As part of the “TASCA – Authentic Portuguese Restaurant” project, promoted by AHRESP – Portuguese Hospitality and Restaurant Association in partnership with Visit Portugal, another international initiative celebrating Portuguese gastronomy will take place in the Netherlands on 11 and 12 June.
Following activations held throughout 2026 in Japan, Spain, and Germany, the project now arrives in The Hague with the Portugal Food Festival – Taste the Tasca, hosted at Leo’s International Flavors restaurant.
Over the course of two evenings, guests can experience a menu of authentic Portuguese flavours created by Portuguese Chef Rui Lima Santos, from the restaurant Deselegante in Santarém. Inspired by comida de tacho – traditional, hearty, and flavourful dishes commonly served in Portuguese tascas – the menu celebrates the essence of Portugal’s traditional cuisine.
Coinciding with Portugal’s popular summer festivities, the activation will also recreate the informal and convivial atmosphere typically associated with these celebrations, offering visitors an immersive cultural and gastronomic experience.
The “TASCA – Authentic Portuguese Restaurant” project will introduce international audiences to the Portuguese tasca, as an authentic representation of the country’s gastronomy and an expression of identity and culture. The initiative will reinforce Portugal’s reputation as a world-class gastronomic destination while simultaneously promoting regional diversity, local products and Portuguese culinary traditions.
The tasca goes beyond a restaurant concept, it is a symbol of Portuguese culture: a place of gathering, sharing and community, where simplicity becomes authenticity and where gastronomy intersects with hospitality and social connection. The project also aims to recognise tascas as living spaces of culture and sociability, fostering closer relationships between producers, chefs, local communities and visitors.
“More than a place to eat, the tasca is a meeting point for the community, a stage for the authentic flavours of our cuisine, and a distinctive element in the global tourism landscape,” says AHRESP.
“By promoting tascas, traditional flavours and local gastronomic culture, this project contributes to strengthening Portugal’s international culinary identity, highlighting gastronomy as a decisive factor in differentiating and positioning the destination,” adds Visit Portugal.
During the festival, a curated list of Portuguese Tascas will also be unveiled, inviting the Dutch public to discover these authentic culinary destinations across Portugal.
The Portugal Food Festival – Taste the Tasca is presented by the Embassy of Portugal in The Hague and Visit Portugal, in collaboration with AHRESP.
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Images: Visit Portugal – The Netherlands & Belgium