Tatler Weekend: Cyrille Vigneron discusses Cartier's role in nurturing young leaders
Editor’s note
The oldest sequenced recipe ever found was inscribed on the walls of the ancient Egyptian tomb of Senet, dating back to the 19th century BCE. It revealed the secrets of making flatbreads! The second oldest was a recipe for Sumerian beer—affectionately called “liquid bread” by locals—which dates back to the 14th century BCE. The culinary journey of humanity is indeed as old as civilization itself.
This fascination has evolved over time, extending to encompass the creators. In our modern era, chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists have attained celebrity status, with their techniques becoming subjects of intense interest. Unlike the closely guarded secret formulas of beverages like Coca-Cola, today’s culinary artists willingly share their craft with the public.
Take, for instance, the mixologists featured in our “Immersion” section this week, who generously share their insights on crafting great cocktail menus. Similarly, in our “Interview” section, we feature Dave Pynt of Singapore’s famed Burnt Ends restaurant. This culinary maestro is set to share his restaurant’s story in an upcoming book, along with the actual recipes—a significant gesture, given that Burnt Ends consistently ranks among Asia’s Top 50 Best Restaurants.
Speaking of best restaurants, we’re just a month away from unveiling Asia’s top 100 restaurants, bars, and hotels at our Best of Asia event in Bangkok. This groundbreaking project for Asia's hospitality world is one to watch. Stay tuned by following the progress here: https://media.tatlerasia.com/list/best
Enjoy Tatler Weekend!
Parminder Singh
Parminder Singh
Chief Operating Officer
Why the Burnt Ends modern barbecue book is a must-read for gourmands
The 368-page tome created in collaboration with Fool Agency traces the restaurant’s success story with riveting images, personal stories and anecdotes from the chef and key members of the team
Can you imagine Dave Pynt, the chef and founder of modern barbecue restaurant Burnt Ends, doing yakitori? Believe it or not, that was the first concept on his business partner Loh Lik Peng’s mind when he first approached Pynt in the early 2010s for a new open-fire restaurant concept in Singapore. Pynt tells Tatler that he was travelling across South America with Katrina Wheeldon, his then-girlfriend and now wife, when he got a call from the Unlisted Collection founder inviting him to come to Singapore and discuss a potential collaboration.
Yakitori was all the rage on the island back then, but Pynt admits that “there’s so much culture behind it” and he hadn’t even been to Japan yet. “Who was I to do yakitori?” he chuckles. He did, however, pitch the idea of opening a version of Burnt Enz—his highly successful modern barbecue pop-up in London—and Loh agreed. That was the seed that launched the highly successful Burnt Ends in 2013, opening its doors in a shophouse on Teck Lim Road. It has since moved to a bigger space in Dempsey Hill in 2021.
Cartier’s Cyrille Vigneron on championing global change through culture, philanthropy and leadership
As chairman of Cartier Culture & Philanthropy, Cyrille Vigneron speaks to the maison’s manifold initiatives to drive positive change worldwide. Through empowering future leaders, upholding cultural heritage, and supporting ecological initiatives, Cartier is helping to build a better tomorrow.
“We are here to celebrate entrepreneurs who are building businesses that can make [the world] better. We are here to build communities that can intertwine [people]—whether they’re individuals, from universities, business entrepreneurs, or coalitions and international institutions—and work together,” said Cyrille Vigneron, chairman of Cartier Culture & Philanthropy, in a keynote speech that kicked off the Red Club x Cartier Young Leader Awards (YLA) 2024, which took place in Singapore on October 15.
As a global community of young entrepreneurs and leaders dedicated to driving positive social impact, Red Club x Cartier brings together visionaries who use their businesses to create positive change. This year’s YLA, now in its third year, marks a first with the announcement of two joint winners: Didi Gan and Suraj Nandakumar. As the initiative reached an exceptionally close finish, the Jury Board and Red Club x Cartier made the rare move to recognise both honourees for their remarkable contributions. Gan, founder of Singapore-based N&E Innovations, and Nandakumar, co-founder of India-based Recity Network, stood out among the finalists for their innovative approaches to sustainability and social impact.
In case you missed it: School of Concepts founder Mint Lim envisions a world that leaves no child behind
What makes a great cocktail menu? We ask Asia’s top bar owners and mixologists
We speak to industry experts to explore what it takes to create a comprehensive drinks list
Curating an exciting cocktail menu takes more than meets the eye—it is about crafting an experience that tells a story, engages the senses, and reflects the drive behind a bar. From balancing classic flavours to considering seasonality of ingredients, a well-designed cocktail menu elevates any bar experience.
We speak to Nick Choo, the founder of Kuala Lumpur-based Reka, No. 41 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, Yana Keller, beverage director of Singapore-based Atlas Bar, No. 49 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, and Niko Tiutan, co-founder and beverage director of Ito Space in the Philippines. The three talents address how they incorporate local produce into their drinks programme, and ensure the menu caters to both connoisseurs and beginners.
Read more: What makes a great pastry chef?
Soroptimist International president Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam on lessons from her father and the power of persistence
Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam made history as the first Asian to assume the presidency of global volunteer movement Soroptimist International in the 103 years since the organisation’s founding
When Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam entered early retirement in 1997, she didn’t anticipate how much she would miss the high-energy pace of the workplace. Having helmed senior public relations (PR) roles in major corporations like the Malaysian Tobacco Company and Malaysia Airlines, Siew Yong has always been a highly motivated problem-solver with a penchant for thinking outside the box.
“I had the choice to retire early, and I was very lucky to be able to that. Not many women out there have that choice,” the feisty 77-year-old says. “But after I retired, I felt the stress of not working and being inactive. I was so used to this hyper lifestyle planning campaigns and thinking of the next big thing to do.”
Read more: A Letter To My Younger Self: Puan Sri Siew Yong Gnanalingam, Former MAS Spokesperson For 17 Years
At the time, Siew Yong spoke to her late husband, Westports Malaysia executive chairman Tan Sri G Gnanalingam, about creating a CSR initiative within the public listed company for the benefit of female staff members and wives of management members.
