Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s Waku Ghin drops two stars to one; Putien loses its star in Michelin Guide S’pore 2024
A year ago, when chef Sun Kim moved his mod Korean restaurant Meta to a more elegant and upscale shophouse space along Mohamed Sultan Road, he had felt it would be its third and final address.
The Busan-born chef, who has made Singapore his home since opening Meta in 2015, looks set to stay at that location now that the restaurant has gained its second Michelin star there.
Meta moved to its current premises in an elegant, upscale shophouse along Mohamed Sultan Road a year ago. (Photo: Meta)
"Since we moved here, we've evolved a lot in terms of food and service. It feels good that Michelin has recognised our efforts," Kim commented.
This year’s Michelin Guide Singapore results were announced via its website and social media platforms on June 25.
Pangium, which explores Straits cuisine through chef Malcolm Lee’s family recipes, earned its first Michelin star. (Photo: Pangium)
Four new restaurants awarded a star
Four new restaurants were awarded their first Michelin stars. These are: Pangium, which explores Straits cuisine through chef Malcolm Lee’s family recipes; Chaleur at Neil Road, which blends Japanese and French flavours, modern Italian Matera located at The Fullerton Waterboat House, and Araya which serves refined South American cuisine.
Araya serves Chilean South Pacific cuisine. (Photo: Araya)
For South American chefs Fernanda Guerrero and Francisco Javier Araya, today was a day of celebration in more ways than one. Besides their Chilean, South Pacific-themed restaurant Araya winning its first Michelin star barely eight months after opening, the partners in life and work just announced their engagement this morning.
The duo said: “We're so happy! Winning a Michelin star in less than a year of opening was unexpected but incredibly rewarding, and reflects our team's collective effort and dedication. We aim to work even more closely with our Chilean producers and suppliers to promote our vibrant food culture.
Waku Ghin drops from two stars to one
Meta is the only new addition to the two-Michelin star category. Meanwhile, haute contemporary Japanese restaurant Waku Ghin, helmed by celebrity chef Tetsuya Wakuda, dropped to the one-star tier.
There are no new winners in the three Michelin-star category, which is currently occupied by Les Amis at Shaw Centre, Odette at the National Gallery Singapore and Zen in Bukit Pasoh Road.
Putien and Cure lost one star
Former one-star winners that were dropped from the list include Beni at Mandarin Gallery, Reve at Kreta Ayer Road, Cure at Keong Saik Road and Putien at Kitchener Road. Restaurants that have closed – La Dame de Pic, Braci, Table65 and 28 Wilkie – are off the guide too.
Chef Hafizzul Hashim of Fiz, which won the Michelin Green Star award. (Photo: Fiz)
Mod Malay restaurant Fiz given Michelin Green Star
Fiz, whose menu showcases Malaysian flavours and ingredients, joins one Michelin-starred Seroja as the second recipient of the Michelin Green Star from Singapore. It was lauded for its sustainable sourcing practices, energy conservation measures, food waste reduction, and engagement with the community.
Fiz’s chef-owner Haffizul Hashim said: “We are deeply humbled and grateful for the award. We founded Fiz to spotlight the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian cuisine in a contemporary setting, guided by recipes that are ancient, as we believe that ancient ways of cooking and living allow us to be more harmonious with the planet than we are today. We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support – from our whole restaurant team to our guests.”
The Michelin Guide Singapore was launched in 2016 and each year, the city’s finest F&B establishments are assessed by incognito inspectors under five criteria: Quality of the ingredients used, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques, the chef’s personality expressed in the cuisine, harmony of flavours and consistency between visits.
In addition to the Michelin star winners, 81 food establishments were recognised with a Bib Gourmand on Jun 18, which highlights restaurants that offer value-for-money meals under S$45.
This includes 11 new entries, of which nine are brand new additions to the guide, such as popular Amoy Street fish soup hawker Han Kee, East Coast Park Italian bistro Fico and Tekka Centre’s tandoor specialist Delhi Lahori. Two were moved from the Michelin Selected category: Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee, which has been in operation for over 70 years, and Holland Drive fishball noodle soup stall Ru Ji Kitchen.
Here’s the official Michelin Guide Singapore 2024 list. (* denotes new entrants):
Three Michelin Stars
1. Les Amis
2. Odette
3. Zen
Two Michelin Stars
1. Cloudstreet
2. Jaan by Kirk Westaway
3. Meta (promoted from one star)
4. Saint Pierre
5. Shoukouwa
6. Thevar
One Michelin Star
1. Alma
2. Araya*
3. Art di Daniele Sperindio
4. Born
5. Buona Terra
6. Burnt Ends
7. Candlenut
8. Chaleur*
9. Chef Kang’s
10. Cut
11. Esora
12. Euphoria
13. Hamamoto
14. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
15. Iggy’s
16. Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine (Orchard)
17. Jag
18. Labyrinth
19. Lei Garden
20. Lerouy
21. Ma Cuisine
22. Marguerite
23. Matera*
24. Nae:um
25. Nouri
26. Oshino
27. Pangium*
28. Poise
29. Rhubarb
30. Seroja
31. Shinji (Bras Basah Road)
32. Shisen Hanten
33. Sommer
34. Summer Palace
35. Summer Pavilion
36. Sushi Ichi
37. Sushi Kimura
38. Sushi Sakuta
39. Terra
40. Waku Ghin
41. Whitegrass
42. Willow
Source: CNA/mm
The original version of this story first appeared in CNA.
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