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.