Alexandre Cabrita, from the Algarve, was distinguished in 2025 as Chef of the Year, the oldest cooking competition for professionals in Portugal. At 30 years old, his professional journey took him through reference restaurants such as Vista, under the guidance of chef João Oliveira, and Al Sud, with Louis Anjos, at Palmares Ocean Living & Golf. The jury awarded a menu focused on Portuguese gastronomy and national products, which included dishes such as tomato and asparagus açorda, cod with chickpeas, lamb with Algarve carrot, and a dessert of orange, olive oil, and pennyroyal.
Currently, Alexandre Cabrita is at the helm of the restaurant Preceito, which opened this year after the closure of Al Sud, on November 15, 2025. His cuisine maintains a strong connection to the territory, with fish from Lagos Market and oysters from Ria de Alvor. His most associated dish is the lamb with Algarve carrot, the proposal he presented in the competition final.
Regarding the award, Alexandre Cabrita states that he remains the same person, with the same values, but acknowledges that he has changed the way others look at him. His start in the kitchen came during secondary school, also influenced by his paternal grandparents who had a bakery in São Bartolomeu de Messines, where Alexandre helped out at just 4 or 5 years of age.
