A quiet culinary professional, a chef’s chef and highly respected culinary figure, Philip Howard chef and co-owner of Elystan Street in London. Elystan Street opened in September 2016 to huge critical acclaim and has amassed many awards since.
Prior to that he was the chef and co-owner of The Square from it's opening in 1991 to its sale to Marc Restaurants in March 2016.
His work life started at Roux Restaurants in 1988 having decided not to pursue a career in Microbiology, a degree in which he attained at the University of Kent. From here he moved on to train under Marco Pierre White at Harvey’s and Simon Hopkinson at Bibendum.
Phil’s distinctive modern French food has enjoyed great critical acclaim and huge consumer success. Its reputation has been forged through the delivery of pleasure through harmony of flavour rather than technical wizardry or innovation. A first Michelin Star was awarded to The Square in 1994 and a second followed four years later in 1998.
Both Phil and The Square won a vast array of other awards over the years including Chef’s Chef of The Year and Restaurant of The Year in many guides and publications.
Whilst Phil always has and very much continues to remain at the stoves at Elystan Street he has also made many appearances on TV, including in The Great British Menu 2012 where his fish course won a place at the final banquet. He is a regular guest on Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef. He has also written two critically acclaimed cookbooks, The Square; The Cookbook Volumes 1 and 2 - Savoury and Sweet.
Phil is an active member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and has played a significant role in the progression and development of two culinary competitions; Young Chef Young Waiter and National Chef of the Year.
He is a partner in six other restaurants in London: The Ledbury with Nigel Platts-Martin and Brett Graham, Kitchen W8 and Sonny’s Kitchen with Rebecca Mascarenhas, Perilla, Lorne and Gezellig. He is also a partner in Union, a restaurant in the French Alps.
He is a patron of Ace Africa, a charity based in East Africa focussed on establishing sustainability in poor and HIV-ravaged communities.
South African born, Philip is married to Jennie and has two children, Millie and Ali, and he’s run 25 marathons to date.
