From, dad: top chefs share meaningful messages for their children

Chef/owner of Helm, Ember, The Test Kitchen, Savage and soon-to-open Juniper

A Father’s Day message to: Malaya & Phoenix Boutwood

Find something you genuinely enjoy, something that sparks your curiosity, challenges you, and brings you joy and build your life around it. If you can turn that passion into a career, you’ll never feel like you’re working a day in your life. Pursue what excites you, not just what’s expected of you.

Travel as much as you can, especially while you’re young. The world is bigger than what you see around you, and there’s so much wisdom in stepping into someone else’s way of life. When you explore different places, try unfamiliar foods, hear new languages and see how others live, you begin to understand how connected we all really are. That understanding will shape the way you see the world and the people in it.

Most importantly, never say something is impossible. The road to your dreams may not be easy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Success isn’t always about talent, it’s often about perseverance, mindset and the courage to keep going even when things get tough. If you believe in something, work for it, and never stop trying until you achieve it.

Dream big, stay curious, be kind and keep pushing.

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Chef/owner, Linamnam, Offbeat and Bombvinos

A Father’s Day message to: Don Michelangelo Baldosano

I would say there are two things that I’ve learned throughout my time in the kitchen that I would love for my kid to live by. The first one: no matter what life throws at you, whether it is good or bad, you keep moving forward, as this is the only way to grow. And secondly, being uncomfortable is always good. This is because embracing the uncomfortable means you are willing to learn and push yourself.

These are things that I would love for Migo to live by; things that have helped me become who I am. And, I think if I am able to pass this knowledge to him, he will be better than me one day.

Chef/owner, Celera

A Father’s Day message to: Tyler Kei C. Santos

Dreams are the compass that guides us through life. They give us purpose and direction. But the journey to achieving them is rarely smooth. There will be setbacks, doubts and times when quitting feels easier than pushing forward. That’s when persistence matters most. I want my son to know that success isn’t just about talent or luck—it’s about resilience, grit and showing up even when it’s hard.

At the same time, I believe that true fulfilment and joy don’t come just from achieving personal games in life—it comes from being able to help others along the way. It teaches empathy, humility and the value of contributing to something greater than ourselves.

So my message to him is: Chase your dreams with everything you have, don’t let failure define you and never forget that real strength lies in helping others rise with you. That combination of ambition, perseverance and compassion is what builds not only a meaningful life but also a legacy worth leaving behind.

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Chef/owner, Hapag & Ayà

A Father’s Day message to: Paco Eliseo E. Dolatre

One of the most important lessons I hope to pass on to Eliseo is this: Be kind, stay curious and always lead with love.

The world can be wild, messy and beautiful all at once, and I want him to walk through it with compassion, an open heart and a healthy appetite for discovery (and good food!). Strength, to me, isn’t about being the loudest in the room, but about listening deeply, being thoughtful and choosing empathy even when it’s hard.

And honestly, I just can’t wait to explore the world with him. To eat everything, drink everything (one day!) and experience life’s richness together. I want him to know that he is deeply loved, and that he has the power to share that love with others, plate by plate, moment by moment.

Chef/owner, Hapag & Ayà

A Father’s Day message to: Gabriel Ferran

The advice I would like to share with my son would be to surround yourself with great people. While this may be simple advice, I feel this is one of the most important lessons you can give your child. When we are young, we do not really care who we surround ourselves with. All we really care about is having fun and just doing things that make us feel alive. I now understand that at my age, to achieve great heights with whatever you are doing in life is to surround yourself with like-minded people. People who would push hard and help you progress in your journey.

We pick up the mentality and attitude of the people we hang out with, so another piece of advice that I feel is important for my son to know is: don’t leave any stone unturned. When we approach the things we love, whether it’s your career or hobby, I would always suggest doing everything to the best of your ability.

This means finding all possible ways to get better and exhausting all possible resources to become the best at what you do. So one day, when you are old and grey, you can happily say to yourself that you did everything humanly possible to succeed in life and that no matter what results you get, it won’t eat away at you and tell yourself that “I should have done more.”

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