The Philippines is no stranger to the world of fine dining, with many of its restaurants and chefs being highly regarded both in the country and abroad. A number of Filipino chefs have even gone on to become world-renowned, such as Chef Margarita Fores.
However, despite the Philippines’ rich culinary history, there are still no Filipino Michelin Star Chefs.
A Michelin star is a prestigious award given to a restaurant or chef by the prestigious French guide “Michelin Guide”. It is considered one of the highest honors a chef can receive, and it is coveted by chefs from all over the world. The award is hard to come by, as only a select few restaurants and chefs are chosen each year to receive it.
It has been over two decades since the first Michelin Guide was published in Asia in 2009. Since then, Michelin-starred restaurants have been popping up all over Asia, from Hong Kong to Tokyo.
However, despite its abundance in other Asian countries, there are still no Filipino Michelin Star Chefs.
This does not mean that Filipino chefs are not up to par with other renowned chefs around the world; far from it! Many Filipino chefs have gone on to make a name for themselves outside of the country, such as Chef Jordy Navarra, who has earned two stars at his restaurant Toyo Eatery in Manila; and Chef Robby Goco, who has opened several successful restaurants around Southeast Asia.
The lack of Filipino Michelin Star Chefs could be attributed to several factors such as lack of recognition for Filipino cuisine outside of its home country or lack of resources available for aspiring Philippine-based chefs. Whatever the cause may be, it is clear that there is much work that needs to be done before we can see our first Filipino Michelin Star Chef.
Conclusion:
Are there any Filipino Michelin Star Chefs? Unfortunately not – yet!
Although there are many talented and highly acclaimed Filipino chefs out there, none have been able to break through and earn a coveted Michelin star just yet. Hopefully this will soon change as more recognition and resources become available for aspiring Philippine-based chefs.