Latest news with #TrysonQuek
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
From kitchen to cocktails: Chef Tryson Quek on winning World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore 2025
Tryson Quek has been named Singapore's Bartender of the Year in the prestigious bartending competition World Class 2025. Held at Esplanade rooftop gastrobar Baia on Jun 16, the Singapore finals saw six of the country's top bartenders vying for the national title through two challenges that tested innovation, speed, and storytelling. Marco Maiorano from Koma at Marina Bay Sands and Samuel Pang from Night Hawk in Tanjong Pagar were first and second runners-up respectively. World Class was launched in 2009 by Diageo, a global leader in premium drinks with presence in over 180 countries, with the goal of elevating the art of cocktail making and hospitality. Along with the competition, there was a three-month World Class Cocktail Festival where competitors showcased their competition drinks at their respective bars. Besides the top three awards, Ooi Foo Giap from Last Word in Purvis Street was voted 'Bartender's Bartender' by the other competitors for his exemplary display of leadership and camaraderie while Sushisamba Singapore took home the 'World Class Cocktail Festival Experience of 2025' for their bold creativity and strong showing during the festival. More well-known as the chef half of Tanjong Pagar gastrobar Sidedoor, alongside his mixologist wife Bannie Kang, Quek worked his culinary skills to his advantage in a field of 42 competitors at the 16th edition of the World Class competition. He will now represent the nation in the grand finals in Toronto, Canada in September. This win is especially meaningful to Quek as his wife Bannie was the Singapore champion in 2019 and had gone on to win the global crown that year. Quek said jokingly: 'Living with that legacy is inspiring but also intimidating. We didn't have a bet, but there was a quiet understanding between us: Push your limits, but stay true to yourself. That helped keep things grounded. There was no competition between us – just support, and a little teasing now and then.' Quek started out as a chef and had never envisioned himself making drinks. 'It started with curiosity and slowly became an obsession, especially being around Bannie and the bartending community for years. I didn't know what to expect when I joined World Class Singapore 2025, I only wanted to challenge myself, blend my culinary roots with bartending and see how far I could go.' During the finals, participants had to imagine a futuristic cocktail that integrated technology, flavour, form and storytelling. They were also put under pressure in 'The Showdown' round, designed to simulate the fast pace in a real-life bar. Finalists had only five minutes to craft five classic cocktails each inspired by spirits such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label, The Singleton 15 Year Old and the Tanqueray Quek had thought that he might lose in the early rounds. 'I was the 'new guy' in a room full of bar veterans. But instead of shrinking, I embraced the challenge and leaned into what made me different – my chef's instincts, my storytelling, and my heart.' He has no elaborate strategy for the grand finals, saying: 'I want to represent Singapore with heart, honesty, and flavour. I want the world to see that bartending here is more than just technique. It's innovation under pressure, creativity in tight spaces, and hospitality that feels deeply personal. I'm bringing everything I've learned as a chef and a new bartender into this.'
Time Out
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
Scoot is crowned the world's best long-haul low-cost airline in 2025 by Skytrax
Singapore Airlines often gets the spotlight, and rightly so, having just been crowned the best airline in Asia and second-best in the world. But let's not overlook its low-cost sibling Scoot, which is holding its own on the global stage by clinching the title of World's Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline at the 2025 Skytrax awards. Best known for its wallet-friendly flights across Asia, Scoot recently added direct flights to Vienna, Austria starting from just $309. Despite its budget status, the airline doesn't cut corners when it comes to service. Its signature 'Scootitude', a philosophy centred on delivering quality assistance and experiences to its customers, is at the heart of its operations. Passengers can also opt to upgrade to ScootPlus for added comfort and convenience. Perks include increased baggage allowance, comfortable leather seats with extra legroom, priority boarding and in-flight meals — a solid choice for longer journeys. This dedication has paid off. In addition to winning the long-haul category, Scoot also placed second in the World's Best Low-Cost Airline rankings, just behind AirAsia. For the uninitiated, Skytrax is essentially the Oscars of the airline industry – making these accolades no small feat. World's best 10 long-haul low-cost airlines of 2025: Scoot Jetstar Airways Air Canada Rouge Zipair Norse Atlantic Airways Discover Airlines Level Air Japan Cebu Pacific French Bee World's best 10 low-cost airlines of 2025: AirAsia Scoot Indigo Eurowings Vueling Airlines Volotea Transavia Iberia Express Flynas easyJet View the full list of awards and winners from the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025 here. Tryson Quek from Side Door crowned World Class Singapore 2025 champion
Time Out
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Tryson Quek from Side Door crowned World Class Singapore 2025 champion
After months of fierce competition, Singapore has crowned its new World Class Bartender of the Year. At last night's finale held at Baia, Tryson Quek, the affable chef-turned-bartender and owner of Side Door, emerged as the winner of one of the country's most prestigious cocktail competitions. He beat out a strong field of finalists: Marco Maiorano (КОМА), Zana Möhlmann (Manhattan), Kelvin Saquilayan (Republic Bar), Ooi Foo Giap (Last Word), and Sam Pang (Night Hawk), who each brought their own distinct style and skill to the competition. This year's final unfolded in two parts, designed to push the boundaries of innovation, speed and bartending finesse. First up was the Drink to the Future challenge, which asked contestants to imagine what the world of cocktails might look like in the decades to come. Their creations had to incorporate either Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Don Julio 1942, or Zacapa XO, and make use of technology. What we saw was a forward-looking display of imagination: plants turned into music to suggest a future where we might converse with our food, magnetic stirrers and ultrasonic infusers aimed at improving bar efficiency, and thoughtful ingredients like hydroponically grown tomatoes and carbon-capturing seaweed that point towards a more sustainable approach to drinking. Next came The Showdown, a speed challenge that tested both composure and technical skill. Finalists had five minutes to shake, stir and present five elevated classic cocktails: a highball with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a Paloma with Don Julio 1942, an Old Fashioned with Zacapa XO, a Manhattan using Singleton 15 Year Old, and a Martini with Tanqueray No. Ten. They were free to interpret the drinks, as long as the core of each cocktail remained intact. It was a tight, high-energy round where each finalist had to work with precision and pace while demonstrating showmanship and brand knowledge. The judging panel comprised Ervin Trykowski, Diageo's global brand ambassador for New Age Whisky; Pedison Kao, Taiwan's World Class Bartender of the Year and global third-place winner; Adam Bursik, director of beverage at Shangri-La Singapore; and Nicole-Marie Ng, Time Out's regional content director for APAC. Together, we assessed a strong showing of ingenuity, technical precision and excellent drinks. In the end, it was Tryson's blend of bold flavours, charming confidence and relentless creativity that earned him the top spot. While he hasn't been behind the bar for long, he used his background as a chef to his advantage. His win also marks a full-circle moment for Singapore's cocktail scene. The last time World Class was held in Singapore was in 2019, when Bannie Kang, Tryson's wife, took home both the national and global titles. Now, five years on, she passes the baton to her husband to represent Singapore at the World Class Global Finals in Toronto this September.
