tasting.pt — Portugal, Tasting Life
ArticlesChefsRestaurants & BarsRecipesProducersRegionsEventsEncyclopedia

Tasting Portugal, Tasting Life

The best of Portuguese gastronomy — chefs, recipes, producers, and stories — delivered to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy.

Explore

  • Chefs & Restaurants
  • Recipes
  • Producers & Products

Discover

  • Regions
  • Events & Festivals
  • Encyclopedia

About

  • Our Story
  • Contact
  • Write for Us

Follow

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
© 2026 tasting.pt — Tasting Portugal, Tasting Life|
  1. Home
  2. /Chefs
  3. /Julien Montbabut
Cuisine by Julien Montbabut
Julien Montbabut
Porto & Norte

Julien Montbabut

Chef at Le Monument, 1 Michelin Star

Le Monument — Porto, Portugal ★

About

Julien Montbabut is a distinguished French chef who has brought his Michelin-starred expertise to Portugal, where he currently helms Le Monument restaurant in Porto's prestigious Maison Albar Le Monumental Palace hotel. Having previously earned a Michelin star at Le Restaurant in L'Hotel Paris, Montbabut represents a new generation of French chefs who have found inspiration in Portuguese terroir and culinary traditions.

After establishing his reputation in Paris, where he trained at prestigious culinary institutions and worked his way up to earn Michelin recognition, Montbabut made the bold decision to relocate to Portugal. At Le Monument, he has successfully translated his classical French training into a unique culinary narrative that celebrates Portuguese ingredients and flavors while maintaining the technical precision that earned him international acclaim.

Montbabut's cooking philosophy centers on creating progressively modern cuisine that is both light and fresh, deploying classic French techniques to showcase the exceptional produce he has discovered during his five-year journey through Portugal. His signature dish, Sapateira (brown crab), exemplifies his approach of combining French savoir-faire with Portuguese ingredients, creating dishes that tell the story of his culinary exploration of the country.

Under his leadership, Le Monument has become a destination for discerning diners seeking an elevated interpretation of Portuguese cuisine through a French lens. His menus reflect both his technical mastery and his deep appreciation for the local producers and ingredients that have shaped his culinary evolution in Portugal.

Specialities

Modern PortugueseFrench TechniqueSeafood

Producers in Porto & Norte

Fumeiro de Vinhais

Fumeiro de Vinhais

IGPPGI
Parque de Montesinho

Parque de Montesinho

DOP

Other Chefs in Porto & Norte

Angélica Salvador

Angélica Salvador

In Diferente

António Loureiro

António Loureiro

A Cozinha

Arnaldo Azevedo

Arnaldo Azevedo

Vila Foz Restaurant

David Jesus

David Jesus

Seiva

Francisco Quintas

Francisco Quintas

Largo do Paço

Henrique Sá Pessoa

Henrique Sá Pessoa

Alma

Óscar Gonçalves (Geadas)

Óscar Gonçalves (Geadas)

G Pousada

Pedro Lemos

Pedro Lemos

Pedro Lemos

Ricardo Costa

Ricardo Costa

The Yeatman

Ricardo Dias Ferreira

Ricardo Dias Ferreira

Elemento

Rui Filipe

Rui Filipe

Palatial Restaurant & Suites

Rui Lemos

Rui Lemos

Bugalho

Rui Paula

Rui Paula

DOP

Tiago Bonito

Tiago Bonito

Éon

Recent Articles

A golden-brown francesinha sandwich covered in melted cheese and rich sauce, served on a white plate with french fries, steam rising from the hot dish
Recipes

The Francesinha: Porto's Glorious, Over-the-Top Sandwich

Porto's legendary francesinha is more than just a sandwich—it's a towering monument to Portuguese culinary excess, born from immigrant ingenuity and crowned with molten cheese.

Ana Rodrigues·21 Apr 2026
Traditional Portuguese smoked and cured meats and sausages
Producers & Products

The Smoke Houses of Vinhais: Portugal's IGP Charcuterie Capital

In the remote hills of Trás-os-Montes, the ancient town of Vinhais has perfected the art of fumeiro, creating some of Portugal's most celebrated smoked meats with protected geographical indication status.

Pedro Oliveira·20 Jan 2026
Terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley during harvest season with workers picking grapes among the golden autumn vines overlooking the river
Regions

Harvest Season in the Douro: A Weekend Among the Vines

From mid-September to mid-October, the Douro Valley transforms into Portugal's most vibrant culinary theater, where centuries-old vindima traditions blend seamlessly with world-class gastronomy.

João Ferreira·15 Dec 2025
Golden-crusted broa de milho bread with its characteristic cracked surface, displayed on a rustic wooden table with traditional Portuguese pottery and corn kernels scattered around
Producers & Products

Broa de Milho: The Ancient Bread of Northern Portugal

A golden, rustic bread born from centuries of tradition, broa de milho represents the soul of northern Portugal's culinary heritage, where corn and ancient grains unite in perfect harmony.

Maria Santos·25 Oct 2025