SAVOR CHRISTMAS THE SPANISH WAY AT CANTABRIA BY CHELE GONZALEZ

The Michelin Selected restaurant has rolled out a special holiday a menu that celebrates the chefs’ own festive memories.

- PAM PASTOR

“We are here to celebrate Christmas,” said chef Chele Gonzalez as he welcomed us to Cantabria, his restaurant at The Westin Manila in Ortigas Center.

The purpose of our visit was twofold — we were there to preview the restaurant’s holiday menu but it was also a thanksgiving lunch because Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez, which opened in March 2024, was included in the Philippines’ first Michelin Guide. “We are extremely happy to be selected,” said Chele.

The chef has a lot to be thankful for. He was among the top honorees at the country’s inaugural Michelin ceremony. Two of his restaurants — Gallery by Chele and Asador Alfonso — received a Michelin star. Gallery by Chele also got a Green Star for its dedication to sustainability. Enye by Chele, along with Cantabria, was part of the Michelin Selected List.

But, he’s quick to stress, “It’s not only my work, you know. My job is to have the vision and to really push to achieve that. But I need my team who are as important as I am to make sure that it’s executed and done. Any restaurant is about teamwork. It’s not only about the chef.”

Even onstage at the Michelin ceremony, he shared the spotlight with the chefs who work with him including Carlos Villaflor of Gallery by Chele and Rodrigo A. Osorio of Asador Alfonso. “When I went to the stage, I never went by myself,” Chele said. “And for Selected, I didn’t go onstage, I gave the spotlight to the chefs.”

He did the same thing during our lunch at Cantabria, encouraging chef de cuisine Álvaro Romero-abreu Raya to be front and center. Chele said, “All of the restaurants that I have, there is a chef behind the counter that is working with me hand to hand.”

At Cantabria, that is Álvaro. “I’m very happy with Chef Alvaro. I think he is a great chef. He has also worked in many Michelin star restaurants. He has a strong background.”