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SINGAPORE – Four restaurants have been awarded one Michelin star by Michelin Guide Singapore, as announced on June 25 via its website and social media platforms.  They are Chilean South Pacific establishment Araya at the Mondrian Singapore Duxton, Japanese-French restaurant Chaleur in Neil Road, modern Italian restaurant Matera at The Fullerton Waterboat House and Pangium at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. June 25 marks a day to remember for chef-couple Francisco Araya, 41, and Fernanda Guerrero, 37, of newly minted one-starred Araya.  The restaurant’s sommelier Tomas Tapia, 34, also won the guide’s Sommelier Award. The icing on the cake? June 25 is the day of chefs Araya and Guerrero’s engagement, as well as her birthday.   Araya says: “Both the proposal and receiving our first Michelin star are equally important, as one represents a personal achievement while the other represents a team effort.  “The next step is to focus on enhancing our creativity and refining our service.”  Moving forward, Mr Tapia plans to source for more boutique wines and producers from Chile and Argentina. He says: “Highlighting our Chilean culture and spotlighting outstanding Chilean wines is important, as these producers are creating exceptional wines that deserve more recognition.”  For home-grown chef Malcolm Lee of Pangium, which champions Straits cuisine, this is his second restaurant to make the guide. Peranakan establishment Candlenut in Dempsey has held one Michelin star since 2016.  The 40-year-old calls the accolade a “significant win for heritage cuisine”. Meta restaurant in Mohamed Sultan Road, helmed by South Korean chef Sun Kim, has been promoted from one to two-Michelin-star status.  Kim, 40, says: “I’ve changed direction and the food is more Korean. Meta’s food is my interpretation of Korean food, using my experience working with Japanese chefs, living in Australia and understanding French cuisine. I think it’s quite unique, but people still understand the flavours. “We have been working hard and Meta has been improving. Meta is nine years old and for me, we are going on to the second chapter.” Contemporary South-east Asian restaurant Fiz in Tanjong Pagar has received a Michelin Green Star, awarded to establishments for their sustainable practices and dining experiences.  It is the second restaurant in Singapore to earn this accolade, following one-Michelin-starred Seroja, which also holds one Michelin Green Star. Fiz’s chef-owner Hafizzul Hashim, 42, says: “Our cuisine is deeply rooted in South-east Asian cooking, and it contains a lot of sustainable elements, such as our salai method of smoking and preserving meat. We also use by-products like rice husk and sugarcane husk. “There’s a lot of thought behind our methodology, and we’re deeply honoured that our efforts have been recognised.”  Singapore’s trio of three-Michelin-starred establishments – Les Amis at Shaw Centre, Odette at the National Gallery Singapore and Zen in Bukit Pasoh Road – have kept their stars.  Japanese restaurant Waku Ghin at Marina Bay Sands has dropped from two stars to one.  Eight former one-star recipients have fallen off the guide. Four of them – where the restaurant is still in operation – are Beni at Mandarin Gallery, Cure in Keong Saik Road, Putien in Kitchener Road and Reve in Kreta Ayer Road. Reve’s former chef Masahiko Kawano now helms the newly minted one-starred Chaleur.  The other four – which closed in the past year – are La Dame de Pic at Raffles Hotel, Braci in Boat Quay, Table 65 at Resorts World Sentosa and 28 Wilkie in Wilkie Road. Besides the Sommelier Award, two other special awards were given out.  Chef Seth Lai of fine-dining restaurant Ce Soir in Portsdown Road was lauded with the Young Chef Award. And Ms Lufianti Susetyo, from Italian restaurant Buko Nero in Tanjong Pagar, was winner of the Service Award. On the accolade, Lai says: “I am extremely humbled to be chosen as the young chef of the year, I wasn’t expecting it, but can only be thankful for the recognition. Moving forward, I can only work harder to achieve greater heights.”  The Michelin Guide Singapore release comes a week after the Bib Gourmand results, released on June 18. In total, there are 283 locations listed on the eighth edition of the guide: 51 starred restaurants, 81 Bib Gourmand eateries and 151 Michelin Selected venues.  Mr Gwendal Poullennec, the Michelin Guide’s international director, says: “Singapore’s multicultural character extends beautifully to its world-renowned food scene. The variety of options, from fine-dining establishments to iconic hawker centres steeped in tradition, offers a truly captivating culinary experience for visitors.  “Our inspectors are also witnessing a surge of talented young chefs joining kitchens. Their passion injects fresh energy and creativity into the scene, pushing boundaries and ensuring Singapore remains a leader in culinary innovation.”