Nuno Mendes recalls his childhood in 1980s Lisbon, describing it as a "very tough city" lacking national pride. After gaining experience under renowned chefs, he opened Santa Joana in Lisbon last October, reflecting the culinary evolution he has witnessed. He appreciates the contemporary food culture in Lisbon, which he finds much broader than in his youth. Mendes highlights the vibrancy of the current Lisbon population, noting the abundance of young, passionate locals who have traveled and returned, allowing for locally sourced ingredients.
The Lisbon that Nuno Mendes grew up in during the 1980s was nothing like the city we know and love today. The City of Light was 'a very tough city.'
Mendes acknowledges that he's in good company cooking in the city, given the incredible chefs in Lisbon today: 'The food culture is now much broader than it was when I was younger.'
Lisbon is now a city full of vibrant, excited people, a lot of young people, a lot of Portuguese people who have traveled the world and then come back home again.
Santa Joana is a stunning, one-of-a-kind space in an old convent with beautiful high ceilings, allowing Mendes to feel the heartbeat of Lisbon.
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