Chilli obsession

CHEF Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a French chef with a love for Asian flavours and ingredients. So it's no surprise that if you asked him which cuisine he is currently fascinated with, his answer is Singapore.

''Singapore food is number one to me right now,'' declares the 60-year-old chef, who was born in Alsace, France but is currently based in New York. ''(Here) you have the best Thai, the best Chinese, the best Indonesian, Indian, Malay, plus your own cuisine. Also it's amazing that you can get produce here from anywhere around the world - Japan, Europe, Australia, so it's a great city to cook in.''

Since he opened his restaurant The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar earlier this year, he has been making a few trips here to update the menu, including a recent visit where he cooked at the Singapore F1 Paddock Club 2017.