Two Michelin starred Andre Chiang wants to be ‘excluded’ from Michelin Guide Singapore 2018

On Tuesday, October 10, two Michelin starred chef, Andre Chiang announced plans to close Restaurant Andre after seven years.

• Why does Sebastian Bras wish to return his three Michelin stars?
• Why does Andrew Fairlie not want a third Michelin star? 
• Read more about the Michelin guide here

According to a statement published on the restaurant’s website, Andre has expressed his desire to return his Michelin stars and to be omitted from the Michelin Guide Singapore 2018 when it’s released next year so he can focus on ‘reprioritising’ his professional life.

The statement read, “I’m a perfectionist and for the past 30 years of my career, I’ve been looking for that unrealistic ‘moment of perfection’: Three Michelin stars, World’s Top 50 restaurant…Until now I realised, at this moment - it is perfect as it is.
“I want to go back to where I started, I want to go back to cooking, have a balanced life and cook happily."

The chef has also requested that his other restaurant, RAW to not be included in any future guides for Taiwan.

The statement finished by saying, “Although Restaurant ANDRE’s legacy will soon become a fond memory to the world’s gourmets, I have no regrets, as we have achieved all that we have wanted to for Singapore and for Asia.”

Dear all, my phone, email and social media burst as you probably expected... here are some things to take note: 1. Please don't book through me ???? there's Restaurant ANDRE website to book, simply drop a request (don't call) 2. Don't book 14th Feb (cuz other dates we are open too... ????) 3. Please don't call me during lunch & dinner service (I'm still working...????) 4. Media issue please contact info@andre-chiang.com ???? 5. Please read the announcement carefully before asking me questions ???? (because most of the answer is in there) and I wrote it... 6. Please don't be sad, because I'm happy that I could phisically do more than before; I'm still around and Andre is still cooking, I simply realised I have bigger responsibility to leverage chef's social status and environment for Asia I love you all

A post shared by Andre Chiang (@andrechiang_sg) on Oct 10, 2017 at 8:45pm PDT

Andre and his brigade will serve their last service on February 14, 2018. The statement also says Andre has other projects in the pipeline throughout 2018 and 2019 but is unable to elaborate on them at this time.

Andre’s career began by working under Jacques and Laurent Pourcel at Le Jardin de Sens in Montpellier, France becoming head chef nine years later.

Throughout his career Andre has also worked for renowned French chefs Pascal Barbot, Pierre Gagnaire, Joël Robuchon and Michel Troisgros.

The 30 cover restaurant, Restaurant Andre, opened in October 2010 specialising in serving ‘spontaneous culinary art’ inspired by Southern French nouvelle cuisine. Aside from two stars in the Michelin Guide Singapore, Restaurant Andre is also currently number 14 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

The news comes after French chef Sebastien Bras asked for his stars to be revoked from the Michelin Guide 2018 following the ‘immense pressure’ he felt to retain them and Scottish chef Andrew Fairlie confessing he'd rather hold two than three stars in the Michelin Guide 2018.