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What started as a vision to introduce a world-class dining
experience in
Singapore has evolved into the success that is the
World Gourmet Summit,
an annual signature event in Singapore. Ten years on, the World
Gourmet Summit continues to excite and thrill gourmet enthusiasts
with its showcase of the best culinary delights.
 Dr
Chan Tat Hon, Assistant Chief Executive (Leisure), Singapore Tourism
Board, said, “To achieve our Tourism 2015 targets of doubling
visitor arrivals to 17 million and tripling tourism receipts to
Sin$30 billion, STB has been bolstering Singapore’s position as a
preferred lifestyle destination for well-heeled and discerning
visitors seeking exclusive experiences. This includes supporting
premium events such as the World Gourmet Summit. While in
Singapore during ‘A Luxe Affair’ in March/April, visitors will
be treated to an exciting line-up of quality premium events ranging
from World Gourmet Summit and Singapore Fashion Festival to the
Mosaic Music Festival.”
Dr Chan added, “A signature event that has won international
accolades such as Gold awards by the US-based International
Festivals and Events Association (IFEA), World Gourmet Summit not
only elevates Singapore’s culinary image, but also profiles
Singapore as a premier gourmet capital of Asia. Food is a major draw
for our visitors and Singapore’s diverse offering of cuisines and
dining experiences is one of our strongest attributes. In 2004, food
and beverage accounted for Sin$880 million, or about 14% of overseas
visitors’ total expenditure.”
Galaxy of Stars
Starting from 10 to 28 April, World Gourmet Summit 2006 will be
celebrating 10 years of epicurean excellence with more iconic chefs
and celebrities, as well as a stronger and more exciting line-up of
events.
This year’s World Gourmet Summit will host no less than 11
Michelin-stars in the line-up of chefs as well as a record number of
celebrity personalities.
World Gourmet Summit 2006 welcomes the legendary Philippe
Legendre (three-Michelin-stars) who, within two months of his
joining Le Cinq in 1999, gained it its first Michelin-star; and
Santi Santamaria, a self-taught chef who was the first in Catalonia
to receive three-Michelin-stars in 1995. Other luminaries include
Paco Roncero (one-Michelin-star) from Spain who is considered Ferrán
Adrià’s most outstanding disciple; Gennaro Esposito
(one-Michelin-star) from Italy who counts Alain Ducasse as one of
his culinary admirers; Laurent Tourondel of the BLT (Fish)
restaurant in New York which gained a Michelin-star when the
Michelin Guide Book debuted its listing in 1995; Antonin Bonnet
(one-Michelin-star) from The Greenhouse, United Kingdom; Kevin
Thornton (one-Michelin-star) of Thornton’s restaurant in Dublin,
Irelend; Alessandro Stratta from Wynn Las Vegas; Susur Lee from
Canada; and Terje Ness from Norway. Giving a sneak preview into the
wonders of gastronomy is a cooking demonstration and dinner
presented by SPOON (a dining concept by Alain Ducasse who currently
has nine-Michelin-stars).
In association with the premier lifestyle channel, Discovery
Travel & Living, Ian Wright, the award-winning host from the Globe
Trekker series will host a dinner highlighting some of his travel
experiences in the new VIP Weekend series on Discovery Travel &
Living channel. The Rubino Brothers from Toronto, Canada, will not
only create a dinner event, but also film one episode for their next
season of Made to Order at World Gourmet Summit. Chef Wan from
Malaysia will also be in town to raise funds for the Singapore
Cheshire Home with Brian Richmond from Gold 90.5FM, the Official
Radio Station of World Gourmet Summit 2006.
Presenting their favourite vintages are wineries from France such
as Domaine Bonneau Du Martray, Château-Figeac, Domaine Joseph
Faiveley; Domaine Michel Gros, Château Cos d’Estournel; and Luciano
Sandrone from Piedmont, Italy. Wine tasting sessions will be
presented by the winemakers of the respective wineries and moderated
by World Gourmet Summit Wine Consultant, Dr N K Yong.
A New Twist
For the first time, 10 of Singapore’s leading restaurant
establishments – Au Jardin, Au Petit Salut, Garibaldi, Hua Ting, Li
Bai, My Humble House, Rang Mahal, Saint Julien, Saint Pierre, and
Tenshin – will create special celebratory menus and promotional
activities like French Charcuterie, Molecular Gastronomy Dinner and
tea appreciation, to name a few.
Other new events are the exclusive tasting sessions of The
Macallan’s whisky collection, and a gourmet barbecue (presented by
Meat & Livestock Australia) which will bring to a close 19 days of
decadent food and wine celebration at the World Gourmet Summit.
Said Mr Peter A. Knipp, Managing Director of Peter Knipp
Holdings, “The trend of dining is blooming and World Gourmet Summit
has been successful in raising the culinary bar of Singapore and
will continue to do so, challenging the palate and catering to the
growing sophistication of the local and regional diners through
knowledge exchanges and exposure from the visiting gastronomy
experts. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary, World Gourmet Summit
enters into another key milestone, that is, putting the spotlight
onto the local restaurateurs and giving due recognition to some of
the best dining establishments that we believe give a good
representation of the culinary standards of Singapore!”
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