J. GAMBOA

Chef J. Gamboa holds a degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and earned his kitchen expertise from the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park. He returned after he’s education back to Manila were he worked in various international chain hotels.

In 1996 he received the Bonlac Great Chefs of Asia award for the Philippines. Chef J now is the executive chef for Cirkulo and Milkyway restaurant since their opening in 1995 and 2001 respectively. He is also the General Manager for AzuThai and Tsukiji Japanese Restaurants all properties are part of J family business.

Chef J was Team Manager for the LTB Philippines Culinary Team 2007 for the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) which won the Best of the Best Trophy and Gold Medal for the Gourmet Team Challenge Competition. In 2008 at Food Hotel Asia Singapore, the team won 13 medals. At the recent HKICC 09, the LTB Philippines Culinary Team finished with 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal.

Chef J has done numerous food promotions in Singapore and has also conducted a Filipino food demonstration at the Cocina del Agua in Zaragoza, Spain in 2007. He has also judged numerous local culinary competitions as well as competitions in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia.

He is Director for Education of Les Toques Blanches Philippines (LTB), an association of chefs and the member of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) for the Philippines.