Having made an indelible impression on the culinary scene since opening in late 2010, Restaurant ANDRE was ranked #14 World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2017 and has been on the coveted list for 7 consecutive years. He is also the only Chinese Chef who is simultaneously featured in the Michelin Guide, World’s 50 Best Restaurants and the Top Chefs lists.
André Chiang gained experience working in various Michelin-starred establishments in Paris, Roanne and Montpellier. During his career, André has perfected French techniques, attributing his influences to the three generations of Masters in “Nouvelle Cuisine” as well as inspiration he draws from the myriad selection of products he uses every day. His blend of dynamic passion and modest charm make this chef as irresistible as his cuisine.
Chef André has also spend the last years researching how humans’ capacity to taste food is influenced by our memory banks, through the personal experiences we acquire over time. This has led him to develop a culinary principle – OCTAPHILOSOPHY – based on eight primary characteristics: Unique, Texture, Memory, Pure, Terroir, Salt, South and Artisan – the backbone of the creative process.
After the closure of his much-loved Restaurant ANDRE, the chef has invested in a variety of restaurants, providing a supervisory role and mentoring young chefs. These include Burnt Ends in Singapore, RAW in Taipei, Bincho in Singapore and The Bridge in China.
Describe your culinary philosophy in FOUR words?
Personal, Contemporary, Creative, Octaphilosophy.
What is your greatest inspiration?
Thinking about where cuisine comes from, and how people adapt to the environment that shapes “Cuisine”.
If you could take a plane to any restaurant in the world, where would you go?
Troisgros, I used to work at Maison Troisgros, side by side with Chef Michel 20 years ago, and I only managed to visit him once over the past 20 year. It’s a place that nurtured me a lot and I really miss it.
What FOUR things would you take to a desert island and why?
Tent, water, knife, lighter.
- Awarded Life Time Achievement Award | Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018
- The 15 Most Influential Chefs of the next decade by Elite Traveler
Image 1 © Edmond Ho