Two Chefs, One Table: Leading the New European Food Movement in India

A New Brunch Collaboration Will Push Culinary Boundaries
Mumbai’s dining scene is about to witness a rare collaboration between two of India’s most inventive European chefs. Chef Manuel Olveira of La Panthera and Chef Ralph Prazeres of Goa’s Padaria Prazeres and Praça Prazeres will come together for a one-day-only brunch that promises to merge bold technique with nostalgic flavour, reimagining what modern European cuisine in India can look and feel like.

This special brunch at La Panthera will showcase not just signature dishes from each chef’s kitchen, but also exclusive collaborative creations—designed to challenge conventions and delight guests with every bite.

A Tale of Two Chefs
Born in Toledo, Spain, Chef Manuel Olveira started cooking at 14 at his mother’s restaurant and went on to train under Michelin-starred legends like Pepe Rodríguez Rey and Sergi Arola. After leading acclaimed kitchens in Madrid, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Mumbai, he launched La Loca Maria in 2019 and La Panthera in 2024—both critically acclaimed for their reinterpretation of European fare with a modern flair.

For Manuel, food is about emotion and memory. “Comfort and finesse don’t have to be opposites; they can enhance each other when you get the balance right,” he says. “This brunch is about taking familiar ideas, the kind of dishes that spark a memory or a feeling and applying precision so that they feel fresh, but still deeply satisfying.”

Chef Ralph Prazeres, on the other hand, is the head chef and co-founder of Padaria Prazeres and Praça Prazeres in Goa, both of which have quickly earned cult status. A Le Cordon Bleu graduate, Ralph has trained at St John’s, Clos Maggiore, The Rosewood London, Lisbon’s restaurant scene, and even Noma under René Redzepi. He returned to Goa to explore his roots and launched Padaria in 2021, followed by Praça in 2023.

“I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Chef Manuel and the La Panthera team on this brunch,” Ralph shares. “Chef Manuel and I have followed similar paths when it comes to our training, and think along the same lines when it comes to the food we dish out.”

Signature Dishes and Wild New Creations
Guests will enjoy much-loved plates from both chefs—like Ralph’s Cheddar & Mushroom Croquettas and Goan Sausage Shakshuka, or Manuel’s Brussels Sprouts & Romesco and Morels Risotto—but the true excitement will lie in their joint creations.

Among them is the Pastel de Nata Pizza, a provocative blend of Ralph’s cult-status egg tart with Manuel’s 48-hour fermented dough Neapolitan pizzas.

“I’ve always believed that good cooking comes from curiosity,” Manuel explains. “The Pastel de Nata Pizza was really born out of that spirit of ‘why not?’ We’re so used to seeing our dough in a savoury context — but its complexity, the lightness from the fermentation, felt like it could handle something sweet.”

Ralph echoes the spirit of collaboration: “We have also come up with two collaborative dishes — the Pastel de Nata Pizza, and the Tiramisu Sundae — which we think are the best representations of our personalities on a plate.”

The second showstopper, Tiramisu Sundae, will be a playful yet reverent remix of Manuel’s classic. “Tiramisu is one of those dishes people carry memories of—it’s personal,” Manuel says. “The idea with the sundae wasn’t to tear it apart just to be clever; it was to take the flavours people love... and reimagine how they come together.”

“You cross the line when the dish stops being about taste and pleasure. We’re not interested in that,” he adds. “For us, it’s always about creating something that still feels familiar, but makes people smile because it surprises them in the right way.”

Music, Mood and Bakes
Alongside the plated menu, Padaria Prazeres will bring a limited-edition bake pop-up to the venue, featuring bestsellers like the Sour Cherry Financier, Mocha Cake, and of course, the original Pastel de Nata.

“The idea of the pop-up is to bring these familiar flavours to their home city for a change,” Ralph shares. “The only difference here is that this time around, the setting is different, since we’re popping up at La Panthera for the first time ever.”

As with any La Panthera brunch, the experience will be about more than the food. Expect signature brunch cocktails and a live performance by Goa’s emerging band Trilogy.

“For me, a great brunch is about the mood as much as the menu,” says Manuel. “It’s not just about what’s on the table, it’s about creating an atmosphere that makes people stay, relax, and enjoy being together.”

A Movement in Motion
This collaboration will not be a gimmick. It will reflect something deeper—how two chefs from different geographies, but with a shared sensibility, are redefining European food for the Indian palate.

“I was born and raised in Goa, so the cuisine is something that I would say is in my blood,” says Ralph. “So, marrying the two cuisines comes quite naturally to me, especially by using European techniques as a base and playing around with local Goan ingredients.”

Together, Chefs Ralph and Manuel will offer more than just a remarkable brunch—they will showcase the creative edge of a growing culinary movement. One that celebrates provenance, personality, and pushing boundaries.

ONE SUNDAY ONLY
Venue: La Panthera, BKC, Mumbai
Location: Unit 1 & 2, INS Tower, G Block, BKC, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051
Date: Sunday 22nd June, 2025
Timing: Available for Lunch Only: 12 PM - 2 PM / 2 PM – closing
For Reservations: +91 8000909056 / +91 8000909058
Reservations are strongly recommended. Walk-ins welcome, until we’re full.