Michelin Guides’ international director Gwendal Poullennec shares that inspectors continue to be impressed with innovative cuisines and creative concepts, with 52 restaurants making it into the prestigious Guide this year
Michelin Guides' international director Gwendal Poullennec knows how the past two years have been extremely difficult for the F&B industry. And with the travel and dine-in restrictions easing up, he tells me over Zoom that the inspectors were the first people back on the ground and reviewing the dining establishments which now make up the Bib Gourmand 2022 list as well as the Michelin Guide Singapore 2022 ranking.
“We base it on five universal criteria: quality of the produce, mastery of cooking technique, harmony and balance of flavours (or taste), the personality of the team as expressed on the plate, and consistency,” shares Poullennec, who let on that the inspectors continue to be amazed by the local F&B scene’s creativity and vibrancy.
Here are five things you should know about Singapore's dining scene, according to Poullennec.
In case you missed it: Michelin Guide Singapore 2022: Read the Full List of Restaurants Here
1. The local F&B scene remains vibrant and dynamic
“Michelin Guide inspectors continue to be impressed with the restaurant industry's resilience. The number of restaurants with Michelin stars grew again to 52 restaurants from last year’s 49. It is a sign that more innovative dining concepts are opening, and some chefs have even succeeded in raising the bar and reaching the next level (in the ranking) with Cloudstreet and Thevar earning two stars.
It is also worth mentioning that when we released the Guide six years ago, there were only 29 restaurants. This is a great testament to the growth of the F&B scene over these years and how the chefs have increased the level and quality of their food offerings.”
Read more: Cooking for Love: What Chefs Eat When Their Partners Cook for Them