Elite Traveler July-August 2016

EXPLORE SINGAPORE EAT & DRINK

When his dream of being a policeman met with his parents’ disapproval, Leong found himself drafted into service in the kitchen of his chef father’s restaurant. Cooking is clearly in the blood. Since this unexpected beginning, Leong’s gone on to cook for a veritable black book of public figures, including Singapore’s former prime minister the late Lee Kuan Yew, US presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton, and the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II. These days, Leong is breaking new ground in contemporary Chinese cuisine at Forest, his fine-dining restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa. Instead of the chaotic, lazy Susan experience that defines most Chinese restaurants, Forest employs a western approach to its service and plates – no doubt a result of Leong’s thirst to innovate – and guests can watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen while indulging in Leong’s bold, innovative, eight- and 10-course Discovery Menus. Outside Forest, Leong’s actions prove why Singapore Tatler described him as a celebrity chef who’s managed to remain refreshingly down to earth. As well as unashamedly confessing a deep love of Singapore’s famous hawker centers and their chicken rice dishes, Leong is driven to pass his knowledge on to the next generation through the Sam.Leong@Forest Cooking School, which he runs with his wife – who, incidentally, is named Forest. Equarius Hotel, 8 Sentosa Gateway, (restaurant) +65 6577 7788, (Sam.Leong@Forest Cooking School) +65 9672 4221, samatforest.com, rwsentosa.com As well as confessing a deep love of Singapore’s hawker centers and their chicken rice dishes, Leong is driven to pass his knowledge on to the next generation The chef SamLeong

Watch chefs at work in the kitchen at Sam Leong's restaurant Forest