About Nuno Mendes

Nuno Mendes

Born and raised in Lisbon, Nuno Mendes worked in America, Japan, and Spain before heading up a string of critically acclaimed restaurants in London, including Bacchus and Viajante. Nuno is executive chef at London’s Chiltern Firehouse and co-author of the Chiltern Firehouse cookbook. In 2015 he launched his first solo venture, restaurant Taberna do Mercado, which focuses on the food and wine of his native country of Portugal. @nunoviajante

A white serving platter filled with Portuguese rice pudding and topped with toasted pistachios and cinnamon.

Portuguese Rice Pudding ~ Arroz Doce

Traditional Portuguese rice pudding is cooked risotto-style with a lilt of citrus and the warmness of cinnamon. Easy as can be. With all the creamy richness you’ve come to expect from rice pudding.

A wooden bowl filled with golf-ball-size fried potato and chouriço balls on a wooden tray.

Bolinhas de Chouriço com Batata

“Tater tots” Português. É assim que pensamos nesta mistura de batatas, chouriço e cebola que é frita até ficar crocante e dourada no exterior e impossivelmente arejada mas rica por dentro.

A wooden bowl filled with golf-ball-size fried potato and chouriço balls on a wooden tray.

Chouriço and Potato Balls

Portuguese tater tots. That’s how we think of this mashup of potatoes, chouriço, and onion that’s deep-fried until crisp and golden on the outside and impossibly airy yet rich on the inside.