Filipino chef Johanne Siy has been voted the Best Female Chef in Asia for 2023.
Siy is the head chef of Lolla restaurant and is the first Singapore-based culinary talent to secure the award, voted on by 300 jury members.
“I am beyond honoured to be receiving this award,” says the chef. “It is great validation for my team and I, for all the hard work invested in bettering our craft every single day.
“I want to shine a spotlight on the work of remarkable women in our industry, in the hopes that one day we as a community can thrive and reach new heights by leveraging the symbiosis that a truly egalitarian workforce brings.”
Lolla currently sits at no.75 on the extended list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, with the 2023 rankings to be announced in the coming weeks.
Siy joined the restaurant in 2020, shaping the Asian-inspired menu around her Filipino heritage, modern European cookery techniques and seasonality.
Dishes include crab relleno with aligue sauce (paste made with river crab tomalley and aromatics) and makrut lime along with sturgeon served with caviar and egg yolk sauce.
“Johanne Siy’s deep understanding of the provenance of ingredients and her flair for presenting cuisine that is produce-driven, alongside mindful inclusions of the culinary traditions she grew up with, make her a worthy recipient of the Asia’s Best Female Chef Award,” says William Drew, director of content for 50 Best.
“Her work at Lolla is a true reflection of the many years spent and intentional experiences sought in order to hone her craft.”
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be announced in a live ceremony in Singapore on 28 March.
