On The Shoulders Of Giants

Many decades in the making, our glittering restaurant scene did not arrive without first standing on the backs of these culinary stalwarts and other notables who have come and gone.

- Sim Ee Waun

Much has been said about Singapore's glittering restaurant scene. It boasts Michelin stars, celebrity chefs both local and foreign, enviable culinary standards that earned us the championship at the Ika Hoga culinary Olympics, and a heaving body of fantastic dining options which eclipse that of many other cities. But those who have been around the block would know that all this didn't just burst onto the world stage like the Big Bang. Its success was built on the backs of a humbler scenario, when life was not as affluent, the restaurant and general food scene not as vibrant. But there was a real hunger for knowledge, a thirst to experiment and experience, to take risks and sacrifices for it, and a deeply rooted drive to bring our fledgling food scene to a higher level. It was a shared vision that many individual restaurateurs, chefs, culinary educators and students then were committed to, and they were straining on their leashes, so to speak.

Almost 30 years on, and the hard work has all paid off. While many restaurants have faded from centre stage for various reasons, some stalwarts have remained, weathering changes in trends and tastes, economic downturns and other challenges, to emerge still top of their game. No mean feat, they continue to win well-deserved acclaim including in our Singapore's Top Restaurants 2017/2018 this year.

SHINING OLD VETERANS