Recognising the best in the F&B industry at 2014 World Gourmet Series Awards Of Excellence

Following eleven days of spectacular culinary festivity, the curtain came down on the 18th World Gourmet Summit (WGS) with the unveiling of Singapore’s and the region’s very best in the food & beverage (F&B) industry at the 2014 World Gourmet Series Awards Of Excellence at The Ritz Carlton Millennia, Singapore.

More than 700 guests, including five of this year’s World Gourmet Summit International Masterchefs, came together to celebrate the winners of each of the 29 awards presented. Established in 2001, the Awards Of Excellence are widely regarded as one of the most respected accolades in the regional F&B industry, and are presented to both established and emerging stars in the epicurean scene. This year’s awards saw more than 700 entries and 14,000 votes from the public, before a distinguished panel of experts decided which of the finalists was most deserving of their respective honour.

A key highlight of this year’s Awards Of Excellence is The Macallan Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising gastronomic visionaries who have constantly strived for higher standards and contributed ideas to influence the development of the F&B industry. This year, two industry stalwarts are being recognised. They are Mr. Alan Palmer, a master chef who started his culinary journey 50 years ago, and Chef Kenny Kong, the award-winning pastry chef who currently oversees the pastry business unit at Resorts World Sentosa, having joined as the Executive Pastry Chef there in 2012.

Mr. Peter Knipp, CEO of Peter Knipp Holdings, said, “As we close the 18th edition of World Gourmet Summit, today is a reminder that one of the strongest contributors to the relevance and popularity of this event is that we are continually striving to nurture established and upcoming talent. We are thrilled to have received more than 700 entries and the overwhelming 14,000 votes this year, a sign of the public’s ever-growing interest and investment in the F&B industry here and around the region.”

Other distinguished winners who walked off with the top honours include:

• CITIBANK Restaurant Manager Of The Year
  Will Simmons, Osteria Mozza, Marina Bay Sands

• KITCHENAID Chef Of The Year
  Julien Royer, JAAN

• INDOGUNA Restaurant Of The Year
  JAAN, Swissôtel

• MEAT & LIVESTOCK AUSTRALIA Rising Chef Of The Year
  Brandon Foo, Le Bistrot Du Sommelier

• S.PELLEGRINO New Restaurant Of The Year
  Bacchanalia Singapore

• COFFEX Bar Of The Year
  28 Hong Kong Street

• GIORGIO FERRARI Sommelier Of The Year
  Max Fedkiw, Le Bistrot Du Sommelier

• ASIAN FOOD CHANNEL Pastry Chef of The Year
  Andres Lara, Pollen

• BERNARDAUD Executive Chef Of The Year
  Christopher Christie, Marina Bay Sands

The Awards Of Excellence also marked the end of the 18th World Gourmet Summit, which brought together 12 International Masterchefs and 3 Special Guests for an eleven-day extravaganza of food and wine events held across Singapore, themed ‘The Classics’. Organised by À La Carte Productions (a division of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd), the 18th World Gourmet Summit was held from 26 March to 5 April 2014 with presenting partner Citibank Singapore Limited and Singapore Tourism Board.