Miguel Neves de Carvalho
Miguel Neves de Carvalho is Portuguese, from the southern region of Portugal, Alentejo.
His primary education took place in Portugal and Buffalo, New Jersey – quite the shock going from hot Mediterranean summers to sub-zero winters. Miguel’s first memories of America are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, a far cry from Bacalau and Atlantic fish dishes. Nevertheless, this gave him a taste for any good crunchy peanut variety!
His Higher education took part at the Lisbon School of Economics, the Oporto Hotel School and a Master’s at the Swiss hotel school Glion.
Work followed the same interesting gastronomical path in the form of a hotel career with Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt International and Four Seasons Hotels. As well, he cultivated his passion for Food and Beverage by becoming a founding member of The Macau Wine Society and establishing his own restaurants in Hong Kong.
He considers himself a citizen of the world, having lived in Portugal, Mozambique, USA, Hong Kong, Macau, Dubai, and now, Mexico. For Miguel, the world seems a relatively easy place to get around as he speaks fluent Portuguese, English, Spanish and French and has a good understanding of Italian.
His passion is to travel in order to eat and drink! Offer him the most unusual local dishes anywhere in the world and he is curious to try it and he will want to know what drink is typically served with it.
Recent gourmet expeditions have included a 4-week gastro discovery of Sicily kicked off with the International Couscous Festival at San Vito Lo Capo and a heroic attempt to try every Sicilian grape verital.
A high-altitude escapade in Peru on the culinary Inca Trail. A Texas Bar B Q and artisanal beer tour through the country taverns of Houston. But, most loved of all, a nationwide traverse of Mexico in search of the perfect Carnitas.
Other passions include polo, horse riding, rugby, cigars and most recently ……golf.
Miguel lives in Punta Mita with his youngest son, his fiancée, Lisa, and his two dogs “Tanqueray” and “Tonica”
He started Punta Mita-Rentals three years ago.
Photography by Kemi Vernon. See more at www.kemivernonphotography.com