My Selection: Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Emmanuel Delrieu: My name is Emmanuel Delrieu. I have been living in Singapore for almost 3 years after having spent the last 20 years in almost all the countries in South East Asia, South Korea and Guam.

MS: What does your job entail exactly?

ED: I am in charge of the brand Gucci for South East Asia, the Philippines, Australia, Guam and New Zealand. This is a broad territory of around 40 million square kilometers including big islands like Australia and small ones like Singapore which are all very important in the luxury and fashion business. It’s a booming region, with still a lot of opportunities and markets to conquer, and a mix of rocketing markets like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam and more mature markets like Australia and Singapore. It’s a very exciting, interesting and demanding position covering all the activities (sales, merchandising, store network strategy, press relations…) of the brand over the region and very diversified: running and growing the business on a large scale with around 450 staffs, meetings with many customers, operators and department stores’ executives…

MS: How long have you been living in Singapore and what brought you there?

ED: I have been in Singapore for almost 3 years. It’s a happy coincidence since I was working for Louis Vuitton in South Korea and I had an offer from a competitor, Gucci (Kering Group). Since the brand was looking for a CEO to take care of all the markets I mentioned here below and since moving to Singapore was both a personal and family desire for many reasons, I accepted delightfully this position. Singapore is also the magical location to live in this part of the world and to enjoy the richness of this region.

MS: With work done, how do you like spending your free time in the Lion City?

ED: My free time, quite little though, is first spent with my family. We also spend time with many friends we like to share moments with since Singapore is a place where you meet many people from interesting backgrounds and different personal journeys. I’m a foodie so I love enjoying satay skewers in a Hawker Center or any local and international cuisine. Lastly, I like to do some sports. Running, playing tennis, wake boarding… There are many activities but it’s more likely the time rather than the activity which is lacking! There are many places I like in Singapore. Little India for its authenticity with its beautiful shophouses, a place which has barely changed over the last century, with its unlikely cohabitation of malls and place like Mustafa, its crowd, the smells of the food, a place where the Indian community meet the Chinese community and the foreigners turning into a multiple combination where people seem to tolerate themselves very well. I like Botanic Garden because it feels like time is suspended. I love its peaceful and quiet atmosphere. Lastly, I like China Town for its beautifully restored shophouses and its amazing streets to party with friends.

MS: Singapore is famously a melting pot of cultures and, as a result, also of multiple cuisines. What are your favorites?

ED: I like the Peranakan cuisine, either in a food court, a hawker center or anywhere… Every time we have personal visitors, we are taking them to have a crab curry in East Coast. I appreciate a lot the Indonesian cuisine because it’s an authentic cuisine, and also because I enjoy a lot Indonesia since Djakarta was my first experience in Asia. My favorite dish is Nasi Padang.

MS: Where do you like to have dinner in Singapore? Could you name your Top 3 picks among restaurants, bars & cafes in Singapore?

ED: I like the good “brasseries” which remind me France. My favorites are Brasserie Gavroche by Frederic Colin. The Chef, whose Grandfather was also a restaurant owner, is performing a traditional and real brasserie’s cuisine with reasonable prices. The “Tartare” is prepared with a knife and the cod with lentils is unique. It’s a place, with the Chef behind his big wooden bar, the noisy and friendly customers, which is able to reproduce both in a casual and elegant way the French cuisine! Another place I like is Bar-Roque by Stephane Istel with its beautiful terrace. Very interesting cuisine with the traditional hanger steak but also the best couscous in town. It’s a perfect mix!

Styled and shot by Brasserie Gavroche

MS: Selecting wine depends very much on the occasion. When do you like to drink wine? On its own / with a meal / alone / with company?

ED: I am a wine lover, especially red wine. I enjoy drinking wine during the dinner. A good dinner without wine is not a good dinner!

MS: Are there any wines that you particularly like and would recommend to our readers? Or maybe you have your favorite pairings with the food you mentioned before?

ED: I have a strong preference for the wines from the South East region in France since this is the way my father helped me discovering wines. He taught me a lot, in particular Gigondas, wines from les dentelles de Montmirail, Rasteau, Vacqueyras, Saint Amour, Beaujolais, Cotes de Brouilly… These wines are just gorgeous, full bodied, not very complex but just pleasant and enjoyable with almost any dishes; charcuterie would be a must. I also love wines from the cooperative in Cairanne which is producing an amazing wine. I have also always been interested by the wines from Languedoc and Roussillon where people worked extremely hard to reach the level they have today. For a white wine, I would recommend a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Great wines to enjoy with oysters or seafood. I don’t know well Rose wines but I like that kind of wines for a starter or a casual BBQ with friends. It’s a festive beverage. My favorite is Made in Provence Premium from My Selection. It’s quite tricky to find a good assortment of wine in Singapore: when I go to a department store or a Cold Storage, the assortment is usually quite weak and expensive. I wouldn’t recommend any place in Singapore except www.myselection.sg.