Alexandre Silva

Alexandre Silva stands as one of Portugal's most innovative culinary voices, seamlessly blending traditional Portuguese gastronomy with contemporary techniques and a distinctive fire-focused philosophy. Born in Abrigada, 40 miles north of Lisbon among the vineyards and windmills of the Serra de Montejunto range, Silva's connection to the land and Portuguese terroir runs deep through his culinary identity.

After graduating from the Hotel Management and Tourism School of Lisbon with degrees in Kitchen/Pastry and F&B Management, Silva began his professional journey as Executive Chef at Bocca restaurant in Singapore in 2007. His talent quickly gained recognition when he won Portugal's first professional cooking competition, Top Chef, establishing him as a rising star in the Portuguese culinary scene.

Silva's culinary philosophy centers on fire as his most faithful companion in the kitchen, elevating traditional Portuguese ingredients and techniques through innovative applications. At his flagship restaurant LOCO, which earned a Michelin star just eight months after opening, he presents a 16-course tasting menu of 'moments' that showcase his experimental approach to Portuguese cuisine in an intimate 22-seat setting. His second venture, FOGO, literally translates his fire-focused philosophy into practice, where every dish is cooked using traditional fire-based techniques.

Through both establishments, Silva champions Portuguese products and small producers while challenging conventional culinary boundaries. His approach respects traditional Portuguese gastronomy while subverting and elevating it to new conceptual levels, making him a defining figure of Lisbon's contemporary gastronomic landscape and an ambassador for modern Portuguese cuisine on the international stage.