Leon Adnams-Downes, UK
Leon with his son Maurie in Sesimbra. Photo by Holly Adnams-Downes
Leon is a perfect fit to kick start this series of interviews: he is truly and genuinely an admirer of Portugal and our Gastronomic Culture. We met for the first time more than 10 years ago, before Portugal was a trendy and talked-about destination. It has always been a pleasure to share a conversation about food over a Salada de Polvo and a glass of wine, His wife and he decided to have their symbolic wedding in our country, and they come over an average of once a year, even though he has a very demanding job, catering for hundreds of people at the famous Manchester City Football Club.
___
Tell us about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do, and any other info you might want to share?
My name is Leon Adnams-Downes, I’m from Manchester, UK & I am the Executive Head Chef at Manchester City Football Club, we currently have 14 restaurants, 5 premium retail spaces, 19 general access kiosks, a large cohort of internal feeding & a “City Eats” program where we work in collaboration with local independent food operators & bring their concept & brand to the Etihad, a typical match day can see over 4500 premium hospitality guests fed plus over 20,000 portions of hot foods from other outlets, this takes 125 chefs & 45 kitchen porters.
___
What is your earliest memory of Portugal?
I`m lucky, My wife has family in Portugal, so when we first started dating, Holly was just about to leave for a CELTA course in Lisbon, at the end of her course I took the trip over & instantly fell in love with Portugal (I was already in love with Holly!) we spent a few days in Lisbon which was mostly liquid based! Imperials of Sagres & lots of strong Delta coffee, with crazy evenings in Lisbon nightclubs with her cousin and his partner, we then spent a couple of days north of Lisbon in a small town with Holly’s aunty, a lady I instantly gravitated to & spent long nights talking food, eating more & reading a fantastic book called “Traditional Portuguese Cooking” a week of my life I still hold in such high regard, a lot of this week has shaped the last 11 years of my life.
___
What do you really look forward to eating (or drinking) when you’re on the plane to Portugal?
It hugely depends on when we go for this, Portugal is excellent for seasonality, something that gets me really excited, we tend to go in October/November when the football breaks for international fixtures, so at this time I’m on the hunt for Cozido à Portuguesa, Bacalhau à Brás, Arroz de Pato, Feijoada, Caldo Verde and if we venture north, definitely Tripas à Moda do Porto! In warmer months it’s all about the grilled fish, sat outside in a back street restaurant, and I generally don’t mind which fish, as long as it’s fresh.
___
Something you don’t like about Portuguese food.
There are a few moans here, but maybe I’m overprotective, but mainly I’d cover it off with, misrepresented Portuguese food, whether that be in a tourist spot, a chain restaurant, or excellent produce executed incorrectly, worldwide this upsets me, but more so in Portugal, as I’ve eaten some of the best food I’ve eaten globally that’s been very simple flavours, but grown, farmed or caught & prepared correctly it’s been the best by far.
___
A memorable meal (were, what, who, whatever…).
Many, but If I had to narrow it down to one, it would be when my wife & I had our second wedding (to each other, but the first one was alone in New Zealand) in Aunty Loo’s villa, with lots of family & friends, eating Leitão à Bairrada that had been cooked near Coimbra & driven down in thermal boxes for the wedding day.
___
Your favorite dish in Portugal.
I can’t have one, it’s so hard! But suppose I was on death row and had one last meal. In that case, I’m going for a starter of Serra da Estrela cheese, chickpea & coriander soup, Panificadora Costa & Ferreira corn bread, Cozido for the main, and finished off with Sericaia & Elvas plums! All prepared & eaten at Aunty Loo’s with lots of family and a small glass of Papa Figos!
___
Thank you Leon, and hope to see you soon back in Portugal! Abraço.
