Todiwala commented on his new venture: “This will be a new take on East meets West. Not many people realise that the Portuguese explorers were the first to experiment with spices such as cinnamon, pepper, cloves and nutmeg.

"The world woke up to new flavours because the Portuguese shared with Europeans what they’d discovered in places like Asia, Africa and the Americas. But they also influenced local cuisines in the territories that they discovered, and so you will find the food in Goa is very much influenced by Portuguese cuisine.”

However, Todiwala insists that Assado, which he will run with Pervin Todiwala, will not confine itself strictly to Goan cuisine nor should it be mistaken for a Portuguese restaurant.

He said: “Assado will be offering a new concept in world cuisine in that the dishes will combine the flavours of India with the kind of food Portugal gave the world, in fresh ways. Remember, the Portuguese were everywhere from Mexico to Brazil to the East Indies, which includes Southeast Asia and the Sub-Continent. To be able to take these complex influences and put them all together without compromising my integrity as an Indian chef is a real challenge but also a dream come true for me.”

Open seven days a week from 11:00am to 11:00pm, a deli counter will greet customers as they come in, with ready to serve freshly-made dishes to take-away, while the live kitchen will showcase hot meals as they are prepared for those dining-in. The bar is designed to serve a selection of wines, spirits, port and cocktails with Brazilian and Portuguese influences.