Q. Tell us about Viajante and The Corner Room.

A. Viajante -- it means ‘traveller’ in Portuguese and our aim is to reflect this in our cuisine. Over the last three years we’ve been able to assemble a team of travelers that share the same vision and bring their own experiences to the table and tell stories through food. We serve an ever-changing blind tasting menu to take our guests on a unique culinary journey. Viajante has become a platform for people who have a passion for working with quality produce using modern as well as ancient techniques. As a result we are building up an amazing collection of dishes that reflect where we have been and where we come from. We also want our guests to feel relaxed and at home in our dining room.

The Corner Room -- what we’re offering is a simple and affordable menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dishes change weekly, enabling our chefs to constantly create and inspire using fresh seasonal ingredients. Essentially I wanted to open a place for my friends to have a low-key dinner locally. We are friendly, affordable and want to grow nicely with the neighborhood.

Q. You change your menus all the time, but are there local ingredients you love to use ?

A. The menus are constantly evolving, especially at Viajante. Corner Room tends to take longer to change the menus, as it is a neighborhood restaurant and a lot of people come back for their favorite dishes. We use about 90% local ingredients with the exception of Iberico pork and we try to pay close attention to the seasons in both restaurants. The range of produce available in the UK is amazing – fantastic fresh fish, meat and locally foraged herbs.

Q. You’ve lived in San Francisco, New York and now London. What are some of your favorite things about being in East London?

A. What attracted me about East London is that it reminds me of the best parts of all the cities in which I have lived. It has a mix of the Lower East Side vibe, with the Mission District in San Francisco, and the bohemian side of South Beach Miami back in the day. It’s fun, it’s creative, and it’s always changing and diverse. I also think it’s a good place to raise kids. There are parks and lots of green areas, a lot of families as well as the creatives and artists. In terms of business, I think it is the perfect place to showcase the kind of creative dining we like to offer. I think both of our restaurants embody the spirit of East London.

Chef’s Recs | East London

FIND | Markets & Food Shops

Fin & Flounder

When Richard opened Fin and Flounder in Broadway Market, it was like a breath of fresh air because he really listened to what the Broadway Market shoppers wanted. Unlike other fishmongers, he didn’t hold back or play safe and he tried to find unusual products and teach his customers how to cook and eat and what to buy. It’s not unusual to find live prawns still jumping, live razor clams, monkfish livers, or perhaps fresh cuttlefish in their shop, all beautifully presented and very high quality. The shop itself is really cute and sells a couple of extra things -- interesting wine choices and cooking products like saffron, fish roe, paprika, and chorizos - fantastic friends of fish.

71 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH, United Kingdom

T: +44.78.3801.8395 | findandflounder.com

FIND | Portuguese Products

Leila’s Shop 

They are a pioneer in the East End. I’ve been going here for many years. You can see amazing vegetables, 100% locally sourced and super high quality, and a really nice range of products from Portugal also. She stocks Portuguese legumes, dried pulses, Portuguese olive oils, cheeses and smoked meats, chorizo. She even sells Portuguese crisps that are really tasty! They are called Dallmar crisps.

On top if that, in her cafe she does some of the most simple and tastiest eggs you can get. The fried eggs with sage is great and the coffee is high quality too.

15-17 Calvert Avenue, London E2 7JP, United Kingdom

T: +44.(0)20.7729.9789 | vegboxers.com

EAT | Where I Would Take a Visiting Chef

Koya

The most amazing thing about Koya is that it’s a Japanese chef cooking with local ingredients in a Japanese way. I like udon, but when I go to Koya I always have the specials. I love the unpredictability. So for example, in the summer you might have tomatoes with fresh tofu, olive oil and miso.

49 Frith Street, London W1D 4SG, United Kingdom

T: +44.(0)20.7434.4463 | koya.co.uk

EAT | Off The Beaten Track

St John Bread & Wine

Many of the best meals I have had in London has been at St John’s Bread and Wine. The number of hugely talented chefs that have run that kitchen is impressive, most of them moving onwards to have their own very successful restaurants. The Spitalfields outpost is, to date, my favorite branch of this purely London institution. One afternoon, many years ago, I walked in and sat by myself and watched the kitchen at work. I had a dish of braised and smoked pork belly with carrots and a little bit of the braising liquid, accompanied with mustard. It was one of the most satisfying meals I have had in London.

94-96 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ, United Kingdom

T: +44.(0)20.7251.0848 (make a reservation) | stjohnrestaurant.co.uk

Rochelle Canteen

When the weather is nice, Rochelle Canteen is my favorite restaurant in London to go for lunch. I love to sit outside and watch the little courtyards, eating the simple and tasty creations of the chefs. It feels like a canteen, all the tables are joined together, and so sometimes you are rubbing shoulders with some very interesting characters from all different industries: arts, music, food. All in all, a fantastic lunch value that is also even more special because you can bring your own wine and enjoy it here.

Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, London E2 7ES, United Kingdom

T: +44.(0)20.7729.5677 | arnoldandhenderson.com

DRINK | Cocktails

Lounge Bohemia

Paul Tvaroh’s place is a true East London gem. From the moment you step in you know you are in Paul’s place and you should expect the unexpected. Cool decor, great music and very creative cocktails from the master himself. Always book because there is no standing room and if you are able to, allow the bartenders to choose your drinks for you and take you on a journey!

1E Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EJ, United Kingdom

T: +44.7720.707000 | loungebohemia.com

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