist dates and walnut cakes, savoury and snacks like crumbly prawn rissois (prawns stuffed in a homemade pastry and then deep-fried) mushroom patties
etc. ‘ Down the years the menu has not been changed much, neither the recipes. Only a few new snacks have been added. Our stock tend to get over very fast and the reason for it may be simply because we offer
fresh and pure food to our customers.’ says Gleeta
Many people from all over the state come to this one place, and are glad to take home some mouth watering biscuits, snacks and savoury. The smell so good and the taste no doubt, simply the best and pure.
#Published on GT Weekender#
