Hashida, Marmalade Pantry win top restaurant awards

Hashida, Marmalade Pantry win top restaurant awards

Sushi restaurant Hashida at Mandarin Gallery and bistro The Marmalade Pantry at Ion Orchard took home top accolades at the Epicurean Star Award gala dinner on Tuesday night.

The 11/2-year-old Hashida, known for its premium sushi and otoro, was named both Best Japanese Fine Dining restaurant and Best Of The Best in the fine dining category; while The Marmalade Pantry, which has a second outlet at Fairways Drive off Eng Neo Avenue, clinched the awards for Best Western Casual Dining and Best Of The Best (Casual Dining).

The bistro first opened in 1999 in Purvis Street.

Held at the Raffles City Convention Centre's Fairmont Ballroom, the annual event was attended by more than 1,200 industry professionals.

The awards, first launched in 2006, are organised by the Restaurant Association of Singapore and honour innovative food and beverage dining concepts that consistently deliver stellar food and service.

On clinching two awards, Hashida's Kenjiro Hashida, 35, a second-generation sushi chef, said: "I'm genuinely happy because we don't focus on being recognised, so when we are, it's great to know that my team and I have been working in the right direction."

A total of 15 awards were given out. Other winners include D'Good Cafe in Holland Village, which was named Best Cafe) and Timbre@The Arts House was Best Gastro-pub. (See box for full list of winners.)

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress Lim Swee Say, who was the guest of honour at the gala dinner, also presented awards to winning teams that took part in the Star Chef Competition in September. The annual culinary event is organised by the restaurant association.

First place in the Western Professional culinary category went to Marina Bay Sands. Tung Lok Xi He, known for its fine Peking Duck, took home the gold for the Asian Professional culinary category.

Mr Andrew Tjioe, 55, the association's president and executive chairman of the TungLok Group, said: "As we celebrate the best in Singapore's culinary scene, we hope these awards will galvanise the industry towards achieving greater success by constantly innovating, introducing new concepts and improving service standards."

The association also launched its first restaurant guide for consumers, comprising about 100 recommended restaurants.

The guide, a tribute to Singapore's SG50 celebrations, is titled Singapore's Top 50 Favourite Western And Asian Restaurants As Recommended By Restaurateurs, Chefs & Foodies. It is priced at $12 and available at all leading bookstores.

EPICUREAN STAR AWARD WINNERS

Best Of The Best (Casual Dining): The Marmalade Pantry, Ion Orchard and Fairways Drive

Best Of The Best (Fine Dining): Hashida Sushi Singapore, Mandarin Gallery

Best Caterer: Orange Clove Catering

Best Buffet: Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore

Best Gastro-pub: Timbre@The Arts House

Best Cafe: D'Good Cafe, Holland Village

Best New F&B Establishment: Saha Signature Indian Restaurant in Duxton Hill; and Pince & Pints in Duxton Road

Best Asian Casual Dining: Zaffron Kitchen, with outlets in East Coast Road and Westgate mall in Jurong East

Best Asian Fine Dining: Forest at Resorts World Sentosa

Best Japanese Casual Dining: The Flying Squirrel, Amoy Street

Best Japanese Fine Dining: Hashida Sushi Singapore, Mandarin Gallery

Best Western Casual Dining: The Marmalade Pantry, Ion Orchard and Fairways Drive

Best Western Fine Dining: Pollen at the Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay

Best Chinese Casual Dining: Ling Zhi Vegetarian, with outlets at Liat Towers and Velocity@Novena Square

Best Chinese Fine Dining: Tong Le Private Dining, OUE Tower; and Si Chuan Dou Hua with outlets at UOB Plaza, Parkroyal On Beach Road and Parkroyal On Kitchener Road


This article was first published on November 27, 2014.
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