Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has come up with a list of recommended restaurants for Middle East visitors to try in 2011.

The list also include three of the world’s top-ranked eateries, according to the 2011 S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants Guide.

The recommendations also include three celebrity-chef establishments that opened last year in Singapore’s two new Integrated Resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa, plus a Halal-certified restaurant and a unique eating concept where diners decide on the price of each meal depending on how much they enjoyed it.

The move coincides with the final day of the city’s 15th World Gourmet Summit
(April 25 to May 8) which saw internationally acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs and master vintners gather in the city to host special dinners, themed culinary events and master classes.

“The world has long savoured Singapore’s wealth of local cuisine and we are fast becoming a ‘must visit’ dining destination with some of the world’s top restaurateurs and chefs clamouring to open restaurants here. The list acts as an introduction to the diverse dining experiences in Singapore for discerning Middle East visitors to enjoy,” said Jason Ong, area director Middle East and Africa, STB.

Singapore’s Recommended Restaurants for 2011:

1. Iggy’s Restaurant, Hilton Singapore, Orchard Road
With its intimate dining experience and delicious fusion cuisine based on ideas and ingredients from Europe, Asia and Australia, Iggy’s, is a Singapore institution where east meets west. Named after award-winning sommelier and restaurateur Ignatius Chan, the restaurant was recently ranked No. 27 in the 2011 S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants Guide, making it the only restaurant in Singapore to make it into the celebrated top 50.

2. Les Amis, Shaw Centre, Orchard Road Established in 1994 the flagship restaurant for the Les Amis group is an award-winning culinary experience. Jumping from No. 78 to 55 on the 2011 S. Pellegrino list, the modern European cuisine is delicately refined by Austrian chef de cuisine Armin Leitgeb down to the tiniest touches.

3. Restaurant Andre, Bukit Pasoh Road
Chef-owner Andre Chang’s southern French nouvelle Restaurant Andre makes its debut at No. 100 on the 2011 S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurant list. Chef Chang has designed the menu to reflect his culinary principle of “octophilosphy” based on eight characteristics: unique, pure, texture, memory, salt, south, artisan, and terroir.

4. Wild Rocket, Mount Emily
Nestled in Mount Emily, Wild Rocket has developed an entirely new genre of food coined “Mod Sin” or Modern Singaporean. With a menu inspired by the distinctive flavours of Singapore, this restaurant’s philosophy is to provide good food with good service and good ambience.

5. Cut Singapore, Marina Bay Sands
One of the most popular steakhouse restaurants in the United States has made its way to the shores of the glamorous Marina Bay Sands.

6. Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands
Known for his Japanese cuisine, Chef Tetsuya Wakuda offers diners a changing menu based on the freshest possible produce for the day. Also situated in the exclusive Marina Bay Sands, Waku Ghin is Chef Tetsuya’s first establishment outside of Australia.

7. Chinois By Susur Lee, Resorts World Sentosa
Combining fine Chinese dining with contemporary interpretation is Chef Susur Lee’s indulgent Chinois. The menu is crafted drawing on Chef Susur’s authentic Chinese roots, with a Mediterranean and Zen ambience.

8. Annalakshmi, Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, Coleman Street
A vegetarian restaurant run largely by volunteer staff, Annalakshmi’s unique concept of having diners decide on the price of each meal is one that has been replicated in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Chennai, Coimbatore and Perth. The staff prefers to think of working as volunteering and dedicate their time because they “find joy in the underlying philosophy of serve, love and give”.

9. Singapore Food Trail, Singapore Flyer
With a flood of traditional Singaporean hawker foods, the Singapore Food Trail is a tribute to 1960’s street food, offering hawker stalls, food kiosks and push carts filled with mouth-watering traditional cuisine.

10. Asian Market Cafe, Fairmont Singapore, Bras Basah Road
To experience authentic Halal-certified Malay, Indian, Chinese and contemporary regional cuisine, the Asian Market Cafe at the Fairmont Singapore is a must, the list says.-TradeArabia News Service