KALYaNI JHA | NT BUZZ
Located close to the Latin Quarters of Panaji, Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant, which opened on April 16, 1980, has borne witness to the passage of time. Yet, within its walls, one can still sample Goa of old with a menu consisting of authentic Portuguese Goan food.
The restaurant is more or less single-handedly run by Vasco Silveira, 74, who apart from being the only chef, also sometimes brings the food to the guests.
“We have a waiter and a dishwasher, but he’s the one who does all the marketing and cooking of the food. My mother and I just help out. My mother also handles the desserts like the bolo sans rival, serradura, and the caramel custard,” says his daughter Myra Silveria.
Born in Angola, Portuguese Africa, Vasco picked up some cooking skills during his schooling years. After the Civil War dispersed the Silveria family, his family came down to Goa and Vasco decided to give his passion for cooking a shot and start a restaurant.
“He started learning from his mother. They used to go to the villages and learn to make authentic masalas and curries. Every two years, he travels to Portugal and tries to get proper Portuguese recipes for the Indian palate or Goan palate,” says Myra.
The restaurant, which was the winner of the Times Now’s The Foodie award in 2013 used to be open 24*7, without any break, until a few years back. “We would only close once a year, for a month or so, to do some renovations,” says Myra. However, now due to his age, Vasco shuts the restaurant on Sundays.
“The menu is not too extensive. We concentrate mostly only on Portuguese fare,” says Myra. Over the years, they have added a few options for those who do not eat non-vegetarian food.
