Made in House: Houston is presented by The Speke Originals Network (https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals)

Shiva Patel and Rick De Virgilio share the story behind Da Gama, where Indian and Portuguese traditions meet. They discuss a Houston restaurant romance, Oporto’s legacy, family recipes, food-driven travel, hospitality, and creating restaurants rooted in culture, memory, and soul.

Learn more about Da Gama: https://www.dagamahtx.com/

Key takeaways

1. Da Gama reflects Shiva Patel and Rick De Virgilio’s Indian, Portuguese, and Italian family influences.

2. Shiva’s family journey spans India, East Africa, England, and Houston.

3. Rick’s family roots connect Italy, Portugal’s Madeira Island, New York, and Houston.

4. Rick opened Oporto Café in 2006, taking on every role while building a Portuguese wine-bar concept.

5. Shiva and Rick met at the original Oporto Café and built their relationship through food and hospitality.

6. Their restaurants use travel, personal history, and family cooking as guides for menu development.

7. Mom’s Chicken Curry represents the deeply personal, slow-built recipes that define their cooking.

Made in House: Houston is presented by The Speke Originals Network (<a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals">https://www.spekepodcasting.com/spekeoriginals</a>)
Shiva Patel and Rick De Virgilio share the story behind Da Gama, where Indian and Portuguese traditions meet. They discuss a Houston restaurant romance, Oporto&rsquo;s legacy, family recipes, food-driven travel, hospitality, and creating restaurants rooted in culture, memory, and soul.
Learn more about Da Gama: https://www.dagamahtx.com/
Key takeaways
1. Da Gama reflects Shiva Patel and Rick De Virgilio&rsquo;s Indian, Portuguese, and Italian family influences.
2. Shiva&rsquo;s family journey spans India, East Africa, England, and Houston.
3. Rick&rsquo;s family roots connect Italy, Portugal&rsquo;s Madeira Island, New York, and Houston.
4. Rick opened Oporto Caf&eacute; in 2006, taking on every role while building a Portuguese wine-bar concept.
5. Shiva and Rick met at the original Oporto Caf&eacute; and built their relationship through food and hospitality.
6. Their restaurants use travel, personal history, and family cooking as guides for menu development.
7. Mom&rsquo;s Chicken Curry represents the deeply personal, slow-built recipes that define their cooking.

Food writer Megha McSwain goes beyond Houston’s headlines and hot lists to meet the chefs, owners, and neighborhood kitchens shaping the city’s food culture.

Made in House: Houston explores the stories, sacrifice, and pride behind every plate.

Food writer Megha McSwain goes beyond Houston&rsquo;s headlines and hot lists to meet the chefs, owners, and neighborhood kitchens shaping the city&rsquo;s food culture.
Made in House: Houston explores the stories, sacrifice, and pride behind every plate.

Made in House: Houston

Houston is made in its kitchens, dining rooms, bakeries, markets, and the people bold enough to build something of their own.

Hosted by food journalist and storyteller Megha McSwain, Made in House: Houston takes you inside the city’s most compelling food stories, from beloved neighborhood institutions and rising chefs to restaurateurs, makers, and the communities that shape how Houston eats.

This is a show about flavor, culture, creativity, and the business of bringing people together around a table. Whether you are a lifelong Houstonian, a devoted diner, or simply curious about the people behind the plate, pull up a chair.

Houston is made in its kitchens, dining rooms, bakeries, markets, and the people bold enough to build something of their own.
Hosted by food journalist and storyteller Megha McSwain, Made in House: Houston takes you inside the city&rsquo;s most compelling food stories, from beloved neighborhood institutions and rising chefs to restaurateurs, makers, and the communities that shape how Houston eats.
This is a show about flavor, culture, creativity, and the business of bringing people together around a table. Whether you are a lifelong Houstonian, a devoted diner, or simply curious about the people behind the plate, pull up a chair.