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Review | Netflix movie review: André & His Olive Tree – Taiwan’s first Michelin-starred chef profiled in documentary
- Josiah Ng’s film covers the final weeks before the closure of two-Michelin-star Restaurant André in Singapore through interviews with André Chiang, staff and others
- The reasons for Chiang’s decision remain elusive, and Ng never peeks beyond what has been carefully presented for the cameras
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Taiwanese chef André Chiang sent shockwaves through the restaurant community when he announced, in late 2017, that he was closing Restaurant André, his two-Michelin-star fine-dining establishment, voted the best in Singapore and second best in Asia by Restaurant magazine.
Josiah Ng’s new documentary, André and His Olive Tree, documents the final few weeks before the restaurant’s closure in February 2018, but mostly avoids asking tough questions.
Structured around the eight elements that define Chiang’s signature “Octaphilosophy” style of cooking, the film features interviews with the chef, his wife Pam, who is also the restaurant’s general manager, members of staff, and commentators from Singapore’s vibrant restaurant scene.
Many of their individual stories almost warrant documentaries of their own, such as that of the diner who refused to leave until she was given a job in André’s kitchen, or the pastry chef who rebuilt his career following a life-threatening traffic accident.
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