Carnal hosts double take over

It’s a double occupation: on the 14th and 15th of May, Carnal, the Mexican gastrobar of the 100 Maneiras group, opens its doors to two very special guest shifts, based on Cazcabel tequila.

Wilson Pires, a well-known Portuguese bartender, is the first to take charge of the shakers at Carnal, on May 14th, Tuesday, between 8pm and midnight. Winner of the first edition of the Bartender of the Year competition in 2014, he worked in bars in the Netherlands, São Paulo and Buenos Aires before launching Verso, a canned cocktail project to which he now dedicates his body and soul. With him also arrives Lucia Pinto, chef of the Mexican restaurant Duello, in the city of Porto, who on this evening brings her cuisine to Chiado.

The following day, between 9pm and midnight, it’s time to hand over the keys of the kingdom – aka Carnal counter – to Diego Pandelea. Born and raised in Romania, he moved to Barcelona 2 and a half years ago and in this short space of time he became bar manager at Especiarium Bar, listed in the 50 Best Bars Discovery. In addition to this, he was also the winner of the World Class Spain 2022 Speed Challenge and one of the Top 10 Spanish Bartenders in the same competition, in 2023.

These guest shifts take place in the context of Lisbon Bar Show, one of the biggest Bar and Hospitality events in the Iberian Peninsula, bringing together, on the 14th and 15th of May, in Lisbon, some of the biggest names in the area, for lectures, exchange of experiences and demonstrations. The awards, given by a jury of the area, are among the most important in the cocktail sector in Portugal – with Bistro 100 Maneiras’ Bar, winner of the Best Restaurant Bar award in the last edition, being nominated again this year for the same title.