A COUPLE in Southampton are on a mission to prove Portuguese food does not begin and end with Nando's.

Henrique Vieira and Tania Zeferino run their restaurant and bar, Taberna13, on Terminus Terrace in the city centre.

Their second eatery in the city, the pair, originally from Madeira, opened their diner in May in a bid to introduce Portuguese culture to the people of Southampton.

The owners, who also run Mad Cafe and Deli in Shirley, say they have been trying to spread more awareness about what the culture includes.

Henrique said: “What we want to do is try show a bit more about the Portuguese culture, some people think it’s just Nando's and their chicken but there’s so much more to our culture and that’s what we want to show.

"So, people are more than welcome to come and see it’s not all chicken that we eat.”

As a child, Henrique has always enjoyed cooking and exploring the culinary world from a very young age.

He said: “Since I was little in Madeira, my mother worked in a bakery, and I helped her in that since I was seven.

“She would work at 4am and finished at 6pm and so I started cooking when I was about seven to try help her like making her lunch, so since then it’s been something I really liked to do so it’s been something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Henrique worked in a charcoal chicken restaurant while living in Madeira and after that moved to the UK to start a new life in 2005.

Looking back, he remembers the difference in wages compared to England and Portugal, when he would be paid more weekly here compared to monthly back home, calling them “the good old days”.

Now the couple has opened their space on the corner between Bernard Street and Terminus Terrace and are hoping for more visitors to enjoy their food.

Daily Echo: Inside the dining area of the restaurant Inside the dining area of the restaurant (Image: Inside the dining area of the restaurant)

Already, the couple has had positive feedback from visitors who have found surprising some of the dishes offered on the menu.

Henrique said: “We’ve had a few people come for their first time - when they read the menu, one of the dishes is made from potato, pork meat and clams - some people find the clams a weird addition but once they order it and try it and really like it.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook