
An early career in the music industry as a DJ and member of Punk Rock band, was supported by working in kitchens however Atala’s skills and passion for the kitchen surpassed music and he made cooking his life.
After working his way through a clutch of three-Michelin starred restaurants in Belgium and France, including Bernard Loiseau’s Hôtel de la Côte-d’Or chef Alex Atala returned home to Brazil and opened D.O.M. in 1999.
Atala applies European techniques to Brazilian ingredients creating anything up to 20 course tasting menus that can include for example- Codfish Brandade in a Black Bean Reduction; Filhote (a catfish variant) in a Manioc (Cassava) Crust; and a Banana Ravioli with Passion Fruit Sauce and Tangerine sorbet. D.O.M is what Brazil tastes like.
In January of this year Atala opened his new restaurant Dalva e Ditto, a Brasserie that focuses on Brazilian heritage food, everyday dishes like Rice & Beans.