The next morning, a closer look revealed little traces of a lively night. Marlene Vieira had just welcomed chefs Rui Paula, Henrique Sá Pessoa and Óscar Geadas to her most recent gastronomic project at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal (the “Marlene”, — like that, with a comma after), offering the first of four dinners that are intended to celebrate each season. The night of November 14 —which also served as a pretext, through the guests, to anticipate the rain of gastronomic stars— autumn began.
She grew up in the north, but more than a northerner she is a “Portuguese”. At the age of 12 (still not tall enough to reach the counter, her father noted at the time) she experienced, for the first time, a professional kitchen. She immediately she was delivered by the universe wearing the lab coat. She started very early but needed some time to earn her place. Today, with her husband, chef João Sá, she runs the Marlene group, which includes Marlene, Sála de João Sá, Zunzum Gastrobar and Marlene Vieira in Ribeira.
A card drawn from the deck (from a very young age, he tells us), but perfectly integrated, in a world that is possibly more masculine than feminine. But why does this happen? Why do we hear less about female chefs? What is already changing? On the eve of a new edition of the Michelin Stars gala in the Iberian Peninsula (Tuesday, November 22), it is inevitable that we ask ourselves these questions. A long conversation, touching on the past, present and future.
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Source: Observadora
