34 | LUXlife Magazine - Restaurant & Bar Awards 2023 Best Upscale Contemporary Dining Experience 2023 - Vaud Fine dining is not simply about the food, it’s about the environment which people enjoy it in. Few understand this better than Stéphane Nogueira who, at the age of 34, has committed to an approach which embraces a passion for cooking and an eye for elegance. In the Restaurant and Bar Awards 2023, his restaurant, the Cafe du Tilleul earned acclaim for its achievements. We caught up with him to find out more. “I am passionate about cooking,” Stéphane tells us when we ask how he achieves excellence. For him, a passion for cooking drives every part of the incredible Cafe du Tilleul which has achieved such success in the LUXlife Restaurant and Bar Awards. Since taking over this village inn, he has transformed it into a place where generous cuisine meets Nordic elegance. Born in Switzerland but trained in Portugal, it’s clear that Stéphane’s history inspires much of his award-winning menu. “I grew up in a small village in Portugal where we grow our own vegetables,” he explains. “My grandmother also had animals and I also remember that we produced our chorizo. That's why I give great importance to good products because I remember my childhood and I want each dish to share it with my customers.” The desire to embrace the unique flavours of the year, exploring the options brought about by the changing of the reasons means that the menu at Cafe du Tilleul changes four times a year. By embracing the homemade and the seasonal, Cafe du Tilleul has a novelty at all times which stands apart from those restaurants which have committed to their own specialities. Achieving this has been due, in no small part, to Stéphane’s age. “We are a young and dynamic team,” he says. “It is the idea of sharing and conviviality that drives the Cafe du Tilleul - a bistro spirit that makes you want to board.” Such bright ideas are reflected in the building where the restaurant is found. Since being in Stéphane’s hands, it has been completely renovated, celebrating a timeless charm. People from all backgrounds come to visit, whether new couples or old friends, those on business lunches or those looking for something a little different. Since opening the restaurant’s doors in 2020, the Cafe du Tilleul has embraced a familial approach. “I work with friends and family,” Stéphane tells us with a smile. They have made a friendly and motivated team both in the dining room and in the kitchen. This celebration of what Stéphane sees as exceptional cooking can be seen through the various winks and nods to the Lusitanian origins of the chef. While many people in Stéphane’s position would be looking forward to how to expand their successful business, he considers the needs of today more than enough to focus on. “As they say in the movie Kung Fu Panda, ‘Yesterday is behind, tomorrow is mystery, and today is a gift, that's why we call it the present.’” It’s clear that this carefully crafted approach to life, one which see what is around us in the moment and explores how it can be perfected as a delicacy, is the true secret behind the success of the Cafe du Tilleul. For diners who have sampled their delights, the use of the word present is just the tip of the iceberg. Company: Cafe Du Tilleul
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