Thalis get a taste of inflation 20 Jul 2008, 0612 hrs IST, Raju Nayak,TNN PANAJI: Inflation is affecting a core ingredient of Goa's identity. The staple xit-codi, with its serving of rice, fish/prawn curry and fried fish, has turned frugal.
Not only has the chunky slab of kingfish or a masala-stuffed fried mackerel been replaced by scrawny sardines, even the rice has turned a starch too gooey. "I have seen nothing but sardines served in the rice plate, at three restaurants, over the last week," said Rahul Fernandes, a lunch-time regular who frequents several eateries in Panaji. Another regular, Lawrence D'Cunha of Margao who works in Panaji, said, "The rice served in a prominent restaurant a few days ago was actually grey." However, complaints to the restaurant's management saw the rice upgraded the next day, he added. A restaurant owner said, "Rice commonly used in the thali has gone up from Rs 350 to Rs 670 for a 25 kilo bag of commonly used quality." Ditto for edible palm oil that shot up from Rs 400 for a box of 10 litres to Rs 690. Restaurant owners say that in such a scenario, there's not much they can do about their measly servings. Some have even pulled the bigger fish off their menus. Rubbing salt in the already fried scene, most have also upped their prices. A 'rice plate' with a serving of mudoshi (lady fish) now costs Rs 40 at some restaurants. It's up by Rs 10. Ditto for the hole-in-the-wall joints that serve home-made fish-curry rice. The fistful of rice, vata (bowl) of gravy and fried sardines has gone up from Rs 25 to Rs 30. A month ago, the Campal-based Sports Authority of Goa canteen increased its price for a 'rice plate' from Rs 20 to Rs 25. They, however, only serve sardines. The rise is attributed to the demand for fish during the 45-day fishing ban period. M N Ibrahim, the main fish importer for the state, told TOI that despite a severe drop in the availability of local fish, "people in Goa still want to eat fish". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Thalis_get_a_taste_of_inflation/a rticleshow/3254745.cms ~(^^)~ Avelino
