Lovers of South American food rejoice, as a new restaurant specialising in the continent’s cuisine has opened in Aberdeen.
Known as Tucan, the eatery is located on Rosemount Place and will serve everything from traditional Latin food to Scottish-style dishes.
Sam Dagostim, alongside business partners Marcia Ramirez and Adam Marnoch, opened the doors to Tucan, which boasts a maximum capacity of 20, on Saturday (August 6).
Menu items at Tucan include cachapas – sweet corn-based pancakes – empanadas, gooey cheese breads, breakfast rolls, soups and more.
The restaurant is open from 9am to 5pm Wednesday to Monday and the team comprises four to six people.
The power of three
Sam, the founder and former chef and owner of Kirk View Cafe, now located on Aberdeen’s Belmont Street, teamed up with friends Marcia and Adam to make Tucan a reality.
They picked up the keys to the former Duck and Dog premises in June and it took around two months to refurbish.
Marcia, from Venezuela, was a chef at Cafe Cognito and ran her own private business, called Tucan Catering, while Adam worked in a number of restaurants around Aberdeen for more than a decade.
Between the trio, they have around three decades’ worth of experience in the industry under their belts.
Sam said: “The three of us get along extremely well. And it’s been a lifelong dream of ours to have our own business.
“Marcia ran many successful events in Aberdeen and has many followers that are now visiting us.
“As for Adam, he adds the balance needed to be able to attract local customers, as well as helping with this new world of Latin food.
Latin and Scottish flavours
In terms of what inspired the menu, Sam, originally from Brazil, went on to say: “Customers can expect to find traditional Latin food, local food, and fusions.
“With myself and Marcia being from South America, it was natural for us to want to cook delicious meals that we grew up eating.
“Adam is from Aberdeen, so this is where some of the delicious local food ideas come from.”
As many as 20 customers can dine inside. However, there is additional outdoor seating that is available depending on the weather.
Sam, Marcia and Adam plan on providing dining experiences in the future, too.
These will include tasting menus with paired wines from regions like Argentina and Chile.
“We’re most looking forward to providing delicious food,” Sam added.
“The food will be made in-house daily, using local and Latin ingredients to bring together the tastes that we love.”
The food
The restaurant
Conversation