Acclaimed chef’s new eatery a ‘game changer’ for CT marketplace

Acclaimed Chef Rui Correia closed his fine dining restaurant, Douro, in Greenwich recently and has opened a less tony spot in Hartford’s Parkville Market.

For Correia, 52, who is seven years into a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the move was a way to follow his doctor’s advice and reduce stress, while continuing to do what he loves: working magic on taste buds.

But for Carlos Mouta, developer and owner of Parkville Market, having a real chef like Correia at the market is a major score – and dream come true.

“He’s the first real chef to come here and it’s a big deal…I’m so excited a real chef believed in us,” Mouta said. “It’s a game changer for the market for sure.”

The 20,000 square foot, two-story Parkville Market, which has 22 eateries in spaces called stalls, some retail space, pop up events, communal seating and indoor and outdoor seating, was opened by Mouta in May of 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Mouta said about 100,000 people visit his market every month.

Mouta, a self-described “foodie” said he’s been trying to “elevate” the food at the market and change the perception that it’s all “fast food.”

The addition of Chef Correia cements that elevation in Mouta’s eyes, he said.

So far, Chef Correia, Mouta’s friend of 20 years, is loving his new place, “Taste of Portugal Streets.”

“I fell in love with the concept, the people,” and the the chill atmosphere, the chef said. “It’s a perfect fit. I do what I love – the food end of it , but at a much more casual down to earth restaurant.”

Running a fine dining restaurant with Parkinson’s

Chef Correia adored his work and clientele in Greenwich, as well, he said, but the stress of running a fine dining establishment for 13 years took its toll as the Parkinson’s progressed.

“It brought me to a screeching halt,” he said of the onset of symptoms. “My skills are still diminishing. I’ve lived with it.”

The father of two young children was diagnosed seven years ago after his fine motor skills began to deteriorate, including his knife skills, ability to write and to button his pants.

Douro was a fusion of Portuguese, Mediterranean and American cuisine and his new place is a little more Portuguese, but still a fusion of sorts.

The men, both Portugese, met about 20 years ago when Mouta owned a wine import company.

They became fast friends and Mouta dined often at Douro.

At Taste of Portugal Streets the chef offers street fare, unique sandwiches, small combos of seafood, pork and rice dishes often found at street festivals and “local little dive bars,” Correia said.

He offers a steak sandwich with fried egg on top and a Portuguese grilled cheese that he describes, “like a grilled cheese on steroids” with provolone, ham.

For all his culinary accomplishments, owning restaurants, working for Bobby Flay, and alongside New York City’s finest chefs, Correia, a graduate of New York Restaurant School, isn’t carried away with himself in the least.

“When I was in Greenwich working with celebrities, CEOs, making TV appearances, I never took myself seriously.” he said. “Life has a way of humbling you. All walks of life make it colorful.”

There’s no self pity either of his medical condition.

“It could have been worse, many have it worse,” Correia said. “My doctor said you’ll die with Parkinson’s, not from it. It’s not a death sentence.”

The doctors recommended he reduce stress and, “This is relaxing,” he said of the new gig. He’s working there most days and oversees the recipes, but has help for some of the physical challenges.

He said Parkville Market is, “very busy,” and he loves the diversity and talking to customers. Correia will soon open a second eatery in the market.

“There’s a great bunch of vendors proud of their food and their heritage,” he said.

Correia said his wife, Bruna, and two sons, Thomas, 3  and Theo, 9 months are, “my reason to cook and exist.”

A grandmother trained his pallet; he never uses her recipes 

Correia said every chef compliments their grandmother for contributing to their talents, but in his case, grandmother Ermalinda in Portugal gave him the “passion,” for cuisine, “but she wasn’t a great cook.”

She owned a restaurant in Portugal during a time people were coming home from war so the bar wasn’t high. Her food was over cooked and too salty, he said.

But his grandmother used to stick food in his mouth often, and not always the tastiest food, items like gizzards and liver sardines among them.

“I thank my grandmother for training my pallet and helping me fall in love with the trade. But I did not take her recipes,” he said with a chuckle.

Mouta, who owns a lot of real estate/ property in the Parkville neighborhood, lived there with his family after emigrating from Mozambique at age 14.

Mouta said he was determined to open a market because he grew up with them in Mozambique and they have them all over the world and in places like New York City.

“I love markets and there are no markets around here,” he said. “The markets are where you get to see local people.”

Mouta said he loves that Correia’s “takes risks” in his cooking and has a passion for quality.

“I’m a foodie. I like somebody that goes out there and faith in himself and is willing to try different things,” Mouta said.