Kerridge returns for second helping

SINCE his last visit to Singapore one-and-a-half years ago, Tom Kerridge has: kept the two Michelin stars earned by his UK gastropub The Hand and Flowers; been voted top chef of the year by AA Hospitality guide; starred in his own BBC TV cooking show; published his own cookbook and beat Brett Graham's Ledbury to win the Best Restaurant in UK spot in the 2013 National Restaurant Awards. A remarkable feat on its own, it's even more memorable given that Kerridge has been garnering such acclaim for staying true to his convictions as a chef who believes in serving down-to-earth, unpretentious food in equally modest surroundings.

"These are all incredible accolades and ones that I am very proud of," says the affable British chef who is in town from tonight to give diners a second helping of, as he likes to call it, "proper pub food" - which is also the name of his cookbook and TV show.

"The book and television has gone hand in hand," he adds, "and it's an honour that the BBC have asked me to be involved in this." Besides gaining in popularity, the show has also helped him to achieve a wider aim which is "to showcase British pubs, which is something that is very close to my heart".