Latest news with #Akuna
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Chef Sam Aisbett's restaurant Akuna turns 2 and has a Michelin star for the second year running
When I last spoke to Sam Aisbett in 2023, he was on the cusp of opening his restaurant Akuna in Ho Chi Minh City. He didn't seem particularly fazed by the endeavour since he'd learnt, he said, from the many mistakes he'd made during his three-year run at Whitegrass, the restaurant he founded in Singapore in 2015. Fast forward two years, and it seems Aisbett and I remember things differently. 'At that time, I hadn't been working for I don't know how long, so I started to doubt myself,' he said in his friendly, rapid-fire tone. 'I think I was panicking. I was like, do I even know how to cook anymore? And I didn't want to do the same thing [as I did at Whitegrass], so I was scared that I'd just end up cooking what I was familiar with.' Those fears were put to rest when Akuna was awarded its first Michelin star even before its first year was up. Last month, the restaurant retained that star for the second year, a dream for most chefs, since a Michelin nod has been known to play a sizable role in bringing diners through a restaurant's doors. This wasn't Aisbett's first entry into the Michelin constellation. He received his first star for Whitegrass in 2017. 'So of course I was happy when Akuna won our first star, but I thought I didn't care. Since we started, all I wanted was to cook good food and get the restaurant busy. But when I came back to the kitchen [that day], some of the young chefs were crying. They were so excited. And I thought, this means so much to them. They've probably spent their lives dreaming of eating in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and now to actually work in one… That was just amazing. 'So I told them that this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing that we can all be part of… but now, people have even higher expectations when they come to our restaurant, so we have to step up what we're doing.' What typically follows is pressure to not only retain that star but also reach for a few more. But Aisbett isn't biting. 'When all you care about is getting an award, then you sort of lose focus on the fact that it's important to make sure guests are happy,' he said. 'The award's good for your ego, but, you know, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn't,' he threw his hands up in the air and laughed, 'Yeah…' At 42, Aisbett is settled enough to understand that the drive to give guests 'the best experience of their lives' is enough to keep standards at his restaurant consistently high. He's had to shed some mindsets and learn to relax his grip on controlling every aspect of the work. 'And I'm having fun! I'm not taking everything so seriously anymore.' Transformation is often hard, but learning to give his team more room to express their curiosity and creativity has improved his quality of life and the restaurant's offerings. 'Before, no one could change anything. It had to be me, me, me. And now I realise how stupid that is,' he continued. 'Like, I usually have an idea of how I would plate a dish, and then one of my team plates it differently and I think, 'My god, that's so smart, so simple'. And it eats so much better than if we'd done it like I was going to. The young chefs have such great ideas, and not trying to control everything means I have more time to do other things.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by AKUNA Restaurant (@akunarestaurant) Like considering the possibilities of opening a more casual concept, learning about the Vietnamese ingredients he hasn't yet had a chance to use, and breaking some rules. 'You know, you get trained that a restaurant has to be like this,' he said, forming two straight lines with his hands. 'I don't know who the hell came up with that rule. There are no rules. We can do it how we want to. I play the music I like (Prince, Michael Jackson), because we have an open kitchen and if people were to come to my house, that's the same music I'd be playing. 'The star is a nice reminder that we're doing something right,' he said, coming back to the point of our conversation. 'But the real win is coming in every day, still excited to cook.'
CNN
08-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
REI is clearing out winter jackets from Patagonia, Columbia, Arc'Teryx and more
Fleeces, puffers and anoraks — you name it, it's on sale at REI. While you may be relegating your heavy winter jackets to under-bed storage, it's actually the perfect time to invest in a coat for less. The outdoor apparel retailer slashed prices on popular name brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Columbia, Arc'Teryx and more, clearing house for spring inventory. From rain jackets for spring showers to down coats at their steepest discounts, we rounded up the 10 best outerwear deals — up to 70% off. The North Face Women's Arctic Bomber Insulated Jacket This water-resistant and windproof puffer jacket will keep you toasty on the coldest days. Its ribbed cuffs and snap closure help retain heat and its large pockets will hold all of your accessories. We love the faux fur-lined hood and now you can snag it for 50% off. Picture Organic Clothing Women's Akuna Zip Fleece From pilates to park strolls, a fleece jacket is great to have on hand during this hard-to-dress-for weather. It's easy to layer t-shirts, turtlenecks and more underneath depending on the temps for the day. Prana Women's Bridges Flannel Jacket If you're on the hunt for an on-trend jacket that you can wear to brunch with friends, out for errands and the like, look no further. This lined flannel jacket is 30% off and will be your new BFF during spring and fall. Patagonia Women's Re-Tool Hybrid Jacket Save almost 40% on this ripstop-fleece hybrid jacket. Its hem hits at the hip length with a zip-through collar and adjustable bungee cord for functional coverage. Luckily it's discounted in tan, blue, black, green and mauve. Wild Rye Women's Payette Insulated Pullover This packable puffer will keep you warm on the trail with its PrimaLoft Gold insulation. It comes in a bright Caper and dreamy Lavender Haze to keep you covered and stylish all spring long. It reminds us of a similar boxy zip-up from Free People Movement. Cotopaxi Fuego Hooded Down Jacket From hiking to biking, this hooded down jacket accompanied our expert through many outdoor adventures. The versatile layer uses a durable ripstop nylon shell that feels lightweight yet keeps wearers warm. Plus, it can be packed down into its zipper pocket to always keep on hand. Read our review The North Face Men's Crest Full-Zip Jacket Reach for this stretchy double-knit fleece jacket on days you need an extra layer. Its elastic cuffs help keep drafts out while its outer is coated with a water-repellent finish. Score it in three on-sale colors: a burnt orange, a dark teal and a garnet red. Patagonia Men's Windshadow Insulated Jacket Hailing from the popular Californian brand, this insulated jacket keeps you covered in climates warm and cold to dry and wet. It's made with a durable ripstop polyester shell and includes plenty of smart features, like an adjustable hood, hem and cuffs and a set of interior pockets. Arc'Teryx Men's Rush Jacket The buzzy brand, Arc'Teryx, comes with a pricey markup, which is why we're psyched to see it as part of REI's jacket sale. It adopts a GORE-TEX shell, making it a trusty waterproof and windproof option for serious explorers. Marmot Men's Refuge Jacket Even if you've already hit the slopes for the last time this season, this ski jacket will be useful come next winter. It's seam-taped to keep powder out and features ventilated armpits to keep things breathable as you adventure out. It's a pretty irresistible buy for over $80 at REI. Our deals editors covered REI's spring sale a few weeks ago. Back then, you could score up to 50% off clothing and gear. Today's sale prompts deeper price cuts, specifically on jackets from REI editor-favorite brands we know and love. Winter coats can come with a hefty tag, and if we've learned anything, it's that some of the best times to buy are during the off-season. Consider this sale your cue to cop one for less ahead of the next cold season. Our deals team has over a decade of combined commerce journalism experience. Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saguin and Elena Matarazzo source the best deals of the day each morning to curate one-offs and retailer-specific roundups on the top products to shop, searching everything from coveted tech essentials to outdoor deals.
