Gastronomic collaborations, cross-country chef exchanges, and an in-Singapore activation in this first-ever culinary partnership between STB and IMG
Singapore, 2019-Jan-22 — /Travel PR News/ — Singapore has been designated the Official Culinary Destination Partner of The World Restaurant Awards, which is a progressive new annual awards created by events leader IMG, in partnership with Joe Warwick[1] and Andrea Petrini[2]. The designation is part of a partnership that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has entered into with The World Restaurant Awards, which is conceived to celebrate the excellence, diversity, integrity and rich culture of the international restaurant scene.
As Official Culinary Destination Partner, Singapore will be placed in the global spotlight at the inaugural edition of the World Restaurant Awards, which will take place in Paris on 18 February 2019. Unique creations will be showcased through a menu comprising the best of Singapore’s flavours, curated by Singapore’s top culinary and bartending talents. Some of these offerings are created in collaboration between the Singapore talents and renowned international chefs and mixologists.
In addition to the inaugural Awards, there are also learning and development opportunities for Singapore’s culinary talents through “The World Restaurant Awards Talent Exchange Programme” that will be launched jointly by STB and IMG. This first-of-its-kind programme will be conducted via an “exchange programme” format, where emerging chefs from Singapore will be attached to The World Restaurant Awards-winning or nominated establishments, and vice versa. Singapore will also be the first in a series of international destinations to play host to “The World Restaurant Awards Dining Series” in Spring 2019, where cross-country collaborations between Singapore and international chefs will culminate in a multi-course dinner.
Mr Justin Clarke, SVP & Managing Director of Culinary, IMG, commented: “The World Restaurant Awards is proud to be working with Singapore as its Official Culinary Destination Partner for its inaugural edition. We are excited to be working with a country that has a rich culinary history and an extremely exciting future, as together we bring these one of a kind awards to life and create an ongoing legacy through the Talent Exchange Programme and Dining Series.”
Ms Melissa Ow, Deputy Chief Executive of STB, said: “STB is delighted to partner The World Restaurant Awards with Singapore as the Official Culinary Destination Partner in its inaugural year. The developmental and collaboration opportunities are tremendous as we look forward to kick-starting the Talent Exchange Programme and welcoming The World Restaurant Awards Dining Series to Singapore later this year. These initiatives will carry the positive momentum following the Awards, by drawing international attention to Singapore’s talented culinary professionals. Through that, we hope to shape the global audience’s perception that Singapore is a leading culinary destination with an increasingly vibrant dining and cocktail landscape.”
Among the Singapore culinary talents who will be in Paris flying Singapore’s flag are:
- Justin Quek, a pioneer in the local fine-dining scene and widely recognised as one of Singapore’s first celebrity chefs
- Cheryl Koh, named Asia’s Best Pastry Chef as part of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016, who also heads the pastry kitchen at one of Singapore’s foremost fine-dining establishments, the two Michelin-starred Les Amis
- Alexander Pang, a second-generation lawyer-turned-chef who helms the quintessentially Singaporean tze char[3] joint, New Ubin Seafood
- Jayden Ong, Senior Bartender of cocktail bar Nutmeg & Clove, most recently ranked #33 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2018
The international line-up of award-winning collaborators include:
- Manoella Buffara, One to Watch, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018
- Rosio Sanchez, former pastry chef of noma and owner of Sanchez and Hija de Sanchez
- Juan Arbelaez, former “Top Chef” contestant and chef-entrepreneur with a growing empire of restaurants in Paris
For more information on The World Restaurant Awards, please visit www.restaurantawards.world. For more information on Singapore, please visit www.VisitSingapore.com. For hi-res images of Singapore and participating Singapore talents, please download here: Images & Bios for WRA SG Talents_7 Jan.zip
[1] Joe Warwick, who is a restaurant journalist, is the Creative Director of The World Restaurant Awards.
[2] Andrea Petrini, who is a legendary gastronomic writer and broadcaster, is the Chair of The World Restaurant Awards’ Judging Panel.
[3] Tze char is a unique Singaporean term that literally means “to cook and fry”. Tze char establishments, which serve up a repertoire of affordable dishes loosely based on Chinese home-style cooking, can be found all over Singapore.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.
More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com | Follow us: facebook.com/STBsingapore or twitter.com/stb_sg
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media, operating in more than 30 countries. The company manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in sports training and league development, as well as marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. IMG is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network.
Contact:
Tel: (65) 6736 6622
Fax: (65) 6736 9423
Source: Singapore Tourism Board