From a corporate past to a gastronomic passion that led her to New York. Between Asia and Northern Europe, Johanne Siy has accumulated experience, and now her talent and knowledge are showcased at Lolla in Singapore.
Johanne Siy was born in 1982 in Dagupan, Philippines. Now a successful chef, her interest in cooking emerged later in life: after working for eight years in the corporate sector as a regional manager for Procter & Gamble, Johanne decided to radically change her life by enrolling in the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York.
Throughout her career, Johanne has gained extensive experience working in prestigious restaurants such as "Le Bernardin" and "Café Boulud" in New York, and at “Restaurant Andre” in Singapore. Additionally, she spent time in Northern Europe, working at “Noma” and “Relae” in Copenhagen, Denmark, and at “Faviken” in Sweden. This latter experience was particularly formative, leading her to understand the importance of ingredients in cooking and making her a fervent advocate for cuisine that emphasizes the quality of products over mere technique.
Since 2020, Johanne Siy has been the head chef at “Lolla,” a restaurant in Singapore that interprets Mediterranean cuisine with a modern and globalized perspective. In 2021, she was named Woman Chef of the Year by the World Gourmet Awards and, in 2023, she received the title of Best Female Chef in Asia.
Her culinary style is characterized by meticulous attention, with a clean and orderly kitchen and well-defined flavors. Her cuisine, while not always typically Mediterranean, doesn't overly lean towards Nordic influences, creating a remarkable balance in her menu.
