Passion is what made cuisine his life. Celebrated Chef Gene Gonzalez, a multi-awarded author of cookbooks and owner of successful restaurants like Café Ysabel and Gino's Fine Dining, is the president of the culinary school, Center for Asian

Culinary Studies (CACS ).

In between teaching, Chef Gene does food styling as well as food consultancies for hotels and restaurants and recipe research and development for food companies. He is also an authority in wines and other beverages like coffee.

A pioneer. He is the first local chef who introduced gourmet cooking on television in the 80's. He also had a cooking show in the Lifestyle Network called Gene’s Cuisine. He is currently a writer for Manila Bulletin's TASTE. He has been chosen to judge along with a panel of Asia’s Gourmet celebrities at the prestigious Best of the Best Culinary Awards in Hong Kong.

A world-class chef. For more than a decade, Chef Gene concentrated on updating his culinary skills abroad and sharing it with his students at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies. He also has a food and beverage consultancy company, SFBC aside from running his restaurant, Cafe Ysabel.

GASTRONOMIC AFFILIATIONS:

Chaine des Rotisseurs Baillage de Manille

Director, Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines 1991 - 1994

International Wine & Food Society

Confradia de Caballeros de San Miguel de las Vias

AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS:

Knighted by Ordre Mondial Des Gourmets Degustateurs

Knighted by Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs

Promoted to Charge de Presse (1987)

Promoted to Conseiller Culinaire (1988)

Top Male Achiever in the Food Service by 1988

International Food Service Executive Association (Philippines Branch)

Founding Member  Alta Cocina Filipina(Philippine Contemporary Cuisine Movement)

Ten Outstanding Young Men Awardee (Culinary Arts 1992)

The Gerry Roxas Foundation Award for Excellence

Book Published Cocina Sulipeña: Culinary Gems from Old Pampanga  (1993)

Published Pinoy Classic Series: The Inihaw, Ensalada, Adobo, And Pancit Books (1999)

Promoted to Maitre Rotisseur (1999)

Published Pinoy Classic Series: The Kakanin, Sabaw, Gulay Philippine Bar Book (2001)

Archer Achiever of the College of Liberal Arts (2000- 2001) DLSU, Taft

La Salle Dove Award for Excellence (2000- 2001) DLSU, Taft

Published Fundamentals of Professional Cooking and Baking Textbook  (2002)

Knighted by The Confradia de Caballeros de San Miguel de Las Viñas, Spain  (2003)

Promoted to Commandeur by Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs 2004

Published the book: Going East (2007) and won an award

DLSAA Lasallian Achievement Award for Culinary Arts (2009)