Image Credit: Macau News
TUGA is a Portuguese restaurant but at the same time, it is more. TUGA is a celebration of Portugal – through its food, wine, music and art.
It’s a journey of discovery: when someone walks into TUGA, they embark on an immersion of Portugal. Expat Choice caught up with Co-Founder Carlos Couto to discuss his latest creation.
TUGA serves a wide range of Portuguese wine. Eventually the restaurant space will hold about 12000 bottles which is possible because TUGA Singapore is about 4000sqft. The restaurant space was specially designed so that we can display them like objects d’art throughout the whole restaurant. The wines can be purchased both for dine-in and as a retail product.
Naturally, ambience is very important to TUGA Singapore. We want to create a very engaging space where guests can fall in love with Portugal and a place where they can come back to immerse themselves into Portuguese culture even if they don’t travel to Portugal.
So we will be displaying artwork that celebrates important Portuguese symbols and historical personalities; play Portuguese music including fado which was designated UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011; and serve food on specially commissioned tableware designed and made in Portugal. Everything we serve and use in TUGA will allow all the five senses to experience a uniquely Portuguese pleasure.
The Portuguese Egg Tart (aka 'Pastel de Nata') is a Portuguese cake speciality that could not be missed at Tuga.
We’ve actually created a retail corner in the front of the restaurant. Guests can browse and purchase a curated selection of Portuguese produce and merchandise. If they want to bring a little bit of their TUGA experience home, this is the perfect way to do it.
In fact, the name TUGA is strongly related to the concept. TUGA is actually a Portuguese colloquialism – it means a Portuguese person who is proud to be Portuguese. Like myself! I am a proud Tuga. I hope all my guests find this feeling in TUGA.
TUGA is a project of passion. The first TUGA has been open in Taipei since 2015 to showcase Portuguese wine to the Taiwanese public. Currently, TUGA is also the largest importer and purveyor of Portuguese wine in all of Taiwan. Our goal however is not just about selling the wine. We want people to understand the unique beauty of Portuguese wine; we’ve helped to launch an advanced course in Portuguese wine by the Taiwan Wine Academy.
Salada de atum com feijão frade = Tuna salad with cowpeas. Try ordering in Portuguese on your next visit!
TUGA Singapore is the first branch we’ve ever set up, and will also be our first overseas outlet. I think one of the reasons we decided to open in Singapore is because of our partner, The Supermarket Company – we have trust, and the same vision.
The Moelas de Galinha are truly memorable! Have you tried our chicken gizzards that are slowly stewed in a tomato and white wine sauce?
We hope that TUGA Singapore will become a place where we can communicate with all of Singapore about Portugal – its wine, culture and cuisine.
Are you confident in the future of the restaurant? What do you think needs to happen in order for new restaurants, like yours, to survive this?
We are confident. The model we will be offering is unique, and though the market is not exactly the same, it has had consistent success for the past five years in Taiwan. In our view, the restaurants that will thrive are the ones offering unique experiences, diversity, absolute and unquestionable quality of products as well as impeccable service. This is the TUGA proposal in Singapore.
How do you stay positive amidst all that’s going on? What motivates you to push forward and keep going?
We have no other way but to be positive and to keep looking forward! We are motivated by the belief that everyone should experience, at least for some moments, how is it like to be in Portugal – no matter if they are in Portugal itself or in Singapore!
INFORMATION
a. #01-15 Dempsey Rd, Block 8, Singapore 247696
w. tuga.sg/
