Award-winning Josh Boutwood is Bistro Group’s new corporate chef

THE BISTRO GROUP of restaurants has a new corporate chef in Josh Boutwood, who won several awards at the recently concluded 3rd Philippine Culinary Cup.

The 25-year-old FilipinoBritish chef bested hundreds of participants from the Philippines and around the world with his entries in the US Poultry, US Pork, Local Fish, Australian Lamb, US Beef, Pasta and Sous Vide categories, bagging three gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Considered the most prestigious culinary competition in the country, the Philippine Culinary Cup was a collaboration of the Les Toques Blanches Philippines, the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines and Premier Events Plus Group, Inc.

Born to Filipino-British parents who are both restaurateurs, chef Boutwood started dabbling in European cuisine at the young age of 12.

He then supplemented his actual experiences in the kitchen with formal education starting with threemonth studies at the Escuela de Culinario Mojacar, a premiere Culinary Institute in Mojacar, Spain. He apprenticed for six months with French chef Raymond Blanc at Le manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxford, England before going back to help his mother develop European/Mediterranean cuisine in Spain. He also accepted kitchen jobs in restaurants and golf clubs to gain more hands-on experience.

Chef Boutwood’s fascination with and love of Scandinavian food led him to the prestigious Noma, Copenhagen’s ‘temple’ to Nordic cuisine that is touted to be the best restaurant in the world by San Peligrinos 50 Best.

From Denmark, he moved to a 17th-century castle in Skane, Malmo Sweden called “Svaneholms” or “Swan Lake Castle” where he was Sous Chef in French and Scandinavian cuisine.

In 2010, chef Boutwood returned to the Philippines and settled in Boracay where he put up Restaurant Alchemy. He then joined Bistro Group of Restaurants initially as a consultant, and was appointed corporate chef early this year.

Chef Boutwood has recently introduced Black Pizza, Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings, Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Skins and Small Plates at the Village Tavern, one of Bistro’s newer concepts.