Singapore restaurants grabbed top billing in a new guidebook to the best Asian eateries that favours the region’s twists on modern European cuisine rather than street stall favourites.
The Miele Guide, which describes itself as Asia’s first independent restaurant guide, gave top marks to Iggy’s in Singapore for its emphasis on innovative food and a style that allows diners to view the kitchen and be “suitably splashy” or discreet.
The guide, launched this month after a banquet that included Iggy’s smoked veal cheek with truffle mashed potatoes, included two other Singaporean restaurants in the top five: Les Amis at number three and Gunther’s in fourth spot.
Hong Kong’s L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon came in second, while Mozaic in Bali, Indonesia, was number five.
Hong Kong restaurants did well with eight in a top 20 that also featured the sushi of Tokyo’s Kyubey and the kebabs of New Delhi’s Bukhara. The top spots mostly favoured modern European or Chinese cuisine.
In a city-state known for blending Chinese, Malay and Indian food, local Singaporean favourites such as chilli crab, chicken rice and fish head curry are unlikely to be found on the menus of Les Amis or Gunther’s, known for its caviar angel hair pasta.
Iggy’s Chan said diners are more fluent in international food than they used to be and are looking for lighter meals.
Miele, a German home appliance company, said it launched the annual guide to help the Asian restaurant industry grow. The list of 320 restaurants was picked by 84 of the region’s food writers, polling amongst the public and from a jury of 1,500 food experts.
New Delhi’s signature restaurant Bukhara was the only Indian restaurant to make the top 20 list, although the panel of judges shortlisted 28 restaurants in six Indian cities for The Miele Guide.
Joel Robuchon, often hailed as the world’s greatest chef, has three of his restaurants – in Hong Kong, Macau and Tokyo – among the 20 best eating spots in Asia.
The Miele Guide is meant to counter the global San Pellegrino “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” listing, that doesn’t include any Asian eateries.
In 2008, Bukhara had the highest ranking among Asian eateries on the London-based San Pellegrino list, coming in at 55.