Josh Boutwood, corporate chef at Group Group, was once on trial when chefs were asked to speak at the prestigious Culinary Congloss because he did not have his own restaurant.
Now, his restaurant, Helm, is the country’s first restaurant with another two michelin stars. Meanwhile, Ember, Juniper, and Test Kitchen, three of his restaurants, are on the list of selected restaurants in the Philippine Edition of the Michelin Guide.
In a scrum on the red carpet just minutes after receiving the Michelin Stars, he told MESTO PART PAPERS WANT TO APPEAR: ‘I drank a shiteall of champagne, and I opened a shitlow of champagne, and I opened a good night with my team. “
In response to a question about how Helm got both stars, he admitted, “I don’t know at all. I can’t believe it. In my head, it doesn’t make sense.” He identified the stars with his star – Chele’s Gallery, inatô, and Toyo Eatery, each to earn one star. “It doesn’t make sense to me why they gave me two. It’s something I have to find out and analyze.
“But right now, I want to enjoy the moment, rather than go straight to finding out what happened, why it happened to me, and not someone else.”
Asked to think about the things he was doing right, he said, “I don’t know at all.” Once he apologized, he said, “My personality and sense of humor.”
On a negative note, he says, “Helm is a personal restaurant. Everyone who comes in is a part of my home, they just walk into my house. We focus so much on making sure that the experience is guaranteed that this is guaranteed.
He asked him to put pictures of the trophy he gave his stars, we saw that in the struggle to catch them all, some of his awards were placed at his feet. “I’m very proud of my co-workers, who worked tirelessly to make sure my vision was executed. I couldn’t do what I do without the wonderful people who work with me.
“This is all for them. I’m here representing my restaurants. But at the end of the day, they’re the heart and soul of what I do every day.”
1Mpumalanga PHL Michelin Guide Awards night
Restaurants included in the Michelin Guide Manila and Veburons & CEBU 2026, the first in the country, were announced on Oct. 30 in an event at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
One hundred and eight establishments are listed in the guide, varying from Dichelin Guide selected restaurants, Bib Gourmand awards, and Michelin stars. The country had Michelin Michelin selected restaurants and 25 bib Gourmand Alvues. Eight were awarded one Michelin Star, and only one, Hel. Boutwood’s Helm, received two Michelin stars.
This page Give it away It says about Helm, “led by chef Josh Boutwood, helm expresses the personal expression of Half-British, Half-Filipino The treasures found in today’s tasting menu, are clear and reflect creativity, identity and evolution.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Boutwood was surprisingly calm, and even managed to joke: “Is this going to be like the OSCARS, if I talk for a long time, the public will show up?
“I was born in this industry, with both parents being Baipateateateurs and consumers. I had no other choice but to continue,” he said. “It’s been my absolute passion to do what I do.
“I couldn’t do what I do without all the teams behind me. My wife is there,” he said, and he also mentioned his children. Before going up on the stage, he stopped on the red carpet and looked for his wife, and saw her off before going up on the stage to receive his award. “Without their dedication and support, I don’t think this would have been achieved. This has been a childhood dream, since I was young for the first time and to receive two stars is an absolute privilege.”
A love letter to the Philippines
The first restaurants with national structures include Asador Alfonso and Gallery by Cyele Gonzalez, and Andres Osorio at Asador Alfonso and Carlos Villaflor at Gallery, respectively. The Gallery by Chele, a LongTime Industry Favorite, also received the Michelin Green Star, an award for sustainable gastronomy.
Mr. Boutwood and Mr. Gonzalez owned several restaurants that were recognized in different categories.
When he received his Asador Alfonso award, Mr. Gonzalez said, “In my situation, my heart is divided in two: I am Spanish, but I am also Filipino at heart.”
He continued after receiving his award for Chele’s gallery, “Chele’s gallery opened its doors 13 years ago. In time the Philippines. We believe in the Philippines. We believe in everything we do.
Celera (by Nicco Santos and Quneee Vilar); Hapag (by John Kevin Navoa, Third, Erin Recto – Ms. Recto also took home the hospitality service award); Inatô (by JP cruz); Kasa Palma (by Aaron Isip); Linamnam (by Don Baldosano who also took home the Best Chef award); and Toyo eatery (by Jordy Naakarra, another industry favorite) round the Inaugural One Michelin Star Apholoes list in the Philippines.
Mr. Santos said when he received his award, “I think I’m proud of all the hard work my team has put in in the eight months since we opened.”
Mr. Navarra, who remains on the list of the best 50 restaurants in Asia and is one of the top restaurants in the country, said, “Salamat sa Lahat (Thank you for everything).
“It’s great to see everyone here and celebrate,” she said. “Everyone’s very proud. I’m glad to be here, and I’m glad we’re all here.” He thanked his team with some tears in his eyes. “We always say: ‘Mata sa langit, Paa sa Lupa .
The stars are defined
according to The Michelin guideMICHLIN website, “Michelin Star is awarded to restaurants that use high-quality ingredients, where dishes with a unique taste are prepared to consistently high standards.” This is summed up by the tagline “high quality cooking, fit for place!” Meanwhile, “Michelin Stars are awarded when the chef’s personality and talent are reflected in their expertly executed dishes; their food is refined and inspired,” the guide says. Two stars in the guide means, “Excellent cooking, worth going out!”
This page Give it away he says, “We consider five universal principles: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of the ingredients, the technical skill, the personality of the chef revealed through their cuisine and over time.”
Winners are decided by official evaluators who eat incognito. “When several testers have eaten at the restaurant, they discuss their experiences as a group to make a final decision.”
Bib Gourmand, The Guide’s Pick List
Two special awards are mentioned before, the third honor of having Benjamin Leal of the IMA ATA at home with the prize of the unique Cocktails Award.
The next two categories – bib gourmand and list of choices – include many restaurants, from humble beginnings Carinderias and panseiteras in the good restaurants of the hotels and some of the discounts.
Bib Gourmand restaurants receive awards that offer “distinctive cuisine at reasonable prices,” according to the Give it away.
In Manila and its suburbs, these are bolero, brick corner, melel, cochi, em hà nộMina, hálong, kumba, la bata, lampara, los tacos, manam eatery, Palling eatery (ntaquerí (taxam, Taquería, Taquería Franco, Underbelly, and your local one. In CEBU, bib Gourmand options are Abaseria Deli & Café, Curt8, Esmen, Lasa, Pares Batchoy Food House, and Palm & Palm.
As for the Michelin selected restaurants, with 74 ratings, these were recognized for “the quality of their cuisine, the character of their dining experience, and the overall harmony.”
The recipients were:
12/10
Don’t eat
Aida’s kitchen
Antonio’s
Ato-ah
Aurora
Brass ones
– It’s the heart
Benjarong
A black bird
The Butcher Boy
Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez
Canton Road
Carmelouse by Carmelouse
Chie Chie’s Pancit Batil Patung
China Blue
Circle
Place it
Cru Steakhouse
Deo gracias
Brush up
El Poco Cantina (Malate)
Umgwen
Another is Chele Gonzalez
Esmeralda’s Kitchen
Fong wei wu
Fresca Trattoria
Ginza Nagaoka
Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill
A kind of empire
Lechon’s house
AI
Laughter
Kamakura
It falls
Kodawari (Salcedo)
Lantaw (Compostela, Cebu)
Logavore (Taguig)
Lola Helen
A grace
Lusso (legazpi)
Mamacita
The man is
Mayor
Historical situation
Mineio
Modan
Now now
Oak and smoke
Offbeat
Old manila
Em and those
Osteria antica
The crust
Papillon
Pares pares (N. Escario Street)
Palace of the People
Ramen ron
You are left
In the background
It’s a knife
-Ma -cane
Spices
Steak & Fries
It’s summer
Super Uncle Claypot
A tandem
Taupe
Terra Martinez
Test kitchen
Txanton
IF Note
Oh
Yamazato
“This selection pays tribute to the new generation of Filipino chefs, as well as international chefs who have worn the heritage of the place, and hospitality from the street,” said the good hospitality testers. The Michelin guide in the statement. In a speech during the awards night, he said, “Philippines cuisine is bold, generous, very personal. It speaks of heritage and innovation.
“What sets the Philippines apart is the new generation of chefs. Many are under 30 years old. Some are honing their skills abroad, or right here at home. – Joseph L. Garcia
