São Paulo (Brazil), 1968

By Fernanda Gdynia Morotti

A chef, author of culinary books, and owner of D.O.M in São Paulo, considered one of the best restaurants in the world, Alex Atala (born Milad Alexandre Mack Atala) has become a restless entrepreneur in the culinary field. He is a founding partner of the brand Retratos do Gosto, which supports small producers of sustainable, artisanal, and quality foods.

From a Palestinian family, he left Brazil at eighteen to move to Europe. There, he took a vocational course in gastronomy and began to develop his culinary art. Upon returning to Brazil, he worked at the restaurant Filomena, where he won his first award: Best Young Chef from the Brazilian Association of Distinct Bars and Restaurants. In 1999, along with two partners, he opened the restaurant D.O.M, which quickly became a success both with the public and critics. Atala has accumulated awards while leading the establishment.

In 2013, he gathered a group of friends and created the Instituto Atá, which promotes the diversity of ingredients and a more sustainable relationship with food. He launched the #eucomocultura campaign to include Brazilian gastronomy in the cultural activities sector.

He is the author of the books Por uma gastronomia brasileira (2005), Com unhas, dentes & cuca – Prática culinária e papo-cabeça ao alcance de todos (2008), and Escoffianas brasileiras (2008).