Phil Howard (chef) facts for kids
| Born | 1966 (age 58–59) Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
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| Cooking style | French/British |
| Education | University of Kent |
| Spouse |
Jennie
(m. 1989; div. 1997)
(m. 1999) |
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Rating(s)
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Current restaurant(s)
Elystan Street
 Kitchen W8 |
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Previous restaurant(s)
The Square
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Philip Howard (born 1966) is a famous chef and restaurant owner from South Africa and Britain. He learned to cook by working with well-known chefs like Marco Pierre White and Simon Hopkinson.
In 1991, Phil Howard and his business partner Nigel Platts-Martin opened a restaurant in London called The Square. Even though they were new to running a restaurant, it became very successful.
The Square earned Michelin stars, which are special awards for great restaurants. It had one star from 1994 to 1998, and then two stars from 1998 to 2016. Phil Howard left The Square in 2016.
Later that year, he opened a new restaurant called Elystan Street in Chelsea. This restaurant earned one Michelin star in 2017 and has kept it ever since. Phil Howard also owns other restaurants and has won many awards for his cooking. He has appeared on TV shows like Saturday Kitchen and Great British Menu.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Philip Howard was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1966. When he was seven, his family moved to England. He went to the University of Kent and studied microbiology.
Discovering a Passion for Cooking
After university, Phil Howard decided to follow his passion for cooking instead of microbiology. He started his cooking career in 1988. He even cooked and sold food from a old Volkswagen van in Australia for a short time!
When he returned to England, he worked for Roux Restaurants, a famous group run by brothers Albert and Michel Roux.
Learning from Top Chefs
One night, Phil Howard ate at a restaurant called Harveys and was amazed by the food. He then got a job there in 1989, working for chef Marco Pierre White. He learned a lot about modern French cooking.
After Harveys, he worked at Bibendum with chef Simon Hopkinson. There, he learned how important it was to focus on simple, high-quality flavors. Even after leaving Harveys, Phil Howard and Marco Pierre White stayed in touch.
The Square Restaurant (1991–2016)
In 1990, Marco Pierre White asked Phil Howard to come back to Harveys. The plan was for Howard to become the head chef for a new restaurant White and his partner Nigel Platts-Martin were opening. However, White and Platts-Martin's partnership for that project ended.
Opening The Square
So, Phil Howard and Nigel Platts-Martin decided to open their own restaurant together. They were both new to running a restaurant. On December 13, 1991, they opened The Square in St James's, London.
Phil Howard was the head chef. He focused on elegant and modern French cuisine. The restaurant quickly became popular.
Michelin Stars and Success
The Square earned its first Michelin star in December 1994. Phil Howard was also a co-owner of the restaurant.
In 1997, The Square moved to Mayfair. It then earned its second Michelin star in January 1998. The restaurant also received high ratings from other guides, like the Good Food Guide.
Phil Howard and Nigel Platts-Martin sold The Square in March 2016. The restaurant later closed in January 2020.
Cookbooks by Phil Howard
Phil Howard also wrote two cookbooks about The Square. The first one, Savoury, came out in 2012. The second, Sweet, was released in 2013.
Other Restaurants and Projects
Phil Howard has been involved in many other restaurants. He often works with business partners to create different dining experiences.
The Ledbury
In July 2005, Phil Howard co-owned The Ledbury with Nigel Platts-Martin. This restaurant also earned Michelin stars. Brett Graham, who used to be a chef at The Square, became the head chef there. The Ledbury closed for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic but reopened in January 2022.
Kitchen W8
Since 2009, Phil Howard has co-owned Kensington restaurant Kitchen W8 with Rebecca Mascarenhas. This restaurant is less formal than The Square. Kitchen W8 earned its first Michelin star in 2011 and has kept it every year since.
Elystan Street
On September 27, 2016, Phil Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas opened Elystan Street in Chelsea. This restaurant is also more casual than The Square was. The menu includes many vegetarian options. Elystan Street earned its first Michelin star in 2017 and has kept it since.
Other Ventures
Howard and Mascarenhas also co-owned Sonny's Kitchen, which later became Church Road. They also had a wine-focused restaurant called Gezellig for a short time.
Phil Howard also owned a restaurant called Union at a ski resort in France, which closed in April 2024.
In 2021, he started a pasta delivery service in London called Otto, which later changed its name to Notto. In November 2022, he opened a pasta restaurant also called Notto in Piccadilly.
Television Appearances
Even though he usually avoids TV, Phil Howard has appeared on several cooking shows.
He was a guest on MasterChef: The Professionals, Market Kitchen, and Saturday Kitchen.
Great British Menu
In 2012, Phil Howard was a contestant on Great British Menu. He won with his fish dish (Cornish mackerel with oysters, mussels, winkles and samphire). This dish was served at a special banquet for the 2012 Olympians before the 2012 Summer Olympics. He has also returned to the show as a judge for other chefs.
Awards and Recognition
Phil Howard has received many awards throughout his career for his excellent cooking and leadership.
He won the Chef Award at the 1998 Catey Awards. He also won the Chefs' Chef award twice, in 2008–09 and 2016. In 2017, he was named Best Chef at the GQ Food & Drink Awards. In 2022, he received the Mentor Chef Award from Michelin.
The Caterer magazine has often listed Phil Howard as one of the most influential people in the UK hospitality industry.
In 2018, the University of Kent gave Phil Howard an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. This award recognized his amazing life and contributions to the world of food and hospitality.
Personal Life
Phil Howard married Jennie in the early 1990s. They divorced in 1997 but remarried in 1999. They have two children together. The family has lived in Barnes, London since 1999 or 2000.
