Sometimes the rains are friendly, they help you forge new friendships. One day, during the monsoon, the pouring rain made me stop for shelter in a gaddo in Arossim not far from my house. Several times during the past few months I'd gone past on my scooter but never paused; on this occasion the rain demanded a complete stop.
The owner, a young man of thirty plus with a cheerful tone of voice welcomed me. I soon discovered he knew quite a bit about me even though half of it untrue or false. Anyway, because of what he had told me about myself, I thought it would be okay to ask him a few questions. And so, I got started! I learned over the next half hour, (the rain was still pouring like elephants and shaggy dogs) how he had worked in several countries, Bahrein, Kuwait, Qatar, Maldives and even Jamaica. I was fascinated. After sixteen years of working abroad he has now returned to his village and is managing a gaddo. He makes wonderful food. His soup, chicken xacuti and other dishes are a hit with the locals. His gaddo is clean and for a hundred rupees you can have a tasty dinner. I prefer good food to good air-conditioning! I learned about the man, his travels, and his life. When I asked him when he intends to go abroad again, he informed me his wife was going to have a baby. And, since then, he has a son. It now appears he is going to stay in Goa. Lovers of good food who have been praying hard have had their prayers answered in full. Over several months this gaddo has become a pit stop for me where I replenish my empty stomach and am enthralled by the stories and wisdom and politeness of the gaddo owner. We Goans might be on the eve of a revolution in the world of gaddos and street food. We have much more to look forward than the usual haka noodles laced with ajinamoto. What might be coming up soon is a super clean gaddo, painted white, with white clean tables and chairs surrounding his kiosk. He will, of course, be attired in a lily white uniform coat, wearing a pair of plastic gloves for a surgical strike on the food. He, of course, will be donning a chef's cap! Sounds good, doesn't it? The government should promote 5-star gaddos on government land with graduates from catering colleges managing them. Not much land is needed and the standard of hygiene and quality of food will get a much deserved fillip in a badly run business sector. Promote Goan cuisine to strengthen Goan identity. Ladies and gentlemen, it is timely to announce the arrival of 3Gs: Goan Gourmet Gaddo. See you there!
