Odette Is The Best Restaurant In Asia
It was the result many were quietly hoping for. And though it may seem like a little too much to anticipate that a restaurant from Singapore might top the Asia’s 50 Best list ahead of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards the country will host in June, Odette at the National Gallery Singapore did just that a few hours ago, becoming the first restaurant in Singapore to claim the No.1 spot on the list.
To boot, chef-owner Julien Royer and his team have achieved this in under four years. The restaurant opened in 2015 and was the list’s highest new entry in 2017 before debuting on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list last year at No.28. Royer was also helming the kitchen when Jaan was honoured with the One To Watch Award at the Asia 50 Best list’s inaugural ceremony in 2013.
“It’s hard to believe, it’s amazing,” he shares during a short press conference held after the ceremony at Wynn Palace in Macau. “As you know, Odette is named after my grandmother on my mum’s side, and she’s the one who fed us so well when we were kids, and she’s the one who showed me how much pleasure, emotion and love you can give people, through food, cuisine and hospitality—this is my tribute to her and also what we try to do on a daily basis.”
Looking back at how far he has come since moving to Singapore in 2007, he posits how his style of cuisine has evolved, taking some inspiration from Asia. He attributes this to Singapore’s unique location at the crossroad of culture and cuisine in the region. “I really like the fact that I’m learning a lot since I’ve been here in Asia; every single trip, every single discovery makes my food better. (Being in Asia) has thought me to be very humble when it comes to cooking.”
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To be sure, Odette has grown into one the island's most highly regarded restaurants for Asian-inspired French cuisine. “People here are just crazy about food, and I love that,” he says with a laugh. He went on to affirm that the DNA of the cuisine at Odette is French, though it has been impacted by Singapore’s geographic location and the increasing use of vegetables, citrus and spices from the region. “This is something that I’m working on … I’m trying to explore the flavours of Southeast Asia and how to slowly infuse some in my cooking, but in subtle touches that enhance the flavour without breaking (the cuisine’s) DNA,” he affirms, adding how it’s a very fragile balance, and an ongoing exercise.
Making Sense
Also worth noting is dedicated champion of crossroads cooking, Nouri, which debuts at No.39. It was truly unexpected, exclaims its elated chef-owner Ivan Brehm, who laughed about how he had thought it was a scam when he received the email about Nouri’s win. “But in the context of what we are doing, it makes sense,” he adds, explaining that everything about the restaurant, its story and ethos, were especially aligned the last 18 months. Long-time favourites Burnt Ends and Jaan climb to No.10 and No.32 respectively, while Les Amis (No.33), Waku Ghin (No.40) and Corner House (No.49) make it a total of seven entries from Singapore to make the list.
After holding the No.1 spot for four consecutive years, Gaggan in Bangkok drops to No.2 but retains the title of The Best Restaurant in Thailand. Represented by 12 restaurants, Japan has the most number of entries, led by Den in Tokyo at No.3.
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See below for the complete list:
No.1
ODETTE, Singapore
No.2
GAGGAN, Bangkok, Thailand
No.3
DEN, Tokyo, Japan
No.4
SÜHRING, Bangkok, Thailand
No.5
FLORILÈGE, Tokyo, Japan
No.6
ULTRAVIOLET BY PAUL PAIRET, Shanghai, China
No.7
MUME, Taipei, Taiwan
No.8
NARISAWA, Tokyo, Japan
No.9
NIHONRYORI RYUGIN, Tokyo, Japan
No.10
BURNT ENDS, Singapore
No.11
THE CHAIRMAN, Hong Kong, China
No.12
8 1/2 OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA, Hong Kong, China
No.13
MINGLES, Seoul, South Korea
No.14
LA CIME, Osaka, Japan
No.15
BELON, Hong Kong, China
No.16
GAA, Bangkok, Thailand
No.17
INDIAN ACCENT, New Delhi, India
No.18
IL RISTORANTE LUCA FANTIN, Tokyo, Japan
No.19
BO.LAN, Bangkok, Thailand
No.20
LE DU, Bangkok, Thailand
No.21
AMBER, Hong Kong, China
No.22
NAHM, Bangkok, Thailand
No.23
SAZENKA, Tokyo, Japan
No.24
LA MAISON DE LA NATURE GOH, Fukuoka, Japan
No.25
SUSHI SAITO, Tokyo, Japan
No.26
L'EFFERVESCENCE, Tokyo, Japan
No.27
JADE DRAGON, Macao, China
No.28
PASTE, Bangkok, Thailand
No.29
FU HE HUI, Shanghai, China
No.30
RAW, Taipei, Taiwan
No.31
SHOUN RYUGIN, Taipei, Taiwan
No.32
JAAN, Singapore
No.33
LES AMIS, Singapore
No.34
VEA, Hong Kong, China
No.35
MINISTRY OF CRAB, Colombo, Sri Lanka
No.36
WING LEI PALACE, Macao, China
No.37
NEIGHBORHOOD, Hong Kong, China
No.38
LUNG KING HEEN, Hong Kong, China
No.39
NOURI, Singapore
No.40
WAKU GHIN, Singapore
No.41
TOCTOC, Seoul, South Korea
No.42
LOCAVORE, Bali, Indonesia
No.43
TOYO EATERY, Manila, Philippines
No.44
SEVENTH SON, Hong Kong, China
No.45
QUINTESSENCE, Tokyo, Japan
No.46
DEWAKAN, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
No.47
SUGALABO, Tokyo, Japan
No.48
SORN, Bangkok, Thailand
No.49
CORNER HOUSE, Singapore
No.50
TA VIE, Hong Kong, China