Here's why you can explore the flavours of Goa at this food pop-up in Mumbai

When 19th Century miners after a long shift would chase their shot of whiskey with a beer they would name it the Boilermaker But the vibe of the Goan watering hole is far from ideas of hard labour The bar has been ranked at 30 on the 50 Best Bars in Asia this July courtesy their creative curation of cocktails Tomorrow they open a onenight only popup in Bandra for a rare Mumbai outingWe caught up with Macleigh Rey Fernandes bar head at Boilermaker and chef Manuel Olveira owner La Panthera and La Loca Maria about this fun Friday teamupMacleigh Fernandes and Manuel OlveiraMIDDAY What sparked the idea for this takeover in MumbaiMACLEIGH FERNANDES A big chunk of our community is from the city Every time we do a popup in the city it feels like a reunionMANUEL OLVEIRA This takeover came from a shared love for great flavour zero pretence and a little chaos in the best way possibleMD Boilermaker has defined itself with its distinct Goan experience and vibe How would you define a true Goan experienceMF Itrsquos not just about whatrsquos in the glass itrsquos about how you feel while yoursquore drinking it So the real focus is on consistency warmth and intentionSiolim Salsa and Mango No 5MD Will we be seeing that flavour of Goan susegad come through in the curationMF For this popup we wanted to bring a little slice of Siolim to Bombay both in flavour and in feeling The drinks wersquove chosen are rooted in our signature style playful bold and full of unexpected pairingsMD Any particular exampleMF One drink that always travels with us is the Siolim Salsa Itrsquos become something of a calling card a tropical spicy cocktail with tequila pineapple grapefruit jalapentildeo and gochujang Itrsquos vibrant and unpredictable much like the neighbourhood we come fromWersquore also excited to showcase Why Did the Onion Blush a newer creation Itrsquos a clever twist on a Gibson and lychee gimlet clarified with yoghurt On paper it sounds wild but in the glass it comes together in this elegant surprising way that catches people off guard in the best wayMD How did the experience of shaping two different ideas come alongMO Didnrsquot take long to be honest The brief was simple mdash shareable tapas that go great with seriously good cocktails In true Spanish bar style we pulled together some of our crowd favourites mdash mushroom and ham croquettes crispy fish and chicken tacos Spanishstyle flatbreads the iconic Gambas Al Ajillo and moreWhy did the Onion Blush and Coca de JamonMF There isnrsquot a rigid theme to the curation but the through line is clear drinks that reflect who we are MD In that case is there a drink that the both of you would pick for the eveningMF One drink that I keep going back to is Mango Number 5 Think of it as a mango pintildea colada But clarified carbonated and ridiculously refreshing in the Goan heatCoca de Queso Brie and Gambas Al AjilloMO Irsquod have to go with the Siolim Salsa It pairs beautifully with our Spanishstyle flatbreads cocas You can choose between the Coca de Queso Brie with caramelised onion brie cheese and charred grapes or the Coca de Jamoacuten with grated tomato serrano ham and manchegoPro tips for your house partygtgt Red cupsgtgt Plenty of cold beer gtgt A bottle of good whiskeygtgt A stack of shot glassesPut it all together and yoursquove basically got yourself a boilermaker Throw on our playlist keep the lights low and donrsquot overthink it The best parties are the ones where the drinks are easy and the companyrsquos just right Macleigh FernandesOnAugust 8 10 pm onwardsAtLa Loca Maria ground floor Fatima Villa 29th Road Bandra WestCall 9324404335 for reservationsEntry Free RSVP recommended