The restaurant
Australian roots and Asian influences in Lisbon.
See Downunder →About Justin
From the coast of Australia to a table in Lisbon.
I have spent my life in kitchens, learning from places, people and the rhythm of service.
The short version
Food has always been the thread.
I grew up in Port Macquarie, on the coast of New South Wales, with family farms, fishing and good home cooking close by. Those early years gave me a respect for ingredients and for the people who grow, catch and share them.
Professional kitchens took me across Australia and overseas. I learned to work with discipline, stay curious and make a meal feel personal. I later competed on The World Cook and became the first season champion.
Lisbon is home now. I run Downunder by Justin Jennings, cook for private clients, mentor chefs building their own businesses and write about food and the life around it.
Say helloWhat I care about
Good food is more than what is on the plate.
It is the ingredient at its best, the cook who gives it attention, and the people gathered around the table.
That belief runs through my restaurant, private chef work and the two books I have written. Each is its own expression of the same craft.
The work
Pick the path that brought you here.
Private dining
Personal cooking for homes, villas and celebrations.
Explore private chef work →Chef consulting
One to one support for chefs building a private chef business.
See consulting →