OÃO RODRIGUES BRINGS TOGETHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHEFS WITH PRODUCERS AND ARTISANS IN A TOUR THROUGH SEVEN PORTUGUESE REGIONS
START DATE: 5th & 6th APRIL IN ALENTEJO
Chefs, producers, artisans, and local culture—these are the elements that shape one of Portugal’s most unique itinerant gastronomic events. Created in 2023 by João Rodrigues and Vânia Rodrigues, Residência is part of Projecto Matéria, a non-profit initiative that gives a voice to small national producers committed to organic and sustainable farming, fosters knowledge exchange, and creates synergies between people, communities, food, and territories.
With a kitchen on the move and a deep commitment to valuing Portugal’s gastronomic heritage, Residência traveled 12,000 kilometers across 12 regions in 2023, engaging with nearly 100 local producers and chefs over the course of a year.
In 2025, Residência is back, this time welcoming a distinguished lineup of international chefs. Among them: Mitsuharu Tsumura (Maido, Lima, Peru), Ricard Camarena (Ricard Camarena, Valencia, Spain), Manu Buffara(Manu, Curitiba, Brazil), Karime Lopez (Gucci Osteria by Massimo Bottura, Florence, Italy), Maksut Askar (Neolokal, Istanbul, Turkey), Marsia Taha Mohamed (Arami, La Paz, Bolivia), Nicanor Vieyra (Olluco, Moscow, Russia), Mihai Toader (Soro Lume, Bucharest, Romania), and Nieves Barragan (Sabor, London, United Kingdom). These culinary experts will join chef João Rodrigues in a shared mission: to highlight the richness of Portugal’s regions and gastronomic culture throughout the Residência journey.
The upcoming Residência events will take place throughout 2025 and into early 2026, covering seven regions: Alentejo, Porto and the North, Central Portugal, Lisbon, Algarve, Azores, and Madeira. Each stop will include visits to local producers, restaurants, and artisans, offering inspiration for the creation of a unique menu by both Portuguese and international chefs, who will host guests for exclusive dining experiences. In keeping with the organic nature of all Residência events, menus will be crafted based on what the land and season provide, only being finalized on the day of the event.
The new season of Residência, kicks off on April 5th and 6th in Alentejo, specifically in the Montemor-o-Novo and Grândola regions. Chef João Rodrigues will welcome two major international culinary figures: Manu Buffara (Manu, Curitiba) and Maksut Askar (Neolokal, Istanbul, Michelin-starred). The local guest chef will be Filipe Ramalho from Páteo Real, in Alter do Chão.
According to Vânia Rodrigues, co-founder of Grupo Monda, the return of Residência is always driven by a desire to explore and discover Portugal. “Portugal may be a small Country, but it holds an immense territory waiting to be explored—from rivers to the Atlantic, from rolling plains to towering mountains, from winding roads to endless straightaways. It is a living destination, nurtured by extraordinary people and projects that preserve our knowledge, flavors, and traditions.” She adds: “In this second season of Residência, we want to continue uncovering and sharing this unique legacy.”
Residência Chefs in Alentejo
Manoella Buffara is deeply committed to working with local products and producers at her restaurant, where she focuses heavily on plant-based cuisine. She is also dedicated to social impact projects, including the creation of community gardens. Manu, her restaurant, has been open since 2011 and currently ranks 35th on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Maksut Askar opened Neolokal in 2014 within the SALT Galata cultural institution, drawing inspiration from his multicultural upbringing and childhood flavors. At Neolokal, he reinterprets classic Anatolian recipes with a modern twist. The restaurant has held a MICHELIN Star since 2023, along with a Green MICHELIN Star. He is also the co-founder of Foxy, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded bistro showcasing local natural wines.
Filipe Ramalho, a Portuguese chef born and raised in Alentejo, comes from a family of chefs. His career includes time at 100 Maneiras and Basilii, located at the Torre de Palma Wine Hotel, where he developed a cuisine deeply rooted in the region’s local ingredients and traditional Portuguese techniques. More recently, he embarked on his own culinary venture with a restaurant in Alter do Chão, called Pateo Real.
April 5th & 6th Program
With just weeks to go before Residência returns, the itinerary for this immersive journey through the Alentejo region is already set.
The program includes a lunch and guided visit to Herdade do Freixo do Meio, in Montemor-o-Novo, led by its founder Alfredo Sendim, followed by an exclusive dinner at Sublime Comporta, where chef João Rodrigues will join international chefs Manu Buffara and Maksut Askar to create a unique six-course menu inspired by seasonal Alentejo ingredients, sourced from visits to local producers. Participants will also visit A Cerquinha, an organic farm run by Rita Pacheco, specializing in vegetables, fruits, and aromatic herbs, as well as the rice fields of Avô Quim, a producer based in Melides, where the region’s renowned rice is cultivated. The journey will conclude with a traditional Alentejano lunch, hosted by chefs João Rodrigues and Filipe Ramalho, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the region.
With Sublime Comporta as the venue for both gastronomical experiences in this first Residência of 2025, the April 5th dinner is priced at €150, while the April 6th lunch costs €70, both all-inclusive.
Supporters & Partners
Residência is supported by Visit Portugal, Cutipol, Makro, and Nutrifresco. Its partners include Corpo Santo Hotel, ISTO, Lugrade, Reserva Food, Revista Farta, Salmarim, and Studioneves.
The Residência in Alentejo also receives support from A Cerquinha, Arroz Avô Quim, Azeitona Verde, Cabeça do Reguengo, Cortes de Cima, Fábrica Alentejana de Lanifícios, Gulato, Lactocampo, Herdade do Freixo do Meio, Herdade do Portocarro, Miguel Louro Wines, Natus, Porcus Natura, Sublime Comporta, and São Lourenço do Barrocal.
ABOUT GRUPO MONDA
Founded in 2018, Grupo Monda is now a collective of gastronomic projects led by João Rodrigues and Vânia Rodrigues, dedicated to knowledge sharing and fostering connections between people, communities, food, and territories.
Alongside its own projects and collaborations, Monda provides gastronomic consulting, curation, event production, and private cooking services. Currently, Monda oversees Projecto Matéria and Residência. Also, restaurants Canalha and Canalha Comporta in partnership with Paradigma.
ABOUT CHEF JOÃO RODRIGUES
João Rodrigues is one of the most beloved figures in the Portuguese gastronomic scene, widely recognized both nationally and internationally. He was awarded Chef d’Avenir by the International Academy of Gastronomy in 2015, The Game Changer Award by La Liste in 2022, and this year, for the eighth time, was voted #1 Chef at the Mesa Marcada Awards.
For the past eight years, he has focused on researching Portuguese producers and deepening the identity of national cuisine. In 2016, he founded Projecto Matéria, a pioneering non-profit initiative open to the community, which promotes and creates synergies between national producers committed to sustainable farming and ethical animal production, recognizing them as fundamental elements of Portuguese culture. Through this close connection with producers, in 2023, he led a gastronomic journey across Portugal, traveling through 12 regions over 12 months, inviting people to rediscover territories and their cultural heritage.
He spent 13 years at the helm of Feitoria, a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant, where he introduced the famous Menu Matéria, which showcased raw ingredients to guests and emphasized a strong table-side cooking experience. Under his leadership, Feitoria won the Mesa Marcada awards for six consecutive years.
In November 2023, he opened Canalha in Lisbon, a neighborhood restaurant that democratizes access to high-quality, Product-driven cuisine at an affordable price. He is currently working on his next signature project, set to open in 2026.