It's a pity that there are a few Filipino Executive Chefs in the Philippines De Luxe Hotels ( 5 Star ) however there are a lot of foreign nationals that have called Philippines their home. I'm sharing to you my top pick of Executive Chefs here in the Philippines that have spent more than a decade of service to our country. I'm sharing to you some of the best Chefs that I have known since I was in college following their career and imparting their knowledge to Filipino chefs.
1. NORBERT GANDLER, Austrian
He came to the Philippines without expecting so much working in Mandarin as its Executive Sous Chef in the 90's. He trail blazed the improvement of the hotel when Makati Shangri La opened he transfered to help his good friend Hans Schallenberg but the call to be an Executive Chef of Mandarin Oriental would be his next stop. When he returned to Mandarin Oriental Manila he put the hotel in Culinary Map, he would train the whole team undisputed in the culinary coompetitions arena here and abroad. His passion for the team led to unprecedented win of 5 National Championships. He event went as par as competing abroad and managing the whole team that participated in Salon Culinaire in Singapore.
Right now he is settled with his culinary school ISCAHM as the program director, also untiringly serving as a judge in numerous culinary competition around the Philippines sharing his knowledge and expertise on the trade of culinary competition. Every competition that we participate Chef Norbert has been part of it, even though he may not know me personally but he has been a great influence of who I am today.
2. JEAN PIERRE MIGNE, French
He made the rounds in the best De Luxe Hotels here in the Philippines, he worked with Mrs. Glenda Barretto as well. Some of the hotels that he managed are Hotel Nikko Manila Garden now Dusit Hotel, Manila Diamond Hotel, Via Mare, Intercontinental, Century Park Hotel among others. As far I could remeber this chef he would always preside the annual Chefs on Parade Market Basket Competition he would judge in the event and be the chef in charge during the menu writing competition he is the one presenting the dreaded main ingredient. He is so lovable even though he would say bad words in Filipino he's still funny with his French accent.
Chef Billy was at the helm of Intercontinental Hotel for the longest time when he finally decided to open up his own restaurant together with Adreas Katzer and Jessie Sincioco, the famous Le Souffle Restaurant, it set the trend of Fine Dining Restaurant that is outside of a hotel. For so many years it is very consistent with the food that they offer. For me therese are some memorable flavors that up to now when I reminisce is still outstanding. A very nice melange of flavors, though quite pricey but worth every centavo. He is busy right now running the F & B Facilities of The Manor in Baguio called Le Chef, the other staples in the old Le Souffle menu is still there.
4. DAVID PARDO DE AYALA, COLUMBIA
This dashing chef first came in the Philippines in the late 90's to be the head chef of Soleil in Pasong Tamo, Its the redefining the fine dining scene at this side of Makati later on he opened also Acqua at the Enterprise Center in Makati then Soleil Cafe Moderne. In year 2007 he moved to Discovery Group of Hotels as their Corporate Chef, although he is from Columbia he finished his culinary education in Harvard of all culinary schools the Cullinary Institute of America, he is busy operating the hotels food outlets presenting flavors of different islands that they manage.
All of the Expat Chefs are married to a Filipina, captivated with our smiles and exceeded their expectation that Filipinos are creative, hard working and as passionate like them...
No comments:
Post a Comment