Cream of the Crop

This year has been stellar for the local dining scene, with countless new restaurants popping up on our shores. The Tatler Dining team shares their favourites

EXPLORING THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO

In 2022, the restaurant that blew me away the most was one that both celebrated and explored the rich flavours and foods from the Malay peninsula. I was excited to see a talented chef—who had helmed the kitchen of another favourite restaurant—devote himself, his experience and his talents to showcasing Southeast Asian cuisine and culture. This year, the restaurant that I believe has been the most significant and exciting opening in town follows suit, but does so in its own unique way. The brainchild of chef‑owner Hafizzul Hashim, who has worked at various great restaurants in London and Tokyo, Fiz is a beautiful muted space, one that easily fits one of the year’s most predominant trends—quiet luxury. Upon entering, diners know they’ll be pampered. What they might not expect is just how much Hafizzul’s food—if they’re from Southeast Asia—will both connect with them and teach them about their own cultures. While the chef intends to rotate his menus to explore the region, his opening menus are appropriately focused on his own Malay background. His ability to combine modern and traditional techniques and humble, often hard‑to‑find and popular gourmet produce has won him huge respect from his peers and the local foodie community, as well as a legion of fans who cannot wait to see what new menus and ideas he comes up with in 2024.—Aun Koh, editor‑in‑chief

A SHOWCASE OF THE SEASON’S BOUNTY