Stephan Duhesme is a Filipino-French chef whose culinary journey began after earning a business degree in Marseille in 2013. Driven by a deep curiosity for food, he started out as a prep chef at Purple Yam in New York then did stints in Tokyo, and the Philippines — including a stint at the acclaimed Gallery Vask.

In 2015, he opened his first restaurant, Tria NeoBistro, in Bogotá, Colombia. Though short-lived, the project laid the foundation for his philosophy of blending technique with soul — something he would carry into his future ventures.

By 2019, Duhesme returned to Manila to launch Metiz, a progressive Filipino restaurant centered on fermentation, seasonality, and bold reinterpretations of tradition. The restaurant quickly earned international attention, debuting on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023 at #48 and #84 in 2024. It also ranked highly on the OAD Top Restaurants in Asia list at #205 in 2024, #82 in 2025, reinforcing its position as a regional culinary destination.

In 2024, Duhesme and Arlo Gregorio opened Automat, another concept exploring Filipino flavors through a more casual, “Manileño” lens, blending nostalgia and innovation together.

Duhesme is recognized for his precise yet heartfelt approach to food — creating dishes that are at once rooted in Filipino memory and shaped by global perspective.