Two Filipino Chefs Reach Finals in Global Gourmet Awards

Chefs Gene Gonzalez of Café Ysabel and Chef Tony boy Escalante of Antonio’s made it as finalists in the recently concluded 21st World Gourmet Awards of Excellence. The awards night, held March 28 in Singapore, honored professionals and establishments from the F&B and hospitality industries across Asia.

Chef Gene Gonzalez told Yummy.ph: “Having been given this honor reinforces my commitment to putting Philippine cuisine and the Filipino chef on the world map of gastronomy.

I pose these nominations as a challenge and likewise a blessing to push on with the thought that one day, all our work will be put to good use by our budding culinarians.”

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Chef Gene Gonzalez

Gonzalez has been nominated twice but this is the first year he made it as finalist. Escalante was also named finalist for Restaurateur of the Year for his popular Tagaytay resto, Antonio’s.

Other Asian Cuisine Chef of the Year finalists include Alvin Leung of Bo Innovation in Hong Kong and Matt Abergel of Yardbird in Hong Kong. Tan Kim Weng of Shang Palace, Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur took home the Asian Cuisine Chef of the Year award.

Gonzalez also shared that his school, Center for Asian Culinary Studies, is the first to include Philippine Cuisine in it modules. “It is now our mission to further the cause of Philippine cuisine.”

This story originally appeared on Yummy.ph.

* Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.