Mazda Philippines presented the first night of their Mazda Culinary Journey, a bespoke dinner series celebrating craftsmanship in both the automotive and culinary worlds. This exclusive dining experience is led by chef Josh Boutwood, Mazda’s long-time brand ambassador, in collaboration with three talented chefs and a restaurant owner, each bringing their unique style and expertise to create unforgettable dinners during certain Saturdays at The Balmori Suites in Rockwell, Makati. Josh is the chef behind Helm, The Test Kitchen, Ember, Savage, and The Test Kitchen Bakery.
What makes these collaborations more special is that all participating chefs and restaurateurs drive a Mazda, reflecting their shared passion for quality, innovation, and craftsmanship, both on the road and in the kitchen.
The first collaboration was through the innovative hands of chefs Josh and Jorge Mendez of M?dan, Some Thai, Ohayo, Tadeo, and OK, Bob.
Each of these one-night-only dinners will highlight a different culinary journey, where Josh and a collaborator craft a tasting menu. Just as Mazda’s philosophy revolves around attention to detail, precision, and craftsmanship, these dinners will reflect the same values, offering guests an elevated dining experience that parallels the artistry of Mazda’s vehicles. Each chef brings their expertise and creativity, making every evening distinct yet connected through the overarching theme of craftsmanship, innovation, and passion.
Josh and Jorge created this dinner based on their experience with Mazda and explained how each dish was conceptualized. Mazda’s dedication to detail and excellence mirrors the precision in the chefs’ cooking techniques. Both Mazda and the chefs are known for pushing boundaries in their respective fields, offering cutting-edge experiences. There was attention to detail with the intricate preparation of each dish, just like Mazda’s vehicle design.
Each chef alternated preparing the dishes that started with Josh’s beef tartare with wasabi emulsion and potato and Jorge’s kegani (horsehair crab), goji berries and corn. Octopus with sunchoke by Josh and Hokkaido scallop cooked with curry and pandan by Jorge were served next. The main dish by Josh was duck somen (thin wheat noodles) in a duck consommé while Jorge made a beef short rib with sea urchin and farro (grains from three species of hulled wheat). The two collaborated on the dessert which was taho ice cream with koromitsu (sugar syrup), warabimochi (Japanese confection with bracken starch), and kinako (roasted soybean flour) powder, a perfect sweet ending for the superb dinner!
Mazda Philippines CEO and president Steven Tan said, “As we showcase the new hybrid CX-60 and CX-90, tonight’s dinner is about more than just the cars — it’s about bringing together good friends of the Mazda brand. It’s a celebration of the taste, quality, and lifestyle that Mazda stands for and, most importantly, it’s about fostering and celebrating long-lasting friendships.”
There are three more Josh Boutwood collaboration dinners to come and each is expected to be as good as this first one.
Great job, Josh and Jorge!
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