The recruitment of Alentejo-born but widely-travelled Emmanuel Soares as Executive Chef at the new Martinhal resort is a master stroke. Emmanuel has trained under Alain Ducasse and has worked in top hotel restaurants in Paris, Shanghai, Moscow, Morocco and Brazil for leading hotel groups such as Hilton and Concorde. His twenty years of experience includes partnerships with chefs as distinguished as Gerard Vie and Ghislaine Arabian, both holders of 3 Michelin stars, whilst within Portugal, Emmanuel was also responsible for the opening of Restaurante Alma Lusa do Aquapura in the Douro Valley. He combines his Portuguese culinary heritage - aiming for 90 per cent Portuguese products on the menu - with his vast international experience to produce fresh and inventive dishes with a flourish. A rising star if ever we saw one.