The awarded chefs celebrate after the event
The chef who built a menu out of emojis has done it again. Bangkok’s Gaggan restaurant has topped the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for the fourth consecutive year. The Indian eatery, renowned for its 25-course tasting menu illustrated only with emoji symbols, eclipsed stiff competition from Tokyo, with Den and Florilege, taking second and third places respectively.
The winners were announced at a ceremony held on Tuesday night at Wynn Palace in Macau. The list is chosen by a panel of more than 300 food writers, food critics, chefs and restaurateurs spanning six geographical regions. Each expert picks 10 restaurants and lists them in order of preference. The judges are to have eaten at every restaurant on their list within the previous 18 months.
Rounding out the top five is modern German spot Suhring in Bangkok and French restaurant Odette in Singapore. Jade Dragon is the only restaurant from Macau included in the list, listed at No 35.
In total, Tokyo had four restaurants in the top 10, doubling its 2017 tally, with Narisawa coming in at number six and Nihonryori RyuGin at number nine. Bangkok had a respectable showing with Suhring (in fourth place) and Nahm (in tenth) joining Gaggan.
Things were not so rosy for Hong Kong, with Amber slipping from third to seventh, and 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana dropping from fourth to number 13.
Odette was Singapore’s highest ranked establishment, up four places from last year. Restaurant Andre, which placed second last year, was a notable absence after chef-owner Andre Chiang closed the doors in February this year.
After his win last year, Gaggan Anand, owner of Gaggan, shocked the foodie world by announcing that he was going to shut down his award-winning restaurant in 2020. He told Bloomberg that he planned to move to Japan and open several new restaurants, drawing on Buddhist principles.
“We have really worked hard, hard to be a stronger team,” he said today before learning he had won. “So whatever the result is today, we party hard and continue to make our guests lick the plates.”
Speaking at the occasion, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, pledged that the department would aim to promote creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable development, seeking exchange, innovation, cross-field collaborations, cheering traditions and training the next generations of culinary talent.
Meanwhile managing director of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants”, Tim Brooke-Webb, commented: “We chose to bring this best-in-class gourmet platform to the region in order to showcase its fast-expanding gastronomic portfolio, as well as celebrate outstanding talent from across Asia”
Macau had one restaurant on the list of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018” in the first four years of the Asian edition (Robuchon au Dôme), and last year two local restaurants were ranked on the regional list (Jade Dragon and The Tasting Room).
MGTO previously announced that Macau will serve as host destination for the awards presentation ceremony and other related activities in 2018 and 2019. According to the bureau, hosting the award ceremony will provide the region with the opportunity to interact with some of the best chefs and restaurateurs in Asia.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is published by William Reed Business Media. The World’s 50 Best will be revealed at a ceremony in Bilbao, Spain, in June. MDT/Bloomberg
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