St. Anthony's Bar & Restaurant

ST. ANTHONY’S AT BAGA-BEACH
DOWN MEMORY LANE.

To be very precise, as has been told to us by our forefathers, the story of the people of Baga, which dates back to the good Old Portuguese times.

That, we the people staying in Baga were called from Anjuna to work in the paddy fields and look after this land by the original Landlord the Fialhos family, who’s descendents are still living across the Baga river. The story further goes; that it seems this land was an endowment – given away to one of the Fialhos daughter who then went on to live in Angola. Eventually, the property was looked after by Mr. Godinho’s family from Panjim.

As years rolled by some villagers ventured into fishing, toddy tapping, while others went to Africa and the Gulf for greener pastures.

Among such people was one late Antonio Carvalho, a Master Chef by profession who served the then Maharaja of Jaipur (now known as Lake Palace - run by the Taj Hotels). From there, he headed to Bahrain, joined BAPCO –a famous British Petroleum co.
And after 18 years of service in alien land, he finally returned to settle in his native God given land – A Paradise known as the Baga Beach. While most Goans on retirement would love their fenny and enjoy sipping it at the local taverna’s Antonio did something unique.

Since he had a great passion for the culinary art and realizing that one couldn’t even get a soda or a sandwich or anything for that matter on the whole Baga stretch; where many came to spend their weekends.

He struck on a brilliant idea to start, a small family place at his home for visitors; and THAT gave BAGA - - it’s FIRST ever service venture called “ST. ANTHONY’S BAR & RESTAURANT" in the month of March 1967.

After a passage of a year or two, Antonio realized that his house was rather small to cater to influx of visitors to the beach; business had grown manifold and so also the size of the family equally.

He then requested his Landlord, Mr. Jose Silveira who allowed him to set up his Restaurant towards the beach side of his house, to which the landlord willingly allowed him after drawing up an agreement for which he had been asked to pay Rs. 120/- as an annual fee. (The last copy of the receipt for the year 1972-1973 and along with the agreement is still preserved till today as a souvenir to be Reproduced in the photos section on Facebook)

Some of his early clients consisted of Mapsekars and Ponjekars (local terms for residents of Mapusa and Panjim respectively). Than gradually in the late 60’s came the so called “Flower Children” – Hippies belting out The Doors, Dylan, Clapton, Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones that made BAGA famous and put Goa on the World Map. Undoubtedly Antonio's young son Joseph Carvalho had a role to play in dishing out the abovementioned music as the Inhouse DJ that endeared the hippies to St. Anthony's, making Goa their perfect paradise.
Folklore also say the Beatles too came to Goa ( and arguably by definition, to St. Anthony's!!) but in disguise. World Famous Tour guide books called the FODOR’s travel guide book namely "India - 10 dollars a day", The Rough Guide, the Lonely Planet; and old Magazines like the JS from Calcutta and the Illustrated weekly of India (Mr. Khushwant Singh) gave great reviews and write-ups of ST. ANTHONY'S BAR supported by cartoons of the place by world famous cartoonist late Mario Miranda showing how the first flea market started around ST. ANTHONY"S BAR which later got shifted to Anjuna.
Shoba De a famous writer who needs no introduction too penned down her BAGA experience in the Sunday Midday of 17th April 1983 ( article reproduced in the photos section) Food critic and writer Reshma Uday Singh would come right in the kitchen to place her orders.

Then came the Taj Hotel, the only 5 Star Hotel in Goa in those days that came up at the other end of Baga at Sinquerim.
By then ST ANTHONY’S at Baga had become almost famous by word of mouth of Antonio’s Goan and continental Delicacies.
The Taj guests who had loved to eat at local places flocked to ST. ANTHONY’S. Personalities like Mr. Nusli Wadia & family of the Bombay Dyeing Group, Mr. Adi Dubash (the shipping magnate) Mr. Godrej all who would stay at the Taj came to eat at ST. ANTHONY’S.

Mr. Shashi Kapoor who had his Bungalow at Baga used to also frequent the place with his family. So it happened that fans came for an autograph of Mr. Shashi Kapoor while they ate their meals there. Antonio wandered who this man was? When he was told that he was a Bollywood Movie Star from the Kapoor Clan, he immediately brought a long book to keep track of all his visitors among whom the first one to sign was Mr.Shashi Kapoor (Reproduced in the photos section) and that gave birth to his “Visitor’s Book” which today remains a part of history and Good-will created for the place and BAGA too.
Antonio would then present it to people of all nationalities for their comments.

One of them is Mr. Amitabh Bachchan whom Mr. Shashi had introduced to the place and also to a lot of the Bollywood fraternity.
A quote from Mr. Amitabhji .....”The Greatest place in the World! And I mean it”. 19 November 1975. ( Reproduced in the photos section on Facebook).
One other great Indian personality, that surely needs mention is non other than India’s Greatest Industrialist and Pioneer Mr. Ratan Tata along with his sister relished on the lip smacking prawns curry and rice at Anthony’s, who later send a letter of appreciation.( Reproduced in the photos section on Facebook).



One of Goa’s famed writers Mr. Cabral D’sa wrote: Where did you say Baga was? It is neither in Nepal nor a suburb of Kathmandu either. It is the last place of God’s creation before he broke off for the Sabbath, that is why it is so paradise-like.. that is why it is a place to relax. So where to go when in Baga? There is nowhere to go except the beach and to ST. ANTHONY’S. It was and is indeed a meeting place for people whose parents and grand parents, (generations) had frequented the place down memory lane which when told by their children to the Carvalho family was like music to the ears to listen to and more so a priceless possession and an Institution in itself by now left behind by late Antonio Carvalho.
May his Soul Rest in Peace.

Graduating from Visitors-Book to Facebook!

All things seem to evolve over a period of time, I suppose. So did St. Anthony’s which now “Rocks” around the year 365 days, is almost famous again for being a great Karaoke place in Goa.
Yes, Yes quite different from what the place was in the 60’s and 70’s. For the times they are in changing…….. Different strokes for different folks. For the vibrant young India that badly needs to just chill out and let their hair down after a stress of the hectic work schedule at St. Anthony’s just having a great time man!

All this which is written in the “Visitors Book” can now be viewed on Facebook!