10 Things I love about Lisbon

Nuno Mendes, the celebrated Portuguese chef behind Bethnal Green restaurant Viajante, and recently opened Lisboeta in Fitzrovia, shares the highlights of his home city

- Nuno Mendes

Lisbon-born Nuno Mendes's latest culinary venture is Lisboeta, which means a person from Lisbon. Nuno is famous for his ground-breaking restaurant Viajante, and Lisboeta is a return to his roots where an all-day snack menu is a homage to ‘salgados' (salty, savoury snacks) and "petiscos' (little plates of this or that) culture. Both are most commonly eaten in the late afternoon accompanied by a cold beer or glass of vinho Verde. Other dishes will be served family-style as they would be in the tascas of Portugal. @lisboeta.london

1 Rissóis

Making prawn rissóis was the starting point on my journey to rediscover Portuguese food. I cooked them at home for friends and it reminded me how amazing they are and how sad it is to see them sitting in café displays all day, losing their freshness and crunch. These are very special but you have to find a place where they are house made and cooked to order. Fillings vary but, for me, shrimp ones are the best.

2 Pregos and bifanas

Pregos (a pressed steak sandwich) and bifanas (our beloved marinated pork sandwich) are two items I'm sure to eat whenever I visit home. They are cheap, incredibly delicious, and always served with Portuguese mustard and piri piri on the side. Old-school bifanas are cooked in a big pot with lots of stuff added to it and you can find them in the back of the kitchen simmering all day. With the prego, the best ones are so garlicky you would think the chef was trying to ward off vampires. Not very good date food!

3 Chamuças