The Best Chefs Awards 2024 Honors These Filipino and PH-Based Talents

(SPOT.ph) It seems Manila's dining scene is becoming more and more an exciting landscape to immerse ourselves in every time we check back. Our latest reason to rejoice? The Best Chef Awards has published their 2024 list, for which an awarding ceremony was held in Dubai, UAE earlier this week. And on their lineup this year are chefs of Metro Manila restaurants—Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery, Stephan Duhesme of Metiz, and Chele Gonzalez of Gallery by Chele—as well as Filipina chef Johanne Siy of Singapore's Lolla.

Also read: 
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Filipino chefs, chefs of top restaurants in Manila at The Best Chef Awards 2024

Given a rating of two Knives ("world class") is Chef Jordy Navarra, who's worked the kitchens at The Fat Duck in Berkshire, U.K. and Bo Innovation in Hong Kong. At Toyo Eatery (dubbed the Best Restaurant in the Philippines and No. 24 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2024), Navarra explores the traditions of Filipino cooking and makes it their own with innovative techniques and more current flavor pairings. He regularly collaborates with other culinary talents on occasion—including Chef Richard Chaneton of Mono in Hong Kong (holder of one Michelin star and No. 27 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2024); Chef Simon Rogan of L'Enclume in the U.K. (holder of three Michelin stars and topper of La Liste 2024); and Chef Tam Chudaree Debhakam of Baan Tepa in Thailand (holder of two Michelin stars and No. 42 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants).

Meanwhile, conferred one Knife (signifying being "excellent") is Stephan Duhesme of Metiz (No. 84 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2024). The French-Filipino chef has worked for several dining spots in Paris; at Matsunozushi in Tokyo; and locally, at Gallery by Chele, Arrozeria (now closed), and Purple Yam. He also opened his own restaurant called Tria Neo Bistro in Bogotá before finally opening Metiz in 2019. Metiz highlights Philippine produce and meats, employing the magic of fermentation to unlock different properties within them, and using these ferments to add personality to plates on their tasting menus. Duhesme also brings his imaginative spirit forward as he joins forces with other acclaimed chefs from around the world; recent collaborations include those with Barry Quek of one-Michelin starred Whey, Hong Kong, and Louis Han of one-Michelin starred Naeum, Singapore.

Chele Gonzalez of Gallery by Chele is also awarded one Knife. The Spanish chef hails from Cantabria and has worked for some of the best of the best in the country—we're talking the likes of modernist icon El Bulli (formerly in Roses); El Celler de Can Roca in Girona; and Mugaritz in Gipuzkoa. Gonzalez melds the technical know-how from these experiences and his perennial curiosity about Filipino ingredients and tradition at Gallery by Chele, which was included in the 50 Best Discovery list in 2022, and named among Asia's 100 Best Restaurants in 2021. He's also collaborated with top chefs from the world over, recent examples being Agustin Ferrando Balbi of Ando, Hong Kong (holder of one Michelin star and No. 37 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants) and Deepanker Khosla of Haōma, Thailand (holder of one Michelin star, and No. 90 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants).

Chef Johanne Siy of Lolla in Singapore, too, is bestowed one Knife. Born in Dagupan but now based in the Lion City, Siy was named the World Gourmet Awards' Female Chef of the Year in 2021, and Asia's Best Female Chef in 2023. Lolla is where her mindful, "produce-driven" ethos gets to shine bright, as she brings out plates that pair seasonal produce and more luxurious ingredients. She hasn't forgotten her Filipino roots of course; Siy shares in a 2021 interview with SPOT.ph how she continues to keep in mind the role of sawsawan to allow diners to customize the flavors on their plates.

The Best Chef Awards was founded by Polish neuroscientist Joanna Slusarczyk and Italian gastronomist Cristian Gadau in 2015. Their aim? To bring together food enthusiasts the world over, and provide a platform to "exchange knowledge and experiences... discuss current topics, and debate on universal topics from the world of fine dining." On their Best Pizza list in 2023, Chef Yuichi Ito of Crosta Pizzeria was named among the top pizzaiolo in the world.

See the full Best Chef Awards list for 2024. For more information, check out The Best Chef Awards' website.