Nuno Mendes (born 1973)[1] is a London-based Portuguese chef, former executive chef at Chiltern Firehouse, London.

Nuno Mendes in 2011

Early life edit

Nuno Mendes was born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal.[2]

Career edit

Mendes was trained at the California Culinary Academy in the 1990s, worked at elBulli,[3] and has worked with Wolfgang Puck, Rocco di Spirito, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.[4] In 2006, Mendes opened Bacchus, a gastropub in Hoxton, and later opened The Loft Project, from his own apartment in Shoreditch,[3] "where some of the best chefs cooked in front of guests, offering a pioneering and intimate experience".[4]

In 2010, Mendes opened Viajante (Portuguese for "traveller") in Bethnal Green’s Town Hall Hotel, inspired by world cuisines. In its first year it received a Michelin star and was included in the 2013 World's 50 Best Restaurants.[4] One critic said of the restaurant, "Nuno Mendes has brought a taste of El Bulli to the East End".[5] Giles Coren of The Times referred to Mendes as "every restaurant critic's secret favourite cook".[6]

In March 2022, Mendes opened a Portuguese restaurant, Lisboeta on Charlotte Street, London.[7]

Personal life edit

Mendes has a daughter and twin sons, with his partner Clarise, a South African stylist.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Curtis, Nick (27 March 2013). "Chef who's the cat's whiskers: Nuno Mendes". Evening Standard.
  2. ^ "Nuno Mendes: Culinary Traveller". Internationalgourmetfestival.com. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Is this the most futuristic pub in Britain? | Compare and buy | The Observer". Observer.theguardian.com. 2011-02-09. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  4. ^ a b c "Nuno Mendes". FOUR Magazine. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  5. ^ Williams, Zoe (2010-05-31). "London Restaurant Review: Viajante". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  6. ^ Giles Coren Published at 2:47PM, March 8, 2014 (2014-03-08). "Giles Coren at the Chiltern Firehouse". The Times. Retrieved 2014-06-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Ellis, David (16 March 2022). "Nuno Mendes returns with new restaurant Lisboeta, and this time it's personal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 19 June 2022.