OSCAR GONÇALVE: TRADITIONS REVISITED

Oscar Gonçalve is head chef at G Pousada, a family-run establishment designed to establish Bragança as Portugal’s undisputed north-eastern culinary capital. Having earned his first Michelin star last year, Chef Gonçalve is determined to highlight the region’s traditional cuisine, using locally sourced products and employing contemporary techniques.

What roles do experience and context play in your culinary creations?

Being raised in a family that devoted itself to the restaurant business was crucial in defining who I am today and what I do. My brother and I spent part of our childhood in the kitchen, watching our mother preparing the food that our father would then serve. That kind of dedication to guests inspired me to learn and perfect the art of cooking.

What difficulties have you had to overcome during your career?

The way I see it, G Pousada is a project that definitely demands a good dose of passion and commitment. Nevertheless, we have a massive advantage – namely, the quality of Portuguese food and our deep and varied kitchen culture. Although there is certainly a long way to go for the cuisine to become globally recognized, Portuguese products are among the highest quality found anywhere.

What or whom do you regard as your greatest influences and what are the biggest challenges when it comes to translating your ideas into reality?

There are definitely far too many to list, but if I had to highlight a single person, it would be my mother. She was the one who contributed most during my initial phase as a cook. Her deep knowledge of traditional culinary arts constituted the basis of my formation, which today remains the greatest inspiration, especially when I’m designing my next menu.