About Food by Jigs

Some chefs are trained through kitchens. Others are shaped by life.

For Chef Jigs Liwanag, food has always been deeply connected to care, culture and human connection. Originally trained in nursing, Jigs built a career in healthcare before making the life changing decision to follow a passion first inspired in his grandmother’s kitchen in the Philippines. Her influence, and her advice to live without regret, led him to formally pursue culinary arts in Manila, beginning a remarkable international culinary journey.

From the Philippines, Jigs refined his craft in Hong Kong under the mentorship of a Japanese master chef, where he developed a profound respect for precision, balance and discipline in cooking. He later spent eight years working aboard a private yacht, travelling extensively and immersing himself in cuisines and culinary traditions from around the world. Those experiences continue to shape his cooking today - thoughtful, globally influenced and deeply personal.

Grounded in his Filipino heritage and inspired by international flavours, Jigs brings together classical technique with soulful, approachable cooking. Since relocating to Australia in 2019, he has worked in some of Victoria’s most respected kitchens, including Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne, before taking on a defining role at Hotel Canberra in Ballarat. There, he spent three years celebrating regional Australian produce while creating dishes that reflected his multicultural background and refined culinary perspective.

Today, Food by Jigs is the culmination of that journey. A collection of chef prepared meals designed to bring restaurant quality food into everyday life. Each dish is carefully considered, balancing flavour, texture and nourishment while remaining comforting and accessible.

What truly sets Jigs apart, however, is not only his technical ability, but his nurturing nature. His background in nursing informs the way he cooks: with empathy, attentiveness and genuine care for the people he feeds. Every meal is created with intention. Food designed not just to satisfy, but to comfort and connect.

Whether inspired by childhood memories, global travels or years in professional kitchens, Chef Jigs creates food with soul, elegance and authenticity, meals that tell the story of a life devoted to both hospitality and care.