‘I need to slow down’: Chef Budgie Montoya closes Apoy

Chef Budgie Montoya has closed Apoy London after announcing he is taking a break from the industry.

 

The Great British Menu star launched Apoy in May last year at Market Halls Oxford Circus, where he served a small menu of meat, fish, and vegan barbecue skewers, all of which championed his signature Filipino flavours.

 

The stall closed on 31 December 2024 after Montoya realised he needed to prioritise his health.

Posting the news on Instagram, he said: “The truth is, I need to slow down, breathe and prioritise myself in a way I’ve neglected for far too long.

 

“Adjusting my life to live with heart failure has forced me to confront some difficult realities. This industry, this world I love, so deeply demands so much. And while I’ve given it everything I’ve got, it’s time to listen to what my body’s been trying to tell me.

 

“From Sarap to Apoy, I’ve carried the dream of sharing Filipino cuisine with the world. I can’t say I achieved everything I set out to, but I know I gave it my all. If I managed to crack open even one door for another Filipino chef, or inspire someone to cook our food with pride, then every sacrifice was worth it.”

 

He stressed this was not a final goodbye, adding: “It’s just a pause. My passion for this industry, our food, our stories, and our culture hasn’t faded. I’ll be back, in a way that keeps the fire alive without burning myself out.”

 

Montoya ran Filipino restaurant Sarap Baon in London’s Brixton from 2020 until 2022 and the Sarap restaurant residency at 10 Heddon Street in Mayfair until January 2023.

 

He told The Caterer in 2022: “I left the Philippines when I was five, so I was very much an Aussie kid in a Filipino body. I don’t speak the language, so I chose a language I know better, which is food.”

 

The chef also appeared on the 2023 series of the BBC’s Great British Menu, representing London and the south east.