Meet Our Speakers

Chefs

Food Talk • Taste Workshop • Cooking Demonstration • Restaurant Takeover

Johanne Siy

(Singapore/Philippines)

Asia’s Best Female Chef 2023 by Asia’s 50 Best

Wes Kuo

(Taipei)

Owner-chef of Embers

Green Michelin Star Chef known for terroir-driven tasting menus

Hafizzul Hashim

(Singapore)

Chef-owner at FIZ Singapore. Recipient of a Green Michelin Star and advocate for sustainable Southeast Asian fine dining.

Lordfer Lalicon

(USA)

Chef-owner of Kaya, the first Filipino restaurant in Florida to earn a Michelin Green Star, and a 2024 James Beard Awards finalist for Best New Restaurant.

Christina Rasmussen

(Denmark/USA)

Co-founder and head chef at FURA, Singapore

Melissa Miranda

(USA)

Chef-owner of Musang in Seattle

Food & Wine Best New Chef (2022)

Romy Dorotan

(USA/Philippines)

Veteran chef of Purple Yam and co-author of Memories of Philippine Kitchens, which won the IACP Jane Grigson Award.

William Wongso

(Indonesia)

Indonesia’s culinary ambassador

Ross Magnaye

(Australia)

Co-founder and head chef of Serai in Melbourne, named Best New Restaurant 2023 by Gourmet Traveller. Recognized by Gordon Ramsay, who visited Serai and praised its bold, modern take on Filipino cuisine.

Lola Migliore

(Australia)

Argentinian-born chef and founder of Hola con Lola in Melbourne. Known for her vibrant paella and tapas classes, she celebrates Hispanic and Latin flavors inspired by her culinary journeys through Europe and South America.

Ardika Dwitama Tjandra

(Jakarta)

Pastry chef at August, the Jakarta restaurant named Asia’s One To Watch 2023 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

LG Han

(Singapore)

Chef-owner of Restaurant Labyrinth in Singapore, holder of one Michelin star since 2017 and recipient of Two Knives at The Best Chef Awards 2025.

Jordy Navarra

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Toyo Eatery and Panaderya Toyo, multi-time Best Restaurant in the Philippines on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, winner of the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2025, and recipient of One Knife at The Best Chef Awards.

Thirdy Dolatre & John Kevin “Nav” Navoa

(Manila)

Co-owners and chefs of Hapag and Aya. Recognized by Tatler Dining among the Philippines’ Best Restaurants for their modern approach to Filipino dining, and recipient of One Knife at The Best Chef Awards.

Miko Calo

(Manila)

Butuan-born chef who owns Taqueria Franco & Coquette, and Tatler Dining PH Chef of the Year 2022

Chele González

(Manila/Tagaytay/Cavite)

Chef behind Gallery by Chele and Asador, Asia’s 50 Best/Discovery Restaurants and recipient of One Knife at The Best Chef Awards.

JP Cruz

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Inatô in Manila. Known for his modern Filipino tasting menus that highlight local ingredients and storytelling, his restaurant was named Tatler Dining’s Restaurant of the Year 2025.

Stephan Duhesme

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Metiz and Automat, listed among Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

Yuichi Ito

(Manila)

Japanese-Filipino executive pizza chef at Crosta Pizzeria in Makati, ranked 2nd in Asia-Pacific and 12th worldwide in the 50 Top Pizza World 2024 list.

Don Patrick Baldosano

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Linamnam

Tatler’s Rising Star

Tony Boy Escalante

(Tagaytay)

Restaurateur behind the Antonio’s Group of Restaurants (Antonio’s, Balay Dako, Breakfast at Antonio’s, etc.), 2015 Asia’s 50 Best alumnus

Aaron Isip

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Kása Palma in Manila. Former chef de cuisine of Dix-Huit in Paris, named one of Le Figaro’s Best Restaurants in 2014. Recipient of Gault & Millau’s Chef Espoir 2015 for Île-de-France and recipient of the One Knife at The Best Chef Awards.

Patrick Go

(Manila)

Head chef/partner at Your Local and Lanai by Fresh Start

Angelo Comsti

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Offbeat Bistro and bestselling food writer and editor whose book Also Filipino (2020) catalogs regional dishes and the stories behind them.

Rhea Rizzo

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Mrs. Saldo’s

Bettina Arguelles

(Manila)

The first Filipina executive chef of a five-star hotel in the Philippines and formerly Culinary Operations Director at Sofitel Manila.

Tina Legarda

(Manila)

Chef-owner of Bamba Bistro and Kumba

Kaos Siargao

(Siargao Island)

An interdisciplinary initiative that fosters creativity in gastronomy, with Roots Siargao as its first concept. Led by Chef Ines Castañeda, Chef Filippo Turrin, Chef Daan Overgag, Marina Castañeda, and Ricardo de Sousa, the collective highlights innovation, sustainability, and cultural storytelling through food.

Charles Montañez

(Manila)

Executive chef and co-owner of Mamacita and Liyab

Datu Shariff Pendatun III

(Mindanao/Manila)

Chef, writer, and heritage-cuisine advocate focused on Muslim Mindanao foodways.

David Amoros

(Manila)

Barcelona-born, self-taught chef behind El Born and La Pastisseria and member of Slow Food Catalonia for 15 years

David del Rosario

(Siargao)

Chef-owner of CEV: Cevicheria + Tacos

Dedet de la Fuente

(Manila)

The “Lechon Diva” behind Pepita’s Kitchen, famous for stuffed lechon degustations and high-profile pop-ups overseas

Erwan Heussaff + FEATR

(Manila)

Food/travel storyteller and founder of FEATR, Winner of the 2023 James Beard Media Award (Social Media Account)

Miguel “Cabel” Moreno

(Mindanao/Manila)

Tausug chef-restaurateur known for Palm Grill and projects championing ZAMBA SULTA (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi) flavors.

Waya Araos-Wijangco

(Baguio/Manila)

Chef and owner of Gourmet Gypsy Baguio by Chef Waya

Gerald Montelibano

(Manila)

Executive sous chef at Cibo di Marghi, Bacolod-born talent bringing Negrense roots into Manila’s fine dining kitchens.

Andrew Malarky

(Siargao)

Owner and executive chef of Wild Siargao in General Luna, where he champions a “GLOCAL” philosophy, blending global techniques with locally sourced Filipino ingredients.