New in town: CUDO redefines Latin comfort food with soulful vintage charm
Can we take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous interior, please.
This culinary escape offers seating for 52 guests indoors and 24 alfresco, striking a balance of soul and sophistication. Warm textured walls, vintage decor and ambient lighting give it a nostalgic flair, accentuating a dining experience that's visually rich as it is flavourful.
Having grown up in New York and New Jersey, Group Executive Chef Steven Chou was surrounded by many Latin Americans and had great exposure to delicious Latin street food. He wanted to cook 'in a way that honoured those memories while making them [his] own.'
CUDO's concept at its core is simple — Gathering. Food is inevitably tied to memories, meant to be enjoyed together to bring people closer. Here's a sneak peek into some of their modern Latin cooking that does just that.
For starters, try their version of Warm Crab (S$18) — a mouthwatering molten cheese dip of smoked Scamorza, chilli cheddar, confit onions, lump crab and toasted sakura ebi.
Chef Steven's beloved 'Disco' Fries (S$16) is another notable one, featuring a refreshing Latin twist on the New Jersey staple. Think golden fries baked with Cotija cheese, a homestyle beef gravy, chorizo sausage, and salsa Rosada (mayo + ketchup).
When it comes to their mains, CUDO is all about indulgent feasting.
The Grilled Wagyu (300g) (S$56) features Wagyu rump marinated overnight in citrus and Mexican beer, then spice-rubbed, flame-grilled, and finished with generous lashings of chimichurri and a charred spring onion relish.
Not a meat person? Another showstopper of theirs is the (S$36) that pairs jet-black squid ink pasta with a velvety Ancho chilli lobster bisque cream, crowned with perfectly grilled tiger prawns.
Trust me, you have to save some space for dessert. As a Latin American establishment, CUDO doesn't play about their Coconut (S$14). Their sponge cake is soaked in 3 kinds of milk, kissed with white rum and topped with a decadent coconut cream and toasted coconut flakes — the perfect finish to your Latin adventure at CUDO.
For a midday pick-me-up, CUDO offers a 2-course express lunch set on weekdays from just S$28++ per pax, and a special brunch menu on Saturday from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
Are you ready to embark on your Latin culinary adventure? I sure am!
32 best restaurants in Singapore you need to cross off your list
The post New in town: CUDO redefines Latin comfort food with soulful vintage charm appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Hola, Paloma Mami: Get to know the rising star with a Drake-inspired stage name
The Chilean American singer's sophomore effort, "Códigos de Muñeka," is a bold and playful follow-up to her acclaimed debut album "Sueños de Dalí." Paloma Mami is getting all dolled up for her musical return, but not in the ways you might imagine. The Chilean American songstress, born Paloma Castillo Astorga, first bewitched the Latin urban scene with her 2021 debut album "Sueños de Dalí," a haunting record that seamlessly blended R&B, reggaeton and trap influences with Paloma's combination of ethereal vocals and razor-sharp rapping. The singer, the first artist of Chilean descent to sign with Sony Music Latin, made her mark by nabbing a pair of platinum singles and a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist. But instead of caving into self-imposed expectations of "what I want to have people hear from me," Paloma says she vowed to loosen up and take a "natural" approach for her much-anticipated follow-up. "Every artist learns from creative processes and work experiences what not to do and what to do better next time," Paloma Mami, 25, tells USA TODAY. "With this album, I realized I was going to be a lot more free just to play around." Playtime is up, and the result is Paloma's bold sophomore effort, "Códigos de Muñeka" ("Doll Codes", out now), a chameleonic album in which the singer-songwriter uses her ever-shifting identities, personified as "dolls," to get candid on the trials and tribulations of romance. "During one day, I have a bunch of different personalities. I just change thoughts and like an hour later, I'm a whole other person," Paloma says. "I was very heavy on the thought of not overthinking the lyrics and not putting so much 'Oh, I have to represent for this type of people.' I was more just on what I feel and how I would want to hear something." Here are five things to know about Paloma and her latest musical chapter. Rap superstar Drake influenced Paloma Mami's stage name Paloma Mami owes a piece of her artistic origin story to the Champagne Papi himself. The singer's stage name was inspired, in part, by rap icon Drake and his Instagram username, @champagnepapi. "I always loved the way he writes and his musical production in all his albums," Paloma says. "My favorite album of his is 'Views,' and I feel like when I was younger, that album definitely inspired me a lot to want to make music." 'Some Sexy Songs 4 U' takeaways: Drake minimizes 'rap beef' in new album, his first amid Kendrick Lamar feud The Canadian emcee's Grammy-nominated fourth album features the now-iconic R&B jam "Hotline Bling," as well as the dancehall-inflected "One Dance." While Drizzy has sonically evolved with his latest releases, the dance-influenced "Honestly, Nevermind" and the hip-hop heavy "For All the Dogs" Paloma doesn't rule out a musical link-up someday. "Listen, if he brough back (the) 'Views' era, it would be a dream collaboration," Paloma says. "Now, he's older, he talks about different things. He sounds different, obviously, because you can't always sound the same." 'Let life surprise me': J Balvin talks 'Mixteip' album, fatherhood and taking it easy Why Paloma Mami's Rauw Alejandro collaboration 'La Freak' was written in the stars Of all the collaborations on Paloma Mami's new album, one was truly the work of el universo. The singer teamed up with fellow reggaeton star Rauw Alejandro on "La Freak," a steamy hook-up anthem that sees the pair trade raunchy flirtations with blush-worthy rizz. Paloma says she had the "intuition" that Alejandro, known for his Casanova persona and NSFW lyrics, would be the perfect collaborator, and a chance conversation proved her right. "He had literally reached out to me and was just asking me about where I was and everything," Paloma reflects. "I was going to where he was, like, a week later. So, I was like, 'Oh my God, I was just thinking about you, and I have this song. I would love for you to be on it.'" Rauw Alejandro and Rosalía interview: How music's power couple balances love, work Paloma's creative manifestation fully came to life when she and Alejandro met up in New York to work together in the studio. "He was super quick," Paloma says. "He was really cool to watch create. I loved the process. I always love to see how artists make their music, and it was really dope." Paloma Mami shares the inspiration behind emotional 'Astros' video Paloma Mami's newest music video is a coming-of-age of sorts. The visuals for "Astros," a bruising breakup track about an ill-fated love, see Paloma navigate an arctic environment — including getting trapped inside a block of ice — as she grieves the loneliness of her heartbreak. The video is also peppered with references to her 2019 hit "Fingías," an Easter egg that Paloma says was meant to "pay homage to my younger self and close a cycle." "In this environment that I'm in, I kind of froze myself because I was trying to get to somebody else," Paloma explains. "I basically was where I was because I was trying to reach somebody that wasn't reachable, things that happen when you put others before yourself." Will Paloma Mami go on tour for 'Códigos de Muñeka'? Paloma Mami may be coming to a city near you. The singer, who treated fans to a headliner set at Coke Studio at L.A. LIVE on July 25, teases that a concert tour is likely to get on the books for 2026. "I definitely want to be able to plan everything super well for this tour just because I have so much care for the aesthetic of the album," says Paloma, whose album campaign is coated in the classic doll color, pink and the hyper-femininity of magical girl anime. "It's just so detailed, I feel like we have to come up with a really great visual aesthetic to it, so that everybody can kind of feel like they're immersed in the world," Paloma adds. "So, we're just going to work on how to do that for now." Karol G interview: Singer talks 'dream' album 'Tropicoqueta,' boyfriend Feid and Netflix documentary Paloma Mami looks back on Major Lazer hit 'QueLoQue' Paloma Mami was courted by music royalty early on in her career, and the experience was "fire," she says. 2025 marks the five-year anniversary of Paloma's song "QueLoQue," a collaboration with EDM heavyweight Major Lazer that the singer landed before her debut album even dropped. The mambo-infused, hip-hop banger earned the rising star a Top 20 hit on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and helped her meet Major Lazer frontman and Grammy-winning producer Diplo. "Major Lazer and Diplo had been reaching out to me when I first started everything, too, which was really cool that they were able to recognize sounds just for sounding good," Paloma says. "They're really dope in that area of finding artists who are underground … I really loved collaborating with them."
Business Upturn
8 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Legendary Artist Carlos Vives Surprises Colombian Youth with Unforgettable Visit
SANTA MARTA, Colombia, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SANTA MARTA, Colombia – Iconic Colombian singer and songwriter Carlos Vives made an surprise visit today to a group of young musicians in his hometown of Santa Marta. The youth, who participate in programs operated by the global nonprofit Children International, were in the middle of a rehearsal when the beloved artist walked in singing along to one of his most famous songs, 'La Tierra del Olvido.' The orchestra members – youth between the ages of 8 and 19 – are part of Children International's Colombia Wind Orchestra. Their rehearsal came to a sudden halt as the students erupted in cheers upon seeing and hearing Vives. Vives secretly planned today's visit in coordination with Children International Colombia staff after the nonprofit posted a video in early July, in which members of the youth orchestra shared how much he inspired them, then performed one of his signature songs. The video quickly gained attention on social media, ultimately reaching Vives and his team, who contacted Children International and asked to arrange a meeting. 'When I saw the video of the youth inviting me to sing with them, it was the first encounter I had with the orchestra. It was very exciting,' Vives said. 'And seeing them be part of an orchestra, seeing them empowered, is very important to me, because music is a wonderful tool that helps us express who we are.' Widely celebrated for blending traditional Colombian vallenato with contemporary pop and rock, Vives' career spans more than three decades. He is one of Latin America's most beloved and influential artists, known for honoring his Colombian heritage while pushing the boundaries of modern Latin music – earning him global acclaim and numerous accolades, including multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Awards. 'His visit is an incredibly meaningful moment for our youth and our staff,' said Hermelinda Guarin Restrepo, Country Director of Children International Colombia. 'It will encourage them to dream bigger and reach higher.' Children International's Santa Marta community center was an ideal location for the global superstar's visit, given that it's not too far from where Vives lived during his childhood. Additionally, the Colombia Wind Orchestra, funded primarily by the Sally and Dick Roberts Coyote Foundation, is a part of Children International's child and youth development programming that is unique to Colombia. 'We are convinced that through music, children and youth develop lifelong skills – teamwork, self-esteem, responsibility, communication, creativity, empathy and respect, among others,' said Guarín Restrepo of Children International Colombia. 'Being part of an orchestra also allows them to build strong friendships in safe, supportive environments.' Once the initial excitement began to settle, orchestra members performed a series of pieces for Vives over the course of an hour. He offered them feedback, shared stories from his own youth as a music lover, and connected with the students in a way they'll never forget. The visit was especially meaningful for Children International staff given Vives' longstanding commitment to youth empowerment through his own nonprofit organization, Fundación Tras La Perla, which promotes sustainable social and cultural development for children and families in Santa Marta and the surrounding region. 'His dedication to his nonprofit, Fundación Tras La Perla – and now to Children International – is a gift to the children and youth of this entire community,' Guarín Restrepo said. 'Today he left a mark that will inspire and empower these young people to break the cycle of generational poverty – and to one day give back themselves.' About Children International Children International is a global nonprofit organization that delivers child and youth development programs to help break the cycle of generational poverty. With operations in 10 countries — including the United States, where it is headquartered, and Colombia — the organization uses a personalized approach to provide access to healthcare, education, mentorship, and life and job skills to help young people thrive through the first two decades of life and prepare for sustainable employment. Children International Colombia serves more than 21,000 children and youth across three major cities: Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta. In addition to Colombia and the U.S., Children International also works in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, India, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines and Zambia. To learn more, visit Media Contact: [email protected] Attachments An Unforgettable Visit Carlos Vives Enters the Room Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
For your consideration: Indie artists who deserve Latin Grammys in 2025
Juan Luis Guerra. Natalia Lafourcade. Jorge Drexler, Caetano Veloso and Shakira. Clearly, Latin Grammy voters have demonstrated time and again some excellent judgment when it comes to highlighting artists who know how to make a beautiful record or two. At a time when la música latina continues to experience a state of grace — both in commercial and creative terms — the upcoming nominations are likely to include most of the major contenders who dropped new music between June 1, 2024 and May 30, 2025. But what about the singers and musicians who are evolving the genre without the benefit of a powerful record label or high-profile publicity campaigns? Some of the most progressive, forward-facing records of the 2024-25 season are likely to be ignored by the Latin Academy. With that in mind, we've assembled a select list of six Latin artists who should be celebrated. A few may show up when the nominees are announced on Sept. 17 — but each of them deserves a Latin Grammy. In a perfect world, 'Anónimo,' the sophomore effort by Argentine digital sorceress Juana Aguirre, would be an obvious candidate for album of the year. Of course, many artists before her have dabbled in the avant-garde deconstruction of the songwriting craft — fellow experimentalist Juana Molina comes to mind. What places Aguirre miles ahead of the competition is not only the disturbing vulnerability of her process — she records at home, in a lo-fi setting, driving herself mad with frustration by cutting and pasting until the disjointed bits and chirps of sound gel into a cohesive whole — but also the otherworldly beauty of the finished product. Aguirre lived in New Zealand and Bolivia before returning to the balmy Buenos Aires neighborhood of San Isidro, and her nomadic past may account for the assured, cosmopolitan vibe of tracks such as the folktronica lullaby 'Lo Divino' and the ghostly, Erik Satie-infused piano of 'Las Eamas.' A graphic designer and musician of unhinged imagination, she deserves plenty of accolades. One of the most brilliant singer/songwriters ever to emerge from Chile, Gepe is well established across the Americas and could very well be nominated for his luminous 2024 session 'Undesastre' — and if that turns out to be the case, well done, LARAS. It would be important, however, that his triumphant fusion of South American folk roots and nimble electronic beats is not relegated to the Alternative field. A session that glides effortlessly from bouncy, laid-back romantic anthems like 'Playaplaya' to stellar duets with the likes of Mon Laferte, Monsieur Periné and Café Tacvba's Rubén Albarrán deserves a place in the race for album of the year. A move-you-to-tears orchestral ballad of bone shaking intensity, the majestic 'Desastre' — it brims with eccentric sound effects and Beatlesque progressions — would be the most elegant possible choice for both record and song of the year. In conversation, Mabe Fratti is funny and unassuming. She makes silly jokes and describes her music-making progress with selfless glee, seemingly unaware of her own distinguished standing as a member of the Latin American avant-garde. A composer, cellist and ethereal singer, the 33 year-old Fratti was born in Guatemala and moved to Mexico City in 2015. The songs on this trendsetting fourth album are amorphous and crystalline, obsessed with finding beauty in the most faraway corners. 'Sentir Que No Sabes' has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics worldwide, from Pitchfork to the Guardian. Its brainy combination of jazz, classical, post-rock and dreamy synths could easily scare the most conservative faction of Latin Grammy voters — and that would be a grave mistake. As a member of Venezuela's turn of the century party band Los Amigos Invisibles, guitarist and composer Cheo — José Luis Pardo — got to enjoy a Latin Grammy win and several nominations. Sadly, he has kept more of a low profile since going solo in 2014. Creatively, however, Cheo remains a formidable composer and arranger. His 'Música Para Verse Bien' was one of the best albums of 2023, including 'Agujas en el Pecho,' a glorious duet with Monsieur Periné singer Catalina García. During the eligibility period for this year's ceremony, he released three separate volumes in the 'Refresco' series of EPs, paying homage to the genre strands that inform his music: tropical, funk and Brazilian. 'Si Estuvieras Aquí' underscores Cheo's weakness for bubbly Latin lounge, with electric piano flourishes and wordless vocals à la Henry Mancini. 'Vol. 3: Cheo Goes Brazil' is probably the most touching of the group, with remakes of two peerless Amigos Invisibles bossa novas: 'Playa Azul,' now sung by Cheo himself, and 'Las Lycras del Avila,' channeling Antonio Carlos Jobim's bohemian snapshots of Rio de Janeiro in the '60s, with a wistful melody on electric guitar. In 2022, Mariana de Miguel turned a seven song mini-album about life in Mexico City, 'El Sur,' into a late-night banquet of darkly hued dance-pop. This year, the artist known as Girl Ultra qualifies for the Latin Grammy on the strength of 'Blush:' a delicate EP made up of fleeting miniatures, noir impressions of EDM glamour. The architecture is more refined on shimmering pearls such as the hypnotic 'Blu' and the bratty 'Rimel.' But it is Girl Ultra's emotional maneuvering that turns 'blush' into an unforgettable experience. At first, these songs seem destined to provide the soundtrack for decadent one-night stands. Just beneath the surface, however, the hopeful longing in the singer's voice suggests that she may also be a romantic at heart. The top level production and Girl Ultra's masala-like blend of digital spices would more than justify a record of the year nomination for 'Blu.' Want a touch of genius? Try the 1:30 mark on the song 'Autoestima,' when everything stands still — and the stately chords of a church organ add a spoonful of madness to this tune about the negativity that permeates daily life in Buenos Aires. Since she emerged as a solo artist in 2012, Marilina Bertoldi has established herself as the resident hurricane of Argentine rock, blessed with a corrosive sense of the absurd, a knack for pop-punk melodies, and attitude to spare. Most importantly, her album 'Para Quien Trabajas Vol. 1' is tremendous fun, a wicked homage to the robotic drum machines and baroque synth lines that defined the '80s rock revolution in South America — from the classic albums of genre godfather Charly García to the radical moxie of Sumo, and the angular melodic sadness of cult band Metrópoli. Fortunately, you don't need to catch all the references in order to feel uplifted by Bertoldi's ball-of-fire songbook. The tracks are firmly planted on the now, from the elegant decay of 'El Gordo' to the vulnerable 'Por Siempre Es Un Lugar.' Bertoldi's albums have been nominated three times in the past, but the rock and alternative fields are simply too narrow and myopic for this brash, self-produced gem.
