Ventura’s Signature Restaurant is hosted by yours truly Mr. Virgilio Ventura. Born and raised in Portugal immigrating to Canada with his family in August of 1987, Virgilio decided to open his restaurant to showcase the flavoursome food and culture of the Portuguese people. 

Opened to a warm reception in Hamilton in the winter of 1998, Ventura's Signature Restaurant is a family owned and operated business. Upon entering Ventura's is like entering "Old Europe", a hand-crafted wood decor, providing modern adaptations of old-world Portuguese home cooking is the theme througout. In a charming and graceful atmosphere, an evening at Ventura's will pleases all the senses:  music, local art, and the international flavours of Portuguese cuisine all combine to create a dining experience unlike any other in Hamilton.

To understand Portuguese cuisine, it is important to know the history of Portugal and her former colonies.  During the 15^th and 16^th centuries, Portugal was the world’s dominant sea faring and colonizing power.  Portuguese fleets traveled the world, establishing trade routes and colonies from the Atlantic islands to Africa and the Far East.  Each new discovery added to and changed the character of Portuguese food, and today the cuisine of Portugal evokes a voyage around the world, with such items as rice from the East, hot peppers from Africa, rich spices from India, potatoes and tomatoes from the New World, and cod from Newfoundland.   

Portuguese cuisine is characterised by rich, filling and full-flavoured dishes and is a prime example of Mediterranean diet. The influence of Portugal's former colonial possessions is clear, especially in the wide variety of spices used. These include piri piri—small, fiery chilli peppers, as well as cinnamon, vanilla and saffron. There are also Arab and Moorish influences, especially in the south of the country. Olive oil is one of the bases of Portuguese cuisine both for cooking and flavouring meals. Garlic is widely used, as are herbs such as coriander and parsley. From the savoury stews of Brazil to the fresh and diverse seafood of the Atlantic coast, Portuguese food is a truly global experience.