It is said that every great journey begins with a small step. And, for Rita Shinde who was raised in the village of Goa Velha, it began in the kitchen, with a simple love for cooking.
Over the years, her passion evolved and today, she expertly leads guided culinary tours at Rita’s Gourmet Goa which are popular among tourists.
FROM PASSION TO BUSINESS
Started in 2011, what sparked the idea for these cooking classes and culinary experiences was identifying the gap and catering to tourists who weren’t keen to just taste the region’s cuisine, but wanted to learn the art of preparing it, too.
“With around 7 to 10 lakh tourists visiting Goa every year, my husband, Mukund, saw the potential in combining Goa’s rich culinary traditions with the interest that tourists have in learning to cook local dishes,” says Rita, crediting him for recognising her cooking passion and ability to patiently help others learn the craft as well.
Today, with a range of hands-on cooking classes, farm visits and traditional food tastings, all curated to give tourists a deeper connection, the workshops at her venture in Dabolim, South Goa, primarily cater to domestic and international tourists.
“Around 80 percent of our attendees are international travellers, with many seeking a local farmer’s market tour along with the cooking class. Indian travellers tend to prefer only the cooking class, as they are already familiar with the local market and spices,” she shares.
CULINARY ADVENTURES
At Rita’s Gourmet Goa, participants enjoy a five-and-a-half-hour cooking class that includes a guided tour of the local farmer’s market, or opt for a more focused three-and-a-half-hour class without the market tour.
For those passionate about baking, there's also a five-hour Indian flatbread class.
In addition to these, there are other comprehensive courses ranging from 3 to 15 days, covering Goan and Indian cuisine, culinary and heritage tours and cruise culinary tours that cater to cruise ship passengers. Private cooking classes and even corporate team-building culinary workshops are available for personalised experiences.
While Rita leads the workshops, along with her staff who assists in all the prep work, her husband handles the administrative work including bookings, the website and marketing.
A spirits enthusiast, Mukund has also introduced activities like masala chai demonstrations and feni masterclasses.
A typical cooking class, includes a welcome with traditional sweet and savoury snacks followed by the preparation of masala chai. After the guided tour of the local farmer’s market, participants are introduced to an array of spices used in Goan and regional Indian cuisine.
Plenty of cooking tips are shared while getting a hands-on cooking experience preparing five different delicacies, which are then savoured.
A certificate of participation is given to the participants at the end of the session. Workshops typically run from 10 am to 3.30 pm and shorter three-hour workshops are mostly demonstration-based.
SUPPORT AND LOVE AT EVERY TURN
With tourists from Canada, France, Japan, UK and Scotland attending workshops and hosting renowned culinary personalities like John Gregory Smith (author of Mighty Spice), Nici Wickes (celebrity chef from New Zealand), and MasterChef Vikram Vij from Canada, the journey that began with teachings from her mum has now garnered admiration from food lovers across the globe.
“The feedback has been overwhelming. Guests often share their experiences through reviews and direct messages, and many guests continue to stay in touch and send updates on their cooking journey,” says Rita, whose passion in offering guests a taste of Goa continues.
DETAILS
WHAT: Cooking classes and culinary experiences
PRICING: A 4-hour cooking class (without market tour) costs Rs 4,250 per person; other workshops or tours depend on the type and duration. The fee is inclusive of ingredients, apron, mineral water and soft drinks, hard copy of recipes, stationery, certificate, tasting of dishes prepared
REGISTER: Participants can register via e-mail (ritasgourmetgoa@gmail.com), WhatsApp or Instagram, Facebook (@ritasgourmetgoa)
WEBSITE: www.ritasgourmetgoa.com