A-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).
