Tag: #Leisure

#food

Restaurants at the Heart of Goa’s Tourism Push, Says Minister at NRAI Summit 2025

Tanisha Cardozo

Goa’s culinary prowess took centre stage at the inaugural NRAI Indian Restaurant Summit 2025, hosted for the first time in the coastal state at Dona Paula. In a powerful keynote address, Goa’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte described the restaurant industry as the “economic backbone” of the state’s tourism economy and an essential pillar of its regenerative tourism model. The three-day summit, themed ‘Serving The Future’, brought together more than 2,500 delegates, 60+ speakers, 500+ brands, and 300+ partners from across India and abroad.

Minister Khaunte emphasized that Goa is actively repositioning itself as a destination that goes “beyond beaches,” embracing culture, heritage, adventure, and sustainability. He underscored that regenerative tourism in Goa is built on four pillars — people, community, economy, and environment — and that food is central to this journey. At the summit, the minister also felicitated iconic Goan food institutions such as Longuinhos, Café Central, Café Tato, Mr Baker, Sher e Punjab, Jila Bakery, Goenchin, and Titos, as well as legendary chefs including Urbano Rego and the late Caridade Alfonso.

Organized by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the summit featured panel discussions and workshops highlighting the transition of Goa from a nightlife-centric beach destination to a serious global culinary hub. Topics included regional cuisine, cocktail culture, the evolution of café life, and the emergence of Indian cities as global food destinations. Global and national culinary icons including Roni Mazumdar, AD Singh, Ashneer Grover, Riyaaz Amlani, Ashish Tulsian, Manish Mehrotra, Ranveer Brar, Saransh Goila, and Vicky Ratnani brought international insight to the event.

Panaji Mayor Rohit Monserrate was also in attendance, showing support for the evolving role of food in Goa’s socio-economic development. NRAI Goa Chapter head Prahlad Sukhtankar noted that Goa’s offline restaurant industry now accounts for 55% of the sector — far ahead of the national average of 43% — a sign of stronger compliance, structure, and long-term growth potential.

By honouring local cuisine and encouraging innovation rooted in tradition, the summit reaffirmed that for Goa, food is not just about dining — it is about culture, community, and sustainable economic empowerment.

#AllycaralFeature 👒

Panjim’s Mangrove Board Walk

allycaralgoa

Allys!! Good Morning my lovelies! It’s Friday – the best-est time of the week as I get to feature a place of my choice on my blog. Yes it is the best-est feeling to explore new places and then feature the same on the blog…! and You know what makes it special, your mails, your replies about how much you’ll love my work.

In this edition, I recently visited a place accidentally, it wasn’t a part of a plan as such but yes! I visited this place and I must say it is a really beautiful location. Upon interacting to the people and the guards, I got to learn that this place is open for the general public and it is recently inaugurated. However, not many people are aware about this place. This place is called the #MangroveBoardWalk

Picture clicked by a friend and Edited by be!

You know what fascinated me the most about this place was, the entire footbridge is built without cutting the natural mangroves, which makes it so rich and gives you a feeling of one with the nature. If one takes a closer look at the history, well the relationship that the Mangroves and Goa share is special. Well, now you will have a question why exactly they both share a special relationship. The answer is very simple. Goa is a house to about 16 different kind of mangroves and in our country, Goa is the state that has the best mangroves in the whole of India. So You will now agree about this special relationship.  The very concept of having a Board Walk in this place, not only serves as a tourist spot but also it is the very idea  that needs to be appreciated that this Board Walk was built without cutting down mangroves- In true sense – a step to preserve the identity of mangroves and appreciate the beauty that it brings to the state of Goa. Thus, this initiative makes this even special.

The place recently inaugurated is not known to many people. But hey! let’s not forget the publicity that no other medium can do, can be heavily done by social media. And when I visit a place, I at least make it a point to tell my one friend about it and ask my that friend to share the news about the same to another and the chain continues. Well, another plus point that I have is this blog – Which instantly connects to so many of you all.

Exploring this place happened all of a sudden as I told you! The story goes like this – we were hunting for a location to shoot a sequence for a feature programme and well, there you go! Here’s the link – PARSEKAR … ONE MAN – MANY DREAMS where I shot my bit for this video.

HOW TO GET HERE?

Just take the road heading towards Central Library, Panjim and Enter the parking side and keep walking till you see towards your left hand side the entrance of this beautiful Mangroves Footbridge.

TIPS OF THE DAY

  • If you are visiting this place, use a mosquito repellent cream to avoid mosquito bites.
  • While you click pictures be careful – try to avoid clicking pictures leaning on the bridge handrail.

This is once again another place one could visit if you are in the capital city of Goa – Panjim, Explore the true beauty and most importantly share photos using the hashtag of #MangroveBoardWalk, #TravelwithAllycaral or #BeingAllycaral on any social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or BlogLovin. Do Like, Comment and Share. It’s my favorite – M S Dhoni’s Birthday Week! Tomorrow is his birthday – 7th July! (I know that was out of context) Anyways, have an amazingly fantastic Weekend! Cheers to good times!

#AllycaralWednesdayWisdom 👒

Quote for the Week

allycaralgoa

Show a little Love to the most important person in your life, that is yourself…👼

#AllycaralTuesdaytips 👒

Best Gift Ideas to gift to a Traveler Friend

allycaralgoa

Hello my Allys,

It is Tuesday and here I am back to give you Tips that will definitely help you while you plan your travel. First of all, before I get started let me tell you, I am all excited to head towards the month of Love – February which is almost around the corner. This month is indeed a very special month for me as this one is my birthday month! Yes 15th February that’s the date, that I wait throughout the year to celebrate – my birthday. And travel being such an important part of my life, this week, I thought of giving out some gifting tips, keeping in mind you too might have a birthday around the corner in your friend circle! Yes Tips on what should you gift your Travel Buddy.

If one goes to see, there are several things you can gift a traveller, but if you want to seriously be remembered gift them something that they will cherish and make use of during their trips.

Here is a shortlisted list of Top 5 things you can gift your Travel Buddy.

  1. Backpack Bag – A Normal size backpack bag can be the most handy item to gift your travel buddy. This is the thing, come what may your friend will definitely carry on his/her trip. If you plan to buy a bag, buy a small one. As your travel buddy will definitely have a big bag that they travel with. And a plus point of a small bag is that this bag can come in handy, when they are on the trip and they decide to stop by a store to collect souvenirs on a return trip. This Bag will indeed be very useful to him or her. So this is a great option to gift a bag.
  2. Polaroid Camera – Yes! Polaroid Camera is the new in thing, where you instantly get your photos on the go! Initially it was used but then with DSLR, Iphones these were lost. But a good thing is now, among the youth the same is picking up once again. And most importantly, the cost of the same isn’t much, you will get these camera for less than 5,000/- (Indian Rupees only) So what’s the wait, go pick one for yourself and for your buddy too. And capture memories and get them printed on the go!
  3. Portable Charger – Yes a portable Charger. This may seem like a simple thing, but it has a great value especially to your travelling buddy, who is continuously on the go clicking and posting photographs of their trip on social networking sites. And suddenly they realize that their phone battery is draining. In such circumstances, if you gift your buddy a portable charger, he will remember you for life. The same will act as a backup for his phone, thus allowing him/her to use his phone to click and post some more pictures usual!
  4. Watch – Yes a Watch! If you gift a travel watch, it would be handy to a person. And if the same has a dual time, then it would be a must! Especially for those who are travelling abroad and there is a time difference between the home and the country they are spending their holiday in. This will allow your friend to identify time better and also call home as per the convinence. A good thing is that thess watches you get at a budgeted prize and the same is also readily available at any given online shop.
  5. Personalized Goodies – Who wouldn’t like any personalized goodies. I love personalized goodies, you can gift a personalized Key Chain which could have the key of the lock to your luggage to a Diary where you can pen down memories of trip to a Travel Pouch in which you could carry your travel goods like mini Shampoo, Moisturizer, then next in line is a Sippers, may sound small but goodies with personalized mark on them makes the gift even more special. So incase you plan personalise goodies, well I’m in for it.

Yes here it is! The list that would help you decide the best travel gift for your friend. An advice which you can keep in mind while deciding the gift is – Pick up anything or create anything with love, he/she is your friend in the end and you will know her likes and dislikes better, mine were just suggestions that I hope the same will prove useful. So along with the gift go meet them on their birthday, wish them and make them feel special. Sometimes, more than anything all they need, is your time!

Well with this, it’s time to part away, but with a promise I will be back again with more tips next tuesday.. Till then write to us if you have some more ideas in this regard or what are the things you would like to know. And most importantly don’t forget to like, comment and share using the hashtag #TravelWithAllycaral I am waiting anxiously to see the lovely travel goodies that you will gift your travel buddy.

Lots of love! Until we meet again!