Food, travel & discoveries
Join Rebecca Assice Founder & Director at Virtual Room at TUGA Portuguese Cuisine Singapore
By Rebecca Assice · Senior Features Writer
Originally filed 24 December 2020. Details in this report reflect the time of writing.
Image Credit: Did you know that tempura is Portuguese? see comment below
As we still can’t travel, I am even more determined to live my favourite travel memories via exotic food and dining experiences. One of my stand-out destinations in Europe (and often highly underrated) is Portugal.
Fantastic weather, food, wine (and port!) plus Disneylandesque castles, culture and architecture. It has something for everyone (while also being very budget friendly) and is on my list to return to as soon as possible – I only got to visit Lisbon, Sintra and some of the nearby beaches so there is much to explore still.
Stepping into Singapore’s only Portuguese restaurant, TUGA, I am immediately transported to those wistful days winding the streets, sipping gorgeous Portuguese wine and sampling the local gastronomic delights. TUGA (a colloquial term meaning proud to be Portuguese) is modern, clean and bold in its appearance (thanks to owner David’s architectural background) and we are reminded that it is first and foremost a wine shop.
But TUGA is so much more than that – it is a joyous celebration of all things Portuguese, from the wine and food to the art and music. The first point of interest we notice is the small retail shop, where guests can browse a range of specially curated, gourmet Portuguese products and perhaps take home a small reminder of their TUGA experience.
We wind past floor to ceiling displays of wine as we are shown through to our table located in the Douro room. Each space in the huge 4000 sq ft restaurant is cleverly organised to represent a specific wine region of Portugal, showcasing only wines and art from that region. Our room has a large sharing table, perfect for those family or work gatherings but other spaces are small and intimate – quaint enough for a romantic date night or a secluded dinner for four.
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 are exuberantly greeted by the two gentlemen at the helm of this emporium, David and Carlos, both of whom exude TUGAness to their core. This is not their first Portuguese F&B venture, TUGA Singapore has been adapted from their sister restaurant in Taipei – a similar concept but with broader ambitions here.
Our server is knowledgeable and on hand with thoughtful advice to guide us through the extensive menu and wine list. At TUGA the food is most definitely made for sharing – bold, hearty, comfort dishes which are generous in size without comprising on taste and grace.
Some of our favourite appetisers were the spicy sauteed mushrooms with black pig ham (Cogumelos salteados e presunto de porco preto), the Pastéis de bacalhau or codfish cakes (codfish being a very classic Portuguese ingredient) and the padron peppers.
Salada de atum com feijão frade = Tuna salad with cowpeas. Try ordering in Portuguese on your next visit!
For mains, highlights included the Bacalhau com Natas no forno - deliciously sweet codfish with cream baked in the oven and presented not dissimilar to a lasagne. The Carne de porco à Alentejana – which is pork meat with clams – a juicy juxtaposition of the soft salty clams with the bolder more robust pork meat.
The wine list is immense and only serves Portuguese wine – they have plans to hold 12,000 bottles eventually. But to make it even more fun you can walk around the wine racks and choose a wine from the region and price point of your desire.
Rest assured you will not go thirsty here and they have everything from sparkling wines, to robust reds and ports to sweet as honey dessert wines – all well priced and of excellent quality.
The Portuguese Egg Tart (aka 'Pastel de Nata') is a Portuguese cake speciality that could not be missed at Tuga.
Our experience at TUGA easily lived up to what they are trying to achieve – a journey of discovery where one can embark on a total immersion into Portuguese food, wine and culture – “perfeito” as they say in the local lingo.
Despite opening in extremely challenging times, the popularity of TUGA is testament to the passion for Portugal that David and Carlos are bringing to Singapore with charm and finesse.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR REBECCA (WATSON) ASSICE
Founder and Director of Virtual Room in Asia Pacific. The future of entertainment is now here with Virtual Room – the world’s best team-based virtual reality experience located right in the heart of Chinatown, Singapore. Experience a truly immersive and mind-blowing adventure with your friends, family or colleagues as you communicate and work together in a totally realistic virtual world. Perfect for team building or company events - Virtual Room has corporate packages for up to 44 people.
Image Credit: Rebecca Watson Assice and her family in Singapore.
Virtual Room is one of the world’s best team-based virtual reality experiences and is now in Singapore. Blending the escape room concept with a full 3D cinematic experience to deliver a unique, immersive and mind-blowing adventure. Played in groups of 2, 3 or 4 players where each player has their own dedicated room – you will talk to each other, walk around, bend, throw objects and collaborate together to solve the puzzles and challenges.
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INFORMATION
a. 8 Dempsey Rd, Singapore 247696 #01-15 - Block 8
w. tuga.sg/
