gENE GONZALES
At age 23, he opened, as chef-owner, Cafe Ysabel in San Juan. He is a Chef instructor to the Professional and Recreational courses. Aside from a series of apprenticeships in France and Italy, he has completed various specialized courses in food arts, Culinary Institute of America, California Culinary Academy and the Callebaut Chocolate College. He has undertaken research and development projects with major food manufacturers and flavor laboratories. He is a co-founder of the Alta Cocina Filipina, the movement for contemporary Filipino cuisine. An avid writer, he is editor to a weekly food page for one of Manila’s major newspapers and authored cookbooks including “Cocina Sulipena” a book on 19th century recipes from Pampanga. He is the only Ten Outstanding Young Men awardee in Culinary Arts and at present, author to a book series on Philippine cuisine. He was also board member of the College of Saint Benilde and at present, conseiller culinaire of the National board of the Chaine des Rotisseurs and also member of the London based International Wine and Food Society.