“Manila, your future is bright!” celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay declared in a Facebook Reels caption, echoing his high praise for Filipino cuisine, chefs, and culinary students during his first visit to the Philippines.
At a fan meet-and-greet on Monday at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City, the iconic MasterChef host shared his admiration for the country’s culinary traditions. “The heritage is incredible,” Ramsay said, reflecting on the rich diversity and complexity of Filipino food.
Describing Filipino cuisine as “the Sleeping Beauty of Asia,” Ramsay believes it is poised for greater recognition. “It’s now prominent, and it can give Southeast Asia a big kick up the ass, and really becoming one of the front-runners across Asia,” he said, highlighting its growing presence on the global culinary stage.
Ramsay, known for his Michelin-starred restaurants and fiery persona, expressed a desire to further explore the regional variety within Filipino food. “It’s so regionalized, which is so lovely, and so having a chance to study it immensely,” he said, admiring the cultural depth and flavors that differ across the Philippines.
Ramsay is confident that Filipino cuisine has cemented its place in the global culinary landscape. “Over the last five to 10 years, I think that the Filipino cuisine has a prominent role among global cuisines,” he said, pointing to the growing number of Filipino chefs and restaurants in cities like New York, London, and Melbourne. “(Filipino cuisine) is here to stay for a long time.”
His visit comes on the heels of the 2024 opening of his first restaurant in the country, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, located at Newport World Resorts. The restaurant features a curated menu of rare breed steaks, fresh seafood, grilled specialties, and Ramsay’s signature Beef Wellington.
With his Michelin-starred establishments around the world, including Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London and Le Pressoir d’Argent in Bordeaux, Ramsay’s culinary influence continues to extend globally, further solidifying his position as one of the world’s leading chefs.