chef Virgilio Martinez of Perus Central

For the first time in its history, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony will be held in Singapore. Held annually since 2002, the list is perhaps best known for crowning some of the most boundary-pushing chefs of their time, making celebrities of them.

Chefs and restaurant teams from all over the world will be flying into Singapore for the event, gathering some of the best minds and hands in the culinary world at Marina Bay Sands. While the awards ceremony itself is a mostly-industry affair, there’ll also be a host of workshops, talks, and chef collaborations open to the public.

Here’s a list of what’s happening:

Massimo Bottura

Meet some of the best chefs in the world, and get insider views on the industry at #50BestTalks

Among some of the highlights are Kitchen Karma, a discussion on chefs’ philosophies on “respect, mindfulness, and happiness” — especially important given the toxic environment that restaurant kitchens have a reputation for. Sharing their experiences will be chefs Eric Ripert (Le Bernardin), Ana Roš (Hiša Franko), Tetsuya Wakuda (Waku Ghin), Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana), and Daniela Soto-Innes (Cosme).

Expect a live discussion, Q&A, and audience participation over 90 minutes. Happening 23 June at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. More details here.

(Related: Massimo Bottura on breaking Italian culinary tradition: They wanted to crucify me…)

 

Chef Rasmus Kofoed of restaurant Geranium will be presenting a masterclass of Scandinavian seafood.

Learn from the best at the masterclasses

Haven’t got the chance to tick off that restaurant wishlist? The World’s 50 Best will see some of the visiting chefs offering masterclasses with live cooking and tastings of their signature dishes.

Chef masterclasses include:River Scales: a dish of

Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, Central

The husband-and-wife team of Latin America’s best restaurant will be taking attendees on a journey of Peru’s topography and ecosystems, going through the Andean region’s unique geography and produce that spans the land, sea, and mountains.

Geranium - Chicken & Morels, Green Cabbage Sprouts, Smoked Chicken Fat & Hops
Chicken & Morels, Green Cabbage Sprouts, Smoked Chicken Fat & Hops from restaurant Geranium

Rasmus Kofoed, Geranium

The three Michelin-starred, Copenhagen-based Geranium is the brainchild of Bocuse d’Or winner Rasmus Kofoed. This masterclass will explore seafood dishes from Scandinavian waters, and feature Kofoed’s playful, expectation-defying cooking.

(Related: Hong Kong’s The Old Man named the best bar in Asia)

Gaggan Anand, Gaggan

Four-time winner of Asia’s best restaurant, Gaggan, is set to close in June 2020. If reservations are hard to come by, the next best thing is to hear how Kolkata-born chef-owner Gaggan Anand gave Indian cuisine a modern spin that captivated the world. Who knows, he might even drop some hints as to what’s next.

Dates and information here.

 

Chef Collaborations and special dinners

There’s no point in having so many chefs in one place if none of them are going to cook. This year’s World 50 Best restaurants will also see many collaborations from visiting chefs adding to Singapore’s already-vibrant dining scene.

A heirloom beetroot dish at Odette
An heirloom beetroot dish at Odette

Mirazur x Alleno Paris x Atelier Crenn x Odette

This 8-hands dinner features four French restaurants with 11 Michelin stars combined. Hosting is Odette, which has recently been named best restaurant on Asia’s 50 Best. Book to find out if 2 and 2 really make 4.

Happening 23 June for dinner. Reserve here.

 

Quintonil x CUT by Wolfgang Puck at Marina Bay Sands

Contemporary Mexican restaurant Quintonil will be joining forces with Wolfgang Puck at MBS. Quintonil is known for its vegetable-focused, locavore menu; while Wolfgang Puck has all the fixings of a grand American steakhouse — so we’re expecting some sort of yin-and-yang menu.

Happening 23 June for dinner. Reserve here.

 

Schloss Schauenstein x Corner House

Two restaurants hidden away in dreamy locales. The contemporary Swiss Schloss Schauenstein is housed in a castle in the Alps, in the smallest village in the world. At the other end of the world is Corner house, hidden in the verdancy of the Botanic gardens. Expect precise, intricate plates and a variety of global influences.

Happening 25 June for lunch. Reserve here.

 

Chef Josean Alija of Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao will be cooking alongside chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive at Basque Kitchen
Chef Josean Alija of Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao

Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao x Gallery By Chele x Odette x Basque Kitchen by Aitor

Basque Kitchen by Aitor will be hosting chef Julien Royer of Odette alongside two visiting chefs: Josean Alija of Spain’s Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao; and Chele Gonzalez of Gallery By Chele in Manila. There’s also service with just chefs Aitor Jeronimo Orive and Josean Alija, both of whom will be presenting together an 8-course modern Basque menu.

4-hands with just Basque Kitchen and Nerua: happening 21 June, lunch and dinner; 22 June dinner. 8-hands: happening 22 June for dinner. Reserve here.

(Related: Basque Kitchen by Aitor: a fun introduction to the region’s cuisine)

Hisa Franko x Braci

Hisa Franko, Slovenia
Image: Suzan Gabrijan

Ana Ros — Chef’s Table subject, and chef-owner of #48 on 2018’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants list — will be cooking alongside longtime friend Beppe De Vito of Singapore’s own Braci. Expect an 8-course menu of flavours (Hisa Franko is located just across the border between Slovenia and Italy) that transition across both chef’s native countries with dishes like potatoes baked in an autumn hay crust; and dry-aged pigeon with almond and cherries.

Happening 27 June, Dinner. For reservations and more info, e-mail: book@braci.sg

Dalmore Royal Feast

As the official whisky sponsor for the World’s 50 Best, Dalmore will be holding a four-course whisky-paring dinner at db Bistro & Oyster Bar by Chef Daniel Boulud. The event will have a limited space of 20, and will be hosted by Stephen Martin, Whyte & Mackay’s Global Single Malt Whisky Specialist.

Happening 26 June for dinner. For reservations, email: dbprivatedining@MarinaBaySands.com