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Once You Taste Real, There’s No Going Back

Last week, I stepped into a Domino’s after years. They had a combo offer: pizza, Coke, and some dips. It looked like a convenient deal, so I thought, why not? When the pizza arrived, my friend and I took our first bites. She was enjoying it comfortably, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. For her, this was what pizza tasted like. She has never been to my pizzeria nor tried a pizza made with a fresh, slow cooked sauce. For me, it was a completely different story. The moment I tasted it, I stopped. The sauce felt processed, almost chemical, like it had come straight out of a jerry can. The dough was rubbery, the flavor flat. I couldn’t go beyond that first bite. That moment reminded me why I started Zuzu Pizza in the first place. Here our marinara sauce is made fresh the old school way, slow cooked with ripe tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. No shortcuts, no preservatives. Our dough is hand stretched, rested properly, and baked with care. Every pizza we make is about balance, fr...
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Zuzu : Turning a Lonely Childhood Into a Space of Belonging

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When people step into Zuzu Café on Arambol Beach, they often tell me it feels warm, open, and full of life. Groups sit together, conversations flow, and travelers from all over the world connect like old friends. But what most people don’t know is that Zuzu was born from the exact opposite environment I grew up in. A Childhood of Strict Rules My parents were strict. Very strict, fr. I was never given pocket money for small joys. I couldn’t skip a single day of school for 12 years. And not once was I allowed to invite a school friend to my home. Home wasn’t a place of connection. It was a place of rules, discipline, and control. There was no dining out, no spontaneous fun, no laughter-filled nights. Looking back, I realize what I missed the most wasn’t money or things. It was belonging. Building What I Missed When I opened Zuzu Cafe, I didn’t just want to serve coffee and pizza. I wanted to create the space I had longed for as a kid. A place where people could gather freely, where conve...
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When the Rains Close the Doors: Challenges for Cafés in Monsoon Season

For many café owners, the monsoon brings more than just rain ,  it brings a pause in foot traffic, unpredictable supply chains, and higher operational costs. Some of the biggest challenges we face when shutters go down: Revenue Drops: No customers means no cash flow. Stock Management: Ingredients can expire before reopening. Staff Retention: Keeping trained baristas and chefs motivated when shifts are cut. Maintenance Costs: Dampness can damage interiors, equipment, and stock. The downtime can be tough, but it’s also an opportunity ,  to refine menus, train teams, plan marketing, and repair what needs fixing. Rain may stop customers from coming in, but it shouldn’t stop us from moving forward. How do you prepare your café for monsoon downtime? #CafeBusiness #Hospitality #SmallBusiness #MonsoonSeason #zuzupizza
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What Arambol Means to Me: A Love Letter to a Wild, Gentle Place

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Some places you visit… And some places visit you. They get under your skin, slow your thoughts, change the way you look at life. For me, that place is Arambol. The First Time I didn’t come here chasing some dream. I just needed a break ,  from noise, from routine, from people telling me what to do. I thought I’d find a beach, some silence, maybe a few sunsets. Instead, I found something deeper. Freedom ,  hidden in salt air, barefoot walks, late night drum circles. Arambol doesn’t care what job you have or where you came from. No filters, no fancy cafes with glass walls. Just real people ,  dancing on the sand, painting broken walls, singing off key under the moon, sipping masala chai when the world sleeps. It’s raw. It’s messy. It’s honest. It doesn’t try too hard, and maybe that’s what makes it special. What Arambol Means to Me ? Peace, with a little madness. Freedom, without needing to prove anything. A place where people don’t care what you wear or where you’re from ,...
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Zuzu Pizza: More Than Just a Café

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Zuzu Pizza: More Than Just a Café In a quiet street near Arambol Beach, there’s a little café that feels like home the moment you step in , Zuzu Pizza. Born from a love of food, people, and the beach life, Zuzu isn’t just a place to eat. It’s where strangers become regulars, where stories are shared over cappuccinos and masala chai, and where each dish is made with heart , whether it’s a cheese omelette, avocado toast, or our beloved pepperoni pizza. It’s about an atmosphere that makes you slow down and breathe. People from all over the world have found a moment of peace here , a yoga teacher who fell in love with our pizza, a traveler who still dreams of our chai, a couple who met here over breakfast and return every year. Zuzu Pizza isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s about what’s around it , the vibe, the connection, the quiet magic of Goa. Come for the food. Stay for the feeling.
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The Invisible Currency of a Great Restaurant

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Restaurants that last decades are built on hospitality capital , the invisible currency you build before profits. It’s the instinct to give before expecting anything in return. They are not just built on recipes; they are built on rishtey , to give before you ask. When you open a restaurant, don’t think like a businessman. Think like a mother feeding her child , no ROI, no margins, just love on a plate. Send free testers. Slide in a dessert on the house. Give birthday treats. Say yes when someone asks for extra gravy. Give them your time, your attention, your biggest smile. Because before anyone trusts you with their celebrations, you need to win their heart. People don’t come back just for the food  they come back for how you made them feel. And if you get it right  if you truly give without keeping count  they will return the favour. With loyalty. With memories. With a place in their lives, where your place becomes their home. That is how legends are built  not on ...
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