José Avillez
José Avillez | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 24, 1979 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Belcanto, Portuguese haute cuisine, Michelin-starred restaurants |
José de Avillez Burnay Ereira (born 24 October 1979 in Lisbon), widely recognized as José Avillez, stands as a prominent Portuguese chef and entrepreneur in the culinary sector. After a comprehensive renovation, he relaunched Belcanto in early 2012, swiftly earning a Michelin star that same year. By 2014, Belcanto had secured its second Michelin star and was later included among The World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2019. Avillez manages an array of dining establishments across Lisbon, Porto, and Dubai. His innovative approach to Portuguese cuisine has earned him numerous accolades domestically and internationally, notably being named WINE magazine’s “Chef of the Year” in 2015.
Family
He is the son of José Burnay Nunes Ereira (born 7 November 1950 in Cascais), who descends from the lineage of the 1st Count of Burnay, and Maria de Fátima Miranda de Avillez (born 13 October 1952 in Cascais). He has a sister, Teresa de Avillez Burnay Ereira (born 2 April 1978 in Lisbon). Since 2015, he has been married to Sofia Melo de Castro Ulrich, daughter of Fernando Ulrich.
Career
Avillez earned his degree in Business Communication from Instituto Superior de Comunicação Empresarial (ISCEM), focusing his thesis on the portrayal and identity of Portuguese gastronomy. His professional journey began at Fortaleza do Guincho in Cascais, followed by collaboration with esteemed gastronome José Bento dos Santos at Quinta do Monte d'Oiro. He also received private tutelage from Maria de Lourdes Modesto, a significant figure in traditional Portuguese culinary arts. His international exposure includes internships in France under Alain Ducasse and Éric Fréchon, as well as participation in El Bulli’s Creativity Department led by Ferran Adrià in 2006—an experience that proved transformative.
In 2005, after presenting a dinner at Hotel Bristol in Paris, he was honored with the title "Chef d'Avenir" by the International Academy of Gastronomy. Between 2008 and 2011, he held the position of executive chef at Restaurante Tavares, where he earned his inaugural Michelin star in 2009.
Restaurants
September 2011 marked the debut of Cantinho do Avillez located in Chiado, Lisbon. Shortly thereafter, in January 2012, he inaugurated Belcanto, a restaurant specializing in Portuguese haute cuisine that gained international recognition following its feature on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations."
The year 2013 saw further expansion with the opening of Pizzaria Lisboa in March and Café Lisboa by September. In March 2014, he launched Mini Bar at Teatro São Luiz in Lisbon and extended Cantinho do Avillez to Porto by September.
In August 2016, Avillez introduced Bairro do Avillez in Chiado, Lisbon—a multifaceted venue comprising Mercearia (a gourmet deli), Taberna (a tavern), and Páteo. This was followed by the addition of Beco – Cabaret Gourmet in March 2017, combining dining with live entertainment. July that year witnessed the opening of Cantina Peruana within Bairro do Avillez, highlighting Peruvian gastronomy under chef Diego Muñoz.
Responding to El Corte Inglés Lisboa’s invitation in December 2017, Avillez developed three distinct concepts for their Gourmet Experience: Tasca Chic, featuring traditional Portuguese flavors; Jacaré, focusing on vegetarian dishes; and Barra Cascabel, offering Mexican cuisine through collaboration with chef Roberto Ruiz.
May 2018 coincided with both the anniversary of the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition and the launch of Cantinho do Avillez at Parque das Nações. Later that summer, July introduced Mini Bar to Porto, while September saw Cantina Peruana relocate to Rua de São Paulo in Lisbon.
In March 2019, Avillez debuted the Portuguese-Asian fusion restaurant Rei da China in Chiado alongside Argentinian chef Estanislao Carenzo. That same month marked his first overseas venture with Tasca at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in Dubai.
By May 2019, Cantinho do Avillez expanded into Cascais. January 2020 brought forth Canto, a collaborative project with Ana Moura and António Zambujo blending Portuguese culinary tradition with live musical performances.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated strategic adjustments in May 2020: several establishments—including Beco, Café Lisboa, Cantina Peruana, Canto, Rei da China, Casa dos Prazeres, and Mini Bar Porto—were permanently closed. Nonetheless, flagship venues such as Belcanto; Bairro do Avillez’s Taberna, Páteo, Mini Bar and Pizzaria Lisboa; all Cantinho do Avillez locations; along with El Corte Inglés Lisboa’s Gourmet Experience restaurants—resumed operations under modified conditions.
In March 2022, Avillez unveiled Encanto in Lisbon. By April 2023, he formally endorsed the opening of Mesa restaurant in Macau, China—a venture postponed due to the pandemic but now fully operational.
Accolades
2021
- Belcanto secured the 42nd position in “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.”
- José Avillez achieved 44th place in “The Best Chef Awards.”
2020
- José Avillez was ranked 70th in “The Best Chef Awards.”
2019
- Belcanto attained the 42nd spot in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants."
2018
- José Avillez received the title "Chef of the Year," while Belcanto earned a "Platinum Fork" from Boa Cama, Boa Mesa.
- Belcanto was positioned 75th in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants."
- Avillez was honored with the Grand Prix de l'Art de la Cuisine by the International Academy of Gastronomy.
2017
- Belcanto ranked 85th on the W50B list published by Restaurant magazine.
- The restaurant was distinguished with a "Gold Fork" by Boa Cama, Boa Mesa.
2016
- Condé Nast Traveller International named Belcanto “Best International Restaurant.”
- Belcanto received a "Gold Fork" award from Boa Cama Boa Mesa.
- Gastronomic blog Mesa Marcada honored José Avillez as 2015 “Chef of the Year” and Belcanto as “Restaurant of the Year.”
- The restaurant was recognized as “Gastronomic Restaurant of 2015” by WINE magazine.
2015
- Belcanto appeared at 91st place on the W50B list of top 100 global restaurants.
- The 2015 Repsol Guide awarded Belcanto three suns; Mini Bar and Cantinho do Avillez each received one sun.
- José Avillez earned both the “Gastronomia David Lopes Ramos 2014” and “Chef of the Year” awards from WINE magazine.
- The restaurant secured a "Gold Fork" from Boa Cama, Boa Mesa.
2014
- Belcanto was granted its second Michelin star.
- It received three suns according to the 2014 Repsol Guide.
- Awarded a "Gold Fork" by Boa Cama, Boa Mesa.
- In 2013, José Avillez was recognized as “Chef of the Year” and Belcanto as “Restaurant of the Year” by blog Mesa Marcada.
2013
- José Avillez was honored with the “Chef of the Year” title by Boa Cama, Boa Mesa.
- Belcanto earned the prestigious "Platinum Fork," the highest distinction from this guide.
- It was nominated among "Foodie Top 100 Restaurants: Europe, UK & Asia Pacific."
- The 2014 Repsol Guide awarded it three suns.
2012
- Belcanto received its inaugural Michelin star.
Television, Radio and Press
José Avillez hosted “Combinações ImProváveis” (“Improbabilicious”) on SIC Mulher. Prior to this, he led three seasons of “JA ao Lume” on the same channel.
Between 2014 and 2016, he presented “O Chef Sou Eu” ("I’m the Chef") during morning hours on “Manhãs da Rádio Comercial,” sharing recipes, culinary advice, and gastronomic knowledge.
He regularly features on television and radio programs and contributes a weekly recipe column to Revista E, part of Expresso newspaper.
In 2019, he served as a Master chef on TV Globo Brazil's cooking competition "Mestre do Sabor."
Books
Expanding his media involvement, José Avillez returned to Radio Comercial in 2020 with cooking segments encouraging listeners to prepare meals at home.
His debut book, published in 2006, Um Chef em Sua Casa (A Chef in Your Home), became a bestseller in Portugal with over 15,000 copies sold and was also released in Brazil.
In 2011, he published Petiscar com Estilo (Snacking in Style), a multilingual compilation featuring Portuguese appetizers. That same year, he contributed to A Boy After the Sea 2, alongside renowned chefs such as Heston Blumenthal and Thomas Keller.
His bilingual volume from 2013, Cantinho do Avillez – The Recipes, presents signature dishes from his restaurant.
In collaboration with Expresso, he released Receitas Leves (Light Recipes) in 2015.
The bilingual cookbook Combinações ImProváveis, published in 2016, gathers recipes featured on his television program.
Besides his own publications, Avillez has contributed to prominent works including chef Ferran Adrià’s COCO and food critic Joe Warwick’s Where Chef’s Eat.