João Rodrigues

Chef João Rodrigues is one of Portugal's most respected culinary figures—a chef and researcher whose work transcends the kitchen, rooted deeply in land, people, and culture.

For 13 years, he led a Michelin-starred restaurant while cultivating an unwavering commitment to origin, producers, and territory. He founded Matéria, a non-profit platform celebrating a decade of work supported by UNESCO and honoured with La Liste's Game Changer Award. As curator of Residência, an itinerant project, he brings gastronomy into direct dialogue with Portugal's regions and communities.

His current restaurant, Canalha, which he owns and leads, was named Restaurant of the Year 2024 by Mesa Marcada, and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and one Repsol Sun.

Newly opened project MOGO is a gastronomic research project on Portugal's Alentejo coast where Chef João Rodrigues explores the dialogue between land, sea, and community—translating the rhythms of dune, shore, and estuary into a menu that transforms landscape into food.