An Ode to Austria at Andaz Singapore

From 29 October to 2 November 2022, premium steakhouse 665°F at Andaz Singapore, in collaboration with Austrian Embassy Singapore and Austrian National Tourist Office, will jointly host the inaugural event of Austrian Gourmet Week in Singapore. Gourmands can look forward to an exclusive four-hands dinner experience by guest Chef Armin Leitgeb, armed with experience in Michelin-starred establishments as well as 17-point Gault&Millau Chef Josef Mühlmann. The duo will serve a six-course menu that highlights Alpine cuisine as a nod to their roots, underpinned by their finesse and talent.

Austrian Gourmet Week aims to introduce Austria’s cuisine, vineyards and agriculture as part of a ReFocus Austria initiative by the Austrian government to aid economic recovery during and after the pandemic. To date, more than 100 Austrian diplomatic representations of the Foreign Ministry have organised ReFocus Austria tailor-made events and activities abroad to strengthen the domestic export industry.

“The Austrian Gourmet Week will give Singaporeans an excellent opportunity to discover Austria’s fantastic culinary traditions. This ReFocus Austria event is an invitation to visit Austria and to enjoy all it has to offer: great food, amazing landscapes and an abundance of art and culture,” said Peter Guschelbauer, Austrian Ambassador to Singapore.

Chef Armin and Chef Josef are members of Koch.Campus, a not-for-profit association of purveyors of Austrian fine food where talent meets nature’s finest. Koch.Campus defines stellar contemporary Austrian cuisine, and how this concept is implemented and presented in restaurants in partnership with domestic primary food producers.

“Food and drinks play an important part in enjoyable holidays. Austria Gourmet Tourism is gaining popularity as we have a huge variety of high-quality regional and sustainable products to offer and a very diverse culinary scene with talented chefs influenced by many European cuisines,“ said Emanuel Lehner-Telic, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office.  

Stephan Karl, General Manager of Andaz Singapore added, "Andaz Singapore has been consistently innovating its culinary concepts and keeping its dining scene fresh and inspiring. This gastronomic week at premium steakhouse 665°F highlights the duo-chef culinary talents from Austria, and is perfect for gourmands and foodies seeking memorable experiences coupled with sky-high views and service.”

 
Stalwarts of Austrian Culinary Arts  Armed with over two decades of culinary experience,  41-year-old Chef Josef credits his mother for stirring his interest in cooking. In the pursuit to perfect his craft, he gleaned new skills and techniques in some of the toughest kitchens in Munich and the Middle East, alongside respected mentors such as Italian Michelin-starred Chef Norbert Niederkofler. In 2003, he returned home to Austria to manage his family-owned restaurant that highlights Alpine cuisine to the world and beyond.    
 

Armed with over two decades of culinary experience, 46-year-old Chef Armin is known for his creations that are greatly influenced and reflective of his worldly experiences in Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe such as Restaurant Tantris in Munich, Paul and Marc Haeberlin at the Auberge de L'ill in Alsace and The French Laundry by Thomas Keller in California. On Singapore shores, he was second-in-command in the culinary team at Raffles Singapore before becoming Chef de Cuisine at the current three-Michelin-starred restaurant Les Amis for close to four years. The restaurant was voted as one of the best by San Pellegrino and Miele Guide under his helm.

41-year-old and 17-point Gault&Millau Chef Josef credits his mother for stirring his interest in cooking. In the pursuit to perfect his craft, he gleaned new skills and techniques in some of the toughest kitchens in Munich and the Middle East, alongside respected mentors such as Italian Michelin-starred Chef Norbert Niederkofler. In 2003, he returned home to Austria to manage his family-owned restaurant that highlights Alpine cuisine to the world and beyond.

Both chefs will present a showcase of refined dishes that are exquisitely presented, and deftly prepared using premium ingredients and imported produce from Austria. Whet palates with a trio of Austrian bites like Backhend’l (fried chicken) with cucumber salad and pumpkin seed oil; Speck with apricot mustard; and Marinated Forest Mushrooms with warm potato espuma and herbs. This is followed by Chef Armin’s iconic dish of a Lightly Smoked Eel with crispy pork crouton, mustard and horseradish. Equally memorable is the Tyrolean-style Rye Ravioli, finished with white cheese, brown butter and chives, as well as the Farmers Bread Wrapped Crispy Egg. Another main course highlight is the meltingly tender and flavourful Braised Lamb Leg. Conclude on a sweet note with an Oven-Baked Apple, served with salty caramel and cranberry ice cream.

For this rare experience, guests can elevate the experience further with carefully curated wines from Austrian wineries such as Pittnauer and family-owned Tement. The former produces certified biodynamic and organic wines while the latter produces handcrafted wines attributed to its bio-organic vineyards.

665°F is helmed by the award-winning Chef de Cuisine Poh Boon Neo, who has experience in some of the world’s best kitchens including three-Michelin-starred Les Amis and two-Michelin-starred JAAN. The six-course dinner menu (see appendix) is priced at SGD 160 per guest and is available from 6pm to 10:30pm. Wine pairing option is available at SGD 115 per guest. For restaurant reservations, please visit the hotel dining page or call +65 6408 1288. All mentioned prices are subject to a 10% service charge and 7% GST.

High-resolution images, biographies and other assets can be downloaded here.

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Occupying Levels 25 to 39 of the DUO Tower, Andaz Singapore is a lifestyle hotel brand by Hyatt Hotels Corporation that inspires fresh perspectives. The first Andaz property in Southeast Asia offers 342 guestrooms and suites, four event venues, and four dining and drinking concepts, with stunning views of the city. Situated at the crossroads of the Kampong Glam, Little India and Bras Basah Bugis cultural districts—with their intimate shophouse-filled alleyways and atmospheric colours, textures and flavours— Andaz Singapore aims to spark a discovery of the rich culture of Singapore, and inspire guests to experience the city from new angles. For more information, please visit andazsingapore.com.

The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) is Austria's national tourism organisation, whose main objective is the promotion of Austria as a holiday destination. ANTO's range of activities include among others the cooperation with local travel trade and media, organizing events and workshops and providing potential guests with travel information and inspiration. In South East Asia, the Austrian National Tourist Office actively works on the markets Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. For more information on holidays in Austria, please visit www.austria.info.

About ReFocus Austria

This global business initiative was launched in September 2021 as part of the Austrian government’s recovery plan, for economic recovery during and after the pandemic. In the first year of ReFocus Austria, more than 300 events and projects were organised in around 85 countries on six continents. In view of the successful projects, the initiative will be intensified to master current challenges, such as the search for new markets in the face of geopolitical shifts, in the best possible way. For more information, please visit austria.org

Over 60 tastemakers from the culinary, wine and agriculture industries have come together under Koch.Campus, a non-profit association to promote Austria's culinary quality. With the support of some of the most renowned chefs based both locally and internationally, high-quality primary food producers work with the campus to promote collaboration and the transfer of knowledge and skills to introduce the concept of contemporary gourmet Austrian cuisine to a global audience. For more information, please visit kochcampus.com

Andaz Singapore, Austrian National Tourist Office

Backhend‘l

crispy fried Sot-l’y-laisse / potato-cucumber salad / pumpkin seed oil

Speck

Schüttelbrot / apricot mustard / bacon

Marinated Forest Mushrooms

potato espuma / herbs

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Lightly Smoked Eel "Tiede"

crispy pork crouton / mustard / horseradish

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Confit River Trout

triple-boiled chicken broth / lemon mash / herb oil / nasturtium

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"Osttiroler Schlipfkrapfen"

stuffed Tyrolean style rye ravioli / white cheese / brown butter / chives

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Farmers Bread-Wrapped Crispy Egg

spinach leaves / chanterelle mushrooms / lardo crudo

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Braised Lamb Leg

pearl barley / root vegetables / wild herbs

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Oven-Baked Apple

salty caramel / strudel pastry / cranberry ice cream