(MENAFN- Mid-East.Info)
Al-Lusitano, restaurant in the Portugal Pavilion at expo 2020 Dubai, welcomes chef Hans Neuner, at the invitation of Chef Chakall, on 21 February. A symphony of flavors at 4 hands that promises to surprise. Dubai, 20 February, 2022 – Next Monday, February 21st, Al-Lusitano, restaurant in the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomes a very special guest: Chef Hans Neuner. From 7:30 pm (local time) all roads will lead to the Portuguese pavilion inserted in the Sustainability area at the world exhibition that runs until the end of March. The 7-course menu will cost 1200 AED and, more than an invitation or a“challenge”, it will be, in the words of the host Chef,“a symphony of flavors”.
According to the maxim that guides the Portuguese presence in the event“A World in a Country”, this 4-hand dinner will have as protagonists Chef Chakall, head and executive chef of Al-Lusitano, and Chef Hans Neuner (Ocean restaurant – VILA VITA Parc Resort & SPA).
The friendship that unites these two chefs is well known. In common, the fact that they chose Portugal to live – Chakall for more than 2 decades and Hans Neuner for about 14 years -, being the 4th and 3rd generation of cooks in their families, respectively; having both passed through Germany throughout their professional careers; be irreverent, each in their own way; and have a huge respect and passion for national ingredients, products and producers, regardless of the style of cuisine that each one of them practices/does in their restaurants.
Chef Chakall advocates unpretentious cuisine and Chef Hans Neuner, for his part, is a fan of the“keep it simple” approach, which, however, has earned him Michelin Stars over the years. It will therefore be interesting to see what the two chefs and friends are going to prepare on the night of the 21st of February in Al-Lusitano's kitchen and how their long experience in Portugal will reach the tables. Surprising it will certainly be.
About Al-Lusitano Portuguese Restaurant
Ensconced within the Portuguese pavilion and directly overlooking the Jubilee stage, Al Lusitano, a 126-seater restaurant brought to Expo 2020 Dubai by Pedro Rodrigues CEO of PLM Global, and celebrity chef Chakal to offer its guests a genuine Portuguese culinary experience.
Pedro Rodrigues CEO of PLM Global and Cofounder of Al-Lusitano Restaurant: A taste of the traditional cuisine from Portugal, aunique experience of delightful food from my country which is huge in flavors, from the Mediterranean south cost to the north side of the Atlantic, passing throw the mountains without forgetting the beautiful island in the middle of the Atlantic. All this variety is present in Portuguese food, making it a truly gastronomic experience. All seasoned with spices and fresh herbs.
The team are also flying in their own products, including breads, coffee and spices; and hosts tastings of olive oil from different parts of Portugal. The menu features cod fish dishes, a staple part of Portuguese cuisine in addition to simple but authentic, well-plated but not overtly fancy to bring to Expo 2020 Dubai a real experience of the food served in Portugal.
Al Lusitano serves dishes such as cod fish dumplings, chicken piri piri, chickpeas puree, roasted lamb, beef and tempura (“tempura, which comes from the word tempora, is originally from Portugal, not Japan), plus Pastel de Nata (egg custard tart pastries), leite de creme (a kind of sweet rice creme brulee), chestnut pudding and dona amelia (a pudding from the Azores islands, made up with spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon).
Chakall
The fifth of six siblings, Chakall was born in Argentina, but is a Portuguese citizen by choice. His parents come from Galician, Swiss-German, Basque-French, Italian and indigenous northern Argentinian origins; three of his four grandparents were in the food business, and Chakall says he grew up working in his mum's restaurant.
“I grew up in a restaurant, which is the best education you can ever have. We served 400 meals in a factory, and only 100 over the weekends so, for me now, cooking for 10 or 20 people is not scary at all.”
A journalism degree and career could not put off what“was inside me”, says the chef.“I was fighting the feeling, I did not want to become a chef, but destiny was stronger than me.”
Chakall helms the catering company Cozinha Divina in Portugal, plus several restaurant concepts, such as El Bulo Social Club, Refeitorio Senhor Abel, L'Origine, Areal Beach Bar and Luz by Chakall in Lisbon, and the Chakburger franchise.
He is also the executive chef of three restaurants at The Prime Energize Monte Gordo in Portugal, Super Bock in China and Roca Sundy in Sao Tome and Principe, and has authored a number of cookbooks, including Portugal Revisitado, and appeared on television shows such as Chakall & Pulga.
The chef describes his cooking style as uncomplicated, unpretentious and stress-free.“I always cook in contrast,” he says,“because when I eat a dish, I am most happy when it surprises my palate. Of all the restaurants I've eaten at in Dubai so far, a simple leek soup at Mythos in JLT stands out just for how different its smoky flavour is. I will remember it all my life.”
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