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December 14, 2025 | 1:34pm
MANILA, Philippines — Judy Ann Santos said being recognized by Michelin is “definitely a dream,” but she is not in a rush to earn one, focusing instead on nurturing her community of adobo lovers at her Angrydobo restaurants.
Apart from acting, Judy Ann has built a career as a restaurateur and chef, completing a culinary course and managing her own kitchen. She currently operates Angrydobo outlets in Taft near De La Salle University and in Westgate Alabang.
True to its name, Angrydobo specializes in Filipino classics with a focus on adobo variants. The restaurant recently added empanadas for La Salle students and a holiday party platter.
“That’s a dream. Definitely a dream,” Judy Ann told reporters who attended her launch as the ambassador for Filipino food brand UFC.
As its brand ambassador, Judy Ann will be featured in a campaign that includes a special vlog series.
She said being recognized by Michelin was “a dream,” noting that the guide is often associated with first-world countries, where anonymous inspectors evaluate restaurants for excellence, consistency, and mastery of techniques.
Judy Ann expressed happiness for her fellow chefs and restaurant owners included in the inaugural Michelin Guide Philippines. As a restaurateur herself, she understands the challenges of running a kitchen.
However, she admitted that when she opened Angrydobo in 2019, making it to a Michelin list was not a priority for practical reasons.
“So when we heard that Michelin is coming here to the Philippines to try out restaurants, masaya ako for the restaurants na nabisita nila because I'm proud of all the chefs that's been, you know, putting up their own restaurants and their, their own spin on it," the actress-chef said.
“Angrydobo having a Michelin star or a Bib Gourmand, of course, mas napakasarap isipin hindi ba? But when we were putting up Angrydobo, wala talaga sa utak ko," she added.
“When I was creating recipes for Angrydobo. Hindi ko nilagay sa utak ko na ‘okay kailangan, one day ‘pag bumisita ang Michelin dito, dapat makapasok ako.’ Kasi hindi na ako makakagawa ng pagkain na napre-pressure na ako,” Judy Ann admitted.
Ever humble, the actress-restaurateur said that a Michelin recognition is not currently on her career path. Instead, she hopes to see more carinderias, turo-turo style Filipino eateries where diners select their food buffet-style at affordable prices—included in future Michelin Philippines lists.
“Probably baka hindi din ‘yun ang tinatahak ng karera ko when it comes to me being a chef. I know naman my capacity. I know my talent in the kitchen. I'm probably not yet there, but I'm very happy for all the chefs and all the restaurants, especially 'yung mga carinderia," Judy Ann said.
“Kailangan na kailangan nila ‘yun. Deserve na deserve nila yun... Actually marami pa silang pwedeng pagbigyan ng stars e sa dami lang ng mga mahuhusay na mag-luto dito sa Pilipinas,” she added.
She quipped that Michelin inspectors would have to tour the entire Philippines for a year if they were to visit other regions and provinces, including Cebu, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Bicol.
“Kumbaga buong Pilipinas ang daming pwedeng i-showcase na pagkain. So, I would say na hindi pa tapos ang laban,” the actress said.
For now, she is focused on nurturing her own “baby,” her Angrydobo restaurants.
“Happy ako where Angrydobo is. Kumbaga we've somehow created our own community. We have somehow created our community of college students in Taft and the office workers there," Judy Ann said.
“I’m happy with my Angrydobo family. Kung saan man kami dalhin ng agos in the future, probably yun talaga yung path ko as a chef and more than that, bonus na talaga kung sakali man,” she ended.
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