CAFÉ MIRA
Craving for some delicious and vegetarian fare that is out of the ordinary? Head to Café Mira, where the food packs a flavourful punch – scoring high on the ‘yumminess quotient’
Tucked away in a lane in Miramar, Café Mira is the new kid on the block among places to eat in Goa. A cosy café that serves simple fare, reminiscent of childhood comfort food – it specialises in authentic Gujarati and South Indian vegetarian delicacies with innovative lip-smacking twists. A convenient café that is open through the day to satisfy your food cravings. A chic café that has only recently celebrated its one-month in business but is already creating a buzz in food circles in Goa.
Café Mira is the brainchild of Radhika Shah-Timblo and Minal Bhandary-Poonawala, “two soul sisters”, as Minal puts it. Both of them are passionate about food. “We’re the sorts who plan lunch by the time we are done with breakfast, and then dream about an evening snack by the time we finish lunch,” she laughs. With this kind of obsession with food, it was but natural that they would soon eat their way through all dining options in Goa. They realised that although the dining scene in Goa had evolved over the years, there is always place for a reasonably priced vegetarian eatery.
The absence of enough food options from their own ethnic backgrounds (Karnataka and Gujarat and, by default, Mumbai) was also a factor. “That’s how Mira was conceived. As described by one of our patrons, it’s ‘desi ethnicity’,” says Radhika. “We had to get the concept right. We wanted to introduce good, wholesome foods made with local ingredients that are easy to source through the year. And to get the right mix of dishes which would be a reflection of both cultures.”
Both of them, individually, wanted to open an eatery at some point in time. As luck would have it, they managed to combine their ideas to bring Cafe Mira to life.
“One of the things that bind us (besides fitness) is food. We really wanted to showcase the cuisines of our childhood to Goa,” explains Minal. “We’re super passionate about whatever we do, and Café Mira is no exception. We put our culinary skills to the test and created a team to deliver the most authentic vegetarian menu.”
Ingredients are procured from Gujarat, Karnataka, Mumbai and other parts of the country. For instance, the sev and puris for the chaat come from Mumbai, the filter coffee powder is from Mysore, the dabeli masala comes from Gujarat, among other things. Working out the logistics was a challenge in itself, as Radhika and Minal had to forecast demand and supply in a market that was not entirely exposed to many of their items. Finance was another consideration, and they did not hesitate to invest their personal savings, earned from their previous employments, to make their dream come true.
The café aims to create a niche for itself in the highly competitive food market by curating a special menu. It offers new and unique flavours and textures to the Goan market which haven’t been introduced before.
The idea is to create dishes that are not oily or heavy, but high on flavour, served in an environment that is warm, comforting, clean and unassuming. The tastes and flavours are sure to remind you of a home cooked meal. “Since we both like to advocate healthy lifestyles, our food is prepared as it would be in our own kitchens,” Minal emphasises. 
“This has appealed to our patrons, since they keep coming back for more!”
The duo’s approach to marketing is simple. Social media has been their primary medium to create a buzz around Cafe Mira and drive footfalls. The food does its own talking – word-of-mouth publicity has been amazing, with constant queries for catering as well.
Café Mira’s success only goes to prove that a good, honest product with the right price point will always find its niche. “Our customers love the food and enjoy the easy-going positive vibe of the café,” says Radhika. “We hadn’t expected Café Mira to take off the way it has, with almost zero effort in publicity and marketing. We are truly humbled by the response”
A penchant for ‘good taste’
Minal Bhandary-Poonawala and Radhika Shah-Timblo – the ‘Mi’ and ‘Ra’ of their respective first names gave rise to ‘Mira’ – have extensive business management experience, having worked for several years in the corporate world in various capacities.
Radhika has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Welingkar. She has worked in information technology startups and in Contest-to-Win. She also has 15 years of experience in the liquor industry, in companies such as Sula Wines and Pernod Ricard. She is passionate about yoga and fitness, and has a black belt in karate.
Minal has an MBA from Sydney. She has worked in advertising and marketing in India and Australia with companies such as Ogilvy & Mather, Euro RSCG and American Express. She has also hosted events in collaboration with brands like Zegna and Maserati. She is passionate about fitness, nutrition and healthy living.
