Singapore’s Michelin Night: Five New Stars Shining Bright
Last night’s grand unveiling of the Michelin Guide Singapore 2018 handed out the country’s first Michelin stars to a handful of culinary champions. The winners, each a culinary adventurer, are:
- Burnt Ends – an Aussie‑style barbecue spot on Teck Lim Road
- Jiang‑Nan Chun – a Cantonese haven inside the Four Seasons
- Ma Cuisine – a wine‑centric French kitchen on Craig Road
- Nouri – a “crossroads” kitchen on Amoy Street
- Sushi Kimura – a Japanese gem in Palais Renaissance
With the recent shutter of Joel Robuchon at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore now has no three‑star restaurant. The blink‑and‑you’ll‑miss‑it restaurants that kept their two‑star stardom are: Les Amis, Odette, Shisen Hanten, Shoukouwa, and Waku Ghin.
One‑Star Champions Remain Unruffled
Osia dropped off the list after the recent closure, but the rest of the one‑star squad stayed put – from Alma by Juan Amador to the legendary Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, which has proudly held a star since 2016.
All in all, Singapore now boasts 39 starred eateries, with a total of 44 Michelin accolades—up from 38 restaurants and 47 stars the year before.
Inside the VIP Gala
Dozens of restaurateurs, chefs, and food lovers converged at the Resorts World Sentosa gala, each paying a premium of $595 a head (taxes excluded). They were treated to a six‑course, wine‑pairing feast orchestrated by Michelin‑starred chefs from across the region – a true culinary carnival.
Heroic Honours
Ms. Edina Hong (co‑owner of Saint Pierre and Shoukouwa) confessed to experiencing “sleep‑losing anxiety” during the two‑star celebration. “A Japanese kitchen only three years old, and we’re already up to snuff… couldn’t afford to slip up!” she exclaimed.
Chef Lam Hon Tim of Jiang‑Nan Chun admitted, in Mandarin, that the pressure is real, yet it’s also a powerful driver.
Ivan Brehm of Nouri hammered the point that the star is a validation but also a “prompt to keep doing what we do—remind folks of humanity through food.”
Chef and co‑owner Mathieu Escoffier of Ma Cuisine proclaimed, “We’re the first Asian gastro‑wine bar to snag a Michelin star. This just means we’re doing our job—fantastic.”
The Star‑Shooting Reception
Michelin’s international director, Mr. Michael Ellis, shook hands over a box of ad‑hoc artisanal cheeses. After the ceremony he’ll move on to the Dubai‑based luxury hotel chain Jumeirah, packing a heavy ticket for a new destiny.
Guests included culinary luminaries like Sun Kim (Meta), Emmanuel Stroobant (Saint Pierre), Rishi Naleendra (Cheek by Jowl), Alvin Leung (Bo Innovation), and E… a heckler who kept the atmosphere spirited. Businessman Jon Chee pledged that Singapore should hold steady and continue nurturing cut‑ting‑edge talent until the next superstar entirely redefines the culinary frontier.
Stars by the Numbers
- Two‑Star Restaurants (5): Les Amis, Odette, Shisen Hanten, Shoukouwa, Waku Ghin
- One‑Star Restaurants (34): Alma by Juan Amador, Bacchanalia, Beni, Braci, Burnt Ends, Candlenut, Cheek by Jowl, Chef Kang’s, Corner House, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, Garibaldi, Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle, Iggy’s, Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine (Ion Orchard), Jaan, Jiang‑Nan Chun, Labyrinth, Lei Garden, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle, Ma Cuisine, Meta, Nouri, Putien (Kitchener Road), Rhubarb Le Restaurant, Saint Pierre, Shinji by Kanesaka (Carlton Hotel), Shinji by Kanesaka (St. Regis Singapore), Summer Palace, Summer Pavilion, Sushi Kimura, Sushi Ichi, The Song of India, Whitegrass
Published by the French tyre‑company behind the Michelin Guide, this list represents a global pilgrimage of taste, transforming Singapore into one of the world’s most voracious culinary playgrounds.
