Guess who was dipping into kalchi kodhi (yesterday's curry) in Goa? It was Coldplay. Yes, after an iconic and unforgettable performance at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on January 18, team members of the band Coldplay chilled out in Goa, before rocking the stage at Ahmedabad.
On a three-day break after the Mumbai gig, the Coldplay team holidayed in Goa where they enjoyed some very local cuisine at Cavatina by Avinash Martins, in Benaulim, South Goa. From tasting kalchi kodhi, to munching on poies, katre pao, sannas and chonnak, the Coldplay team had a great time in Goa.
Known for giving a unique twist to Goan delicacies, Cavatina by Chef Avinash Martins served his special guests crab bisque, koyloleo prawns, nest in the woods – cafreal chicken, meat galouti, veg neuri, cavatina cigars, prawns and choriz.
The restaurant also served vegetarian options, like spanakopita where Goan tambdi bhaji and cashew butter were the ingredients, koyloleo veg caldin and much more.
Cavatina owner Tiz Lyngdoh Martins said, “My team and I have served many national and international celebrities and yes in simple words it can be a bit nerve-wrecking but the response we get from them has always made us feel very comfortable and easy to communicate and handle them.”
She added, “I personally interacted with Will Champion at the table and offered to curate a menu for him and the team based on their allergies and dietary restrictions and he was very kind to leave the entire menu on me.”
I personally interacted with Will Champion at the table and offered to curate a menu for him and the team based on their allergies and dietary restrictions and he was very kind to leave the entire menu on me.
Tiz Lyngdoh Martins, Cavatina owner
Along with the mains, the Coldplay artistes loved the assortments of Cavatina signatures – prawns who drank the feni, patra de Goa (chonak in green masala wrapped in banana leaf served with accompaniments), mutton sukha with chickpea xacutti, mit ani mirem meat, ukde rice, poie, mini sannas and assiette veg for vegetarians.
No meal in Goa is complete without dessert, and raw honey flan, baked jaggery cheesecake and chocolate and cherry marquise were some of the must-try desserts on the menu.
Tiz said that Will appreciated the food served. “All the dishes were just the way we serve all other guests. They were all praises for each and every dish served to them. Will thanked us for accommodating them. He said, ‘We had a lovely time and compliments to the Chef’,” Tiz told GT Digital.
The Coldplay trip was kept under wraps, and it was a photo of Will Champion along with the Cavatina staff and owners on social media that broke the news. “Coldplay at Cavatina! Proud and humbled to host the Coldplay band! Although there was a lot of protocol for pics and photos, our gratitude for this pic,” says the Instagram post.
“I did request Will personally and managed to get an exclusive photograph for my son Aurian and me with him,” says Tiz.
In a comment to the post, Ekta Gupta Rai mentioned, “Wow!!! People travelled far n wide to see them and they came all the way to you... we know who is the celebrity here!” Another comment by Aishwarya Narvekar, a local from Goa mentioned, “That’s amazing! Coldplay was literally in our neighbourhood.”
From Goa, the Coldplay team departed to Ahmedabad, where at the Narendra Modi stadium they will perform for two days. A video shared by Coldplay on Instagram showed Chris Martin arriving at the venue riding pillion on a motorbike. A lot of Goans are expected to be attending the event in Ahmedabad.