Chef Mateus Alves

Private Chef in Lisboa

Hello,

My name is Mateus Alexsander and my heart belongs to Lisboa, despite being born in Brazil. I arrived in Portugal in 2016, and it is here that I discovered my true passion – cooking up wonderful meals in the kitchen! I have been following my dream for more than 8 years. I did my course in Kitchen Management and Production in one of the most prestigious Gastronomic and Touristic Schools in Portugal – Escola de Hotelaria.

Having always wanted to perfect my cooking skills, and eager to learn more, I recently did the Le Cordon Bleu Paris, the Verace Pizza Napolinata in Napoles, and Le Cordon Bleu Brasil.

I am passionate about exploring the traditional as well as modern and sophisticated cuisine, adding my special touch to everything I do.

I want each guest to feel welcome and fall as much in love with great home cooked quality food as myself.

For me, cooking is...

Mostrar todo meu amor e paixão nos pratos que faço.

I learned to cook at...

Tive a honra de aprender com cozinheiros tanto em formações quanto em ambiente profissional.

A cooking secret...

Tratar com amor e respeito cada ingrediente.

My menus

Happy Days, special dinner

STARTER

All inclusive

Camembert with pineapple jam

Amuse-Bouche: Crispy Alheira (a traditional Portuguese smoked sausage made with meat and bread, rich in garlic and spices), paired with a mango chutney

* Vegetarian option available *

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Sautéed shrimp with coconut milk and pineapple served with toast or bread

*Vegetarian option available*

Duck Croquettes – served with raspberry jam

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Creamy monkfish rice, herb and mint oil, crispy kale

"Pork à Vinha d'Alhos" (A traditional dish from Madeira Island with the chef's personal touch), served with polenta and citrus-marinated red cabbage

Vegetarian option available

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Almond–raspberry tart with raspberry coulis and pumpkin seed crunch

Portuguese almond pie, creme flavored with vanilla and lime

Chocolate Mousse Cake – Served with red berries marinated in citrus

Flavours of Portugal: A culinary tale by Mateus

STARTER

All inclusive

Amuse-Bouche: Crispy Alheira (a traditional Portuguese smoked sausage made with meat and bread, rich in garlic and spices), paired with a mango chutney

Amuse-Bouche: Goat fresh cheese, pineapple homemade jam

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Clams a la Bulhão Pato(White clams sauteed with white wine, lemon, garlic and parsley)

Pastel de Bacalhau with lemon and roasted garlic mayonnaise

Fresh octopus Salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Arroz de Pato – A traditional Portuguese duck rice, slow‑cooked in duck broth with aromatic herbs and vegetables, finished in the oven with crispy chorizo and a touch of citrus oil

Bacalhoada a Portuguesa (traditional Luso-Brazilian dish consisting of a stew of onions, garlic, smoked peppers, boiled potatoes and codfish)

Codfish with cream (bacalhau com natas) - The famous Portuguese dish made with Bacalhau (dehydrated codfish), with fried potato cube and juicy béchamel sauce

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Toucinho do céu (Portuguese almond pie, creme flavored with vanilla and lime)

Orange Pie Muscat reduction ( portuguese liquor ) and cream

Tasty France Degustation

STARTER

All inclusive

Croquete Saint-Floretin

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Vichyssoise

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Magret de Canard with baked apples

Boeuf bourguignon (Traditional dish from the Borgonha region of France, marinated and cooked in red wine, spices and vegetables.)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Tarte Tatin avec glacé à la crème

Île Flottante

Tarte Alsacienne au Fromage Blanc

Essência e Alma

STARTER

All inclusive

Amuse-Bouche: Cod, cornbread, and onion salad

Amuse-Bouche: Crispy Alheira (a traditional Portuguese smoked sausage made with meat and bread, rich in garlic and spices), paired with a mango chutney

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Clams a la Bulhão Pato(White clams sauteed with white wine, lemon, garlic and parsle)

Fresh octopus Salad

Portuguese Garlic Shrimp (Juicy shrimp sautéed with garlic, olive oil, fresh parsley, and a hint of white wine, a classic Portuguese seafood appetizer)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bacalhoada a Portuguesa (traditional Luso-Brazilian dish consisting of a stew of onions, garlic, smoked peppers, boiled potatoes and codfish)

Arroz de Pato – A traditional Portuguese duck rice, slow‑cooked in duck broth with aromatic herbs and vegetables, finished in the oven with crispy chorizo and a touch of citrus oil

"Pork à Vinha d'Alhos" served with polenta and citrus-marinated red cab age

Codfish à Lagareiro

Carne de porco Alentejana (Alentejo's traditional mix of land and sea, we have pork loin sautéed with clams, wine and parsley)

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Homage to Madeira - Passion fruit mousse, Madeira poncha reduction

Serradura (A traditional Portuguese dessert crafted with aromatic cream, delicately layered with sautéed biscuit crumbs and a touch of toasted coffee.)

Flavors of Lisbon: An Unforgettable Local Tasting Experience

STARTER

All inclusive

Appetizers: Homemade corn bread, mint and pomegranate flavored butter, Portuguese goat cheese, Marinated olives with feta, olive oil, rosemary, and clementine

FIRST COURSE

All inclusive

Sautéed sausages with honey and coriander, served with brioche toast

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Our "Bacalhau com Natas" (One of Portugal's most iconic codfish dishes)

"Pork à Vinha d'Alhos" (A traditional dish from Madeira Island with the chef's personal touch), served with polenta and citrus-marinated red cabbage

DESSERT

All inclusive

Orange roll cake, aromatic crème anglaise with Moscatel, topped with a cinnamon crunch

Portuguese Flavors

STARTER

All inclusive

Amuse-Bouche: Crispy Alheira (a traditional Portuguese smoked sausage made with meat and bread, rich in garlic and spices), paired with a mango chutney

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Clams a la Bulhão Pato(White clams sauteed with white wine, lemon, garlic and parsle)

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bacalhau a Minhota ( Traditional cod from Braga, northern Portugal, served with mashed potatoes, dehydrated black olives and pickled onions and red peppers.)

Codfish with cream (bacalhau com natas) - The famous Portuguese dish made with Bacalhau (dehydrated codfish), with fried potato cube and juicy béchamel sauce

Arroz de Pato – A traditional Portuguese duck rice, slow‑cooked in duck broth with aromatic herbs and vegetables, finished in the oven with crispy chorizo and a touch of citrus oil

DESSERT

All inclusive

Toucinho do céu (Portuguese almond pie, creme flavored with vanilla and lime)

Inspiração Mont-Saint-Michel

STARTER

All inclusive

Soupe de Pastèque

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Salade de Haricots Verts

Entrée du Jeudi Saint

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Lieu Noir aux blettes du jardin

Salmon de la Sélune

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Cheesecake aux fruits

Mousse au chocolat du dîner des Montois

The Chef's Journey

STARTER

All inclusive

Amuse: brioche, smoked salmon and goat cheese

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Duck Croquettes – Crispy duck croquettes served with raspberry jam

Beef with Homemade Jus – Tender beef sautéed with shallots and garlic, served with crispy yam chips and a homemade meat velouté

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Bacalhau a Minhota ( Traditional cod from Braga, northern Portugal, served with mashed potatoes, dehydrated black olives and pickled onions and red peppers.)

"Pork à Vinha d'Alhos" (A traditional dish from Madeira Island with the chef's personal touch), served with polenta and citrus-marinated red cabbage

Baked salmon with linguine Al nero

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate Mousse Cake – Served with red berries marinated in citrus

Moist coconut cake with caramelized cashew and coconut, passion fruit crème anglaise

Chocolate mousse, homemade strawberry jam and strawberries marinated in citrus fruit

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Chef Mateus's reviews

4.89

•

247 services

We had an excellent evening. The food was delicious and the presentation was perfect

Mateus and his folks did a great job. Great communicator on explaining the menu. The food was unique and well prepared. The flavors were diverse and delicious. We were all impressed and grateful for Mateus and his folks.

Chef Mateus and team were excellent from the start! Helped us curate a menu that catered to all requirements and needs. And on the day the set up was perfect, exactly what we wanted. The food was also absolutely delicious! Would definitely recommend!

We had the absolute pleasure of having Chef Mateus as our private chef last night, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully curated and executed to perfection. He created an incredible four-course meal that exceeded all expectations, beginning with a delicious cocktail that felt so authentically Portuguese, followed by beautifully paired wine at the table. Each dish was not only stunning but full of flavor. What made the evening even more special was Mateu himself and his wonderful team. They were so warm, welcoming, and genuinely lovely, creating such a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. It made the night feel incredibly personal and memorable. This was a hen celebration, and the bride had the most amazing time, something we’ll all cherish. As if the evening couldn’t get any better, Mateus added the most thoughtful finishing touches: a Lisbon souvenir, a handwritten note, and beautiful flowers. The table was also decorated so elegantly, it all felt truly magical. Every single detail was gorgeous. We couldn’t recommend Chef Mateus and his team more highly. Thank you for such a special evening, we’ll never forget it. Thank you so much Mateus and team!

We hired a Mateus during our stay in Portugal, and it was one of the best parts of the trip. The food was absolutely incredible - beautifully presented, full of flavour, and made with amazing local ingredients. The whole experience felt effortless, from the seamless service to the spotless kitchen afterwards. It honestly felt like a restaurant quality experience in the comfort of our villa. Would 100% recommend, it made our trip so special.

Chef Mateus has great communication. He catered to our group for food allergies when creating the menu. He and the crew were very engaging with our group. He proposed different dishes and worked with us to create the menu for our group. All of the food was incredible and everyone from our group was so impressed.

Chef Mateus Alves prepared an excellent meal for us with local products. The communication before was excellent. We can really recommend him.

Mateus e sua equipe, Marcos e Gustavo foram excelentes na preparação e decoração do almoço de aniversário do meu filho. Foi uma ótima experiência desde o primeiro contato. Serão sempre lembrados pela nossa família e convidados com carinho por esse dia !

An incredible experience! Chef Mateus and his brother did an amazing job and were unbelievably sweet. We all loved the food and the table presentation was created with so much love.

Chef Mateus and crew were great from start to finish - the meal was a highlight of our trip and I’d recommend this experience to anyone!!

Chef Mateus and his team were awesome. Right from the start the communication was clear and timely. They arrived on time and prepared a fantastic meal. It was a great experience for my guests and my family. Thank you. All the best!

We hired Mateus for two brunches and one dinner for a group of 18 people while on vacation. He and his team were wonderful from start to finish. They were easy to coordinate with prior to the events, provided many menu options to choose from, showed up early, set a beautiful tablescape and served a delicious meal made of only fresh ingredients. We were wowed with the service and would absolutely hire them again.

Chef Mateus and his team were excellent! They arrived promptly, decorated our space beautifully, delivered incredible food, and left the kitchen cleaner than it started. I’d recommend Chef Mateus to anyone!

Mateus exceeded all expectations - the food was absolutely delicious, the presentation beautiful (small menus were printed and placed on the table with beautiful flowers) and he left the kitchen immaculately. I could not recommend him more! Thanks so much Mateus to you and your team!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had a wonderful experience with Chef Mateus. The food was delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented, and he managed to combine local flavors with a refined touch. Beyond the cuisine, we really appreciated his kindness, professionalism, and the warm atmosphere he created. It was a true pleasure to discover his cooking style, and we would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable culinary moment. Thank you again, Chef Mateus!

Highly recommended

Our group of 11 had an outstanding experience with Chef Mateus. From our first conversation he was professional and accommodating. We were provided with many food options to satisfy our group and he made every effort to accommodate any allergies. I made a special request for Portuguese pastel de Nata which he made and they were outstanding! We also were served carefully crafted specialty drinks before each meal in addition to a selection of local wines that paired fantastically with all our dishes. All the table settings and decor were provided and put together in a way that created a 5 star dining experience and the service reflected that in every way. All the ingredients for our meals were hand selected and purchased from local markets and of course made every meal taste fresh and homemade. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience and highly recommend Chef Mateus for any event.

Chef Mateus and his brother were amazing. The food, service, presentation, everything exceeded our expectations. Cannot recommend them enough. Such an amazing experience.

Chef Mateus and his team were incredible. We were celebrating a birthday in Tróia with 14 friends. He was extremely professional, punctual and such a lovely person. The attention to detail with table decor, printed menu and explanation of the menu was outstanding. The kitchen was left beautifully clean at the end of the evening. The food was five star with comments around the table being, “the best dining experience and food we’ve ever had,”. A truely memorable night. Many thanks Mateus we have recommended you to many friends already.

Mateus and his brother delivered a wonderful dining experience. The table was beautifully presented. They provided welcome drinks and wine, and the food was locally sourced and high quality. He also catered for gluten free. Everything was delicious and so professional. And they left the kitchen spotless. Would highly recommend Mateus!!!