Epicure D.J. Montano returned home from Europe in 2000, where he earned a graduate degree in International Hospitality Management, to open two restaurants and one bar lounge in Manila with a few business partners. All three were met with great critical acclaim that earned D.J. Montano a reputation as a distinguished restaurateur. Both of his restaurants featured international cuisine: Annam served refined Vietnamese cuisine, whereas Raj focused on traditional Indian dishes. Acquario, D.J. Montano’s lounge, was inspired by his love for water and offered a revolutionary space that was very hip and cool. After achieving much acclaim success with his own restaurants, D.J. Montano made the easy transition to writing about cuisine, one of the driving passions of his life.

As a writer for the Philippine Star, D.J. Montano has guided readers to interesting culinary experiences. Both locally and internationally, D.J. Montano has consistently recommended the most exquisite dishes served by some of the world’s finest chefs to his readers. D.J. Montano’s writing spans the gauntlet from simple finds when one is vacationing on the beach in Boracay to all-out food extravaganzas, such as The Ritz-Carlton New World Food and Wine Festival held in Singapore. No matter the subject, D.J. Montano will make your mouth water as he takes you on a culinary journey, recounting the culinary wonders he has savored.

D.J. Montano’s talents and passions, however, are not confined to food. D.J. Montano has also produced and styled quite a number of fashion shoots, his sense of style is also steeped in tradition. Additionally, D.J. Montano has been active in a number of philanthropic projects, including the founding of the Malate-Nakpil Street Children Foundation. His public service is only rivaled by his international mindset that makes his writing enjoyable not only for the gourmand, but also for lovers of the good life.