Gil Fernandes

Gil Fernandes is a Portuguese chef driven by a mission to share his country's gastronomic culture with the world. Born in the fishing town of Ribamar, his cuisine is rooted in the traditions, memories, and flavors of his homeland.

His career began at Tivoli Lisbon under chef Luís Baena. A formative stage at Vila Joya with Dieter Koschina delivered his first real "slap" in the kitchen—a lesson in rigor that shaped his path. He refined his craft at Martín Berasategui's Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain, spent a year at three-star De Librije in the Netherlands, and consolidated his knowledge during three years at two-star Ocean in the Algarve under chef Hans Neuner. An internship at Geranium, now ranked the world's best restaurant, completed his international training.