Singapore's Mathew Leong finishes top Asian chef; sixth overall

Singaporean chef Mathew Leong has clinched sixth place at the 2025 Bocuse d'Or, the prestigious cooking competition often seen as the gastronomic equivalent of the Olympics.

- Cherie Lok

LYON, France - Singaporean chef Mathew Leong has clinched sixth place at the 2025 Bocuse d'Or, the prestigious cooking competition often seen as the gastronomic equivalent of the Olympics.

He was the top Asian contestant, finishing five places ahead of Japan. The gold went to France, while Denmark and Sweden rounded off the podium, snatching silver and bronze respectively.

This is a personal record for Leong, who last finished 12th out of 24 contestants in 2021. It is also Singapore's best showing since William Wai, now healthcare corporate chef at ground handler and in-flight caterer Sats, won bronze in 1989.

Speaking to The Straits Times shortly after the results were announced, the 30-year-old executive chef at three-Michelin-starred Norwegian restaurant Re-Naa was disappointed but not discouraged.

"I'm sad because I made a promise to my family and wife that I would stand on the podium," he said. "But I just need to sleep the night off. Tomorrow is a new life, and we roll again."

Team Singapore coach and co-chair Julien Royer, co-owner of three Michelin-starred restaurant Odette, was more ebullient. "It's amazing. It's a big, big jump (from 12th). He can be very proud of what he's achieved."

Bocuse d'Or Singapore Academy president Bruno Menard added: "We should be pleased with what we got here. It's been a while since Singapore has placed so high. We should be proud to have talent like that in Singapore."