Tovic Salvador

Filipino Chef Paolo Dungca named semifinalist for James Beard Award

Article (news)

Ganiel Krishnan

<p>Filipino chef Paolo Dungca, based in Washington, D.C., has made it to the prestigious list of semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards in the Emerging Chef category.</p><p>Chef Dungca was recognized for his exceptional work at Hiraya, a restaurant that celebrates Filipino cuisine and heritage.</p><p>The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists for its 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards on January 22, stating, “We are proud to announce the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the James Beard Awards® presented by Capital One.”</p><p>The nominees will be revealed on April 2, while the winners will be honored at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/9/28/fil-am-chef-s-dream-restaurant-makes-a-mark-in-washington-d-c-2358"><br/></a></p><p>In an Instagram post, Dungca expressed his gratitude and pride, saying, “I’ve always dreamed of seeing my name on this list someday. Honored to be an Emerging Chef semifinalist for the @beardfoundation awards.” He also thanked his mentors and team, highlighting their role in his career.</p><p>“This recognition isn’t just for me—it’s for my incredible team, for the amazing city of Washington, DC, and most importantly, for the Philippines. To represent our country and share our heritage on this stage is nothing short of amazing. This one is for all of us. Mabuhay!”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFJHNxNSQ0S/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A16120292.400000095%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1008" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Hiraya, which means “hope” or &quot;dream&quot; in Filipino, showcases traditional Filipino flavors with a modern twist. The restaurant has become a culinary gem in Washington, D.C., and a source of pride for Filipinos worldwide.</p><p>The James Beard Awards are considered one of the most prestigious honors in the culinary world, celebrating exceptional talent and innovation in the food and beverage industry.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/9/28/fil-am-chef-s-dream-restaurant-makes-a-mark-in-washington-d-c-2358" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fil-Am chef’s restaurant makes a mark in Washington, D.C.</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/07/21/22/pinoy-restaurant-sa-us-hango-sa-hiraya-manawari" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pinoy restaurant sa US, hango sa ABS-CBN show na &#x27;Hiraya Manawari&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2hXuyL6pui0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T3qD1FmPvyY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>