Hosted at Serendipity Arts Festival 2024
Moderated by Smitha Menon

Goa’s culinary landscape is evolving — moving beyond the clichés of prawn curry and bebinca to a more diverse, dynamic conversation about identity, innovation, and preservation. Redefining Goan Food for the Next Generation was a panel discussion that asked important questions about who gets to shape the narrative of Goan food today, and what it means to honour tradition while embracing change.

Bringing together a unique mix of voices from the state’s food and beverage scene, the panel explored how chefs, distillers, bar owners, and foragers are collectively preserving, reclaiming, and reinventing Goan culinary culture for the times to come.

Panelists:

• Pranav Duri, Chef-Owner of Petisco, a contemporary Goan bar kitchen known for reinterpreting local dishes with playful, modern twists.

• Hansel Vaz, Founder of Cazulo Feni, a third-generation distiller and one of the most important voices in reclaiming and elevating Goa’s indigenous spirit, feni.

• Pankaj Balachandran, Co-founder of Countertop, a pioneering cocktail bar in Goa that celebrates local ingredients, spirits, and sustainable bar practices.

• Anisha Hassan, Founder of Saligao Stories, a community-based restaurant project that focuses on heirloom recipes, seasonal produce, and storytelling through food.

Key themes discussed:

• Who are the current custodians of Goan cuisine, and what responsibilities do they hold in preserving culinary heritage?

• The challenges of balancing authenticity with innovation, especially in a fast-evolving tourism-driven food scene.

• How local ingredients, traditional techniques, and forgotten recipes are being reintroduced through new formats like modern bars, boutique restaurants, and farm-to-table collaborations.

• The importance of community engagement, sustainability, and storytelling in creating food experiences rooted in place.

This lively, insightful conversation opened up a much-needed dialogue about the future of Goan food and the people shaping its next chapter.

About Smitha Menon:
Smitha is a writer, journalist, and food culture researcher whose work focuses on food systems, community knowledge, and culinary heritage in South Asia.