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[Saya]

The recently published Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.

Asia's 50 Best Restaurants was launched in 2013 and takes in six voting regions: India & Subcontinent; South-East Asia – South; South-East Asia – North; Hong Kong, Taiwan & Macau; mainland China & Korea; Japan. The list is created by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene.

But the chefs featured in this year’s roundup presented a lack of diversity, recognizing just four Asians in the top 10 restaurants, which you can check out below:

1. Gaggan; Bangkok, Thailand; Gaggan Anand
2. Restaurant André; Singapore; chef-owner André Chiang
3. Amber; Hong Kong, China; culinary director Richard Ekkebus
4. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana; Hong Kong, China; Umberto Bombana
5. Nahm; Bangkok, Thailand; David Thompson
6. Narisawa; Tokyo, Japan; Yoshihiro Narisawa
7. Nihonryori RyuGin; Tokyo, Japan; chef-owner Seiji Yamamoto
8. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet; Shanghai, China; chef-patron Paul Pairet
9. Odette; Singapore; Julien Royer
10. Burnt Ends; Singapore; Dave Pynt

To add fuel to the fire, “Asia’s 50 Best” only includes two women: Le Moût Taichung’s Lanshu Chen, in Taiwan, and Bo.Lan’s Duangporn ‘Bo’ Songvisava (who doesn’t even get her own photo) in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

[Frozenprince]

Not surprised. Disappointed, not surprised.

 

[wandering]

Bourdain <3

But seriously there is a continuing trend of "ethnic" cuisines finding legitimacy only when prepared by chefs of a European persuasion.

 

[robotrock]

this finally cements bourdain as being better than guy fieri for me

 

[StayDead]

If they're good at making the food does it matter what race the chef is? I realise it's Asian cuisine, but you don't need to be Asian to cook it well no?

 

[akira28]

I am guessing they make decidedly non-Asian fare, or at least some kind of fusion.

 

[GhostWriter24]

In terms of intercontinental cuisine, I know a ton of Mexican and Mexican-American chefs in the USA who cook absolutely unreal Italian, Indian, and Mediterranean food -- likely some of the best I've ever had and I grew up in the heart of the Tri-State. Maybe they're not top 10 guys, but why should this be outlawed? Until you've tried the food, why should you judge against them?

 

[massoluk]

Best restaurant is an Indian Restaurant in Thailand, because why not

 

[Opticability]

Congrats

 

[Brakke]

I am guessing they make decidedly non-Asian fare, or at least some kind of fusion.

Why guess? The link's right there in the OP.

 

[Austriacus]

Bourdain <3

But seriously there is a continuing trend of "ethnic" cuisines finding legitimacy only when prepared by chefs of a European persuasion.

Theres like 1 dude in the list that does that.

The rest are all french and italian chefs, maybe you should look into the list before saying stuff like this.

The real issue here is that theres not much chefs who specialise in the cuisine of the region presented in the list, if international lists gave non european cooking the respect it deserved we would have that list populated by probably 4 more japanese chefs who work with ramen and sushi and by virtue of it they wouldnt be white.

Like even one of the japanese dudes there does french cuisine, give me a break.

This is par the course for this lists.

 

[MasterOfPastures]

If they're good at making the food does it matter what race the chef is? I realise it's Asian cuisine, but you don't need to be Asian to cook it well no?

Ultimately, it comes down to judgement and taste on behalf of the judges. But this list seems suspiciously shallow in its exploration.

 

[gconsole]

Who make the rank? Is it asian institution or western one? Maybe that should answer the question.

 

[akira28]

Why guess? The link's right there in the OP.

because I'm that damned good.

and its really the one explanation that makes immediate sense.

 

[demon]

we did it!

 

[cdyhybrid]

Maybe white people just make better foo-


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

 

[Sinfamy]

And Japan makes some of the best whiskey and pastries.

 

[T.O.P]

If they're good at making the food does it matter what race the chef is? I realise it's Asian cuisine, but you don't need to be Asian to cook it well no?

This

 

[CryptiK]

I mean its really not that far fetched.

 

[GhostWriter24]

GAF gives me faith. You really do.

 

[akira28]

And Japan makes some of the best whiskey and pastries.

Didn't know whiskey and pastry was a thing, but I guess I can kind of see it.

 

[lvl99 Pixel]

is "theworlds50best" a respected source, or?

 

[Frozenprince]

Maybe white people just make better foo-


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

Hey now they simply "appropriated" it.

 

[davidwhangchoi]

i remember when bobby flay beat miyamoto and thought it was fixed.

 

[Timbuktu]

So Chinese food just can't good huh? This list does make me depressed given my cousin works in the industry and worked at Amber and Kooning there is a glass ceiling their for not being white.

 

[Austriacus]

Didn't know whiskey and pastry was a thing, but I guess I can kind of see it.

I just came back from japan with 400 dollars worth of sweets.
You better fucking believe the pastry part.

 

[akira28]

Hey now they simply "appropriated" it.

white people can going into any culture and become a part of it. eventually they end up being even better at whatever than the people who's culture they've joined. its that gift of neutral skin tones.

I just came back from japan with 400 dollars worth of sweets.
You better fucking believe the pastry part.

I was recently introduced to melonpan, not a Japanese bakery though, I don't think.

 

[wandering]

Theres like 1 dude in the list that does that.

The rest are all french and italian chefs, maybe you should look into the list before saying stuff like this.

The real issue here is that theres not much chefs who specialise in the cuisine of the region presented in the list, if international lists gave non european cooking the respect it deserved we would have that list populated by probably 4 more japanese chefs who work with ramen and sushi and by virtue of it they wouldnt be white.

Like even one of the japanese dudes there does french cuisine, give me a break.

This is par the course for this lists.

Fair enough. But it's a real phenomenon.

And for all the "skin color doesn't matter" sentiment being expressed here, it's pretty much as tone deaf as when talking about diversity in Hollywood. The culinary world, like many other creative industries, privileges white people.

 

[Aikidoka]

Hey now they simply "appropriated" it.

Reminds me of this video of Gordon Ramsay making Pad Thai for buddhist monks (chef thinks it sucks): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyfYJ5Ou3g

Especially, the first comment: "the chef should yell at him. 'this pad thai is so british it started to colonize the whole kitchen in the name of the queen!' "&#65279;

 

[akira28]

So Chinese food just can't good huh? This list does make me depressed given my cousin works in the industry and worked at Amber and Kooning there is a glass ceiling their for not being white.

a glass ceiling for not being white..if only...if only there was a way, maybe a word to describe this.

Some sort of description based on the person's skin color, their "race" if you will.

com-pe-te-tive : fastest racer wins.

 

[Frozenprince]

a glass ceiling for not being white..if only...if only there was a way, maybe a word to describe this.

Some sort of description based on the person's skin color, their "race" if you will.

 

[el jacko]

Who make the rank? Is it asian institution or western one? Maybe that should answer the question.

It's originally a UK-based organization, but the Asia list is decided only by people who live in the region. Living in the region doesn't mean citizenship, however, and a lot of these top restaurants are founded by luxury hotels looking for top "global" talent, which usually means European-trained chefs. I know for a fact that all 6 top Asian chefs trained in Europe as well.

This is all luxury industry, and it's about favoring the 1% of global wealth, which is built out of the London/NYC financial industry and still favors a lot of French, Italian, and Japanese cuisine. That's also why all the restaurants in Japan are run by Japanese chefs - expect more Chinese chefs as the region opens up. But that's also why Thailand, Singapore, and HK have so many non-Asian chefs, who are following the financial expat market.

EDIT: David Thompson, who uses all Thai ingredients, is kind of an example of "only white man saves asia" kind of dude, like Last Samurai Tom Cruise, but at least he's expanding the horizons of what can be considered high-class cuisine, opening room for non-Japanese/Chinese Asian chefs. On the other hand, the whole worship of high-end super-expensive cuisine is extremely problematic, and representative of the serious class inequality rampant over the past decade or so. Proper representation in luxury chefs is just a tiny band-aid on it all.

 

[Austriacus]

white people can going into any culture and become a part of it. eventually they end up being even better at whatever than the people who's culture they've joined. its that gift of neutral skin tones.



I was recently introduced to melonpan, not a Japanese bakery though, I don't think.

Try to look into Shiroi koibito and Nama chocolate from Royce.

Your life will be ruined.

 

[F0rneus]

Reminds me of this video of Gordon Ramsay making Pad Thai for buddhist monks (chef thinks it sucks): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyfYJ5Ou3g

Especially, the first comment: "the chef should yell at him. 'this pad thai is so british it started to colonize the whole kitchen in the name of the queen!' "&#65279;

Bu bu bu, when the monks taste the pad thai later they all prefered Gordon's! LIST IS LEGIT CONFIRMED!

Anyway, top chefs lists are basically ranking food/kitchens with French Haute Cuisine standards. They are kind of boring and useless.

 

[always crazy bacon]

Asia's top chefs or the top chefs working in Asia?

 

[VeeP]

Some sort of description based on the person's skin color, their "race" if you will.

Wow. You guys are making it seem like it's a special type of privilege to be that skin color.

 

[Dartastic]

this finally cements bourdain as being better than guy fieri for me

Frankly, this should never have been a competition. Bourdain is light years ahead.

 

[- J - D -]

What's the problem. It's not a "Top Asian Cuisine Chefs In Asia" list.

 

[opricnik]

Like who the fuck cares if they are italian ? This article seems harmful and stupid.

 

[Ravensmash]

What's the problem. It's not a "Top Asian Cuisine Chefs In Asia" list.

Yeah, the title is somewhat misleading. This is an industry ranked list of top restaurants in Asia.

Are any of those restaurants in the top 10 unworthy of their stake? They seem to be fairly renowned places.

 

[neorej]

What's the problem. It's not a "Top Asian Cuisine Chefs In Asia" list.

It's.... remarkable that the top chefs in Asia are mostly white men, to say the very least. Especially when you consider the amount of Asians vs Caucasians living in Asia.

I know a lot of highly regarded chefs have moved to Asia to start a business there, since there's money to be made there and there's an entire food-culture, but it's highly unlikely that 60% of the top 10 chefs in Asia are white guys, a statistical anomaly, if you will.

 

[aznpxdd]

Because Asian people usually don't like eating Western Cuisine cooked by Asian Chefs, its especially evident in China & HK.

 

[ZackieChan]

Best restaurant is an Indian Restaurant in Thailand, because why not

Is it in the civilized part of Bangkok? Or out where you live? Gimme a name and location, bro!

 

[Chairmanchuck]

I know a lot of highly regarded chefs have moved to Asia to start a business there, since there's money to be made there and there's an entire food-culture, but it's highly unlikely that 60% of the top 10 chefs in Asia are white guys, a statistical anomaly, if you will.

I think it has to do, at least in China, with what aznpxdd says. If you open a restaurant in Beijing as a foreigner, its far easier if you are a westerner.

If you have 2 waffle shops beside each other, 1 has a chinese, 1 has a, lets say, german, people will go to the german one, because they think it will be more authentic.

 

[nephilimdj]

Good example is SM malls in Philippines, most have a few restaurants that are visited by middle/high society, they are not local restaurants.

They got there in their BMW/Merc, valet takes it, then they go eat.

 

[lvl99 Pixel]

It's.... remarkable that the top chefs in Asia are mostly white men, to say the very least. Especially when you consider the amount of Asians vs Caucasians living in Asia.

I know a lot of highly regarded chefs have moved to Asia to start a business there, since there's money to be made there and there's an entire food-culture, but it's highly unlikely that 60% of the top 10 chefs in Asia are white guys, a statistical anomaly, if you will.

white is a pretty fucking broad colour to paint everyone with. Or do people actually equate Italian and French people as being the same fucking thing?

 

[Deepwater]

I'm devastated to not see SaltBae on here

 

[milanbaros]

This must have a lot to do with investment. To even get on the radar of these rankings you need to have a lot of money behind the restaurant. In Asia this tends to be in big cities from internationally renowned chefs.

 

[- J - D -]

You can tell the editors of this list have a hard-on for French cooking as it dominates the top 20. I think it's more offensive that there isn't one Chinese cuisine (whichever region you want) restaurant/chef until no.17, but that's just me.

 

[Greddleok]

You can tell the editors of this list have a hard-on for French cooking as it dominates the top 20. I think it's more offensive that there isn't one Chinese cuisine (whichever region you want) restaurant/chef until no.17, but that's just me.

This. Top food lists are dominated by French style cooking. It's just dumb food elitism.