The fine dining restaurant AKUNA at Le Meridien Saigon has been recognised alongside the world’s best. — Photo courtesy of Le Meridien Saigon

AKUNA at Le Méridien Saigon has won the New Opening of The Year Award 2024 by La Liste, which was announced at a gala ceremony in Paris this week.

La Liste offers the most selective global guide of restaurants, pastry shops and hotels based on a compilation of thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks, and millions of online reviews.

Opened in July this year, AKUNA marks multi-award-winning Chef Sam Aibett's return to the kitchen after a three-year hiatus. His last restaurant, Whitegrass at the historic Chijmes in Singapore, earned two consecutive Michelin Star wins and a place on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2018.

Expect the unexpected, as he brings a fine dining experience that is non-conforming and unrestricted by geographical region. His cuisine reflects his evolution and culinary journey, with an intentional nod to the people and produce of Việt Nam.

Embodying this philosophy is the saltwater crocodile, broken rice porridge and Shoyuzuke. Rarely found on fine dining tables, various parts of a locally farmed saltwater crocodile are used - the tongue, sliced and poached in a ginger and shallot oil, form the backbone of the dish, and the tail which is used to make a sauce.

The crocodile is served with a porridge made from Japanese split mochi rice and steamed garlic custard. To complete the dish, Sam adds a Shoyuzuke quail egg yolk that is cured with white soy, rice vinegar and kombu for over four hours.

"This win is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of an exceptional team, and a great motivation for us to continue bending the rules," said chef Sam Aisbett.

Located on the ninth floor of Le Méridien Saigon, at 3C Tôn Đức Thắng Street in HCM City’s District 1, AKUNA opens from Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner between 6pm and 10pm.

For reservations, call +84911735800 or visit www.akunarestaurant.com. — VNS