Nuno Mendes is one of the most prestigious portuguese Chefs, with a long career in the United Kingdom, where he opened many projects, among them O Viajante, which conquered a Michelin Star, and the Taberna do Mercado, a project in Shoreditch where the Chef cooked recipes inspired on portuguese recipes and his memories of his country. Nowadays, Nuno Mendes remains as the Chef of the famous The Chiltern Firehouse, in Merylbone, The Rose, in Deal, in southern United Kingdom and with his social project in schools, Fuel for Learning. In Portugal, Nuno Mendes is the creative consultant Chef of the Bairro Alto Hotel, in Chiado. Nuno Mendes visited Malhadinha during September and answered some of our questions.

1. What does Alentejo mean for you?

Alentejo is my spiritual residence, the house of my dreams, my past and hopefully my future. Alentejo brings me peace, beckons me back to the silence and appreciation for Nature. Alentejo is stopped in time and remains full of tradition and an infinity of secrets to discover.

 2. Describe a special moment lived during the stay.

The sunset on Malhadinha’s hills. The beautiful houses where we stayed. The natural beauty of the area. The architectural respect showed in the property.

3. What autochthonous Alentejo products do you like to work the most?

Wild asparagus, tubers, purslane, pennyroyal and the Alentejo black pig, logically I also love products from the Alentejo Coast.

4. If you had to describe Malhadinha using a song, what would it be?

I like obscure music, so I am not sure if my references will be identifiable.
Maybe a theme from the Japanese band Mono. The peace, pure beauty, the melodic rhythm then cut by a sound wall… the spirit of Nature, calm and relaxing on the surface, followed by the intense rhythm of everything that is going on underneath the Earth’s surface.

5. A book, a wine.

“Viagens na minha Terra” from Alemeida Garrett, paired with a Malhadinha Red.

6. If you could an idol or celebrity, alive or otherwise to know Malhadinha Nova, who would you invite?

My father. I wished that he had the opportunity to see the magnificent projects that appeared in the area in Portugal that he had such passion for. Passion that was passed on to me and that I always take in my heart. Alentejo is still one of my favourite areas in the whole wide world.