Epicurean Alert
In food-obsessed Singapore, there is no shortage of gastronomic fetes, from Savour and Epicurean Market to Singapore Restaurant Week and Food Japan. But one marquee event pre-dates them all: the World Gourmet Summit (WGS), now in its 21st year.
Sentiment is divided over whether the festival still carries the same clout it did all those years ago, although the general consensus is that the workshops and masterclasses are still very much sought-after affairs. Here are five masterchefs and their events you should not miss during this year’s World Gourmet Summit, which runs from 20 March until 16 April.
Chef PaTA, Thailand
A devout Buddhist and strict vegetarian, Chef PaTA designs her menus around vegetables, often incorporating herbs and fungi to enhance the flavour profile of her dishes. A recent project saw her working closely with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to develop sustainable mushroom products that would benefit local communities.
Chef PaTA will be cooking at a Turkish Airline Private Dinner in Tamarind Hill on Tuesday, 4 April.
Daniel Ovadia, Mexico
Daniel Ovadia of Mexico’s Bull and Tank Restaurant Group fame, is a minor social media sensation, with almost 27,000 followers on Instagram. Internet fame aside, Ovadia is a legitimate rising culinary icon, having received the prize for Best Mexican Restaurant at the 2016 CANIRAC awards.
Daniel Ovadia will showcase his culinary flair at the Mucho Mexico Dinner in El Mero Mero on Thursday, 30 March. He will also conduct a Culinary Masterclass with Luncheon at the Miele Gallery on Friday, 31 March.
Jarno Eggen, The Netherlands
From 2011 to 2015, Jarno Eggen’s restaurant De Groene Lantaarn in The Netherlands held a one-Michelin-star rating. In 2016, the establishment picked up a second star, thanks to Eggen’s innovative approach to contemporary fine dining. Eggen is also a regular fixture on jury panels of food and wine pairing competitions.
Jarno Eggen will conduct a Culinary Masterclass with Luncheon at the Miele Gallery on Thursday, 30 March, as well as host the Rougie Gourmet Delights with Ruinart Champagne at Dolce Vita, Mandarin Oriental Singapore on Friday, 31 March.
Kiriko Nakamura, Japan
Pastry chef Kiriko Nakamura spent the last 16 years honing her craft in some of Tokyo’s and Paris’s finest kitchens, including Michelin-starred establishments such as L’Instant d’Or and Tirpse. Expect a refined, multi-sensory experience in a dessert-led afternoon tea session, as well as tips on how to recreate the sensation at home.
Kiriko Nakamura will present a Pastry Masterclass and Afternoon Tea alongside Keisuke Matsumoto at Lewin Terrace on Tuesday, 28 March.
Mitch Lienhard, US
Mitch Lienhard is the current Chef de Cuisine at Manresa, a three-Michelin-starred venue in San Jose, California. Having trained under Manresa’s chef-owner David Kinch – who revolutionised Northern Californian cuisine with his farm-to-table approach – Lienhard is now carving out a name of his own as the global winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2016 competition.
Mitch Lienhard will co-helm the 4 Hands Dinner with Ryan Clift at Tippling Club on Sunday, 30 April.
