WINE&DINE - July/August 2018

In dieser Ausgabe

This year, Singapore holds the chairmanship of ASEAN, a grouping of 10 Southeast Asian countries. No doubt, this holds greater diplomatic than gastronomic significance, but for the gourmet, it serves well as a reminder that local cuisine has a regional context. While each country holds dear the heritages of their own cuisines, geographical proximity and common experiences mean a certain shared food history. Our cover story ‘A Journey of Flavours’ connects the dots in this respect, tracing the mutual influences and evolution of Southeast Asian cuisine. ‘ASEAN community’, takes us on a meander through the market enclaves of Singapore, rich with Southeast Asian produce, while ‘Beyond Basic’ uncovers some unusual Southeast Asian herbs. Against the backdrop of regional context, it’s the chefs and restaurateurs ultimately who make our region’s vibrant cuisine come alive. In that vein, we pick out some of the hottest restaurants in the region putting a vocabulary to modern Southeast Asian cuisine. We also seek insights from Southeast Asian chefs and restaurateurs working at home and abroad. In our regular sections, check out new restaurant openings and fresh menus at Rang Mahal, Qi-House of Sichuan and Forbidden Duck; read our ‘Chef du Jour’ interview with Jeremmy Chiam of Le Binchotan; and hear what Chef Kantha Chookiat of River Wok restaurant has to say about innovation and Southeast Asian cooking. We also catch up with the founder of Filipino artisanal ice cream brand Carmen’s Best, visit heritage popiah maker Kway Guan Huat, and head to Bhutan for an immersive experience of peace and tranquility. For the latest in wine, read about how Languedoc-based Mas de Daumas Gassac estate makes some of the finest Bordeaux-style blends outside of Bordeaux, learn how the regions of Rheingau and Rheinhessen showcase unique winemaking styles of Germany’s wine country, and meet Veuve Cliquot’s Gaelle Goossens, who’s young, talented and leaving her mark in the wine world.