Celebrity Chef Chakall, the TV star feeding visitors at Expo’s Portugal pavilion on the 19th & 20th of January, 2022.
The fifth of six siblings, Chakall was born in Argentina, but is a Portuguese citizen by choice. His parents come from Galician, Swiss-German, Basque-French, Italian and indigenous northern Argentinian origins; three of his four grandparents were in the food business, and Chakall says he grew up working in his mum’s restaurant.
“I grew up in a restaurant, which is the best education you can ever have. We served 400 meals in a factory, and only 100 over the weekends so, for me now, cooking for 10 or 20 people is not scary at all.”
A journalism degree and career could not put off what “was inside me”, says the chef. “I was fighting the feeling, I did not want to become a chef, but destiny was stronger than me.”
Chakall helms the catering company Cozinha Divina in Portugal, plus several restaurant concepts, such as El Bulo Social Club, Refeitorio Senhor Abel, L’Origine, Areal Beach Bar and Luz by Chakall in Lisbon, and the Chakburger franchise.
He is also the executive chef of three restaurants at The Prime Energize Monte Gordo in Portugal, Super Bock in China and Roca Sundy in Sao Tome and Principe, and has authored a number of cookbooks, including Portugal Revisitado, and appeared on television shows such as Chakall & Pulga.
The chef describes his cooking style as uncomplicated, unpretentious and stress-free. “I always cook in contrast,” he says, “because when I eat a dish, I am most happy when it surprises my palate. Of all the restaurants I’ve eaten at in Dubai so far, a simple leek soup at Mythos in JLT stands out just for how different its smoky flavour is. I will remember it all my life.”
