Summers in Goa meant visiting the fish market at least everyday to check out the fresh catch of the day. The fishmongers’ tables would be gleaming with ocean fish, shrimp, crabs, lobsters and shellfish. One of my favorite shellfish is mussels and here’s my mother’s very simple recipe. In Konkani, the language spoken widely in Goa, mussels are called ‘Xinaneao’ or pronounced shee-naa-neo.

The minute we landed in Goa for our May holidays, it was our family tradition to head out to Simonia’s for their baked goodies and savory deliciousness. BUT I loved their flaky meat pattices and my absolute favorites: BEEF CROQUETTES. Cheryllyne, the child, could eat a dozen in one go. Cheryllyne, the adult, could possibly eat…well let’s not go there.