Gonzalez has long worked with celebrated names and over the years Gallery by Chele has run pop-up collaborations by chefs including Andre Chiang, Elena Arzak and Yoshihiro Narisawa. For this special 10th anniversary, conversations began with the chefs almost two years ago.
“I chose people who had worked before in the kitchens with us, collaborating, but also because of our relationship and our friendship – I wanted to make it deep and special.
Gonzalez jokes that part of the reason they decided to mark the 10-year anniversary “was firstly because we survived! But secondly, because we were also able to evolve. I put a lot of effort and time to create a happy environment, where everybody respects each other, where everybody loves what they do. I empower my team and want them to take the lead.”
Indeed, the opportunity his young team received was nothing short of remarkable – if also possibly slightly intimidating, given the presence of the culinary gods next to them in the kitchen.
Some of the greatest names to ever have wielded tweezers and knives clearly hold Chele Gonzalez in great affection. For the first night of celebrations, they feasted on Gonzalez’s own 10-course menu, The Journey, which dazzled them with some of the greatest hits from his career melding Spain and The Philippines to beautiful effect.
