SPECIAL EDITION
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Congratulations to all the winners and runners up at the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards 2018. This year the awards will focus their attention on the future and will facilitate an environment where the attainment of excellence is supported throughout the year, and not just celebrated on an annual basis. Over the past few weeks members of the public have nominated their favourite restaurants, bars and cafes online. Over five thousand votes were cast for 549 different venues in the five categories. The task of whittling that down to just five award winners and two runners up in each award was incredibly difficult. But this does demonstrate the extent to which standards are increasing in the industry across the board. Six new and innovative awards that celebrate special contributions to excellence by individuals and teams were also presented. Nominations for these awards came from both the public and industry and were again judged by an independent panel of industry experts. The winners of the individual awards will become “MYANMORE Ambassadors of Excellence” – whose standards and qualities will inspire others to aim for excellence. Likewise, award-winning venues will also be profiled as benchmarks of excellence. Winners will be featured in regular print and online articles and exclusive video ‘catchups’ throughout the year. In conjunction with the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards 2018, MYANMORE will launch the TOP 100 Dining and Nightlife Guide. This comprehensive guide is a first for Myanmar and it will contain detailed information and reviews of the top 100 dining and nightlife venues across the city. Special features focussing on the award winners will also be incorporated into the guide. Details of all the award winners and the TOP 100 are included in this magazine. We hope you enjoyed your evening, and thanks for your support. We look forward to working with you towards the continued development and growth of excellence within the Myanmar dining and nightlife scene going forward into 2018 and beyond. Kind Regards MYANMORE
Restaurant of the Year 2018 Winner: SEEDS Restaurant and Lounge The concept behind Lucia and Felix Eppisser’s fine dining restaurant is simple – it is the celebration of a journey involving inspiration, creativity, sharing and most importantly love.
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eeds restaurant opened in Yangon in early 2017. The concept behind Lucia and Felix Eppisser’s fine dining restaurant is simple – it is the celebration of a journey involving inspiration, creativity, sharing and most importantly love. This comes across clearly on every level of the dining experience. From the presentation and service of food to the atmosphere and ambience of the dinning room and garden - all are inspired by peace and love. Swiss born and classically trained Michelin star chef Felix Eppisser is no stranger to the complexities of providing a fine dining experience in Yangon, he was head chef at Le Planteur for several years. At Seeds he combines his knowledge and experience to offer food that displays incredible attention to detail and exquisite presentation. Using locally sourced fresh produce he has created a vibrant and colourful menu that utilizes the best of both Europe and Asia. The restaurant is a haven of peace, and from the moment a customer enters they cannot help but be embraced by a feeling of serenity. Located on the edge of Inya lake the indoor restaurant is light, airy and beautifully decorated, the dining garden is a wonderful space to relax in a lush and green environment that stretches right up to the water.
The service is warm and welcoming, the staff clearly love working for Lucia and Felix, and exude a knowledge and passion for their product that is infectious. Staff training and capacity building is an important component of the concept, and contributes towards the feeling that Seeds is a family working together through a shared desire for excellence. They offer a range of menus including an extensive à la carte, exclusive tasting menus and a very reasonably priced business lunch. The food is not only of a Michelin star standard, but the care and love that has been poured into each unique dish shines through. The wine list is comprehensive and well balanced. Lucia and Chef Felix always make time to meet with and speak to their patrons, which adds a very personal touch to the dining experience and allows them to share their vision and dreams with their customers.
The MYANMORE Dining and nightlife Award judges were unanimous in their decision to award Restaurant of the Year to Seeds Restaurant and Lounge. Seeds consistently provides a world-class dining experience that stands head and shoulders above other restaurants in Myanmar. Chef Felix demonstrates an extraordinary talent that compares with the best in the world as he pushes the boundaries of excellence within the Myanmar fine dining scene. His menu inspires and excites, demonstrating flair, creativity, innovation and incredible attention to detail. Congratulations to Lucia and Felix on winning Restaurant of the year 2018. MYANMORE wishes you peace and love and every success in the coming year.
He has created a vibrant and colourful menu that utilizes the best of both Europe and Asia.
Runners Up: Marina Indian Restaurant
Ietsu Sushi & Soba
The Marina sets itself above and beyond most (if not all) Indian restaurants in Yangon through its sophisticated menu of imaginative and authentic dishes. The interior of the restaurant is stylish and modern, and the menu is comprehensive and innovative. Experienced Head Chef Sujit has built and trained a team of young chefs under him who excel in cooking a range of styles that represent the whole of India.
Ietsu Sushi & Sobai provides a quiet and intimate space that is perfect for an escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Yangon. The service is swift and friendly, and attention to detail is one of the key details that has contributed to their success. One of the award judges described their fatty Tuna sushi as “one of the best pieces of sushi I’ve ever had in Yangon”.
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Chef of the Year Winner: Chef Orng
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hef of the year was a particularly difficult award to select for the MYANMORE Judging panel this year, as Yangon is blessed with such a wealth of international talent in the kitchen. But after a great deal of deliberation and dégustation the panel were firmly in agreement that Chef Orng of Orng’s Kitchen was without a doubt worthy of this title. Chef Orng’s meticulous attention to detail and consistency were the deciding factors in the panel’s decision. Every single diner who visits his restaurant receives an exceptional experience at a standard on par with a Michelin star restaurant on every visit. A secondary and equally important consideration of the panel was the emphasis Chef Orng places on the affordable price of his fine dining offering. Chef Orng began his culinary career working as a part time kitchen porter at a small restaurant near Edinburgh in Scotland, UK, whilst he studied for his undergraduate and masters degrees. He fell in love with the working environment of the kitchen so much that when his studies had finished, he stayed on in the industry and slowly climbed the ranks. Starting out as a commis chef at Seafood Restaurant Ondine in Edinburgh, he eventually worked his way up to junior sous chef at the Michelin star Restaurant Castle Terrace. He briefly led his own kitchen brigade in Scotland before returning home to Myanmar
in 2016. Inspired by the burgeoning Yangon food and dining scene and the apparent abundance of opportunities, Chef Orng decided to stay on in Myanmar and open his own restaurant. In almost the exact opposite to most new places, Chef Orng concentrated his efforts into his product first and his location second. His dream of presenting fine dining high quality food at an affordable and accessible price meant that he had to compromise somewhat on the location of his restaurant. Although he struggled for the first four or five months, Chef Orng stayed true to his dream and kept pushing himself. And eventually the word got around - he built it and they came, in their droves. Classically trained in the French style of cooking, Chef Orng has shared his passion and knowledge with his team of young, enthusiastic and talented Myanmar chefs. In his tiny kitchen at the back of his tiny restaurant he has developed and trained from scratch some of the best young chefs in Yangon - all who share his passion, dedication to excellence and work ethic. They produce
exceptional food, using the best local products available. Chef Orng says the thing that makes it all worthwhile is a satisfied customer. “Smiling faces, that’s what makes me happy, that’s what it is all about. That’s what all the hard work is for.” At the end of February ORNG’S Kitchen restaurant will be moving to new and larger premises that will accommodate more diners, and will have a kitchen that will give his talented team more elbowroom to work their magic. The concept will be the same and the restaurant will continue to follow Chef Orng’s philosophy of love dedication and passion. Congratulations to Chef Orng (and to his kitchen team) on winning Chef of the year 2018. MYANMORE wishes you every success with your new and exciting adventure in the coming year.
“Smiling faces, that’s what makes me happy, that’s what it is all about. That’s what all the hard work is for.”
Runners Up: Chef Franz Paul Wieser @ The Market Restaurant, Melia Hotel.
Photo : Ryan Heny
Chef Paul, has set the benchmark of quality for Sunday brunch in Yangon, and has excelled in the quality of food he and his team consistently deliver. The Market restaurant is one of the few hotel restaurants to make it into the TOP 100 guidebook, and that is tantamount to his passion, creativity, innovation and consistency in the kitchen.
Chef Sujit @ The Mariner Indian Restaurant.
Photo : Ryan Heny
One nomination we received for Chef Sujit suggested that he was “ahead of the cookbook”. This perfectly encapsulates why Chef Sujit was in the running for this prestigious title. He is a visionary in the kitchen, and the fine reputation that the Marina Indian Restaurant has built up as possibly the best Indian restaurant in the country is very much due to his incredible talent.
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Café of the Year Winner: Café Salween Through this honest and innovative approach to business, and the high standards they consistently deliver, Café Salween has quickly built up a large customer base of people that return every day for their caffeine fix.
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ewly opened Café Salween is a haven in downtown Yangon that coffee lovers can’t get enough off. When they opened in July 2017 they launched with a “pay as you want” campaign where customers could decide the price they wanted to pay for their coffees, and could even walk away without paying a single kyat if they did not like what they had received. Through this honest and innovative approach to business, and the high standards they consistently deliver, Café Salween has quickly built up a large customer base of people that return every day for their caffeine fix. The place is a hidden away down a non-descript back alley along the side of Urban Asia Center (next door to the 7th Joint Bar) and has a laid back and relaxed vibe within a minimalist modern and green environment. Dominated by an indoor Frangipani tree, the café is also filled with plants and fresh flowers. They offer a wide choice of coffees, based on origin and artisanal method of production and brewing. Quality beans are imported from coffee growing regions famous for the quality including: Ethiopia, Brazil, Columbia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Sumatra (Indonesia), Vietnam as well as the Shan hills of Myanmar. A good collection of fine teas sourced locally and internationally is also on offer along with a small menu of food and deserts all with a Myanmar twist. Their famous Salween Latte is mixed with fresh Myanmar honey, and
their Salween Tea Latte is an adaptation of Myanmar traditional milk tea, with Myanmar red tea brewed under high pressure in the espresso machine, and served with condensed milk. Café Salween is so named because of Salween is actually the name of Than Lwin River in Burmese language which is one of two major rivers flowing through Myanmar. It flows from Tibetan Plateau through China, Thailand and the Shan Hills of Myanmar, into the Andaman Sea near the city of Moulmein. It is one of the longest free flowing rivers in Asia – signifying energy, dynamism and creativity which represent the core values of the young team behind this successful little café.
The MYANMORE Dining and nightlife Award judges were unanimous in their decision to award Café of the Year to Café Salween, though they were up against a very high standard of competition. The team behind Café Salween are clearly passionate about their product and enthusiastic about growing their fledgling business. Attention to detail, tight service, great ambience and a good quality product were areas highlighted by the judges. Congratulations to the whole team at Café Salween in winning Cafe of the year 2018. MYANMORE wishes you every success in the coming year.
Beans are imported from coffee growing regions famous for their quality including: Ethiopia, Brazil, Columbia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Sumatra, Vietnam as well as the Shan hills of Myanmar.
Runners Up: Gloria Jeans
Easy Café
Perhaps a surprise inclusion in this year’s Café of the year, Gloria Jean's Coffees impressed the judges with their high quality offering, well-trained staff and massive popularity. Gloria Jeans are pleasant and friendly café’s where people can hang out and enjoy a relaxed vibe. Their success is in part to their high quality, but also in that Gloria Jeans doesn’t feel like a traditional coffee chain, but more like a collection of individual high quality independent cafés.
Javier and Melissa’s Easy Café could easily have been awarded Café of the year for the third time. Their ethos and approach to high quality service, excellent coffee and a sustainable approach to business is as exemplary as ever. They are quintessentially a cafe very focused on Specialty Coffee serving comfort and no-fuss food, pastries and desserts. The 'home away from home' experience, which they are famous for, is evident in their relaxed ambience, tasteful decor and friendly service. MYANMORE Award 2018 Special edition 9
Bar of the Year Winner: Harry's Bar The secret behind their success is simple – good food, good drinks and a great atmosphere. They’ve worked hard to develop a huge and loyal following and subsequently the bar is packed out with revellers every night of the week.
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arry’s bar, located on the ground floor of Myanmar Plaza has been around for nearly two years, which is a long time in bar years, in Yangon. The secret behind their success is simple – good food, good drinks and a great atmosphere. They’ve worked hard to develop a huge and loyal following and subsequently the bar is packed out with revellers every night of the week. Harry’s is one of the few bars in Yangon that you have to book your table in advance if you want to be in with a chance of being a part of the lively atmosphere. Enjoyed mainly by locals with a scattering of expats, Harry’s serves a decent selection of food - they are famous for their fries (apparently the best in the city) but it is their own brand beer HPL that they are most famous for. Enjoying a large ice-cold glass of Harry’s Premium Lager in the pleasant outside terrace is currently the most popular way to catch up with friends after work in Yangon. Harry’s is part of a Singaporean chain, and this shines through in the standards of service and attention to detail in their food and beverage offering. It is a welcoming bar that is not pretentious, but is the place to be, and the place to be seen for young Myanmar people.
The MYANMORE Dining and nightlife Award judges were agreed in their decision to award Bar of the Year to Harry’s Bar. Harry’s consistently provides a top-class bar experience that stands out above other bars in Yangon, yet remains very accessible and down to earth. The food, service and range of drinks are of a high international standard, but the atmosphere, and energy is where Harry’s excels against other bars in Yangon. It’s a busy, noisy, fun and energetic spot to be, and somewhere to linger long into the evening. Congratulations to Harry’s bar on winning bar of the year 2018. MYANMORE wishes you every success in the coming year. Cheers!
They are famous for their fries (apparently the best in the city) but it is their own brand beer HPL that they are most famous for.
Runners Up: ATLAS Rooftop Terrace
Eclipse
ATLAS Rooftop Bar & Lounge is the perfect bar to sip Champagne or cocktails, whilst enjoying the panoramic view of Yangon in a modern and comfortable open-air setting. The service is professional and there is a small but interesting menu of top quality tapas from the Mahlzeit kitchen downstairs. The bar holds regular live music evenings, and hosts a regular calendar of inspiring and interesting special events.
Eclipse is actually three bars all in one location. The outdoor rooftop venue is located on the 4th Floor of Myanmar Plaza, and offers Eclipse's rooftop Beer Club, Music Lounge, and Beer Garden. Live bands, international guest DJ's, dancers, and high energy regular events have all contributed to the bar’s success. Though eclipse is also a place to relax, chill, and unwind with stunning views of Inya Lake.
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Myanmar food Restaurant of the Year Winner: Khaing Khaing Kyaw
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haing Khaing Kyaw has several restaurants across Yangon, each one serving up exceptional and traditional Myanmar cusine. Judges were particularly impressed with the huge selection of Myanmar food available, with something to suit everyone’s tastes. The other notable point that was a great decider in awarding Khaing Khaing Kyaw the Myanmar food Restaurant of the year award was their impeccable hygiene and cleanliness. This is an area clearly very important to the team behind the restaurants and is certainly a driver of their massive popularity and success. All the restaurants visited were busy, but the service was at all times efficient and courteous. The
young and friendly staff are patient and are more than happy to take the time to explain the process of ordering Myanmar food to customers who are not so confident in what they are doing.
food Restaurant of the Year to Khaing Khaing Kyaw. The restaurant provides a consistently high quality, hygienic and clean offering and is a worthy winner of this award.
The restaurant is well laid out with different sections to visit depending on your culinary desires and an extensive range of Myanmar foods is available, from mohinga to curries and Shan khauk swe. All are of great quality and extremely well priced.
Congratulations to Khaing Khaing Kyaw on Myanmar food Restaurant of the Year 2018. MYANMORE wishes you every success in the coming year.
The Myanmar members of the MYANMORE Dining and nightlife Award judges panel were unanimous in their decision to award Myanmar
Runners Up: Feel Feel is the first traditional Myanmar restaurant that many newcomers to Yangon head to experience Myanmar food for the first time. The quality of food and service are consistently high and the restaurant is always busy, with a friendly and at times loud atmosphere. The ‘night market’ offering in the evening is a great opportunity to experiment and learn more about the different Myanmar foods on offer.
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Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee Myanmar Restaurant Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee have been consistently providing high quality Myanmar food since the 1960’s. With several restaurants now open in the city they are considered one of the best restaurants in town to find authentic Myanmar food. Always busy, and with a high turnover of customers this is one of those places where diners are happy to share tables in a friendly and fun environment.
Robort in the health care sector are another example of innovations rewquiring both technical and social skills. A robot tha helps patients to eat may at first sight seem like an nvasion of privacy
Photo : Ryan Heny
Best Myanmar Premium Bar
Winner: 50th Street Bar and Restaurant
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t's incredible to think that 50th Street Bar and Grill turns 21 this year, and as legendary Yangon institutions go, you’d be hard pushed to find somewhere as consistent as 50th street. Set in an old colonial era warehouse with exposed brickwork, teak wood bar and that famous sweeping wooden staircase, 50th street is every inch the classical American sports bar. It is interesting to note that when discussing including 50th Street in the MYANMORE TOP 100 guide, the judges couldn’t agree whether to include it in the bar or restaurant section. Because 50th street is much more than a bar, and the excellent and eclectic menu of high
quality foods including Hand-Cut Australian sirloin Steak Tartar does mean it stands out against the offerings of other bars in Yangon. But those arguing in the other camp suggested that the extensive draught beer collection, the high quality cocktails and vibrant atmosphere are definitely demonstrative of a great bar. It’s a good argument to have, and regardless of the decision of how to categorise 50th Street, all were in agreement that it is a worthy first winner of the Best Myanmar Premium beer bar award.
socialize. 50th Street is perfect for a refreshing drink or a bite to eat with friends while watching live sport, and it is equally as suitable to enjoy a quiet meal for two in one of the cosy booths. In an ever changing bar and restaurant scene, 50th street Bar and Grill has remained one of the most consistent and reliable venues. Congratulations to 50th street for your first ever MYANMORE Dining and nightlife award. It is perhaps long overdue, but it is well deserved.
Just off Merchant Street in the centre of Botataung Township, 50th Street offers a one of a kind atmosphere where you can eat, drink &
Runners Up: Jazz in Time
Yangon Yangon
Jazz in Time is the first and only Jazz bar in Yangon. The bar is a super atmospheric place with a generous happy hour and is a great spot to enjoy an interesting mix of cool cocktails, good food and live Jazz and Blues music. It’s still developing its reputation, but it has certainly struck a chord with fans of live music and good vibes.
Yangon Yangon offers an unrivalled 360-degree view of downtown Yangon and the Shwedagon Pagoda. It’s a loud and raucous place at times, but a splendid spot to take a cocktail or two and enjoy the views over the fantastic old colonial buildings that make up the city.
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Entrepreneur of the Year Winner: Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo
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tet and Isabella were only 23 and 24 when they opened their first venue The Rangoon Tea House in late 2014. Within a short space of time the restaurant was named one of CNN's Best Tea Houses in the World. They haven’t rested on their laurels though and after relocating the restaurant and opening the hidden Toddy Bar upstairs, they have recently launched the massively popular Mr Wok. Now the restaurant group RTH employs over 150 people, 70% of whom are female. With three restaurant concepts in five establishments, RTH is a great example of how drive, determination and a positive approach to providing a quality product can result in great success. The founders of RTH have made an impact in the industry through their commitment, vision and values to achieving excellence. They have demonstrated a great ability to articulate their dreams, goals and ambitions into concrete successes. The members of the MYANMORE
awards judging panel were unanimous in the agreement to present the Entrepreneur of the year award to Isabella Sway Tin and Htet Myet Oo. From its inception the Rangoon Tea House fast became an institution in Yangon, and visitors from all over the world deliberately seek it out to sample their innovative and unique modern takes on traditional Myanmar cuisine. Their extensive tea selection is still one of their key menu items and they sell in excess of 10,000 glasses of tea every month. Many of the visitors to the Rangoon Tea House never even realise that secreted away upstairs is a cosy and exotic Burmese cocktail bar that combines small street-side dishes and tapas with an international cocktail list. Mr. Wok expanded quickly from its initial venue in Pearl Condo to four new branches within 15 months. They offer over 1,260 combinations of noodles and provide customers with a unique
opportunity to enjoy a dramatic and theatrical cooking demonstration. Whether the rumours about a second Rangoon Tea House are true is anybody’s guess, but one thing is for sure – Watch this space. Htet and Isabella are actively looking for new and exciting opportunities to expand their offering and we wish them every success in their endeavours.
The restaurant group employs over 150 people, 70% of whom are female.
Runners Up: Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang (Root Kitchen) Sisters Phyone Pong Yon and Ipkaw Pang set up Root Kitchen in Yangon in 2016 with the intention of sharing not only the traditional ethnic foods from their home state of Wa, but also to share some of their culture and history to a wider audience who mainly will have not had the opportunity to travel there. It’s a simple concept that has built a good following and stood the test of time, this alone is testament to their passion, drive and hard work.
Chef Orng (ORNG Kitchen) Chef Orng’s philosophy of love, passion and dedication is reflected in the highquality food and excellent service his little restaurant is becoming famous for. Affordable fine dining food is a great concept, and has proven to be extremely popular in Yangon. Chef Orng has demonstrated that regardless of location, quality of product and service and attention to detail are very much the driving force behind success.
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Green Award Winner: Nourish CafĂŠ Nourish Cafe is more than just a restaurant, but also a space for the yoga and health community in Yangon to connect.
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his is the first year that this award has been included in the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards, and is the one that we are most excited about. The judges were unanimous in their agreement that this award should be presented to Nourish café for their strategic approach to prioritising the sustainable and ethical use of resources. Nourish are a business that all members of the industry can look up to as ambassadors of protecting the environment and it is hoped that in collaboration with MYANMORE they will continue to support the collective drive towards utilizing more environmentally friendly business practices in the dinning and nightlife industry in Myanmar. Nourish Cafe was conceived together with the opening of the downtown branch of Yangon Yoga House, as a way to bring a more holistic approach to wellness through physical movement and healthy eating habits. Nourish Cafe is more than just a restaurant, but also a space for the yoga and health community in Yangon to connect. Nourish Cafe uses recycled brown paper bags, corn biodegradable cutlery and boxes and sources produce from local sustainability-focused companies like Sharkys, Fresco and Green Grocer.
They are committed to educating the Yangon community about how every individual can make decisions that will create a positive impact on the environment and have plans to hold workshops, events and film screenings to raise awareness of how individuals can reduce their carbon footprint. Nourish Cafe has plans to work with other local businesses on a RECYCLE RANGOON initiative to create "water filling stations" that will minimize the use of plastic water bottles. Local establishments will sell a reusable, highquality water bottle that can be filled up for free at any participating restaurant with a water filling
station. The proceeds from the sale of water bottles will be donated to TRASH HERO Myanmar to contribute towards their continued efforts. Congratulations to Tammi Willis, Jojo Yang, Jerome Sterckx, Regina Woodard and the whole team at Nourish Café. We look forward to working with you in 2018 and in the years to come in the promotion of sustainable and ethical business practices in the dining and nightlife industry in Myanmar.
They have plans to hold workshops, events and film screenings to raise awareness of how individuals can reduce their carbon footprint.
Other venues nominated for this award that are to be commended for their efforts to promote a more environmentally sustainable way of conducting business include: Rose Garden Hotel, Chatrium Hotel, Sharky’s, Sprouts and Union Bar and Grill / 57 Below group.
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Wine and Spirits Ambassador of the Year Winner: Jen Queen
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his is the first year this award has been recognised by the MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife awards, and we are excited to introduce Jen Queen from Union Bar as the first ever Wine and Spirits Ambassador in Myanmar. Jen has been a revelation behind the bar at Union Bar and Grill and her experience, passion and knowledge of all things alcoholic has supported the development of the whole team. Her monthly master classes on spirits and weekly cocktail trainings are inspiring a team of young Myanmar bar tenders. It is expected that many of them will go on to do great things in the future. Her protégé Lal Mon Puia is already making a name for himself at Gekko. Jen is an expert in her field and has plied her trade all over the world; she is the only Master Mescalier in Yangon and quite possibly the only one in South East Asia. As someone who is at the top of their game, Yangon is lucky to have her services. She has been an integral part of the changing face of the Yangon bar scene in 2017, and has demonstrated a creative awareness of
her role in bringing excellence to her customers, and is leading her team by example. Through her development of intriguing cocktails utilizing the very best local ingredients and flavours she has shown a keen awareness of the need to innovate and stay ahead of the game. She has been instrumental in the “straws suck” campaign and has plans to launch a unique program of “low waste cocktails” using discarded items like banana skins to make liqueurs and avocado stones to make falernum.
There was a strong field of contenders for this category, but the sheer number of hugely positive and widely exciting nominations for Jen was an influential determinant in the judge’s decision to present her with the award. Congratulations to Jen (and to her team), MYANMORE looks forward to following your exciting progress in 2018.
Jen is an expert in her field and has plied her trade all over the world; she is the only Master Mescalier in Yangon and quite possibly the only one in South East Asia.
Runners Up: Francesco Moretti
Le Planteur
Francesco Moretti received a great number of nominations and he is without doubt one of top mixologists working in the country. His immense talent and enthusiasm for his products have had a tremendous influence on the Yangon cocktail scene. His innovative and original cocktail creations at Sarkies Bar at The Stand Hotel, such as his famous double fudge martini, are one of the main reasons that Sarkies is still considered to be one of the best bars in Yangon.
Le Plateur has one of the best wine lists in Myanmar, if not in South East Asia. Established in 1998 they have consistently maintained a fabulous cellar, containing some of the finest wines ever produced such as Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Pétrus. They have an incredible thirty-two wines available by the glass due to their specialist wine preservation system, and that alone is worthy of a runner up place in this category.
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Newcomer of the Year Winner: Babett Having recently entered the Myanmar dining and nightlife scene Babett is already influencing the standards expected by customers.
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abett Eatery and Bar is fast developing a reputation as one of the favourite hangout venues in the city. Situated on the ground floor of Hotel G at the end of Yaw min Gyi, Babett is perfectly located to attract the after-work crowd looking for good food, excellent drinks and a great atmosphere. Babett is the sister restaurant of Ginett Singapore and Scarlett Restaurant in Bangkok and Hong Kong, and provides a standard of service and quality of product you would expect from such a prodigious stable. With an attractive laid-back dining room, decorated with a collection of original works by local artists, and well-designed and sophisticated outdoor pergola terrace Babett is a comfortable and stylish place to relax and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. Executive chef Javier Ballesta has created an innovative menu utilizing the best of Mediterranean and western cuisines, that offers a large selection of imported
delicacies, tapas and pizza’s from a traditional wood fired pizza oven. They have a large selection of beers and a very accessible list of wines available by the glass. Having recently entered the Myanmar dining and nightlife scene Babett is already influencing the standards expected by customers and this can only be a good thing for the industry as a whole. Their classy and unique offering, coupled with the high standard of service provided by their well-trained team were all important factors in the decision to select Babett as newcomer of the year.
Babett is a comfortable and stylish place to relax and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.
Congratulations to the team at Babett, we expect great things from you this year!
Runners Up: Sushi Tei
Sofaer & Co
Newly opened Sushi Tei has already established itself as a great addition to the Yangon dining scene. The restaurant is smart, sleek and alluring with a modern Japanese ambience. The staff are well trained and knowledgeable about the offering. The menu is extensive with some in inventive desserts, and the sushi conveyor belt alone is reason to visit. Their high standards of service amd high quality products are something other restaurants should aspire to emulate.
The restaurant serves up dishes from the Mekong region—Myanmar, Laos, Thailand— with a modern twist. The classical colonial surroundings include dark wood, original 19th Century beams and Manchester tiles. The service is some of the best in Yangon, the cocktails are delicious and the food is well cooked, well presented, and well priced. Although they have only recently opened, they are well on their way to establishing themselves as one of the most popular venues in the city.
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Special Award for Contribution to Excellence Winner: U Ye Htut Win
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Ye Htut Win AKA Sharky needs no introduction. He is an institution in his own right in the Myanmar food and beverage industry. In 1996 he returned from Switzerland where he had risen from mopping floors at Wendy's Burgers to becoming owner of some of Geneva's most exclusive bars, he created the still famous nightspot The Cactus Club. A maverick foodie at heart, he had begun to retrain as a farmer whilst still in Europe with the aim of becoming Myanmar's first artisan baker and cheesemaker. He opened his first shop on the veranda of his mother's house in Golden Valley, and soon became a favourite amongst the small expat crowd. His company now includes three restaurants - the flagship branch on Dhammazedi Road, the heritage building on Pansodan Street, and the newly renovated restaurant in Bagan, in the theatre of the Shwezigon Pagoda. The company also has farms countrywide - especially in Bagan where they continue to lead the way in Myanmar grown produce, including; rocket, microgreens, figs, basil and a variety of other herbs and vegetables.
Never one to let the grass grow under his feet 2018 will be another extremely exciting year for Sharky. The Bagan restaurant and farms will continue to develop and put out a number of new exciting products and dishes. The Dhammazedi Road branch deli will expand, whilst the restaurant will begin offering a new highend dry aged steak concept menu. Most notably, Pansodan Street Sharky’s is reopening as an Italian Restaurant and Bar, with dishes designed in cooperation with Executive Chef Christian Martena from the Strand Hotel and a botanical cocktail menu designed by European mixologists. The new concept bar will also hold a late licence and will host regular sets from Yangon's leading DJs.
Sharky will continue to be a leader and an inspiration to the dining and nightlife scene in Yangon and Myanmar for many years to come.
Sharky will continue to be a leader and an inspiration to the dining and nightlife scene in Yangon, and Myanmar for many years to come. Congratulations on your award, and we look forward to another exciting year of excellence and innovation from one of Yangon’s favourite fathers.
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MYANMORE Award 2018 Special edition 25
MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards 2018 Top 100 Eclipse Bar & Restaurant 50th Street Cafe, Bar and Restaurant Father's Office 7th Joint Bar and Grill Feel Myanmar Restaurant 800 Bowls Gallery Bar @ Sule Shangri-la Hotel 999 Shan Noodle Gekko Restaurant Acacia Tea Salon Gloria Jeans After 8 - Shot & Cocktail Bar Golden Pho Vietnamese Cuisine Alex @ The Loft Hotel Green Gallery ATLAS Rooftop Bar Ha Tai Wa Aung Mingala Harry’s Bar Aung Thuka Home Sweet Home Babett Eatery and Bar Hong Bao Dim Sum Bar Bondi House of Memories Beauty in the Pot Indian Hut Bijin Japanese Restaurant Jana Mon Bulgogi Brothers Jazz in Time Burbrit Brewery Khaing Khaing Kyaw Café Del SeOUL L’Opera Café Salween Le Bis-Tro-Ke Casa Mia Italian Kitchen and Bar Le Bristot @ Savoy Hotel Cask 81 Le Planteur (and Le Bistro @ Le Planteur) Corriander Leaf Indian Restaurant Legacy Thai restaurant Danuphyu Daw Saw Yee Myanmar Restaurant Linkage Restaurant and Art Gallery DiVINO Lucky 7 Tea shop DIY Hot Pot Mahlzeit Easy Café
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MYANMORE Dining and Nightlife Awards 2018 Top 100
Mañana Sha Mañana Shan Yoe Yar Mandalay Restaurant @ the Governers S Mandalay Restaurant @ theSharky’s Governers Shwe Sa Bwe Mandalay Tea Room Shw Mandalay Tea Room Signature / Garden Bistro Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen Signature Menzo Tonkotsu Ramen Min Lann Sofa Min Lann Sofaer and co Sorabol Korean Restaurant Sorabol Ko Mix Bar and Restaurant Mix Bar and Restaurant Monsoon Restaurant & Bar Monsoon Restaurant &Sprouts S Bar Summer Palace @ (Sule ShangriSummer la) Mugunghwa Korean Restaurant @ LOTTE Korean Pala Mugunghwa Restaurant LOTTE Sushi Tei Nara Thai S Nara Thai Nourish Tain Nourish Taing Yin Thar Thai 47 ONYX Wine Tree Restaurant ONYX Wine Tree Restaurant The Blind Tiger ORNG Kitchen The ORNG Kitchen District Coffee Lounge The Distric Padonmar Restaurant PadonmarThe Restaurant TheDynasty Marina Indian RestaurantThe Marina Paradise Dynasty Paradise The Market @ Melia Parami Pizza The Ma Parami Pizza TheRestaurant Penthouse Prime Grill Mediterranean Restaurant The Prime Grill Mediterranean The Strand Restaurant Princess Irrawaddy The Stra Princess Irrawaddy The Sushi Bar Rangoon Tea House The Rangoon Tea House The Yangon Restaurant Ren Kandawgyi The Yang Ren Kandawgyi Tin Tin Aye Root Tin Root Union BarCuisine and Grill Royal Jasmine Authentic ThaiRoyal Cuisine Union Jasmine Authentic Thai Sabai @ DMZ V Sabai @ DMZ Vista Bar Yangon Bakehouse Sarkies Bar @ The Strand Yango Sarkies Bar @ The Strand Yangon Yangon SEEDS Restaurant & Lounge SEEDS Restaurant & Yang Lounge Yhet’s Sha Yi Kachin Food Yhet’s Sha Yi Kachin FoodSushi & Soba
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