Odette is the first Singapore restaurant to take the top spot in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list

MACAU, CHINA - MediaOutReach - 26 March 2019 - The 2019 list of Asia's50 Best Restaurants, sponsoredby S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, was announced at an awards ceremony at Wynn Palace, Macao.

The winning chefs and restaurateurs celebrate at the seventh annual Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, at Wynn Palace, Macau.

Odettein Singapore has taken top honours, succeedingfour-time winner Gaggan in the No.1spot. Serving Asian-inspired modern French cuisine, chef Julien Royer's Odette claims the coveted titles of The Best Restaurant in Asia, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, and TheBest Restaurant in Singapore.

The 2019 list features 10 new restaurants,including a debut entry from Malaysia (Dewakan,No.46) and a new restaurant in the Philippines (Toyo Eatery, No.43). Host destination Macao counts Jade Dragon, rising eight places toNo.27, and Wing Lei Palace debutingat No.36.

IndividualCountry Awards:

Japan

Japan leads the 2019 list with 12 entries whileDen (No.3) earns the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan for asecond consecutive year. Den's chef, Zaiyu Hasegawa, was also named the 2019recipient of the Chefs' Choice Award,sponsored by Estrella Damm, the only award voted for by the chefs of theAsia's 50 Best Restaurants 2019 list to recognise a peer making a positiveimpact on the restaurant scene.

Thailand

After holding the No.1 spot for fourconsecutive years, Gaggan in Bangkokmoves to No.2 while retaining thetitle ofThe BestRestaurant in Thailand. Entering the list at No.16, Gaa in Bangkok claims the HighestNew Entry Award while the restaurant's executive chef, Garima Arora, is named elit™ Vodka Asia's Best Female Chef 2019. Among the remaining six Thailandentries, Sorn, specialising inSouthern Thai cuisine, is a new entry at No.48.

Singapore

Singapore claims seven entries on the list,including newcomer Nouri making abow at No.39 and longtime favourites BurntEnds and Jaan rising to No.10and No.32 respectively.

GreaterChina

Ultravioletby Paul Pairet (No.6) inShanghai is named The Best Restaurant inChina. Hong Kong counts nine restaurants, including first-time entries Vea (No.34) and Seventh Son (No.44). Soaring 25 places to No.15, modern Frenchbistro Belon is crowned with thisyear's Highest Climber Award.

Ascending 11 places to No.7, Mume in Taipei clinches the title of The Best Restaurant in Taiwan, bestingtwo-time winner, Raw (No.30). 

Regional

Locavore (No.42) in Bali holds the title of The Best Restaurant in Indonesia and winsthe Sustainable Restaurant Award inAsia, presented to the restaurant with the highest environmental and socialresponsibility rating, as determined by audit partner Food Made Good.

IndianAccent (No. 17) returns as The Best Restaurant in India for afifth successive year. Ministry of Crabin Colombo (No.35) is named The BestRestaurant in Sri Lanka for a fourth time while Toyo Eatery, the 2018 recipient of the Miele One To Watch Award,enters the list at No.43, claiming the honour of The Best Restaurant in Philippines. Popular Seoul restaurant Mingles (No.13) retains the title of The Best Restaurant in Korea.

Otheraward winners announced include:

Asia's Best Pastry Chef Award,sponsored by Valrhona: Fabrizio Fiorani from Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, Tokyo

Italian chef FabrizioFiorani developed his pastry skills in the kitchens of such acclaimedrestaurants as La Pergola in his native Rome. His desserts seamlesslycomplement chef Luca Fantin's contemporary Italian tasting menu.

Art of Hospitality Award: 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana

8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana's outstanding hospitality, led by GeneralManager Marino Braccu, creates a highly refined but warm atmosphere in whichdiners can enjoy Chef Bombana's creations.

Other award recipients include JL Studio in Taichung, Taiwan, earning the MieleOne To Watch Award and celebratedchef Seiji Yamamoto, of Nihonryori RyuGin in Japan, who is the inaugural winner of the AmericanExpress IconAward.

Howthe Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is compiled

The list is created from thevotes of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for theirexpert opinion of Asia's restaurant scene. The panel in each region is made upof food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded'gastronomes'. Members list their choices in order of preference, based ontheir best restaurant experiences of the previous 18 months. There is nopre-determined check-list of criteria, but there are strict voting rules.

To see more details on Asia's50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit

https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/our-manifesto.html

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