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- Straits Times
Home-grown Ami Patisserie's chef Makoto Arami wins French Pastry Talent award
SINGAPORE – Japanese chef Makoto Arami of home-grown Ami Patisserie in Scotts Road received the Pastry Talent of the Year Award from French gastronomy guide La Liste on June 16.
He received the award in Paris at the annual Pastry Special Awards that spotlights global talent. The 2025 edition recognises 36 pastry chefs and owners across 18 countries.
The 36-year-old third-generation chef was Singapore's only representative at the awards, following local chef Janice Wong's win of La Liste's Pastry Innovation Award in 2024.
Ami Patisserie first launched online in Singapore in 2021, then as a physical space in 2024 featuring a 14-seat patisserie-cafe and eight-seat dining room for the exquisite Chef's Table Discovery Experience, priced at $118++ a person.
The interior of Ami Patisserie.
PHOTO: AMI PATISSERIE
On receiving the award, chef Arami says: 'This recognition means more than I can express. It embodies not just my own journey, but also the dedication and spirit of the entire pastry and service team at Ami Patisserie. It reaffirms our commitment to crafting every creation and experience with utmost sincerity.
'I follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and father, who inspired my love for the craft and instilled in me the belief that true happiness is found in the simple joy of guests enjoying our pastries.'
Ami Patisserie's Chef's Table Discovery Experience is available for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
PHOTO: AMI PATISSERIE
Four other entrants also received the same Pastry Talent of the Year accolade that lauds the most promising pastry chefs of the year across bakeries, tea rooms and dessert restaurants.
They are Lily Jones of London's Lily Vanilli, couple Melanie and Arnaud Mathez of Paris' Le Jardin Sucre, Hannah Ziskin of Los Angeles' Quarter Sheets and Tom Coll of Dubai's Les Desserts Pastry Boutique at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel.
Other honours went to Maxime Frederic of Cheval Blanc Paris Hotel and the Louis Vuitton Cafes, named the World's Most Creative Pastry Chef; while India's Pooja Dhingra received the Pastry Game Changer award. Claridge's ArtSpace Cafe by executive chef Thibault Hauchard in London was given the World's Best Pastry Shop title.
La Liste's president and founder Philippe Faure says: 'Just 20 or 30 years ago, pastry had no structured international stage. Today, it stands as a fully fledged discipline – with its own talents, codes and economic impact.
'These awards celebrate technical excellence, entrepreneurial vision and the ability to shape the future of the craft. It's international recognition for a profession that long remained in the shadows.'
Eunice Quek is STFood online editor at The Straits Times. She covers all things trending in the food and beverage scene.
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