Meet The Generation T Honourees Who Are Shaping Singapore's F&B Scene

This year's Generation T-listers—a group of 50 young talents shaping Singapore’s future—boasts 11 individuals who are helping affirm our island's celebrated dining scene . Who are they and what do they bring to the table? Meet the young stars.

1. Tay Su-Lyn and Tay Yiming

Claim to fame: Taking over the restaurant empire their mother, heritage food doyenne Violet Oon, had started and further growing the impact of Peranakan cuisine in Singapore. They’ve since revamped their mother’s first restaurant in Bukit Timah, and in the last few years, opened two more bold concepts—National Kitchen by Violet Oon at the National Gallery Singapore and Violet Oon Satay Bar & Grill in Clarke Quay.

2. Bjorn Low

Claim to fame: He left his hotshot post in the advertising industry to be a farmer and co-founded Edible Garden City in 2012. The gamble paid off with him and his talented team working with over 50 hotels and restaurants to create their own mini gardens in the city.

3. Cheryl Koh

Claim to fame: She is two Michelin starred Les Amis's acclaimed pastry chef, and she also runs a little artisanal tart haven, Tarte by Cheryl Koh, opened in 2015 a few doors down from the restaurant. Focused on simple pleasures but serving their best versions, she was named Best Pastry Chef at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016.
(Related: 2017 Michelin Guide Singapore: The Entire List Revealed)

4. Julien Royer

Claim to fame: He is chef-owner of Odette, one of Singapore’s most awarded French restaurants, which recently retained the two Michelin star rating it had earned within in year of opening. The restaurant made another bold statement by debuting at no. 9 on this year's Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, the highest new entry in the awards' history, and is also recognised by the Les Grande Table du Monde. Through it all, Royer manages to stay humble, saying, “I never forget the importance of humility and perseverance.”

5. Gan Guoyi and Indra Kantono

Claim to fame: Founding Jigger & Pony in 2012, and helping transform Singapore’s cocktail scene into one of the best in the world. Concocting delicious cocktails and making customers happy is their number one priority and it has worked well for them. Jigger & Pony is no. 21 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017. They have two more concepts—Gibson and Sugarhall—which also made it onto this year’s list, alongside 10 other popular watering holes in Singapore.

6. Kenjiro Hashida

Claim to fame: Establishing the first overseas outpost of Hashida Sushi in Singapore (which recently celebrated its fourth anniversary) and cementing it as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Singapore. Known for his creative approach to traditional Japanese cuisine, his talents extend beyond the kitchen, making time to paint and design clothes and accessories (check out the bag he’s wearing in the photo).

7. Raj Datwani and Alex Chew

Claim to fame: Best friends and business partners, they manage the AR Restaurant Group, which owns one Michelin starred The Kitchen at Bacchanalia, and Madison Rooms, a members-only executive business lounge. They also brought the Ultra Music Festival to Singapore this year, which was well received with over 45,000 attendees. What’s keeping them busy now? Planning for their next big music event.

8. Arrif Ziaudeen

Claim to fame: Founding Chope, an online reservation platform which has made booking our favourite restaurants easier. Since its launch, it has rapidly expanded in Asia and has become Michelin Guide’s official reservation system provider in China and Hong Kong.

Topics

Generation T

Tatler Asia