D.O.M. is located in the financial heart of one of the richest countries in the world – in the multimillion city of São Paulo in Brazil you will find a true restaurant gem.

Head Chef Alex Atala was born in São Paulo’s Mooca in 1968 and started his career as a young teenager disc jockey. After some backpacking in Europe in the mid nineteen eighties Alex Atala studied to become a Chef and it did not take long until he was working in restaurants in Belgium, France and Italy. He then moved back to South America and in 1999 he opened D.O.M. which has become widely famous outside Brazil as well. Head Chef Alex Atala is a celebrity chef appearing in numerous publications and as a host for a Brazilian television show, and all his fame is well deserved thanks to his innovative and refined cuisine.

D.O.M. is an acronym for the Latin expression “Deo Optimo Maximo”, which means “God is Optimum and Maximum”

(optimum in wisdom and maximum in forgiveness). The expression was applied by the Church to the Benedicts, who were famous for preparing food using only the very best ingredients available. Head Chef Alex Atala adapted the expression to Domus Optimus Maximus, to show that at his restaurant, the optimum and maximum in gastronomy is offered and he is absolutely right – D.O.M. is a lot good and the acronym used for its name fits perfectly.

Head Chef Alex Atala uses mainly French and Italian cooking techniques, but he uses ingredients from Brazil and many from the Amazonas, like the cambuci (a sweet-sour fruit) and the pirarucu (a huge white meat river fish) to just mention a couple. With herbs from the Amazonas among all unusual ingredients and a constant innovated nouvelle cuisine D.O.M. manages to come up with some of the most unique flavours on the planet and the taste sensation is phenomenal.

D.O.M. was reopened in February 2010 after a much needed renovation. Out with the too strict business oriented décor and in came a Philippe Starck designed chandelier and beige paint which resulted in a smaller, but warmer dining room. There is only room for 50 guests so make a reservation if you want to have a table at D.O.M. We can guarantee you that you want to have a table at D.O.M. so book a flight ticket if you are not living in São Paulo and experience the best Brazil can offer.

Images courtesy of D.O.M.

Written by Andy