Chef Vitor Mendes Brings Amazonian Flavors to Lower East Side with iara Restaurant
Renowned Chef Vitor Mendes is set to open his first restaurant as an owner on the Lower East Side. iara, named after the Amazonian water goddess, will bring a taste of Brazil and the Amazon region to Allen Street this fall. The 50-seat eatery will feature an open kitchen and a menu built around local ingredients, including cassava, jambu, tucupi, and açaí.
Mendes, who was born in Brazil and raised in the United States, spent a month in the Amazon learning about its unique ingredients and cooking techniques. His vision for iara is to educate diners about the region's culinary heritage and raise awareness about its rich cultural diversity.
The menu at iara will include popular Brazilian dishes such as pão de queijo, moqueca with red snapper, and picanha with cassava fries. Mendes' experience as chef de cuisine at Theodora in Brooklyn has prepared him well for this new venture.