ARMSTRONG VAZ
People love challenges and overcoming these needs special efforts. Having surmounted obstacles in his life as a civil engineer, in Goa and in the Middle East, Gulf-returnee Espirito Furtado has started a new chapter in his life.
After spending close to two decades in the Middle East, Furtado has closed one chapter of his life book and started another in Goa with 7th Heaven, a vegetarian café and cake franchise, the first of its kind in Goa.
An increasing number of people are becoming health conscious, taking the vegetarian route in their pursuit of a healthy life, and constantly looking for vegetarian food outlets.
The concept has caught on with many Goans keen to join the vegetarian movement and take it to another level; Espirito is one of them.
Espirito, who traces his roots back to Assolna, in South Goa, but currently lives in Dramapur, has spent most of his life building infrastructure projects in Qatar, Dubai and Goa, and has now thrown his hat into the gastronomy industry.
Espirito says 7th Heaven Café, situated at Costa Towers, on Varde Valualikar Road, Margao, opened in October 2023, and has several special features.
“7th Heaven has many USPs, like a live kitchen concept wherein cakes are made in seven minutes in front of the customer; it is 100 percent vegetarian, and includes eggless cakes," explains Espirito.
"All products are prepared inhouse and are freshly made. 7th Heaven is the number one cake franchise in India, having more than 300 outlets all over the country,” said Espirito.
“7th Heaven is known for their cakes. We are a pure vegetarian cake and café outlet. We use dairy products, but no eggs. Our products consist of cakes, savouries, waffles, ice creams, pastries, Chinese food and refreshers,” added Espirito, who also said that customers have been very happy.
Looking back at his career, Espirito said he was one of the few who was part of the Konkan Railway project right from the beginning.
“Right from surveying to construction till operations, I worked for Konkan Railway. When the trains became operational, the role of civil engineer was not required, and so I changed departments and worked some years in the IT department,” said Espirito.
In 2005 came the Dubai call, and Espirito packed his bags as he saw an opportunity to work with a multinational company. “I joined the Infrastructure Development Project, Dubai Investment Park," he explained.
"Our development projects began from scratch in the desert. We made all the drainages, provision for electrical systems and all the telecommunication systems. We made the roads and all the lighting, interlocking and landscaping. We built a complete city; that was our job,” he recalled.
After spending three years in Dubai, Furtado moved to Qatar.
“I worked on many infrastructure projects in Qatar, but a prominent one in which I was involved was Katara Hills, at Katara, one of the prime locations and an important tourist destination in Qatar.”
After 13 years in Qatar, Espirito decided to return home and start something of his own to take health-consciousness to another level in Goa.
7th Heaven is known for their cakes. We are a pure vegetarian café and cake outlet. We use dairy products, but no eggs.
Espirito Furtado
“The franchise has its own research centre, testing centre and training centre. Products are launched after full research and testing, with customer feedback which ensures quality," he elaborated.
All the chefs are trained and sent by the franchisor. Only company-recommended raw materials are used,” he said, while giving a glimpse of the operations in the kitchen.
The franchise has customer-friendly ambience and comfort high on its agenda.
“The ambience is created with customer comfort in mind, and is the perfect place for parties,” said Espirito. “Our cafe is fully air-conditioned, with soft music playing in the background all the time. We also have a delivery service for our cakes and products.”