Inspired Menu Curation
Natalia Paiva-Neves is known for creating inspired, hand-crafted cocktails and rustic, flavorful dishes. She is an artful menu curator who can conceptualize the food and drink menu for your establishment or next big event. She can take care of everything from crafting recipes and sourcing the ingredients to training your kitchen and bar staff.
While on the beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island, Natalia – who is from the Azores Islands in Portugal – and her friend, Victor Pereira, had the vision to create a place where they could share their childhood cultures. Natalia and Victor – who is a native of Northern Portugal – teamed up with artist and Guatemala-native Magda León to create Aguardente.
As the idea came to life, Natalia was brought on to curate the food + spirits menus for Aguardente – which is a tapas bar in Providence.
Natalia says the food menu – with influences mainly from Spain and Portugal – is based on the way she likes to eat. All of the handcrafted cocktails on the menu are drinks that Natalia makes in her own home.
This is like being at Natalia’s home and having dinner and drinks. The food, the drinks, even the feel of the restaurant. They all completely feel like you are in Natalia’s home.”
A Taste from Aguardente
Natalia loves sharing her recipes almost as much as she loves to cook them. Below are two of her creations she crafted for the Aguardente menus.
Chilled Octopus Salad
Natalia created this dish using her recipe for snail salad as the basis. Since octopus is more readily available, she tweaked her recipe by swapping out the protein. Because octopus is more absorbent than snail, she added a little more acid + olive oil.
The Navigator
During a party at her home, Natalia and her cousin Nick – who also loves to craft his own cocktails – began brainstorming ideas for the Aguardente drink menu. Inspiration struck and on that day, she created The Navigator.
A twist on the classic Aviation cocktail – this handcrafted drink is made with Jinjinha – a Portuguese cherry liquor – and Wild Snow Dog Gin – which is made in northern Portugal.
Natalia named this drink The Navigator because the Portuguese are the “original” navigators of the world.
Collaborate with Natalia
If you’d like Natalia to help curate the food or drink menus at your establishment or for a big event, drop her a line.
Delicious Dishes
Natalia shares savory recipes that will have your guests eager to sit around the table.
Creative Cocktails
Natalia shares drink recipes that will turn any get together into an affair to remember.
Travel with Natalia
Join Natalia as she travels around the world exploring foods, culture, and customs.