Tuesday night’s Michelin Guide ceremony unveiled 55 restaurants—up from last year’s 52—with five newcomers
It was a star-studded evening at the Michelin Guide Singapore 2023 ceremony on June 27, as Singapore’s top chefs and restaurateurs descended at the Garden Ballroom of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay. For the first time in Asia, the ceremony was held as a cocktail reception, letting the luminaries of Singapore’s culinary scene mingle and share in the budding anticipation of the ceremony.
This year, it was announced that a total number of 55 restaurants made the list, up from last year’s 52.
There were five new restaurants which made the one-star category, which included Born by chef-owner Zor Tan; Poise helmed by executive chef Steve Lancaster; Seroja by chef-owner Kevin Wong; Sushi Sakuta by chef-owner Yoshio Sakuta; and Willow by chef Nicholas Tam. Meanwhile, Shisen Hanten dropped to the one Michelin star category, and Shang Palace lost its star.
Before the ceremony, Chris Gledhill, vice-president of business development and partnerships for the Michelin Guide East Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, took to the stage to speak about the commitment and dedication of chefs and restaurateurs to bring people together through good food.
Don't miss: Michelin Guide Singapore 2022: Read the Full List of Restaurants Here
This year, there was an Epicurian Exchange featuring Damien Micheline (general manager of Angliss), Julien Royer (co-owner of Odette) and Rishi Naleendra (chef-owner of Cloudstreet and Kotuwa), where each spoke passionately about sustainability in the food industry. Naleendra and Royer spoke about how Singaporeans’ tastes are evolving to appreciate quality and sustainability, while Micheline spoke about supplying sustainable ingredients to restaurants.
International director of the Michelin Guides Gwendal Poullennac also appeared via video, congratulating the Michelin star awardees in Singapore for its vast diversity and contributions to the dining scene.
There was also a nod to the laureates of the Michelin Bib Gourmand award which was announced two weeks ago, celebrating the best dining experiences for the best value for money.
Other restaurants that maintained their star included La Dame de Pic, Béni, and Marguerite.
“On behalf of my entire team at Marguerite, we feel incredibly grateful to be recognised in this room tonight,” chef-patron Michael Wilson of Marguerite said. “Since earning our first star last year, we’ve embarked on a journey of growth and self-reflection together as a team, fully embracing the ever-evolving dining landscape, the triumphs and challenges it has thrown our way. This acknowledgement motivates us to keep pushing boundaries as we continue to grow, elevate and create exceptional experiences for our guests.”
Not to miss out on the other essential members in the industry, the Michelin Guide also awarded the Welcome and Service Award, which went to Desmond Wong from Shoukouwa, and the Sommelier Award, which went to Makoto Iwabuchi from new one-Michelin-starred Sushi Sakuta. The Young Chef Award went to chef Kevin Wong from newly-minted one Michelin star Seroja for blending Southeast Asian and Malay culinary cultures with stunning effect.
For the first time, the ceremony also awarded the Michelin Green Star, which went to Seroja for its commitment to sustainability, making chef Kevin Wong one of the most decorated chefs of the night.
