13/01/2025
Hello everyone.
I hope everyone is fine and wishing each one of you'll an amazing 2025 ahead.
My name is Noel Veiga Coutinho and I was the last Chef before Jimão closed. I just want to share a little something as homeage to Jimão and the team.
I joined Jimão in 2019 and right from the moment I stepped foot through those doors for my interview, something caught me , a calling if you may. I can honestly say that in all of my professional career ( 20 years) these last few years with Jimão and the team has been nothing short of amazing.
I gained a family , a second home and a stage where in the art of cooking could be show cased and along with the kitchen and service team , we moved ahead step by step.
It wasn't easy , it wasn't nice , it was difficult , challenging and at times wanting to rip the hair off my head moments. But in the end it was all worth it. Because we got to serve amazing people like you'll who appreciated our food , our service and this motivated us to keep going. If there is an end goal for us , it was to make you'll get up the table and leave with a smile and a good memory. I hope we have achieved this.
To Miss Carmen , the owner who is the light of Jimão. A gem of a person who always supported and motivated us and moreover dedicated herself to giving you'll the best service possible. None of this would be possible without her. It is not everyday that we get owners so good hearted..very rare! So we weren't lucky to have her . Oh no. We were blessed to have her as our owner.
To the team( past and present) , my second in charge in the kitchen , the pot wash , backoffice and service. This is the heart of Jimão. Jimão wouldn't be where it is if it weren't for the dedicated team , right from day 1 who strived to make Jimão grow.
I am glad and hope that we were able to make you'll happy and create memories..in the end , that was always my objective.. Not for Jimão to be a fancy ,.high end place..but a home where you'll and us can share a meal , tell a story , create a memory or two and leave with a smile( hopefully it wasn't too much wine)
And now I leave with a heavy heart as I say goodbye and thank you to Jimão. ( no matter how many times one says goodbye , a goodbye will never be easy).
Once again I thank each and everyone of you who made this journey worthwhile. Who knows , maybe somewhere, someday if you'll eat something super delicious and that reminds you of Jimão , I'll probably be there 😉. Take care and be safe.
“We laughed until we had to cry, we loved right down to our last goodbye, we were the best.”
– St. Elmo’s Fire
