This Portuguese chef studied an undergraduate course in Animal Production Engineering at the Santarém Higher School of Agriculture (ESAS), where he learned a range of food production techniques (fermentation, curing, smoking etc.).

Rodrigo decided to open a restaurant in his native town with the help of his wife, and in 2013 his dream came true with the emergence of Taberna Ó Balcão (Santarém), where the cooking has evolved on the basis of traditional Portuguese cuisine and a preference for local Ribatejo produce. 

In recent years his cuisine has won both national and international acclaim with a number of awards, including a Michelin star and a Green Star.

In March 2022, on the strength of his continuous toil to promote and showcase the region, its products and producers, Rodrigo Castelo was appointed Santarém's Ambassador of Gastronomy.