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"Iberian, with some mild Asian, South American and Latin American influences": Even Nuno Mendes, Michelin-honoured chef of the Viajante restaurant in London, has difficulty categorising his cuisine. This is hardly surprising when one considers that the many different experiences and adventures from his truly international career are incorporated into all of his creations. The result? Experimental global cuisine that is impossible to attach to a single country, but which definitely falls into the category of "totally unusual and delicious".

"I'm becoming restless. I don't like stagnancy": Nuno Mendes' restlessness promptly led the Portuguese national from Lisbon to California in his twenties, where he attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. And it wasn't long before his passion for cooking took hold: "I was inspired by this craft from the first day I began to study it. I knew with all my heart that I wanted to be a chef." After graduating in 1997, this heartfelt desire took the adventurous Mendes to Wolfgang Puck's Postrio in San Francisco, where he worked as Chef de Partie Saucier, Chef de Partie Poissonnier and Entremetier. This was followed by stints at restaurants such as the famous Coyote Café in Santa Fé, which is known for its blend of Mexican, Spanish and native American cuisine. Then came one of the highlights of his career: In March 2003, Mendes jetted to Spain, where he spent three months training at one of the best and most famous restaurants in the world: El Bulli, run by master chef Ferran Adrià.

But the globetrotting cook was only just getting started: After his spell at El Bulli, Mendes returned to New York. But less than two years later, he relocated to London, his current home city, where he explored and perfected Asian cuisine as the head chef of Rama. A year and a half later, he opened Bacchus, a favourite on the culinary scene. But he was still restless: A couple of years after the birth of Bacchus, Nuno Mendes founded a supper club in his home loft, before opening his restaurant and current base Viajante (Portuguese: the traveller) in London's East End in 2008.

Those lucky enough to nab a table (reservations essential!) experience the full pleasure of this restless Portuguese chef's sense of adventure and wanderlust. Mendes is a master of combining unusual ingredients, such as sautéed watermelon and braised leeks, and taking the palate of every gourmet on a real voyage of discovery. He loves to experiment with textures and flavours – and dishes such as skate wing, mustard gnocchi with brioche, cauliflower purée and yeast foam are no exceptions. His tuna ribbons wrapped around creamy avocado, drizzled with sweet cherry tomato juice and served with wild rocket and olive-oil crostini provide another example of what Nuno Mendes' cuisine is all about. His experiences and international influences, which he has soaked up during his travels and his work, are plain to see in creations such as the Thai basil sorbet with lemon sherbet. In January 2011, Mendes finally received the long-overdue recognition for his highly creative cuisine: his first Michelin star!

"My dishes are not Portuguese, British or Japanese. They are a personal interpretation of my culinary experiences," is how Nuno Mendes, Michelin-starred chef and owner of the Viajante restaurant in London, describes his cooking style. But even though his cuisine cannot be attached to specific countries, one thing is certainly true: it is highly creative and totally unusual.

All guest chefs at a glance

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Archive

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus

Preview
Guest chefs 2012 /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2012/preview-guest-chefs-2012/

Guest chefs at Restaurant Ikarus: February 2012

Tim Raue /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2012/tim-raue/

Trettl meets Tim Raue

Tim Raue
Berlin, Germany /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2012/trettl-meets-tim-raue/

Guest chefs at Restaurant Ikarus: January 2012

Nuno Mendes /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2012/nuno-mendes/

Trettl meets Nuno Mendes

Nuno Mendes
Viajante, London /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2012/trettl-meets-nuno-mendes/

Guest chefs at Restaurant Ikarus: December 2011

Daniel Redondo &
Helena Rizzo /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/daniel-redondo-helena-rizzo/

Guest chefs at Restaurant Ikarus: November 2011

Björn Frantzén &
Daniel Lindeberg /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/bjoern-frantzen-daniel-lindeberg/

Roland Trettl on tour

Helena Rizzo & Daniel Redondo, São Paulo, Brazil /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-helena-rizzo-daniel-redondo/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: October 2011

Xavier Pellicer /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/xavier-pellicer/

Roland Trettl on tour

Xavier Pellicer,
Barcelona, Spain /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-xavier-pellicer/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: September 2011

Alvin Leung /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/alvin-leung/

Roland Trettl on tour

Alvin Leung,
Hong Kong, China /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-alvin-leung/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: August 2011

Ikarus Team /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/ikarus-team/

Roland Trettl on tour

Peter Goossens,
Kruishoutem, Belgium /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-and-the-ikarus-team/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: July 2011

Peter Goossens /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/peter-goossens/

Roland Trettl on tour

Peter Goossens,
Kruishoutem, Belgium /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-peter-goossens/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: June 2011

Emmanuel Renaut /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/emmanuel-renaut/

Roland Trettl on tour

Emmanuel Renaut,
Megève, France /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-emmanuel-renaut/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: May 2011

Anatoly Komm /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/anatoly-komm/

Roland Trettl on tour

Anatoly Komm,
Moscow, Russia /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-anatoly-komm/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: April 2011

Daniel Humm /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/daniel-humm/

Roland Trettl on tour

Daniel Humm,
New York, USA /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-daniel-humm/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: March 2011

Claus-Peter Lumpp /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/claus-peter-lumpp/

Roland Trettl on tour

Claus-Peter Lumpp,
Germany /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-claus-peter-lumpp/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: February 2011

Marcus G. Lindner /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/marcus-g-lindner/

Roland Trettl on tour

Marcus G. Lindner, Switzerland /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-marcus-g-lindner/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: January 2011

Enrico & Roberto Cerea /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2011/enrico-roberto-cerea/

Roland Trettl on tour

Enrico Cerea, Italy /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2011/roland-trettl-meets-enrico-cerea/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: December 2010

Mauro Colagreco /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/mauro-colagreco/

Roland Trettl on tour

Mauro Colagreco, France /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-mauro-colagreco/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus: November 2010

Sven Elverfeld /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/november-2010-at-restaurant-ikarus-sven-elverfeld/

Roland Trettl on tour

Sven Elverfeld, Germany /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-sven-elverfeld/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
August 2010

Hans Välimäki /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/hans-vaelimaeki/

Roland Trettl on tour

Hans Välimäki, Finland /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-hans-vaelimaeki/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
September 2010

Sergio Herman /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/sergio-herman/

Roland Trettl on tour

Sergio Herman, Netherlands /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-sergio-herman/

Roland Trettl on tour

Heinz Reitbauer & Thomas Dorfer, Austria /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/heinz-reitbauer-thomas-dorfer/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
August 2010

Heinz Reitbauer, Thomas Dorfer & Ikarus Team /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/roland-trettl-team/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
July 2010

Joan & Jordi Roca /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/joan-jordi-roca/

Roland Trettl on tour

Joan & Jordi Roca, Spain /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-joan-jordi-roca/

Roland Trettl on tour

Nicolas Schneller & Supanut Khanarak, Thailand /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-nicolas-schneller-supanut-khanarak/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
June 2010

Nicolas Schneller & Supanut Khanarak /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/nicolas-schneller-supanut-khanarak/

Roland Trettl on tour

Cornelia Poletto, Germany /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-cornelia-poletto/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
May 2010

Cornelia Poletto /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/cornelia-poletto/

Roland Trettl on tour

David Higgs, South Africa /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-david-higgs/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
April 2010

David Higgs /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/david-higgs/

Roland Trettl on tour

Heiko Nieder, Switzerland /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-heiko-nieder/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
March 2010

Heiko Nieder /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/heiko-nieder/

Roland Trettl on tour

Marcelo Tejedor, Spain /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-marcelo-tejedor/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
February 2010

Marcelo Tejedor /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/marcelo-tejedor/

Roland Trettl on tour

Baiocco Stefano, Italy /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2010/roland-trettl-meets-stefano-baiocco/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
January 2010

Stefano Baiocco /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2010/stefano-baiocco/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
December 2009

Paul Pairet /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/paul-pairet/

Roland Trettl on tour

Paul Pairet, China /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-paul-pairet/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
November 2009

Grant Achatz /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/grant-achatz/

Roland Trettl on tour

Grant Achatz, USA /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-grant-achatz/

A visit to the Ikarus:
October 2009

René Redzepi /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/rene-redzepi/

Roland Trettl on tour

René Redzepi, Denmark /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-rene-redzepi/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
September 2009

Didier Corlou /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/didier-corlou/

Roland Trettl on tour

Didier Corlou, Vietnam /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-didier-corlou/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
August 2009

Roland Trettl & Team /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/roland-trettl-team/

Roland Trettl on tour

Roland Trettl & Team, Salzburg /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-team/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
July 2009

Antonino Cannavacciuolo /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/antonino-cannavacciuolo/

Roland Trettl on tour

Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Italy /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-antonino-cannavacciuolo/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
June 2009

Joachim Koerper /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/joachim-koerper/

Roland Trettl on tour

Joachim Koerper, Lisbon /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-joachim-koerper/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
May 2009

Thierry Marx /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/thierry-marx/

Roland Trettl on tour

Thierry Marx, France /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-thierry-marx/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
April 2009

Ian Chalermkittichai /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/ian-chalermkittichai/

Roland Trettl on tour

Ian Chalermkittichai, Spain /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-ian-chalermkittichai/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
March 2009

Andreas Caminada /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/andreas-caminada/

Roland Trettl on tour

Andreas Caminada, Switzerland /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-andreas-caminada/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
February 2009

Dani Garcia /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/dani-garcia/

Roland Trettl on tour

Dani García, Málaga /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-dani-garcia/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
January 2009

Kenneth Oringer /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2009/kenneth-oringer/

Roland Trettl on tour

Kenneth Oringer, USA /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2009/roland-trettl-meets-kenneth-oringer/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
December 2008

Danyel Couet & Paul Svensson /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/danyel-couet-paul-svensson/

Roland Trettl on tour

Danyel Couet & Paul Svensson, Stockholm /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-danyel-couet/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
November 2008

Normand Laprise /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/normand-laprise/

Roland Trettl on tour

Normand Laprise, Canada /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-normand-laprise/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
In October

Stefan Mörth & Kenichiro Ooe /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/stefan-moerth-and-kenichiro-ooe/

Roland Trettl on tour

Kenichiro Ooe and Stefan Mörth, Japan /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-stefan-moerth-kenichiro-ooe/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
September 2008

Gastón Acurio /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/gaston-acurio/

Roland Trettl on tour

Gastón Acurio, Peru /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-gaston-acurio/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
August 2008

Gérard Depardieu /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/gerard-depardieu/

Roland Trettl on tour

Gérard Depardieu, France /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-gerard-depardieu/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
July 2008

Joël Antunes /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/joel-antunes/

Roland Trettl on tour

Joël Antunes, USA /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-joel-antunes/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
June 2008

Horst Petermann /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/horst-petermann/

Roland Trettl on tour

Horst Petermann, Switzerland /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-horst-petermann/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
May 2008

Norbert Kostner /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/norbert-kostner/

Roland Trettl on tour

Norbert Kostner , Thailand /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-norbert-kostner/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
April 2008

Massimo Bottura /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/massimo-bottura/

Roland Trettl on tour

Massimo Bottura, Italy /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-massimo-bottura/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
March 2008

Margot Janse /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/margot-janse/

Roland Trettl on tour

Margot Janse, South Africa /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-margot-janse/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
February 2008

Christian Jürgens /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/christian-juergens/

Roland Trettl on tour

Christian Jürgens, Germany /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-christian-juergens/

Guest chef at Restaurant Ikarus:
January 2008

Sam Leong /en/ikarus/guest-chef-at-restaurant-ikarus/2008/sam-leong/

Roland Trettl on tour

Sam Leong, Singapore /en/ikarus/roland-trettl-on-tour/2008/roland-trettl-meets-sam-leong/