The Local Stars project, developed by The Art of Tasting Portugal (TAOTP), a platform that aims to promote national gastronomy through mapping and organizing experiences with an emphasis on this sector, in partnership with TAP Air Portugal , has just presented the six new chefs and products, who will be on board in business class on the airline’s long-haul flights.

Arnaldo Azevedo

After the success of the first year of the project, the following chefs are Arnaldo Azevedo, André Cruz, Rodrigo Castelo, Carlos Afonso, Alexandre Silva and Rui Paula, who will present the region and one of the most emblematic products in their work, through an exclusive signature menu, which will be served for two months. The project, which will take place over the next year, aims to highlight the national territory and its characteristics, and thus present the diversity and richness of the gastronomic panorama.

“The continuity of this project, with another year in which the partnership between The Art of Tasting Portugal and TAP Air Portugal is strengthened, proves the importance of gastronomy in promoting the country as a quality destination with a unique offer. This partnership that begins on board, with the business class menu, and continues throughout the territory with the experiences developed in each region, is a strong reason to travel through Portugal”, says Patrícia Dias, one of the founders of The Art of Tasting Portugal . “The balance of the first year of this partnership was very positive, and having the national airline associated with our company The Art of Tasting Portugal is a huge confirmation of the success of this tourist product that we sell through our website. , adds Adriana Fournier, founder of The Art of Tasting Portugal.

The announcement was made today, at the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), and was attended by chefs who, every two months, will be on board TAP to present the various regions of Portuguese territory and their emblematic ingredients, respecting maximum seasonality of the products used. The initiative begins in March and April, with emphasis on the city of Invicta and Maronesa meat, led by chef Arnaldo Azevedo. In May and June, Local Stars descends to the Setúbal Peninsula, with chef André Cruz, who will develop a menu that includes Moscatel de Setúbal. Next comes the Lezíria do Tejo region which, through the creativity of chef Rodrigo Castelo, brings the river crayfish, so typical in this area of the country. Chefs Carlos Afonso, Alexandre Silva and Rui Paula, close the last six months of the project, with flavors from Alentejo, Central West and Douro, respectively.

Rui Paula

As in the first year, Cateringpor will be responsible for producing the signature menus, preparing the dishes based on the recipe, tasting and validation of the various chefs involved. The project also aims to integrate local ingredients and give preference when choosing suppliers from the respective highlighted regions, supporting the sustainability and promotion of the local economy on which TAOTP and Local Stars are based.

Video content alluding to the project is also available on board on all screens, where the chef of the respective month focuses on the regional product, region and producer highlighted and the current recipe. Passengers can find out more about The Art of Tasting Portugal and this initiative, as well as acquire the experience developed, on the TAOTP website and on TAP’s Miles&Go and Portugal Stopover digital channels.

TAP will also offer 77 flights a week between the United States and Portugal, five more than in the same period last year, and 20 weekly flights from Canada, also five more than in the summer of 2023.

In the United States, there are now two flights a day from Washington/Dulles an increase of four flights weekly year over year. An additional flight is also being added from San Francisco, now up to six flights a week to Lisbon.

In Canada, an additional four weekly flights will be added from Toronto, compared to the summer of 2023, bringing the total to 14 flights a week. An additional flight from Montreal to Lisbon will also be added, now increased to six flights per week.

The Art of Tasting Portugal aims to promote the country as a high-quality gastronomic destination, through mapping the unique elements of each region and gastronomic tourist experiences, designed to provide memorable moments. Based on the premise that Portuguese gastronomy is one of Portugal’s main arguments as a tourist destination, the platform seeks to enhance the entire national territory, both among Portuguese and foreigners who visit Portugal.

Green star

Herdade do Esporão, Carlos Teixeira, Alentejo

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, João Sousa,Alentejo

Il Gallo d’Oro, Benoit Sinthon, Madeira

Mesa de Lemos, Diogo Rocha, near Viseu

Ó Balcão, Rodrigo Castelo, Santarém

1 star

100 Maneiras, Ljubomir Stanisic, Lisbon

2 Monkeys, Vitor Matos and Francisco Quintas, Lisbon

A Cozinha, António Loureiro, Guimarães

Al Sud, Luís Anjos, Algarve

A Ver Tavira, Luís Brito, Algarve

Bon Bon, José Lopes, Algarve

Cura, Pedro Pena Bastos, Lisbon

Desarma, Octávio Freitas, Madeira

Eleven, Joachim Koerper, Lisbon

Encanto, José Avillez and João Diogo, Lisbon

Epur, Vincent Farges, Lisbon

Eskaldunia Studio, Vasco Coelho Santos, Porto

Feitoria, André Cruz, Lisbon

Fifty Seconds, Martin Berasategui, Lisbon (Rui Silvestre has recently been named the new chef)

Forteleza do Guincho, Gil Fernandes, Cascais

G Pousada, Óscar Geadas, Bragança

Gusto by Heinz Beck, Libório Buonocore, Algarve

Herdade do Esporão, Carlos Teixeira, Alentejo

Kabuki, Paulo Alves, Lisbon (Sebastião Coutinho is now head chef)

Kanazawa, Paulo Morais, Lisbon

LAB by Sergi Arola, Sintra

Le Monument, Julien Montbabut, Porto

Loco, Alexandre Silva, Lisbon

Mesa de Lemos, DiogoRocha, near Viseu

Midori, Pedro Almeida, Sintra

Pedro Lemos, Pedro Lemos, Porto

Sála de João Sá, João Pedro Sá, Lisbon (by Rodrigo Castelo)

Vila Foz Restaurante, Arnaldo Azevedo, near Porto

Vista, João Oliveira, Algarve

William Restaurant, Luís Pestana, Madeira (José Diogo Costa)

2 stars

Alma, Henrique Sá Pessoa, Lisbon

Belcanto, José Avillez, Lisbon

Casa da Cha da Boa Nova, Rui Paula, near Porto

Il Gallo d’Oro, Benoit Sinthon, Madeira

Ocean, Hans Neuner, Algarve

Vila Joya, Dieter Koschina, Algarve

The Yeatman, Ricardo Costa, Porto