Pioneer Filipina chef Johanne Siy of Lolla restaurant in Singapore Ann Siang Road has been named Asia's Best Female Chef 2023.
On Tuesday February 7, the announcement was made ahead of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants big reveal on Mar 28, which will be held in Singapore.
Siy is the first Singapore-based chef to win the award, which recognises women in the gastronomy who continue to push the boundaries of excellence with their skills, techniques and craft, and was chosen by the 300 plus members of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy.
Born in Dagupan in the Philippines, the 41-year-old Singapore permanent resident joined the culinary world later than most. After eight years in the corporate world, the former Procter Gamble regional brand manager resigned to the Culinary Institute of America CIA in New York.
She went on to improve her skill under chefs Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin and Daniel Boulud's Cafe Boulud and enjoyed stints at Faviken and Noma in Scandinavia, as well as Andre Chiang's now-shuttered Restaurant Andre in Singapore.
In 2020, Siy took over the helm at Lolla and transformed its Spanish-focused menu into meticulously crafted dishes inspired by her upbringing in the Philippines and culinary journey across Europe and the United States. Under her leadership, Lolla climbed to 75th place on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2022.