TAP Air Portugal’s ‘Taste the Stars’ program featuring five Michelin star winning Portuguese chefs and the airline’s cuisine consultant Chef Vítor Sobral, is adding Portuguese-American Chef George Mendes to the roster. A first generation American born to Portuguese parents, acclaimed chef and cookbook author George Mendes brought elevated Portuguese cooking to New York City when he opened his first restaurant, Aldea, in 2009. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1992, Mendes spent 17 years honing his knowledge, technique, and style under the guidance of some of the world’s greatest culinary masters Alain Ducasse, and his most influential mentor, David Bouley. At Aldea, Mendes serves a menu of refined Portuguese-inspired dishes reflective of his classic training, Iberian experiences, and the flavors of his heritage—earning the restaurant a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide every year since 2010. TAP introduced “Taste the Stars” for Business Class passengers one year ago, offering a selection from one of the award-winning chefs as a choice from their inflight meal selections to promote the best of Portuguese cuisine around the world. Passengers from New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport will enjoy a selection from George Mendes on their way to Lisbon (including his signature tastes/dishes such as Potato and Collard Green Soup; Cod with Potatoes, Onion, Tomato and Black Olives; and Pastel de Nata). As part of the “Taste The Stars” project, TAP offers a platform to promote young talents trained by the Chefs, who will also be given the opportunity to present their creations as part of the new inflight service. The Michelin chefs’ restaurants in Portugal are also part of TAP’s “Portugal Stopover” program, offering free bottles of wine for Stopover travelers visiting Lisbon or Porto, while en route to destinations throughout Europe and Africa.
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