Beyond Taste Holiday 2017 - 2018 Edition BT XMAS 17 | Page 198

Chef Alexandre Silva Loco Restaurante, Lisbon I believe in Portoguese cuisine interview and photos Roberto Savio Where were you born and raised? I was born and raised in Abrigada, a small village with vineyards, 60km from Lisbon. What and who were the catalysts that stimulated your interest in becoming a Chef? I think my Grand Father, a man from the fields, passed down to me the passion for genuine products and the constant search for the best produce, the best animals, the best fruits and vegetables. What is your culinary philosophy? Let´s take a walk down memory lane. Where did you study and what were your internships like, by that time? What about your gastronomic aspirations for Winter - Xmas time 2017? I studied in the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Lisboa and my first internships were at the Hotel Lisboa Plaza and at the Restaurante Bica do Sapato. Respect for raw materials, 0% waist, and work only with Portuguese products. I believe that doing Portuguese cuisine means cooking with Portuguese products. My idea is to work around the citrus world: most people associate it with summertime, but it’s a winter product in Portugal so I will try to do a fresh cuisine that can suit winter. Rabbit liver and potato Skin 197