Paella heaven
Located in a small nook along F. Torres Street is a must-visit destination for paella lovers created by an up-and -coming chef named Antonio “Uno” Tupas.
Formerly a fixture at bazaars like the SM Lanang’s The Weekend Market, 20-year-old Uno decided to up the ante and open a permanent stand-alone dining establishment adjacent to the family-owned Soul Kitchen Co. healthy food store which was a brainchild of her mother Mimi Vergara Tupas.
“This is the single hardest thing I've ever done in my life. But it also is the most fulfilling,” Uno writes in his Facebook account describing the emotions in opening his “Paella Project.”
The resto with its fast casual dining concept reintroduces the familiar Spanish rice dish to Dabawenyos.
Uno says he chose paella as he finds the flavors complex - very foreign and very homey at the same time.
Though the dish is intricately far from the ubiquitous lutong bahay, the flavor reminds him of his mother and grandmom’s cooking.
“I like the different levels of flavor, depth and textures,” he says of the paella.
The resto serves Paella Valenciana, Paella Negra and Mariscos (Seafood). Within 5 to 10 minutes customers will have their fill of sumptuous paella brimming with flavors.
Aside from paellas, Uno also serves tapas, among these include Callos, Salpicao, Gambas, Tigre, Pollo and Jamon Croquetas.
With their fast casual concept, most of their clients are those ordering for take-out or opting for food delivery services.
Far from the restless youth of his generation, Uno had found his dream, the four walls of the kitchen and doggedly homed in to pursue it. He took up culinary studies at the CACS (Center for Asian Culinary Studies). He proudly shares that his CACS culinary instructors Chefs Junjun de Guzman and Gene Gonzalez have visited the Paella Project.
After CACS interned in Gallery VASK, a Basque inspired resto, hailed as one of Asia’s best 50 restaurants, Uno’s experience hastened his resolve to open his own resto in his native Davao.
He is hands-on in manning the kitchen, even doing the marketing early in the day. With strict standards in quality, he makes sure the ingredients are fresh and of high quality. He says there are days he would not offer paella marisco in the resto if he doesn’t find good quality seafood in the market.
The very nature of paella as a complex dish, his favorites change everyday. “Today my favorite dish is Paella Negra. Maybe tomorrow I would have another favorite dish.” He tells the writer.
Project Paella is perfect for those wanting to catch a quick hearty meal. Their paellas and tapas are reasonably priced. Also I recommend their signature drinks lemonade and sangria.
Project Paella is located in F. Torres Street corner Mabini, adjacent to Soul Kitchen Co. For orders you can call the resto at (082) 327 3821.