------------------------------------------------------------------------
* G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANKA SERVICES
For all your Goa-based media needs - Newspapers and Electronic Media
Newspaper Adverts, Press Releases, Press Conferences
www.ankaservices.com
kam...@ankaservices.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following appeared in today’s
Herald 2day supplement:
FOOD LEGEND MASCI
By Dolcy D’Cruz
A young man’s story from rags to
riches made it to the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2008. ‘Masci – The Man
Behind the Legend’ authored
by daughter-in-law, Odette Mascarenhas, will receive the Special Award of the
Jury this May.
Odette Mascarenhas, has always
looked up to her father-in-law, Minguel Arcanjo Mascarenhas’ achievements. In
2004, her husband, Joe, showed her his
father’s memories stored in a file. She
decided to write a book as he had devoted 50 years to the Taj Group of
Hotels. By 2005, the book was completed
and published by Priya Distributors but sold only in Goa
and at the Taj in Mumbai. Three years
later, Odette is surprised by mail that nominates the book for the award.
Minguel Arcanjo was a simple lad
from Anjuna. Born in 1904, he was forced
to leave his family and move to Bombay
to earn a livelihood, like thousands of Goans before and after him. As the
eldest, though illiterate, it was his
responsibility to educate three other siblings.
He joined Taj Hotels in 1931 as a dishwasher, making his way to
Executive Chef of the Hotel in 1945. A
huge achievement for a Goan at a time when India was British ruled. He once
served Pope John Paul II with custard
Soufflé, leaving the Pope puzzled over the ingredients used. And so, Masci was
called to the table and
presented the Pope with a custard apple.
The fruit of that was Masci got the Pope blessings. He got the fruit back too,
blessed. During the Independence struggle, the hotel would host
meetings constantly followed by food; Masci was up for any challenge. In 1971,
he inaugurated the kitchen of the
new wing of the Taj Heritage built then for Rs. 1 cr.
Masci was married to Maria
Deonizia and fathered seven children.
“He was a very caring father,” recalls Joe. “Whenever we visited Goa,
he would hire a car and took us to meet our relatives.”
He learnt his trade observing
other chefs do French cuisine without leaving the kitchen. And was even able
to convince people he had
cooked food in wine, without actually doing so.
In fact, Chef Urban do Rego was one of his first apprentices.
When Nasci breathed his last in
1981, JRD Tata touched his feet in the coffin and said: “We will never ever
find a man like you.”
Minguel Arcanjo is now a
restaurant in Taj Exotica which has been named after Masci, as a result. The
book covers Masci’s life story with
excerpts from his co-workers, and friends along with 50 of his recipes. Today,
Odette is happy with just publishing
the book in memory of Masci. She thought
the first mail was a hoax, but the second one convinced her. Her joy is a Goan
Chef winning an
international award 27 years after his death.
“I feel proud for Masci and for me being chosen from among 109 countries
for the award.”
Anjunkars are proud of Masci!
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna, Bardez, Goa
Mob: 9420979201
_________________________________________________________________
Drag n’ drop—Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live™ Photos.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/photos.aspx
