i. Biography
Coming Up
At Marquês de Marialva in Cantanhede, Portugal, Gaurav Mathur works as Executive Chef in a kitchen shaped by Bairrada cooking and daily service discipline. The approach is direct: Traditional Portuguese technique, clear execution, and a menu that holds to substance rather than flourish. Moderate prices are part of the brief, and the cooking reflects that — grounded, careful, and built to deliver value without losing precision.
Where They Are Now
In the Executive Chef role, Gaurav Mathur sets the pace at Marquês de Marialva, where the menu stays closely aligned with place and tradition. The kitchen is rooted in Bairrada, and that lineage shows in the way the food is handled: measured, plainspoken, and resistant to excess. Traditional Portuguese technique gives the dishes their shape, while the focus on moderate prices keeps the operation accessible. The result is a kitchen that treats restraint as a working method, not a styling choice.
Signature
Gaurav Mathur's signature dishes include Cabrito Assado a Padeiro, Bacalhau à Lagareiro, Chanfana, and clams in garlic-cilantro dressing. Read together, they map a cooking style that stays within Portuguese tradition and lets familiar products do the heavy lifting. Cabrito Assado a Padeiro speaks to roasting and patience; Bacalhau à Lagareiro keeps bacalhau in a form that remains instantly legible; Chanfana points back to rustic regional cooking; and clams in garlic-cilantro dressing bring a sharper, brighter register. The common thread is discipline: each plate uses technique to clarify, not to crowd, the ingredient.
Honors
Gaurav Mathur's honors include Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024). It fits the kitchen he runs at Marquês de Marialva: food that is generous, technically sound, and conscious of value. The award sits naturally beside a style built on tradition and restraint, where the measure of the work is in consistency, care, and a clear sense of purpose.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Gaurav
What is Gaurav Mathur's current role?
As of 2026, Gaurav Mathur is Executive Chef.
What recognition has Gaurav Mathur received?
Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024).
What is Gaurav Mathur known for?
Traditional Portuguese Bairrada cooking.
