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Join the ARCA team
With a score of 9 in NRCA, 8.5 in Telegraaf, a 13.5 Gault Millau mention and inclusion in the Michelin Guide NL, all within our first 6 months – we can safely say that award-winning chef Henrique Sá Pessoa’s ARCA Restaurant & Bar has opened with a bang in Amsterdam. We are looking for more passionate, energetic and creative people to join our ARCA team and continue to bring our vision to life!
HENRIQUE SÁ PESSOA - CONCEPT CHEF
Henrique Sá Pessoa opened ARCA as the relaxed & funkier sister to his other outlets and his first restaurant in Europe outside of Lisbon. He is the third chef in Portuguese history to get two Michelin stars for his restaurant Alma and was GQ Chef of the year in 2017 as well as Best New Entry 2021.
Henrique also owns a relaxed Portuguese restaurant Taspico which opened in 2017, runs one of the most popular stands at Timeout Market Lisboa, and also features on popular Portuguese cooking show Ingrediente Secreto, as well as winning Portuguese chef of the year in 2005.
RODRIGO SILVA - HEAD CHEF
After two years leading the ARCA team alongside Henrique Sá Pessoa, Head Chef Ricardo Bastos Pereira flies the nest back to Lisbon with his family to oversee Henrique’s empire of restaurants from the Portuguese capital. In his place, a familiar face, Rodrigo Silva steps up as Head Chef of ARCA Amsterdam. Yet Rodrigo is no stranger to ARCA and Henrique, having led ARCA as Sous Chef since opening and having worked with Henrique for a decade at Alma**.
Inspired from the beginning by culinary legends such as Alain Ducasse, Joel Robuchon and of course Henrique, Rodrigo’s passion for experimenting with unique flavour combinations, skills in exquisite food and wine pairings, and cheeky personality bring an exciting edge to ARCA’s kitchen. What gets Rodrigo going? He cherishes the anticipation that fills the air just before service starts as his team prepare to dazzle guests with an unforgettable dining experience.
I don’t have the conventional chef’s background where they used to cook with their grandmother and they used to pick fruits and vegetables out in the garden. That’s not me. I am a city boy and basketball was my life until I realised my passion for travelling and discovering and combining unique flavours!
Henrique Sá Pessoa
