I love everything that's old - old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine - Oliver Goldsmith
Image Courtesy: TripAdvisor
It was a girl's trip to a vineyard. Which means a lot of wine-induced giggling and some failed attempts at being classy (we left a vineyard tour, headed straight to the tasting and took a whole lot of selfies.)
Nestled within the Sula vineyard, is the cheerful Soliel (French for sunshine). Brought to you by the good people at La Plage, Goa.
Side Note: Now La Plage I've been to only once but I remember it as one of the nicest dining experiences in the country. Not just because it is stunningly beautiful overlooking the water but because it excels at elegant French food, the most beautiful chicken liver pate and green grape juice. You hear about Thalassa a lot, but La Plage tends to get less attention that it deserves.
Back at Soleil, chatter bubbles amidst the spread out, laid back decor. Each table is unique - an assortment of bric-a-brac comes together to build this colorful space. From wall hangings to furniture, everything is made from re-purposed materials from the vineyard.
The menu is not as French as I would like. Goan and north Indian dishes don't belong in a place called Soliel. The crêpes were about the most French item on the menu. A chicken came to our table in large dry pieces feeling a bit out of place. But there was redemption: generous portions of ice-cold gazpacho to start with and a spectacular mushroom risotto with red wine reduction to close the meal.
I love the Nashik vineyards. Even though Sula wines are average at best, and the vineyard has no old-world charm, I've always had a fantastic time. So drive on down, get drunk, get stuffed and get merry.
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