EDITOR’S NOTE

Renewal of relationships.

When February rolls around, the spotlight on romantic relationships shines at maximum intensity on Valentine’s Day as we are bombarded by messages of love. The real meaning however, lies in the deeper layers of interpretation, and at the crux of it is the essence of relationships and how we engage with them.

Not just romantic relationships, but also the relationships we form with family, friends, bosses, colleagues, business partners, clients and industry peers.

This year, I am reminded of these significant connections we forge in life and the fact that they can be transient and ever changing. Which makes it even more of a prerogative to nurture those bonds and to strengthen them. Time is the nectar that nurtures the path to wisdom, and with each connection renewed, I look forward to discovering nuances that add meaning and value to our relationships.

As I return to the media fold to don my editor’s hat once again, I’m relishing the fact that I’m back in familiar territory and back in the company of colleagues that I have worked with. I’m also looking forward to going back out there to rekindle past relationships and to forge new ones. This is a special year for epicure as we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in April, and while we will be taking a moment to remember our milestones, we will more importantly, be focusing on raising the bar and blazing the trail in this new decade.

In this issue, you will find the theme of relationships in their myriad interpretations resonating through our stories, be it a foodie’s love affair with the sensory experience of The Borough Market in London (p76); the tales of married bliss with noteworthy chefs in Indonesia (p30); or the history of Raffles Grand Hotel d'angkor, Siem Reap and the relationships that have been cultivated at this landmark (p86). The chefs we highlight are also continually reinventing their relationships with food and the ingredients they work with, such as the drink-pairing menus in Japan that are showcasing the drink as the new “food” (p46).

We look forward to deepening your engagement with the epicure brand experience in the months ahead. Enjoy your read!