New Delhi, Aug 29 - Spicy mutton vindaloo, chicken xacutti, Goan vegetable curry, Portuguese soup...all this at a place famous for its ice creams, burgers and sundaes! Fast food joint Nirula's has kept its promise of offering regional Indian fare, this time with a Goan food fest.

Most Delhiites have lingering memories of visiting Nirula's, but the restaurant chain is keeping up with changing preferences and its Potpourri outlet in central Delhi shows how.

'Our aim is to constantly innovate to give our customers a compelling reason to come back to our restaurant. It prompted a revamp of the business strategy,' Vinayak Shourie, marketing vice-president of Nirula's, told IANS in an interview.

'Changing lifestyles, coupled with the growing upper middle class population, has radically impacted the eating habits of Indians. Delhiites are always keen to experiment with new flavours and cuisines.'

Potpourri, Nirula's multi-cuisine speciality restaurant and salad bar at Connaught Place, housed in a British era building, is hosting the festival of affordable Goan food for the capital's 'middle class which loves to eat out'. It began in August and will go on till Sep 30.

The spread on offer is a medley of Portuguese and Goan dishes beginning with a selection of soups - caldo verde (soup of potato and spinach) and chicken coconut soup.

The spicy starters, tangy potato chops and fish rechado, explains chef Praveen Kumar, are a prelude to the main course flavoured with freshly ground coastal spices and red chillies marinated in vinegar.

'Vinegar and red chillies are a staple in Goan food because the Portuguese marinated and preserved their meat with vinegar and chillies during their long voyages to India,' the chef says.

The entrees or the main course - served with steamed Goan red rice - are vettana (dry peas) curry, xacutti, vindaloo, prawn balchao and Goan fish curry.

The prices have been designed to cater the young crowd, says Tejender Singh, floor manager Nirula's Potpourri.

'At the lowest end, the soups cost Rs.70 and the prawns are the most expensive at Rs.385. And food is authentic. It's for Delhi's middle class which loves to experiment with food,' he says.