Rui Silvestre was born in Valongo, in the north of Portugal, but has lived in the Algarve since he was 10 years old. In search of inspiration for new dishes and new culinary techniques, to discover other cultures and flavors, Rui spent 7 years in French, Swiss and Hungarian restaurants, where he highlights his time in France, at the Le Castellet restaurant by Christophe Bacquié, with three Michelin stars.
In 2015, Rui achieved his first Michelin star, becoming the youngest Portuguese chef (at 29 years old) to win this coveted recognition. In 2019 he repeated the feat when, behind the wheel of Restaurante Vistas, he won the first Michelin Star for the Eastern Algarve. Despite having spent a good part of his career abroad, with stints at the famous Ferme Saint Simion and Christophe Bacquié, both French, and at Costes, in Budapest, headed by Miguel Rocha Vieira, Rui Silvestre's cuisine favors national flavors, inspired by for the raw material that is closest to it: fish and shellfish.
Using French techniques and fusing unlikely flavors, Rui loves combining the best products from land and sea, in an innovative way, evoking all the senses and preserving the authentic and exceptional flavor of local ingredients. He assumes the responsibility of succeeding the most awarded Spanish chef, at the helm of FIFTY SECONDS, at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower.