Long Time Coming

At the Heart of Josh Boutwood's Career Is the Rise and Fall of a Fragile Relationship With Himself, His Family, and an Exhilarating Future That People Are Finally Taking Notice

- Jaclyn Clemente-Koppe

Much had been said about the 30-year-old’s triumphs at elevating the aggressively expanding Bistro Group’s status and keeping their brands relevant in the country’s fast-expanding food scene. While Boutwood is not the type to puff out his chest in a show of dominance, he is not shy about declaring his personal victories. “Yes, it does feel like it’s my year,” he thoughtfully proclaims. With a speaking engagement at this year’s Madrid Fusion Manila, a handful of chef collaborations, multiple magazine covers, and a number of product endorsements under his belt, his most notable achievement is still the critical success of The Test Kitchen.

While it seems like a no-brainer to put Boutwood in a kitchen where he is allowed to cook whatever he wants, it was not quite the easy sell for the suits. “Simply put, they [Bistro’s big bosses] didn’t think it was going to work,” Boutwood confesses. He admits that going corporate was not an easy pill to swallow. “It was penance,” he says, and proceeds to Google the definition of the word to prove his point. He admits to it being a marriage of convenience, but still, it was not just for the monetary returns. “I had a lot to learn, and working for the Bistro Group taught me those things.”