Sun, pasteis de nata, vinho verde… it’s no surprise that we Brits have become increasingly obsessed with Portugal. And now, to accompany Stockwell’s hub of neighbourhood hangouts and modern London favourites such as Lisboeta and Bar Douro, one of the country’s most celebrated chefs, Henrique Sa Pessoa, is bringing his food to the capital.
Based in the swanky new Battersea redevelopment on the 15th floor of Art’otel, Joia sees the Lisbon-based, two-Michelin-star chef rustle up traditional dishes inspired by Portugal and Catalonia with a dash of modernity, all using a mix of British and Iberian ingredients and accompanied by Portuguese and Spanish wines. Refined yet laid back, the menu features Pessoa’s famed potato and Alheira sausage ‘La Bomba de Lisboa’ croquettes, as well as the theatrical bacalhau à Brás, involving a stack of crispy shoestring potatoes, salt cod (that’s the bacalhau part), black olives, egg yolk and parsley that’s all mixed up, tableside. Elsewhere, there’s also luscious tomato-based arroz de peixe with mussels, and great, big carabineros (prawns) with orzo, both of which should be followed by the dark chocolate mousse with sherry caramel and chorizo ice cream, without question.
Downstairs on the 14th floor at Joia Bar, regional wine and vermouth is accompanied by a list of sharing cocktails such as the Iberian Spritz, made with black tea cordial, amontillado sherry and fizz, and the Port Negroni, containing 10-year-old port, Campari and gin — just the thing to get the party started, especially out on the roof terrace set to open this summer.
