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| Goan feast lunch. |
We were invited by the D'Souza family from Gaunsa vaddo for lunch today on the occasion of the Milagres feast, (click for drone view) The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles or Milagres Saibinnichem in Konkani.
There was a festive spirit in the air around the church in Mapusa. The church was decorated, a pandal was erected outside the porch, and on the road between the cemetery and the church, vendors put up their stalls.
We wished all gathered in the home 'Happy Feast' and headed for the lunch table. A caterer from the family had prepared a delicious meal to celebrate the occasion. Mum hailed from this home and mum's mum lived here.
To begin with there was a prawn pulao. The flavour was mild and appetizing. I put a spoon of a curry of vegetables over it. On the side were generous bits of chicken cafreal, beef roast, sorpotel, and sweet sanna. Pork amsol - daddy's favourite - was also there. 'Eat more for him,' Vallu, who had named the dishes, advised.
The sorpotel was made by aunty Branca, my aunt. Sandra, her daughter, made a delicious mango, cheese, truffle. Happily they had also kept a plate of kadio bodios by the side of the sweet dish.
Somewhere around this time a huge brown tabby cat walked expertly across a narrow beam and clambered down, somewhat ungainly, to inspect the proceedings.
A salad of tomato and capsicum in olive oil lent a dash of green to the table. I was delighted to meet Milroy again. It was a great afternoon.
As we left the host Glen, Sandra's brother, thanked us for coming. It was wonderful listening to his account of life in Australia.
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