“I do not think about myself as a female chef. To me, being female is just one of many characteristics and it is not directly impacting my choice of career. It is more important to focus on the cuisine that I serve and that guests enjoy their dining experience,” insists the 44-year-old.
Dining at Ichigo Ichie feels almost like a spiritual awakening. Everything you see — from the purposefully-placed art that adorns the shelves, to the homogeneous all-wood interiors, and structured calmness in the kitchen — is deeply symbolic and philosophical, just like its chef, Akane Eno.
One of very few female Japanese chefs in the world – and the only one in Singapore — Eno may appear diminutive and soft-spoken, but there is great strength and wisdom in her placid disposition after you get to know her. She will be the first to tell you that although very few Japanese women end up becoming chefs, given the gruelling hours and laborious work, gender has very little to do with one’s success in the kitchen.
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