Luis Incao was born in 1944 in a town called Franco da Rocha in the State of São Paulo and was good enough at one time to consider a career as a professional soccer player. He opened his first restaurant at the age of 23, and in 1969 took his first international steps with a short spell in the US before moving on to Australia where he worked for almost ten years (1971 to 1980). 

In 1980, Incao returned to his native Brazil, first in São Paulo at Regine's before joining the staff of the Rio Sheraton. In 1983, he moved across town to the Rio Palace, where he worked with Jean-Claude Baldiere and Gaston Lenôtre, before moving along Copacabana Beach to the Copacabana Palace in 1989.

During the 1980s, another of Incao's talents came to light - the training of other chefs. Today he is considered one of the best trainers in the business and his pupils are in charge of, or work in, many of Brazil's most prestigious kitchens.

From 1989 to 1991, Incao was the Head Chef of the Copacabana Palace, in 1991, he took advantage of the Orient Express' international contacts to work in Scotland, England, Portugal and France.