ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES NOW HAS ONE OF THE BEST CHEFS IN THE PHILIPPINES!

The best news of the week for lovers of good food is that Chef Julius Quimpo III, a Filipino with dual American citizenship, is the new Executive Chef at Yats International Wine Club, Clark Field, Angeles City.

47 year old Julius brings to Yats an impressive background in culinary skills.

Born in Pasay, Manila, Julius learned his kitchen skills in Davao before moving to the U.S.A. in 1984 and attending the Johnson and Wales University, College of Culinary Arts, in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A. where he graduated Cum Laude.

His career has taken him to some of the leading restaurants in the States and Europe as well as here in the Philippines.

In the U.S., he gathered valuable experience with the Hilton and Holiday Inn hotel groups while securing his first executive chef position at the famous, family-run Shackleford’s Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia. He also spent time in the kitchens of Japanese and specialist sea-food restaurants.

However, Julius felt that if he was to reach his goal of becoming the complete, all-round chef, he needed to get closer to European food. He secured a position at the renowned Berystede Hotel in Royal Ascot in UK. There he experienced classical French cuisine under Executive Chef Andrew Barras.

That was followed by a spell in London honing his skills in Euro-metropolitan cuisine.

Back in the States, Julius spent nearly 4 years with Sodexo, Inc., the leading provider of integrated food and facilities management services in the U.S., rising to the position of Executive Chef at their Lee University operation.

As with all good professionals, Julius likes to stay on top of his game and returned to school for continuing education classes in 2007. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, described by world-renowned French chef Paul Bocuse as “the best culinary school in the world.”

A couple of years ago, Julius Quimpo III returned to his native Philippines and to his home town of Davao. His family name is well-known there – it was his grandfather, Assemblyman Romualdo Quimpo, known as “the Father of Davao City” who sponsored a bill in Congress in 1936 making Davao a chartered city. The bill was signed into law that same year by President Manuel L. Quezon.

Chef Julius comes to Yats International Wine Club from El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera, where he was Executive Chef Consultant.