CHELE GONZÁLEZ

Executive chef and co-owner, Gallery by Chele and Deli by Chele

The Spanish-born chef Chele González had a phase in his life when he didn’t really care much about food nor understand anything about cuisine. But then, a visit to his sister, Eva, who lived in Galicia, far from his hometown in Cantabria, when he was 12 years old changed his view and ignited his passion for food. “[I] was immersing myself into different kind of cuisines,” he shares. He studied culinary arts and eventually worked at Michellin-starred restaurants Arzak, Nerua-Guggenheim and Mugaritz, to name a few. “[This] made food my life’s core,” says the 2019 Tatler Dining Philippines’ Most Inventive Chef awardee.

This wealth of skills and techniques opened a new door for him in the Philippines. In 2013, he established Gallery Vask in Manila, that became his playground for cooking with local ingredients using global techniques. The restaurant renovated and reopened in 2018 as Gallery by Chele. “Gallery Vask defined my personality and philosophy as a chef,” he says.

To date, his restaurant continues to thrive along with two new ventures: Chef Chele’s Kitchen, Deli by Chele and Adviche. “I hope I inspire a lot of people to make things evolve,” he says, looking into the future with more food that is healthy, affordable and sustainable.