100 Maneiras, Lisbon

Was in Lisbon a month ago and went to 100 Maneiras.

They explained to me that the name of the restaurant is a play on words, as "cem" (100) sounds like "sem" (without) and "maneiras" can mean manners. So some of the dishes required you to use your hands.

I don't have a problem with this (I always wash my hands before a meal), but the dish in the first three photos was annoying as it had grated cheese over a bunch of small rocks/pebbles. I picked the rocks/pebbles out so I could get to all the cheese. The red dust was raspberry which I liked because I loved raspberries.

I included the last two photos because while they are on a plate, this course was definitely the low point. The first of the dessert courses, this was called rock, paper, scissors. You used the scissors to cut the "paper" between the two "rocks". They asked me if I could guess what the rocks were made with. First taste I got was passion fruit, which I love. But then something funky hit me. Truffle? "No, it's black garlic". Look, I like black garlic, but it does not go with passion fruit at all (there was also white chocolate in there).

I've been to about 17 one or two Michelin starred restaurants, I'd say under half have been worth it. I wasn't going to bother with any on this trip but I spotted it from the balcony of the hostel I was staying at and thought it was worth a punt. Sadly, I would not say it was worth the price. The first course, inspired by Bosnian cuisine, was definitely the highlight, but nothing reached those heights afterwards. I liked that there were Mexican elements to some courses thanks to their creative chef being Mexican (I lived in Guadalajara for half a year and met my fiancée there), but overall it felt more like they were trying to show off than actually make tasty food.

If you're looking for funky contrasts in flavours that actually work, I would recommend Contraste in Paris.