Michelin Guide Singapore: 2 Japanese restaurants get one and two Michelin stars, 10 have dropped off
Chefs from the three-Michelin-starred restaurants at the Michelin Guide Singapore ceremony.
SINGAPORE - Two Japanese restaurants shared the Michelin-starred spotlight at the ninth edition of the Michelin Guide Singapore on July 24.
They are Omakase@Stevens at Novotel Singapore On Stevens, which received one Michelin star while Sushi Sakuta at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore has been promoted from one to two star status.
This marks a double-win for Omakase@Stevens' executive chef Kazuki Arimoto, 31, who also received the Young Chef Award.
Omakase@Stevens' executive chef Kazuki Arimoto receiving the Young Chef Award.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
He joined the restaurant three years ago as its sous chef, and took over as executive chef in April 2024.
He says: 'I'm so happy to have got one star and the Young Chef Award.'
Sushi Sakuta's chef-owner Yoshio Sakuta, 47, was still in disbelief. He says: 'I'm so, so happy. I'm so appreciative of everyone who's supported us. We will continue to do our best every day and believe that we might add another star in the future.'
'This was a great showing for Japan,' adds Sushi Sakuta's head sommelier Iwabuchi Makoto, 41.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash
Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports
Singapore Singapore says prolonged suffering of civilians in Gaza is 'unconscionable'
Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp
Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October
Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B
Asia 'Vampire coach': Coercive blood sampling in school casts spotlight on Taiwan's culture of obedience
Singapore 1,300 names, addresses of traffic offenders published online; police investigating
Head sommelier Iwabuchi Makoto (left) and chef-owner Yoshio Sakuta of Sushi Sakuta receiving their two-Michelin-starred award.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Singapore's trio of three-Michelin-starred establishments - Les Amis at Shaw Centre, Odette at the National Gallery Singapore and Zen in Bukit Pasoh Road - have maintained their stars.
One-Michelin-starred establishment Seroja at Duo Galleria in Bugis as well as Fiz in Tanjong Pagar have also retained their Michelin Green Star, awarded to establishments for their sustainable practices and dining experiences.
Other awards given out included the Service Award for Ms Ines Carriere Bega from Odette, as well as the Sommelier Award for Ms Bella Jankaew from the two-Michelin-starred Jaan by Kirk Westaway.
Ms Ines Carriere Bega of Odette, winner of the Service Award.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Ms Bella Jankaew of Jaan by Kirk Westaway receiving the Sommelier Award.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Amid the glitz and glamour of the award ceremony - attended by over 400 chefs, trade professionals, media and invited guests - there was the stark reality that 10 one-Michelin-starred restaurants have dropped off the list.
Nine of them have closed. They are Art di Daniele Sperindio, Chef Kang's, Matera, Oshino, Poise, Rhubarb, Shinji, Sommer and Sushi Kimura.
Rhubarb, which underwent a concept revamp in June, is now known as Encore by Rhubarb. It remains in its location in Duxton Hill.
Terra Tokyo Italian in Tras Street has lost its star, and is now on the Michelin Select list. Such eateries are recognised by the Michelin Guide for their quality, but do not qualify for a Michelin star or Bib Gourmand title.
There are 26 new establishments - a mix of restaurants and hawker stalls - on the Michelin Select list. They include Na Oh in Jurong West, Somma at New Bahru and Latido in Tras Street.
The cocktail reception that followed the ceremony featured seven chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants across Asia, including Mingoo Kang from three-star Mingles in South Korea and Eric Raty of the two-star Arbor in Hong Kong.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Russia makes new protest to Italy in dispute over cancelled Gergiev concert
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia said on Thursday it had made a new protest to Italy in a dispute over the cancellation of a concert in Italy where Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor with a record of support for President Vladimir Putin, had been due to perform. The concert near Naples was scrapped last month following a storm of criticism, including from the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who called Gergiev an "accomplice" of Putin. Italy's culture minister had said the event risked becoming a "sounding board for Russian propaganda". Moscow registered an initial protest on July 23, accusing Italy of discrimination, cancel culture and caving in to anti-Russian lobbying. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires two days ago to complain about an "ongoing anti-Russian campaign" in Italy that it said was aggravating a crisis in bilateral relations. The ministry said Italy had reacted disproportionately to what it called Moscow's rejection of "some odious statements by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government directed against Russia." It added, without providing examples, that Italian media had published false stories and carried out "Russophobic attacks with the full support of Italian ruling circles". The case highlights Russia's fury at the shunning by the West of some of its leading artists in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Gergiev has conducted orchestras at the world's leading concert halls but found himself unwelcome in the West after the start of the war. Milan's La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and New York's Carnegie Hall were among those to sever ties with him over his failure to condemn it. He is now head of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Gergiev has drawn strong criticism from opponents of Putin for performing over the years at events with political overtones, including in 2016 at a concert in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria after Russia intervened in Syria's civil war on the side of Syria's then-president, Bashar al-Assad. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Gang violence rocks Haiti's capital ahead of political handoff
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PORT-AU-PRINCE - Gang violence flared in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on Thursday and a top gang leader threatened the country's precarious government as it prepared to hand over its rotating leadership. Businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr is set to step into the rotating presidency of Haiti's transitional presidential council on Thursday, taking over from former central bank chief Fritz Alphonse Jean as the council and security authorities struggle to wrest control from powerful gangs. The Kenya-led multinational security support mission operating in Haiti said it had thwarted attacks on Thursday that gangs had plotted to "disrupt national stability and render the country ungovernable." Three officers from the mission were briefly hospitalized after two armed mission vehicles came under attack by Molotov cocktails and were set ablaze, the mission said in a statement. Bursts of gunfire were also heard in parts of the capital on Thursday morning. Gang alliance leader Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue, said on Thursday that the gangs were planning to disrupt Saint-Cyr's transition later in the day. "We have decided to march on the Premier's office and the Villa d'Accueil to end it all," Cherizier said in a video shared on social media. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Saint-Cyr is scheduled to take over the rotating presidency at a ceremony at the Villa d'Accueil, which has been serving as the government headquarters since the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince has become the site of frequent gun battles. His term runs until February 7, 2026, when the council's mandate was set to end and a newly elected president be inaugurated, although it is unclear if elections called for November will be able to take place. The transitional council, which took power in April last year, has been marked by political in-fighting. It has been criticized by many Haitians, including the country's top police unions, for failing to address the violence. Cherizier, a former police office alleged by the United Nations to have played a role in multiple massacres, has previously called for the toppling of Haiti's unelected government. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Eyal Zamir, the Israeli general at odds with Netanyahu
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The new Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visits the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City, March 5, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo JERUSALEM - Eyal Zamir, the Israeli armed forces chief of staff arguing against a full takeover of Gaza, is the latest in a long line of generals to tussle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Zamir fears endangering the lives of remaining hostages and miring an exhausted military in Gaza, he told Netanyahu during a stormy meeting on Tuesday, though he is expected to seize the last areas of the besieged territory if ordered to do so. Speaking on Thursday as Netanyahu's war cabinet prepared to meet, Zamir defended his right to speak out on the military's behalf, calling the culture of debate "an inseparable part of the history of the Jewish people". But he also said the military now had the ability to establish a new security reality along the border. "Our intention is to defeat Hamas and continue to operate with our hostages at the forefront of our minds," he said. His hard image looks very different to Palestinians. They already knew Zamir for suppressing Gaza unrest in 2018 when more than 150 people were killed. Now they see him as the architect of utter devastation in the territory. TIGHTROPE ACT He has a difficult line to walk. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds "The challenge that stands in front of him right now, promoting a doctrine or policy that he really doesn't support, will be very complicated," said Michael Milshtein of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University. Still, as a former military secretary to Netanyahu, promoted by the prime minister to deputy head of the general staff in 2018 and to the top job early this year, Zamir should be well placed to argue his point, Milshtein said. Unlike some of the other army top brass, Zamir was not tainted with the catastrophic security mistakes of Hamas' October 7, 2023, cross-border assault on Israeli communities, he said, an attack seen as Israel's worst military failure. He is also the commander in chief of a military now riding high in the national mood after shattering Lebanon's Hezbollah last year and taking out much of Iran's nuclear programme and Revolutionary Guards leadership in June. The scale of Israel's successes in both conflicts re-established its reputation as the Middle East's military hegemon, inspiring a wave of national pride over the pummelling of Iranian-backed Hezbollah and the weakening of Iran. While internal political divisions meant trust in Netanyahu was only 40% in an Israeli poll last month, more than 68% of respondents trusted Zamir. But at the same time, the Israeli military has come under ever greater criticism from abroad, including from major Western allies, over its conduct of the war in Gaza - with massive destruction, looming famine and a high civilian casualty toll. Zamir has already expanded the Gaza war since replacing Herzi Halevi, who resigned as chief of staff in January over the October 7 Hamas attack. After Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas in March, it escalated major ground operations across Gaza. Zamir told troops in a speech that "we will continue until we break the enemy's fighting capability — until we defeat it wherever we operate". TANK SOLDIER Zamir began his long military career in the armoured corps after joining up in 1984, commanding tanks at a time when Israeli forces were deeply involved in their occupation of southern Lebanon. He later ran a military doctrine and training unit, helping formulate Israeli strategic thinking, before heading the army's 7th Brigade and then its 36th Division. As head of Southern Command from 2015-18 he was responsible for how the military handled months of weekly protests by thousands of Gazans approaching the security fence with Israel after a partial blockade of goods and people in place since 2005, when Israel pulled its military and settlers out of the coastal enclave. More than 150 protesters were killed in the demonstrations, with Palestinians saying the victims were unarmed and Israel calling them rioters. One Gazan injured in the 2018 protests at the age of 16, who only gave his name as Basel, said by phone: "We don't differentiate between the Israeli leaders. Zamir is like all the others. A war criminal." Zamir's long record was roundly praised by Netanyahu and his ministers when he was appointed, but the difficulty of balancing the demands of the political leadership with the needs of a stretched army soon kicked in. By April, Israeli media outlets were reporting clashes between the chief of staff and government ministers, particularly those from the far right in Netanyahu's coalition, who wanted a tougher approach in Gaza. Israeli generals have throughout the war voiced concerns about an open-ended conflict with reserve troops repeatedly called up and the military taking over governance of an enclave reduced to rubble with an embittered population. "From the military point of view, it's not a very complicated mission to occupy all Gaza. But it's quite clear that the minute this occupation is accomplished, it means the IDF is responsible for 2 million Palestinians," said Milshtein. REUTERS
