Live updates from Michelin Guide Singapore 2017

The epicure team is at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore to dish out on-the-ground updates on the second edition of the MICHELIN Guide Singapore. 

5pm: Pssst… we're walking past the Ballroom, where the ceremony will be held, and we've already seen Rishi Naleendra of Cheek by Jowl, Sam Aisbett of Whitegrass, Sun Kim of Meta, Han Li Guang of Labyrinth, Malcolm Lee of Candlenut (1 star in 2016), and Jason Tan of Corner House (1 star in 2016). Who are you betting on this year?

7pm: And so it begins. Guests are milling into the ballroom and we've just spotted Julien Royer of Odette (2 stars in 2016), Tetsuya Wakuda of Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda (1 star in 2016), Beppe de Vito, and Roberto Galetti of Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar. We wonder which of de Vito's restaurants will be receiving a star. 

7.15pm: International director of the Michelin Guides, Michael Ellis, takes the stage. "When we first launched the guide in Singapore, what we were unprepared for was the depth and breadth of the dining scene in Singapore. Personally, what I was unprepared for was the media impact the Michelin Guide in Singapore created. […] Singaporeans get into fistfights over who makes the best curry puffs or laksa."

7.30pm: Following a rousing laser and percussion performance by the Urban Drum Crew, dinner commences. The first dish – a cuttlefish 'cheong fun' with nori pesto, caviar, Hokkaido onions, sea urchin and calamansi dressing – is presented by executive chef Sandro Falbo of hosting hotel, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. The Champagne of the evening is Ruinart. 

7.35pm: It's finally time to unveil Singapore's one Michelin-starred restaurants for the 2017 guide! "Michelin stars are not lifetime awards. You have to earn them every year," Ellis says. "So we'll start with the restaurants that have retained their one Michelin star from 2016."

ONE MICHELIN STAR (30)

1. Alma by Juan Amador
2. Beni
3. Candlenut
4. Corner House
5. Crystal Jade Golden Palace
6. CUT by Wolfgang Puck
7. Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
8. JAAN
9. Lei Garden
10. Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (335 Smith Street)
11. Osia Steak and Seafood Grill
12. PUTIEN (Kitchener Road)
13. Rhubarb Le Restaurant
14. Shinji (Bras Basah Road)
15. Shinji (Tanglin Road)
16. Summer Pavilion (The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore)
17. Sushi Ichi 
18. The Kitchen at Bacchanalia
19. The Song of India

Now for the newcomers.

1. Braci
2. Cheek by Jowl
3. Chef Kang's
4. Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar 
5. Iggy's
6. Imperial Treaure Fine Teochew Cuisine
7. Labyrinth
8. Meta
9. Saint Pierre
10. Summer Palace (Regent Singapore)
11. Whitegrass

The count for one Michelin-starred restaurants has upped from 22 to 30 this year. 

8.05pm: Catching the exuberant chefs for a shot. 

8.50pm: And the two Michelin-starred restaurants are out. Congratulations chef Tetsuya of Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda for gaining a star! The fine dining Japanese establishment is the sole new entrant in this category. 

TWO MICHELIN STARS (7)

1. Restaurant André
2. L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon
3. Les Amis
4. Odette
5. Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda
6. Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro 
7. Shoukouwa

From 2016's six to seven this year. The audience and chefs are thrown for a bit when the host declares five restaurants to be the full list of two Michelin-starred restaurants after Waku Ghin's annnouncement. A little fumble later, Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro and Shoukouwa are confirmed to have still retained their stars. What a relief for the chefs.

Ellis: "Objective number one is to fill your restaurant with happy customers. If you do that, Michelin will find you."

8.56pm: And of course…

THREE MICHELIN STARS

1. Joël Robuchon Restaurant

"It's a great achievement for the whole team," says executive chef Michael Michaelidis.

9.30pm: And that wraps up an eventful night. Congratulations to all 38 Michelin-starred restaurants!