Encanto

Diogo Formiga

Head Chef

Holds a degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Aveiro. Curious and studious by nature, Diogo dedicates much of his time to researching ingredients, growers, producers, and sustainable practices. He continuously strives to optimize the use of each ingredient and reduce waste.

Inês Jones

Head Waitress and Sommelier


Favorite vegetable: Carrot


At Encanto since day one — where she discovered a new passion: wine. She studied Hotel Management, but it was at Encanto that she found the time and magic to tell stories — of the dishes, the wines, the producers, and all the passion behind each detail. Outside the restaurant, she swaps the decanter and dining service for the beach, her dog Lucky, and CrossFit competitions.

Gonçalo Arsénio

Sous-Chef

Favorite vegetable: Pearl onion

He has a degree in Sports Science but found his true calling in the kitchen. Trained at the Association of Professional Chefs of Portugal, he is passionate about ingredients, creativity, and nature. In his free time, when he's not studying recipes, he grows vegetables in his garden or plays paddle — with the same intensity he uses to sauté greens.

Hugo Aurélio

Sous-Chef

Favorite vegetable: Mushroom

Trained in culinary arts, Hugo spends his days between surprising starters and unforgettable desserts — making sure the cold station is anything but cold. At Encanto, he discovered the pleasure (and the challenge) of cooking without animal protein, giving center stage to vegetables and seasonality. In his free time, he goes out for dinner with his girlfriend on a serious mission: to discover new flavors.

Elizabeth Sanda

Cook

Favorite vegetable: Morel mushroom

From Buenos Aires, Argentina, Elizabeth holds a degree in Gastronomy and has a passion for the hot station — after all, grilling and working with fire runs in her blood. At Encanto, she learns new ways to create flavor every day… without using meat! Outside the kitchen, she splits her time between the gym and her loyal companion Canela — a dachshund who looks just like a cinnamon stick.

João Santos

Cook (2nd grade)

Favorite vegetable: Asparagus

He studied design but ended up in gastronomy — because his love for cooking (especially savory dishes!) spoke louder. Passionate about constantly creating new dishes, he lives between seasonal flavors and presentations worthy of magazine covers. His designer’s eye certainly helps. Outside the kitchen, he continues to study… cooking. And when he’s not cooking, he’s eating — preferably at a great restaurant or somewhere around the world.

Pedro Santos

Cook (2nd grade)

Favorite vegetable: Spring onion

From Sesimbra, he works at the hot station and is a tournant — the one who does a bit of everything in the kitchen, always lending a hand wherever needed, with elegance. He began at Belcanto but fell in love with Encanto at first sight — switching kitchens without looking back. He loves working with amazing vegetables and getting to know the people who grow them. After the service, he heads to the beach or cooks for friends.

Miguel Gonçalves

Junior Cook (3rd grade)

Favorite vegetable: Portuguese cabbage

He started in Biomedical Sciences but quickly traded test tubes for pots and pans — in truth, he always wanted to be a chef, maybe because he grew up in a family where everyone cooked (and cooked well!). Now at Encanto, he lives for creativity and the daily challenge of finding new ways to combine flavors among vegetables. Outside the kitchen, he finds inspiration in music, the forest, and the sea.

Niraj Marharjan

Junior Cook (3rd grade)


Favorite vegetable: Okra

From Nepal straight to the heart of Encanto, where he works his magic at the cold station. A graduate of the Lisbon School of Hospitality and Tourism, he brings technique, dedication, and… a great sense of humor. What excites him most day-to-day? Team spirit. And outside the kitchen, he swaps his apron for rock music and peaceful moments. A true balance of energy and serenity.

Afonso Rodrigues

Sommelier and Host

Favorite vegetable: Broccoli

Born in Barreiro and trained in Hospitality and Wine, Afonso has been working in this fascinating world for three years. In his free time, he plays the guitar, plans master moves in chess, and deepens his wine knowledge. A sommelier and host with a refined palate… and a sharp strategy.

Camille Faisant

Host


Favorite vegetable: Courgette

From the Lyon region in France, she came to Lisbon to reconnect with her Portuguese roots — and ended up falling for Encanto as well. With a background in Hospitality, she has spent over a year helping to create memorable experiences. She loves the team, connecting with guests, and the creativity of the dishes. Outside of service? She’s always ready to discover new restaurants, get hands-on with food… and dance like no one’s watching!

Mohammad Hossain

Host

Favorite vegetable: Pumpkin

Originally from Bangladesh and always with a smile, he brings over 9 years of experience in hospitality, including time at luxury restaurants in Qatar. What he loves most is customer interaction — that’s where he truly feels at home. At Encanto, he discovered a new world: it’s his first fine dining vegetarian restaurant… and the impact was so profound that he’s slowly becoming a vegetarian himself. In his free time, he explores his own culinary talents — now increasingly focused on vegetables!

Carolina Hoyos

Host

Favorite vegetable: Spinach

A trained psychologist and a host by passion, she was born in Colombia and spent the last decade in Argentina. For the past year, she’s been welcoming guests at Encanto — with warmth, great stories, and fun facts, because she loves human connection. In her free time, she cooks intuitively, draws to process emotions, and swims to balance her mind and body.

Kiki Bult

Host

Favorite vegetable: Pumpkin

From Amsterdam to Lisbon, she left a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Netherlands for the Portuguese sunshine — and another Michelin-starred kitchen: Encanto. Trained in hospitality and passionate about fermentation and local flavors, she found the perfect balance here between beautiful plates, intense flavor, and stories worth telling. Because for her, serving is more than placing a dish on a table — it's sharing a piece of the world. Outside the restaurant, she enjoys outdoor walks and a good, inspiring book.

Maria Barata

Host


Favorite vegetable: Cauliflower

A proud Lisbon native, Maria entered the world of hospitality and events at 17 — and never looked back. At Encanto, she turns every customer interaction into a memorable experience. For her, fine dining is more than service: it’s about sharing the art of cuisine and giving voice to the stories behind each dish. Because explaining with charm and magic is part of what makes Encanto. Outside the restaurant, she trades cutlery for beach sand and recharges in nature.

Diogo Jordão

Sommelier


Favorite vegetable: Beetroot

Born in Lisbon and a sommelier by passion, Diogo discovered the world of wine early on — directly influenced by his father and many tastings, trips, and shared glasses. Today, he dreams of taking Portuguese wines across borders, as a true ambassador. At Encanto, he embraces the challenge of creating pairings in a vegetarian restaurant, where each wine match is a small discovery. At home, when friends come over, his wife cooks and he serves the wine — with full explanation, of course. His personal wine collection has already over 100 labels.

Kalash Kharel

Kitchen porter

Favorite vegetable: Pumpkin

Always happy to help with whatever is needed, he’s been at Encanto since the restaurant first opened its doors. Originally from Nepal, he studied management in his home country, and, outside the restaurant, he swaps pans for keyboards: he’s a journalist and writes news in Nepali on his own website.

Suman Khanal

Kitchen porter

Favorite vegetable: Potato

Born in Nepal, he studied English and works as a kitchen porter at Encanto. He enjoys getting involved in the kitchen and, outside of work, he’s a full-time family «chef» — a devoted father to two children: Success and Shaarwin.