Photo Credits: Martin’s Place, Navelim
Hamper:
I have friends in all political parties and a wide social network. That’s my strength - John Martin D'Costa, Owner of Martin's Place in Navelim
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John Martin D’Costa flanked by his son and proprietor Malito Da Costa and chef Milagree Simoies at his village bistro and pub, 'Martin's Place' at Navelim.
Shubhankar Shah
John Martin D'Costa at his village bistro and pub Martin's Place, at Navelim.
Shubhankar Shah
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Chef Milagree Simoies and Filipe Mascarenhas promise appetisers, salads, main courses in Italian, Mexican, Continental and Goan delicacies, some of which are Mexican chicken nachos, buffalo wings, pastas like chicken Alfredo and spaghetti Carbonara, Greek salad, salad nicoise surf n turf, chicken chiquita, and Goan specialities like xacuti, vindaloo, sorpotel etc
Intro:
Established in 2010, Martin's Place set amid lush green village surroundings in Navelim, is on a mission to change the definition of a restaurant and make it a busy place of happenings. BHARATI PAWASKAR visits the cozy restaurant and has a chit-chat with John Martin D'Costa, his son Malito Da Costa and Chef Milagree Simoies and Filipe Mascarenhas to know how they intend to make this mission a success
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Martin's Place Navelim: A bistro and pub like no other
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It’s a place of happenings standing in the middle of greenery in a cool, serene part of Navelim. This multi cuisine family bar and restaurant has now adopted a new look – that of a village bistro and pub. Martin’s Place, already a party destination is thrown open for birthdays, christenings and anniversaries with an additional air-conditioned conference hall that can accommodate 250-300 persons at a time.
“My son Malito Da Costa, A BBA in marketing, has joined me now and we now have an international chef with us – chef Filipe Mascarenhas who is in the hospitality industry for the past 14 years,” announces John Martin D’Costa, owner, Martin’s Place. An hotelier since 1986, John Martin, a politically and socially active person in South Goa, has friends in all political parties and a wide social network. “That’s my strength,” he admits with pride.
Excited to have an international chef like Filipe on board along with his already popular Goan counterpart, chef Milagree Simoies, John Martin lists out the specialities that will adorn the menu henceforth – appetisers, salads, main courses in Italian, Mexican, Continental and Goan delicacies.
Elaborating the dishes chef Filipe chimes, “We shall be serving Mexican chicken nachos, buffalo wings, pastas like chicken Alfredo and spaghetti Carbonara, Greek salad, salad nicoise as well as our main course would have things like surf n turf, chicken chiquita, and of course our own Goan specialities like xacuti, vindaloo, sorpotel etc.”
Why did Filipe leave his life on a cruise liner and decide to call it a day to settle in Goa? “I lived enough outside my own homeland and it’s time to spend some time at home, I thought, so I chose to join Martin’s Place,” shares chef Filipe who worked on cruises – Celebrity and Thomson for more than nine years. He also has six years of experience under his belt – of working for five star hotels in Goa.
Narrating how he became a real estate dealer and a hotelier from a shippie, John Martin says, “I worked abroad for a decade until in 1986 I opened my own small restaurant, ‘Goodman’ at Colva. Incidentally it turned out to be a meeting point for all – common public, socialites and politicos. I ran the Goodman until 1995 and sold the place as it was too small. Today it runs with the same name Goodman. Then continuing with my real estate business I thought of opening a bigger restaurant in my own village Navelim on two of my unsold plots in my ancestral property. Yes, I sold 105 plots here until recession struck in. Today Martin’s Place stands amidst this greenery which was my dream.”
Opened on August 18, 2010 Martin’s Place is a ground plus two floor restaurant spread across 1000 sq mts built up area surrounded by fields and a few houses. Open from noon till 3.30 pm and then again from 6.30 pm onwards till 11 pm, the place is packed on Saturdays and Sundays. Even people from North Goa come down South to enjoy the cool ambience. “I plan to change the definition of a restaurant and make it a busy place of happenings,” says Malito who has worked for Armada before joining his father’s business.
The cozy restaurant has wooden ceilings on both the floors and boasts of a sturdy construction, John Martin speaks of iron and steel that went into the structure making it strong. “Safety of the public is my priority,” he says.
The place gets crowded during matches as it has a projector and a big screen for customers and sports lovers to sit and enjoy the sport, be it cricket or football. It also has a sports bar on the first floor and lot of open space for parking. John Martins had a brief stint in the politics too, when he was given the responsibility as general secretary in Goa Trinamool Congress during the last state elections. “But I no longer hold that post,” declares this person who has friends in all parties who hold meetings at his place. He also bagged some prestigious awards for his social work – Indira Gandhi Rastriya Sadbhavana Puraskar and a few others. Sharing his social responsibility, Martin is actively involved in charity and feeds residents of old age homes and orphanages regularly. “It’s a social obligation which every one of us must share,” he feels.
A sports lover he has remained president of Navelim Villagers’ Union for two terms; is a member of Lions Club of Navelim since 1982 and also the chairman of Navelim Service Trust since 2009. Working for the downtrodden as well as arranging marathons, football matches and bicycle races are soem of his passions and hobbies. With his son at his hand and two experienced chefs in his team, John Martin is all set to conquer new horizons.
