After unveiling in New York, Australia and the Basque country of Spain, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, crosses over to Asia, to announce the dining places that have made it on this year’s elusive list.

This June, celebrity chefs, media and key people in the international F&B industry will gather in Singapore for a week of gastronomic festivities, highlighted by the awards night at the Sands Theater in the Marina Bay Sands June 25.

The ceremony will be streamed live on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Facebook page and on the Fine Dining Lovers website.

Over 1,000 industry influencers and experts have cast their votes. As early as April, the organizers have announced some of the individual honors, including the Elit Vodka World’s Best Female Chef to Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme, and the American Express Icon Award to José Andrés for his notable efforts to address poverty and hunger around the world.

18th edition

Starting this year, the 18th edition of the event, former chart-toppers like Eleven Madison Park and El Celler de Can Roca will no longer be eligible to be on the list, as they now fall in a new category, the Best of the Best, which will be launched on the big night.

The 2019 #50BestTalks, a thought-leadership program presented by Miele, will feature some of this generation’s hottest chefs.

Headlining the 90-minute interactive stage show are Le Bernadin’s Eric Ripert, Waku Ghin’s Tetsuya Wakuda, Hiša Franko’s Ana Ros, Osteria Francescana’s Massimo Bottura and Sotto-Ines. They will talk about their respective careers and philosophies.

Titled “#50BestTalks: Kitchen Karma,” the program will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands June 23, 6-8 p.m.

Culinary innovators

Adding knowledge and excitement is a series of exclusive master classes that give guests a close look at how culinary innovators work and play in the kitchen.

All classes will be held June 23, starting with Geranium’s Rasmus Kofoed, who will share his knowledge and culinary know-how on Scandinavia’s wild and organic seafood, and the best ways to cook them.

Next is Virgilio Martinez and Pia Léon of Central, who will take guests on a journey—sea, land, mountains—discussing Peruvian fare vis-à-vis elevation, topography and ecosystems.

In the afternoon session, Gaggan Anand of Gaggan will explain the rationale behind his cuisine—Indian food cooked with space-age techniques and centuries-old traditions.

One-off collaborations

What better way to celebrate this annual gathering of big names in the culinary world than by doing collaborative dinners in some of Singapore’s best restaurants.

Louis Han will cook alongside Heewon Lim of Seoul’s Buto Restaurant in “Jan-Chi Korean Feast,” a two-night dinner (June 21-22) at Han’s Kimme.

Another interesting match-up is Zaiyu Hasegawa of Michelin-star Den in Tokyo, who will collaborate with Shigeru Kozumi of Japanese fine-dining restaurant Esora. They will produce a special eight-course dinner June 21-23.

On June 22, the Straits Clan Dining Takeover Series will feature Pia Léon, the head kitchen chef of Lima’s Central restaurant, no. 6 on World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018. She will debut Kjolle, her first solo project anchored on her commitment to Peruvian ingredients, over a five-course lunch menu.

On June 23, dinners include Quintonil with CUT by Wolfgang Puck at Marina Bay Sands, and an eight-hands feast prepared by chefs from some of the world’s best restaurants—Mirazur, Alleno Paris, Atelier Crenn and Odette, No. 1 in the 2019 Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Just before the announcement, a milestone collaboration will happen over lunch at Zén, where big names from four restaurants—Rasmus Kofoed of Geranium, Daniel Berlin of Daniel Berlin Krog, Björn Frantzèn and Marcus Jernmark of Frantzén, and Tristin Farmer of Zén—will prepare two dishes each, to be matched with Krug champagne and other special beverages.

Seats to the highly coveted meals sell fast, so it is highly recommended to reserve now.

Singapore has a long list of good restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, such as crowd-favorite Cheek Bistro by Rishi Naleendra and Manuela Toniolo, which features modern Australian fare; Les Amis where chef Sebastien Lepinoy has been doing classic French dining dishes; natural wine bar Le Bon Funk, where chef owner Keirin Buck serves tasty small plates like his homemade charcuterie selection; one-Michelin-star contemporary restaurant Meta, where chef Sun Kim prepares Korean food with finesse and flair; and modern Singaporean joint Labyrinth, where LG Han showcases local flavors and culture. —CONTRIBUTED