Asia's Most Influential: The Tastemakers

From top-notch chefs, successful restaurateurs and creative mixologists to dedicated educators and innovative food tech experts, these personalities have made a notable difference in Singapore’s capricious dining scene. Meet the tastemakers who have contributed their vision, creativity and talent to shape Asia’s culinary landscape

- Naomi Tzi

CYNTHIA CHUA

Founder and chairman of Spa Esprit Group

Cynthia Chua has the Midas touch. The relentless entrepreneur is a tastemaker in the truest sense of the word. Since 1996, the savvy founder of the Spa Esprit Group has built an entire lifestyle empire encompassing some of the city’s most noteworthy F&B venues as well as beauty and wellness brands. The 16 brands (and counting) span over 100 outlets in 10 cities including Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Chua has an uncanny ability to give consumers what they don’t know they want yet. She has dynamically introduced new concepts— to much fanfare—into the Singaporean market such as natural wine bar Drunken Farmer, farm-to-table dining experiences Noka, and Open Farm Community, and gut-friendly and gluten-free venue The Butcher’s Wife. The group, one of the brunch and coffee culture pioneers in Singapore, opens the seventh Tiong Bahru Bakery at the foothills of the historic Fort Canning Hill in April, and a new Common Man Coffee Roasters in Joo Chiat this month.

RISHI NALEENDRA

Chef-owner of one Michelin-starred Cheek Bistro, fine dining restaurant Cloudstreet, and Kotuwa, Singapore’s first full-service Sri Lankan restaurant

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