Miguel Jerónimo
Career Diplomat, Food Lover, Natural-born Cook,
All Around Good Guy and Alfama's co-owner

     When it comes to describing Miguel Jerónimo, even for those who know him well, it is no easy task to come up with one simple definition. His talents are many, and his charisma is immediately recognizable. Is it the elegant quasi-British accent with which he speaks, the eloquence with which he conveys his ideas, or is it his gentlemanly demeanor and warmth or his innumerous culinary talents? Whatever the case may be, Jerónimo is a multi-talented entrepreneur who possesses an impressive track record.

     A Portuguese national, Jerónimo was born in 1961 in the town of Beira, Mozambique, at the time an overseas Portuguese territory. In 1965 his family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in search of business opportunities in real estate development. Although Jerónimo received a South African education, his parents always made sure that a Portuguese cultural and national identity would be kept in the house.

     Growing up in Anglo-Saxon South Africa made him that much more curious to retrieve his roots, to find out where mom and dad had grown up; and immediately upon graduating high school, his desire to intimately know his motherland made the entire family decide to return to Lisbon. Eager to understand Portuguese life and culture in all aspects, Jerónimo entered the University of Minho in northern Portugal to earn a degree in International Relations. Jerónimo graduated in 1985 and a few years later joined Portugal's Foreign Service. His first posting was in New York City at the Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, where he dealt with economic and environmental issues. During his tenure, Jerónimo discovered two things: his love for cooking and the fact that Portuguese culture, especially its cuisine, was grossly under-represented in New York. The idea of creating an authentic Portuguese restaurant was hence born. Jerónimo enlisted the help of his best friend, Tarcísio Costa, who whole-heartedly embraced the project. Months of dreaming, planning and saving money came about, until the moment was ripe and the entrepreneurial duo was ready to realize their dream.

     Alfama, fine Portuguese cuisine opened its doors on December 1, 1999 to much acclaim from New Yorkers and the press alike. Besides administering Alfama, Jerónimo also helps out in the kitchen by making mouth-watering desserts such as the Chocolate Surprise and the “Flying Saucer,” two classics on the dessert menu. In an article entitled “Dining in New York” for Southwest Airlines’ Spirit Magazine, John Mariani, food writer/restaurant critic, gave Alfama his seal of approval: “The restaurant is cheery, lively on weekends and smells awfully good at any hour.”  One could easily say that Miguel Jerónimo is responsible for that.