Chef Josh Boutwood introduces new dishes, kid-friendly meals at Ember

It’s been two years since Chef Josh Boutwood introduced Ember, a standalone concept poised as the sophisticated evolution of his now-closed restaurant, Savage.

Located in the bustling Greenbelt 3, Ember stays true to offering diners accessible, relaxed, and no-fuzz food.

The classic Ember dishes like Turbot, Brown Butter, Caper (P5,350); Bone Marrow, Sourdough, Parsley (P895); and Chicken, Cauliflower, Sage (P895) remain all the rage in this restaurant, but as with everything else in this world, there’s a need to evolve.

Recently, Boutwood unveiled new dishes and a whole line of kid-friendly meals to appeal to the younger market, a move inspired by his kids.

“It’s the only restaurant of mine that has a children’s menu,” Boutwood told GMA News Online.

“The reason for that was I was at home one Sunday, then I shouted to my kids, ‘Where do you want to eat lunch? Test Kitchen, Savage, or Ember?’” Boutwood recalled.

His daughter easily answered Ember, while his son, whom he described as a fussy eater, said, “No, there’s nothing on that menu that I eat.”

This inspired him to create a kid’s menu, the first in any of his restaurant concepts, comprising comforting food that even the chef likes to indulge in.

“Now, Ember has a menu with no gaps,” he said. “We created a menu suitable for all walks of life.”

Ember now has a kiddie menu of Chicken Fingers and Chips, Bacon Mac and Cheese, and Barbecue Meatball Sliders, all at P385 each.

Aside from the kiddie meals, Boutwood also introduced new additions to the main dishes, including Grilled Salmon Head in a Curry Lemon Sauce (P890), which the chef described as his “new absolute favorite,” a rich Gnocchi redolent with Crab Fat and Blue Crab bits (P720), as well as a price-friendly Meatballs with Arugula and Horseradish dish (P550).

“The concept for Ember is a cuisine that is easy to understand and humbly delicious,” Boutwood said. “It needs no pizazz or pompousness to dine in.”

“In all my restaurants in general, the ultimate goal is to make sure that we help our guests create memories in the restaurant, be that with food, the service, and the hospitality,” he added.

Ember is located at Greenbelt 3, Makati City.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News