You will need to sit down for this. Or maybe even lie down, as I did when I heard this through the grapevine first thing this morning. Chef André Chiang, of famed Restaurant ANDRÉ, has shocked the F&B industry and ardent fans with the announcement of his restaurant’s closure come 14 February 2018.
In the two-page letter on his site, the decorated chef-owner of the second-best restaurant in Asia (it’s also the only Singaporean entrant in the coveted World’s 50 Best Restaurants list) cited the reason being his desire to re-prioritise his professional life next year.
The second revelation that shook the F&B scene to its core included a personal request to return his celebrated Michelin stars, as well as not to be included in the 2018 edition of Michelin Guide Singapore. This call extends to RAW, his Taipei post, as well, to be excluded from Michelin Guide Taiwan.
The heartfelt note reflected his pride for his hardworking crew and the esteemed reputation they’ve earned after all these years. It also expressed his desire to continue educating young chefs and developing skills with his team, and his longing to return home.
There’s a saying, “Life takes you to unexpected places; love brings you home”, and if home is where Chef André’s heart is calling, you simply cannot put a price on that.
