It all started on the internet, but success meant that there had to be a physical space. "Monkeys bite me" is what we read when we open the website of Monky, a new restaurant from Faro do Head Rui Sequeira, who promises to give "the best flavors of Asia" to be tasted.
At the beginning of the year, with the closing of the restaurants during the confinement, the young Head decided to put into practice an old dream that was still on paper: to create a virtual restaurant – Monky – and thus bring Asian flavors to the home of the Algarve.
Meals were then prepared in the kitchen of Alameda, the restaurant in fine dining by Rui Sequeira.
Covid-19 slowed down, the country became unbalanced and, after three months, the project's success leveraged the inauguration of a physical space, located in Faro, near the headquarters of Motoclube, the birthplace of Rui Sequeira, which is also the Head from the Alameda restaurant.
At Monky, the dishes have «local, fresh and exotic ingredients», guarantees the restaurant.
Thailand, China and India are some of the nations represented on the menus. In the kitchen, the Head it puts aside fusions to prepare its gastronomic proposals without inventions: the international recipe is respected.
«It was a challenging time, but we love challenges and so Monky had to skip from the internet to your own space. I am passionate about Asian food and, with this project, I can make known the true flavors of Asia not only to those who visit the region, but to all my fellow countrymen, who visit us throughout the year and who like new things. and good gastronomic experiences", says the Head Rui Sequeira.
Spring Vegetable Crepes with Hoisin sauce (6 euros – 3 pieces), Shrimp Guiozas (6 pieces - 8,50 euros), Pad Thai (between 13,50 and 14,50 euros), Nasi Goreng (between 13,50 and 13,90 euros), Caris (between 13,50 and 14,90 euros) and Ramen (14,90 euros) are some of the starters and dishes present in the restaurant menu by Rui Sequeira, who chose the name “Monky” – by association with the funniest side of this animal very common in the Asian continent that the Head he likes.
To accompany these gastronomic specialities, the restaurant offers a unique drinks menu, where cocktails and sakes abound.
In this space, idealized and decorated by Head Rui Sequeira and his wife Cristina Monteiro, the concept of a journey of flavors through Asia through the senses is the basis of the philosophy.
The restaurant, which has a capacity of 80 seats, has a DJ on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The space is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Born in the Algarve, the Head Rui Sequeira, 29, studied in the region where he was born until the 12th grade. His passion for fashion and cooking made him head to the Portuguese capital after finishing school, looking for opportunities in these areas. He worked as a model for some time, but his love for cooking, which began in childhood, made him leave the fashion world.
He studied at the Lisbon Hotel and Tourism School (2011-2012) and then did a curricular internship in France, with the Head Serge Vieira. After the internship, he managed to achieve one of his main goals: working with chef Hans Neuner at the award-winning Ocean, in the Algarve.
At the age of 20, and during his internship at this Algarve restaurant, Rui Sequeira ran for the “Top Chef” program at RTP, in 2012, being among the three finalists. After the end of the competition, he returned to Ocean, where he was eventually hired and placed in a new position in the kitchen: snacks. Alongside Hans Neuner, he became deputy chief and Head restaurant creative.
In 2017, after six years at Ocean, he decided to set up his own space: Alameda, opened in Faro in December of 2018.
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