Chef Joao Dias

Chef At Home In Albufeira

Lover of traditional portuguese cuisine. 20 years experience. Studied at World chefs academy, educational center of lisbon

I work with natural products and the whole dish is healthy balanced and fresh

Certificated chef and nutrition coach.

I Cook for celebrities, professional athletes, and politicians that visit Portugal.

I prepare and made meals for elite athletes before high-level tests.

I am a nutritional advisor and executive chef in a multinational company since 2012, whose main objective is to inform people of the danger of processed foods. I used to work in Vila Gale Hotels & Doliva, and I am currently the Director of Food Service in Attitude Fine Dining.

Deep knowledge of healthy food. All my meals are made with local produce and no harmful health additives.

You will meet dishes from all of Portugal. And the best local wine, like port wine.

Cooked with tradition and as good Portuguese full dish.

Take your time and let me show you the best portuguese cousine.

Regards

João Dias

For me, cooking is...

Natural and healthy. All the dish is made with balance and natural products.

I learned to cook at...

World chefs academy, educacional center of lisbon as a professional cook and then as a chef. Portuguese typical restaurants.

A cooking secret...

simplicity and always with a learning spirit. Natural and local products make the diference for me.

My menus

Celebrating the cuisine

STARTER

All inclusive

Fish pataniscas are one of the greatest Portuguese classics of all time and are perfect for any time of year

Wild shrimp sauteed with lime peel and herbs of day

"Bulhão pato" clams A classic way of serving clams in Portugal, named after the 19th century poet Raimundo António de Bulhão Pato; a simple recipe that brings out all the flavor of the freshest molluscs

As a courtesy, Chef João makes fresh sangria of Portuguese wines, fruits and liqueurs available throughout the service so that you can celebrate the moment at the table in the best way possible. It’s the Joao team’s best kept secret

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh sea bass fillet from the Algarve coast perfectly married with Portuguese cabbage smoked in bacon and pink valley grapes

Octopus à Lagareiro always tastes good. With delicious flavors of olive oil and garlic and accompanied by mashed potatoes, this recipe will delight everyone!

Fish and seafood pasta. It's an ideal Algarvian dish for those days when you feel like delicious pasta!

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

"Bacalhau à Brás" a tradicional mixed cod with french fries, eggs and biological parsley

Squid feijoada If you're a fan of comforting dishes full of flavor, you won't want to miss this squid feijoada

Sea bream fillet baked in the oven with sweet potatoes and vegetables. a dish full of flavors with good Portuguese fish

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Portuguese sponge cake. A tasty cake that melts in your mouth by the spoonful

Salted caramel cheesecake. a perfect marriage of salty and sweet

Apple strudel with vanilla and cinnamon ice cream

Ciao Portugal

STARTER

All inclusive

The entire menu will be accompanied by a fruit sangria and lambrusco

Iberian chorizo. one of the best in the world where Mediterranean flavors combine with bread toasted with olive oil

Tomato and basil bruschetta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Stuffed Portobello mushrooms. They captivate both discerning palates and lovers of healthy cuisine! With different combinations, such as melted cheese, tomatoes and aromatic seasonings, these mushrooms become a wonderful dish!

Meat lasagna is one of those recipes that awakens memories and wins hearts. This Italian dish, adapted and loved around the world, is a perfect match

Enjoy an explosion of flavors in this bacon and chorizo pasta recipe! Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic experience in every bite

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Nero Spaghetti with Shrimp perfectly combines the flavors of the sea. Using pasta enriched with cuttlefish ink adds a distinctive touch to any dish

Mushroom risotto with courgette and carrot. an explosion of flavors with a Portuguese touch

Prawn salad is a surprising culinary creation that delights everyone and everything with its freshness and combination of flavors! In this recipe, the prawns and pasta are coated with the flavor of peppers, olive oil, lemon and parsley

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate sponge cake. A tasty cake that melts in your mouth by the spoonful

Red fruit cheesecake. as refreshing as it is delicious

Biscuit cake with condensed milk! It will be a guaranteed success at the table at home

Portugueses soul

STARTER

All inclusive

Cod pataniscas are one of the greatest Portuguese classics of all time and are perfect for any time of year

Wild shrimp sauteed with lime peel and herbs of day

Portuguese hot cured cheese with a touch of red fruits jam gently wrapped in crispy pastry

Samosas, a symbol of Portuguese colonial history, are presented with a filling of local vegetables for crunchiness

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh sea bass fillet grilled on the bed of vegetables and grapes

"Bacalhau à Brás" a tradicional mixed cod with french fries, eggs and biological parsley

Salmon with honey and orange sauce. Try this delicious recipe. An irresistible combination of flavors that will conquer your taste buds

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Broken eggs. A traditional dish with a special touch of Iberian pork chorizo, potatoes, garlic, egg and asparagus. An explosion of flavors

Steak bonbon. the most succulent of steaks and served with creamy potato puree and spinach sautéed in garlic. the olive oil is homemade and very smooth

Alheira. If there's a perfect combination for your table, this is it! An alheira that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, accompanied by sautéed greens and boiled potatoes. A traditional meal, full of flavor that makes anyone salivate

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

White tart with egg and cinnamon strands. the chef's favorite dessert

The time has come to sweeten your senses with the best the Algarve has to offer. a moist almond tart contrasting with salted caramel sprinkled with mint

Chocolate mousse

Celebrating the cuisine

STARTER

All inclusive

Fish pataniscas are one of the greatest Portuguese classics of all time and are perfect for any time of year

Wild shrimp sauteed with lime peel and herbs of day

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh sea bass fillet from the Algarve coast perfectly married with Portuguese cabbage smoked in bacon and pink valley grapes

Octopus à Lagareiro always tastes good. With delicious flavors of olive oil and garlic and accompanied by mashed potatoes, this recipe will delight everyone!

Fish and seafood pasta. It's an ideal Algarvian dish for those days when you feel like delicious pasta!

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

"Bacalhau à Brás" a tradicional mixed cod with french fries, eggs and biological parsley

Squid feijoada If you're a fan of comforting dishes full of flavor, you won't want to miss this squid feijoada

Sea bream fillet baked in the oven with sweet potatoes and vegetables. a dish full of flavors with good Portuguese fish

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Portuguese sponge cake. A tasty cake that melts in your mouth by the spoonful

Salted caramel cheesecake. a perfect marriage of salty and sweet

Apple strudel with vanilla and cinnamon ice cream

Ciao Portugal

STARTER

All inclusive

The entire menu will be accompanied by a fruit sangria and lambrusco

Iberian chorizo. one of the best in the world where Mediterranean flavors combine with bread toasted with olive oil

Tomato and basil bruschetta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Meat lasagna is one of those recipes that awakens memories and wins hearts. This Italian dish, adapted and loved around the world, is a perfect match

Enjoy an explosion of flavors in this bacon and chorizo pasta recipe! Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic experience in every bite

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Nero Spaghetti with Shrimp perfectly combines the flavors of the sea. Using pasta enriched with cuttlefish ink adds a distinctive touch to any dish

Mushroom risotto with courgette and carrot. an explosion of flavors with a Portuguese touch

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Chocolate sponge cake. A tasty cake that melts in your mouth by the spoonful

Red fruit cheesecake. as refreshing as it is delicious

Biscuit cake with condensed milk! It will be a guaranteed success at the table at home

Portugueses soul

STARTER

All inclusive

Cod pataniscas are one of the greatest Portuguese classics of all time and are perfect for any time of year

Wild shrimp sauteed with lime peel and herbs of day

Portuguese hot cured cheese with a touch of red fruits jam gently wrapped in crispy pastry

Samosas, a symbol of Portuguese colonial history, are presented with a filling of local vegetables for crunchiness

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh sea bass fillet grilled on the bed of vegetables and grapes

"Bacalhau à Brás" a tradicional mixed cod with french fries, eggs and biological parsley

Salmon with honey and orange sauce. Try this delicious recipe. An irresistible combination of flavors that will conquer your taste buds

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Broken eggs. A traditional dish with a special touch of Iberian pork chorizo, potatoes, garlic, egg and asparagus. An explosion of flavors

Steak bonbon. the most succulent of steaks and served with creamy potato puree and spinach sautéed in garlic. the olive oil is homemade and very smooth

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

White tart with egg and cinnamon strands. the chef's favorite dessert

The time has come to sweeten your senses with the best the Algarve has to offer. a moist almond tart contrasting with salted caramel sprinkled with mint

Chocolate mousse

Celebrating the cuisine

STARTER

All inclusive

Fish pataniscas are one of the greatest Portuguese classics of all time and are perfect for any time of year

Wild shrimp sauteed with lime peel and herbs of day

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Fresh sea bass fillet from the Algarve coast perfectly married with Portuguese cabbage smoked in bacon and pink valley grapes

Octopus à Lagareiro always tastes good. With delicious flavors of olive oil and garlic and accompanied by mashed potatoes, this recipe will delight everyone!

Fish and seafood pasta. It's an ideal Algarvian dish for those days when you feel like delicious pasta!

MAIN COURSE

Choose 1 dish

"Bacalhau à Brás" a tradicional mixed cod with french fries, eggs and biological parsley

Squid feijoada If you're a fan of comforting dishes full of flavor, you won't want to miss this squid feijoada

Sea bream fillet baked in the oven with sweet potatoes and vegetables. a dish full of flavors with good Portuguese fish

DESSERT

Choose 1 dish

Portuguese sponge cake. A tasty cake that melts in your mouth by the spoonful

Salted caramel cheesecake. a perfect marriage of salty and sweet

Apple strudel with vanilla and cinnamon ice cream

Show me more

Chef Joao's reviews

4.91

•

253 services

Jaoa and his crew were simply wonderful! A night to remember for our group of 12 friends! We couldn’t have asked for better food or service!

What a wonderful evening! Chef Joao was professional, friendly, and the food was amazing. It was a perfect evening celebrating my husband's birthday. I highly recommend Chef. Joao-it was an amazing night and the food was delicious!

Cannot say enough amazing things about Chef Joao and his team. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was incredible. Personal touches like his family recipe almond cake were especially appreciated. This was truly an absolutely amazing experience and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a 5 star dining event.

Our chef João and his assistant created a very memorable meal for us on our last day in Algarve. We spoke often about the menu and the options that were available since he sources his ingredients locally. The presentation of the food was very appealing and the food itself was just lovely...we had absolutely no complaints. João explained each course and even provided us with his recipe for dessert! They left the kitchen cleaner than when they started! Please do not hesitate to engage his services....you will not be disappointed.

Decided to have Chef João come and prepare a gourmet 4 course dinner in our Airbnb for Valentine’s Day. It was a surprise for my wife and we had a fantastic meat. Chef João prepared 3 different starters, a 2nd course and finally a steak as the main. It was all delicious, presentation was superb and all the courses were traditional Portuguese dishes! He also made a homemade Sangria to go with the meal and a cake for dessert. If you are in Lagos and your Airbnb has a decent kitchen, I would highly recommend Chef João!!

Chef Joao did an excellent job preparing dinner at our place. Plenty of tasty Portuguese options prepared well.

Chef João and Marta created a fantastic evening. The food was amazing and the sangria endless. They are both very professional, personable, and we would recommend their services to anyone looking to experience the best classic Portuguese cuisine you will have while travelling throughout the Country. The service provides by them was top notch from the preparation, plating, and service. It was a pleasure to watch them work together in the kitchen and the love they share for each other was definitely noticeable in the meal. They were even kind enough to clean the kitchen when they left!

The food was amazing!! Got this as a gift for my husbands birthday and it was the best meal we’ve had in Portugal. It was so nice to have a meal cooked for us in our hotel and every single detail was thought out. Joao and his wife were so friendly and kind. This was a highlight of our trip!

An awesome experience. We had high expectations and those were exceeded. Joao provided us with a unique experience, accommodating special dietary needs that we had while ensuring we could experience the nest of Portuguese cuisine. We highly recommend him.

Chef Joao was absolutely fabulous! He was very easy to communicate with and helped us decide on the perfect menu for our Boxing Day Dinner. Every plate was unique and out of this world in flavour and presentation. The shrimp, baby clams, steak, samosas, and the amazing sangria made for quite an evening! Joao is a top notch chef who is knowledgeable and passionate about his craft! We will definitely be inviting chef Joao back with us on our next visit to Lagos! His assistant Bea is also very efficient and delightful.. a great team! The highlight of our 2024 Christmas vacation in Lagos and Lisbon!

Wow, that about sums up our experience with Chef João! From the first delectable morsel to the last glass of sangria, our memories will be forever remembered. He shared some of his personal stories as well as the ingredients that went into some of the best food, which we so enjoyed. It was our daughter’s birthday and he helped us celebrate by making her a very special cake! Amazing to see how he can transform food into something so delicious and special. From the appetizers to main meal to dessert, all was perfect and the taste…. Scrumptious! Our kitchen was left spotless too! While it was hard not to think we had to help or do something, having a very special meal made for us and all we had to do was enjoy! Highly recommend!!! You will definitely have a memorable experience!

I recently had the pleasure of reserving a Chef Joao for our get together in Portugal over an amazing Portuguese meal at our villa in Faro, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the experience. Chef Joao and his team were absolutely incredible! From start to finish, they were professional, efficient, and a joy to interact with. Chef Joao was an excellent communicator throughout the process and very personable, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable. Not only did they prepare an unforgettable meal, but they also made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic Portuguese cuisine with a personal chef.

What a memorable evening! The food, the presentation, the company were all absolutely incredible. The tapas menu was the perfect taste of Portugal.

Chef Joao was super nice and flexible to arrange the date and menu. The food and dressing week amazing! Thank you for the great experience. As my sister said : it really was like restaurant at home!

We had a wonderful family experience! We are a large family of different ages including 2 young children. The food was delicious! The service exceptional! Brave Chef!

Chef Joao was AMAZING! The food and presentation were 5 star. I let Joao choose the menu and was introduced to things I never even knew I enjoyed. He came in with everything he needed and when he left you would have never even known he was there. This meal was one of the highlights of our trip and an experience I will never forgot.

The best experience in Portugal! I am so glad we booked the meal; Joao went above and beyond in every way. The food was incredible and it was such a smooth experience. I wouldn’t at all hesitate to book again and I recommend if you can see he is free on a date that you’re looking at that you book right away!!

Joao and his team were absolutely delightful, and his food was truly special (and abundant). Even though there was more food than was reasonable to eat for our number, we could not stop eating until our plates were clean. He was very thoughtful, accommodated several allergies/diets, and made a special birthday cake for my dad. We really felt like royalty. At the end, they left the kitchen spotless. A wonderful experience and great value. Would strongly recommend to anyone!

We had Joao come to our villa during our stay in Portugal for a group of 15 of us. Even from the start on WhatsApp he was very engaging considerate especially with a large group having a few dietary requirements. When meeting him and his staff on arrival they was very friendly and then got started they helped with everything from setting the table up to clearing up at the end, the whole evening became very special and was relaxing for us. Not to mention the food and how incredible it was… we had the tapas from Portugal and everything about it was amazing. All the ingredients were fresh an ruly could tell that with the taste, layout/ presentation was also great. I would recommended him a million times again!! Thankyou x

We have not stopped talking about our wonderful experience with Chef Joao! This has been a highlight of our trip to Portugal and our entire group enjoyed every aspect of the evening. The food was delicious and plentiful, the presentation incredible and Chef Joao and Bia were professional and personable. We learned a lot from him about the food, culture and customs of Portugal. He put a great deal of effort and care into our dinner and our kitchen was left sparkling clean. Do not hesitate to contact him! He delivers five star service! Thank you Chef Joao!

Jaoa and his crew were simply wonderful! A night to remember for our group of 12 friends! We couldn’t have asked for better food or service!