Room For More

A good way forward is to have a diversity of perspectives in the F&B awards scene, muses Konstantino Blokbergen, industry veteran and chef-owner of Firebake - Woodfired Bakehouse & Restaurant.

- Mia Chenyze

We chefs can be a cynical lot. We complain about the stalemate of lists featuring the same handful of restaurants year after year. We gossip about the financial backing behind certain awards and question their credibility. For all our disdain and grumbling, whenever a new edition is set to launch, everyone is excited. The reality is that these lists, despite their imperfections, are generally beneficial from a business point of view. They create awareness. They remind diners that our restaurants exist.

International organisations such as the Michelin Guide and World’s 50 Best Restaurants may get flak for not being savvy enough with the local scene, but they have certainly raised the bar in the industry. They are also instrumental in elevating Singapore’s profile to the global audience since these are the main resources that many travellers rely upon—we cannot survive on the Singapore audience alone.