Oh, the food you’ll find in Singapore. The island is home to a medley of culinary experiences, whether you’re hankering after traditional hawker fare, modern flavours or classics from the city’s tapestry of diverse cultures. And you will find all of them at the Singapore Food Festival 2017, from 14—30 Jul, starting with the festival’s signature event, STREAT. There are also great opportunities to get a taste of the city’s passion for various cuisines through a selection of food-inspired works of art, films and stories. So join in and sample the flavours of Singapore.
14—15 Jul: STREAT
At this signature event of the Singapore Food Festival, traditional local fare will be given a contemporary twist thanks to two homegrown chefs. Malcolm Lee of one-Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant Candlenut will collaborate with mod-Sin pioneer, Willin Low of Wild Rocket, on a pop-up restaurant, serving a 3-course mod-Sin and modern Peranakan Tok Panjang menu (SGD 50), where diners will get to sample a variety of three appetizers and three mains served communal style, with the meal capped off with individual desserts for everyone. Save some space for the other food and drinks available—nine stalls are featured in the line-up, which include New Ubin Seafood, Peranakan Khek, Whampoa Prawn Noodle, collaborations between Taste Affair and The Masses, as well as between Keng Eng Kee and Good Chance Popiah. Bevvies from Native Bar will also be served.
Clifford Square (beside Fullerton Bay Hotel). 14—15 Jul. 5-10.30pm. Free admission.
9 Jun—31 Jul: ION Orchard Culinary Creations 2017
Local cuisine and culture form the backbone of this gastronomic event that comprises of three segments. Join a cook-off, workshop or tour at Chocolate Wonderland (14—16 Jul). Or soak in Singapore’s Peranakan (Straits Chinese) heritage at the Singapore Cultural Experience (11—19 Jul). Finally, sample kueh (bite-sized snacks) from one of Singapore’s most iconic brands, Bengawan Solo, when you join the ION Orchard Food and Heritage Trail (11—31 Jul). Work off the calories by indulging in retail therapy (and great discounts) at the mall, which is home to both luxury labels and high street brands. ION Orchard Culinary Creations 2017 also coincides with the Great Singapore Sale.
ION Orchard. 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. +65 6238 8228. 9 Jun—31 Jul. Free admission.
1—31 Jul: Heritage Town Festival by Kim Choo
Steep yourself in the rich heritage of the Katong-Joo Chiat precinct at one of Heritage Town Festival’s two events. Join the Heritage Food Trail (22 & 29 Jul, SGD 55) and explore the neighbourhood’s distinct character through its food, culture and architecture. You’ll also get a chance to make Peranakan handicraft as part of the Community Arts and Food Culture Showcase (23 Jul, SGD 38). Since the district is the historic epicentre of Peranakan culture, learn more about its significance at The Intan, a heritage home museum that offers private tours. Make sure to book an appointment before dropping by.
Various locations.+65 6741 2125. 1—31 Jul. Various times. Free-SGD 55.
14—30 Jul: Hawker Wine Safari by Merchants Wine
Fancy a glass of vino with your chicken rice? You can at these wine-meets-hawker affairs curated by Merchants Wine Store, featuring boutique Australian and New Zealander wines to sip on. Maxwell Food Centre and Old Airport Road Food Centre are among the participating hawker centres, and there will even be a winemaker present at a few sessions to answer all your burning questions about the pairing. Complete the immersive experience with a trip to either of Merchants Wine Store’s two bistros, on Duxton Road and Joo Chiat Road.
Various locations. 14—30 Jul (except Mondays). 6.30-8.30pm. SGD 88.
15, 22, 23 Jul: Kueh Pairing Workshop Series by Rainbow Lapis
Before you bite into your kueh, sign up for one of these workshops by Rainbow Lapis. Make kuehand learn about how to pair them with artisanal tea at Tea Chapter (SGD 80); craft a kueh-inspired cocktail at Bar Stories (SGD 98); and head to Kaldi's Berry (SGD 80), where you’ll learn how to pair the snack with different types of coffee. Steep yourself further in the Peranakan heritage, of which kueh is an important cultural aspect, by taking a walk around the Joo Chiat neighbourhood to find out more about the culture’s architecture and cuisine.
Tea Chapter. 9 & 11 Neil Road, Singapore 088808. 15 Jul. 2-5pm. SGD 80.
Bar Stories. 55-57 Haji Lane 2nd Floor, Singapore 189248. 22 Jul. 4.30-6.30pm. SGD 98.
Kaldi’s Berry. 231 Mountbatten Road, Urban Mangrove [Mountbatten Centre Block D] #02-01, Singapore 397999. 23 Jul. 10am-12.30pm. SGD 80.
16 Jul: Hawker Spotlight
Let celebrity and foodie Moses Lim show you how locals eat. In this media tour of one of the island’s oldest hawker centres, Maxwell Food Centre, lucky members of the public–who will be handpicked by Moses Lim through an impromptu on-site contest at 3pm–can join in as hawkers share stories and take participants behind the scenes of their craft. Then, head across the road from the food centre to learn more about one of the religions in Singapore at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Hop on a free guided tour of the temple, which cost SGD 62 million to construct and was built specifically to house the tooth relic of Buddha.
Maxwell Food Centre. 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184. 16 Jul. 3-4.30pm. Free for lucky members of the public.
20—22 Jul: Project Plait: Inheritance
Watch dancers sashay while you tuck into a five-course meal at this event, which brings together the performing and culinary arts. Dance instructor Naomi Tan is the choreographer behind the show, while Nixon Low, the former head chef of modern European restaurant Portico who now heads the kitchen at Jiakpalang, will sort out the gastronomic half of the equation. To take in more contemporary dance in Singapore, the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the city’s major performing arts venue, should be your first stop.
Jiakpalang Eating House. 456 Alexandra Road, #01-06, Singapore 119962. 20—22 Jul. Adults (five-course menu) SGD 78, Children (three-course menu; 4- to 10-year-olds) SGD 38.
23 Jul: Food for Thought by General Assembly
If all you know of the Lion City’s food is our humble hawker fare, here’s a half-day talk by General Assembly that will clue you in to ‘modern Singaporean’ cuisine. The relatively new coinage refers to dishes that are refined, elevated versions of traditional classics. To really dig deep, turn to the chefs and industry captains like Arrif Ziaudeen, founder of restaurant booking platform Chope, who will share his insights at this symposium. Topics include "The Future of Food" and "Taste Talks: Neo Sin, Mod Sin or Origin Sin?"
lyf@SMU. 71-77 Stamford Road, MPH Building, Singapore 178895. +65 6828 0942. 23 Jul. 10am-3pm. Free admission.
23 Jul: Kueh Appreciation Day by Slow Food (Singapore)
Ondeh ondeh (coconut and gula melaka snacks) by HariAnn’s, yi bua (Hainanese coconut rice cakes) by Hainan Xiao Chi, and lemper (Indonesian glutinous rice with meat fillings) by Malay vendor Ratu Lempur. These bite-sized snacks get their time to shine when Kueh Appreciation Day returns, alongside kueh-making demonstration classes (SGD20 and up) and rare kueh exclusive to the event.
ToTT Store. 896 Dunearn Road, #01-01A, Singapore 589472. +65 6219 7077. 23 Jul. 10am-4pm. Free admission.
22 & 29 Jul: A New Taste by At-Sunrice
Learn to cook and plate traditional local dishes (SGD 25) from professionals as part of At-SunriceGlobalChef Academy’s new leisure culinary programme. You can even craft a Singapore-inspired mocktail or cocktail (SGD 20), including a Sing Mojito, or hunt for local herbs and spices when you go on a tour of At-Sunrice’s spice garden (SGD 5).
Sakae Building. 28 Tai Seng Street, Level 5, Singapore 534106. 22 & 29 Jul. 10am-6pm.
SGD 5-SGD 25.
23 Jul: Transforming Your Food Images by Foodist x Morsels
Learn the secrets to taking mouth-watering pictures of food from the pros behind The Foodistand chef Petrina Loh of Morsels. Participate in the hands-on session that includes food styling, plating and photography. Bring your own camera if you prefer, or let the workshop team help you take a professional shot of your creations. Light bites will be provided should you get peckish. After your workshop, spend some time checking out Dempsey Hill, a tranquil hideaway which is now one of Singapore’s best lifestyle enclaves.
Morsels. 25 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore 249670. +65 9831 8558. 23 Jul. 3–5pm. SGD 90 per pax.
28—30 Jul: Open Stoves by Timbre+
Old-school arcade machines, craft brews and off-menu dishes cooked up in collaboration between restaurant chefs and hawkers at Timbre+. These are some things to expect at the gastropark’s stalls as part of Open Stoves. Then, head out to Timbre+’s beer garden where you can whet your appetites with food from the live wok stations. Once you’ve filled your bellies, wind down with the bands that’ll be playing live music from the centre stage.
Timbre+. 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, Singapore 139957. +65 6252 2545. 28—30 Jul. Fri—Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight. Free admission.
29—30 Jul: The 50 Cents Fest: Those Years 那些年 by Chinatown Food Street
Go back in time with giveaways of old school snacks and toys, games such as fishing fountain and hopscotch, and roving character mascots from the 1980s, all while tucking into traditional hawker dishes of the time at The 50 Cents Fest. Everything will be sold at 50 cents, or in multiples of 50 cents, and you can expect ‘abacus seeds’ (yam gnocchi), Cantonese paper-wrapped chicken, Hokkien rickshaw noodles, and ice balls, among other local traditional dishes which are tough to find these days. After the feast, cap off your evening at Smith Street Taps at the nearby Chinatown Complex Food Centre for craft beer on draught.
Chinatown Food Street. Smith Street, Singapore 050335. 29—30 Jul. Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 11am-11pm. Free admission.
22—23 Jul: Singapore Tea Festival 2017 by 1872 Clipper Tea Co.
Calling all tea lovers: celebrate the aromatic beverage at the inaugural two-day festival with over 25 brands—among them Pin Tea, Hush Tea—to explore our country’s rich tea heritage through talks and demonstrations. For a more traditional slant, pop by Yixing Xuan Teahousealong Tanjong Pagar Road for a Chinese tea appreciation workshop.
ION Orchard. 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. 22—23 Jul. 10am-10pm. Free admission.
1—31 Jul: Chope Exclusives: Local Eats Edition
Mediterranean, modern European, Asian fusion: you name it, you’ll find it on Chope. For the first time, the restaurant booking platform is celebrating the Singapore Food Festival by offering free signature local dishes with every reservation placed at one of the site’s partners, including Baba Chews Bar & Eatery, Redpan and Violet Oon Satay Bar & Grill. Make a booking at other participating restaurants to enjoy bundled set meals, which include locally-inspired dishes. Every booking at participating restaurants earns you an extra 50 Chope-Dollars!
Various locations. 1—31 Jul. Free.
1—31 Jul: Popular Local Fare by Singapore Airlines
Soon, you’ll be able to enjoy char siew (barbecued pork) rice and beef rendang (spicy Malay curry) while you’re tens of thousands of feet in the air—if you are flying Singapore Airlines, that is. The airline will give a sneak peek at its upcoming in-flight menu, which features local favourites such as bak kut teh (pork rib soup), Hainanese pork chop and roti prata (fried flatbread). Take note, though: the menu varies depending on which flight you’re on. If you aren’t flying on Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport is also home to scores of eateries, some of which are open 24/7.
On-board select SIA flights. 1–31Jul.
1 Jul—30 Sep: Singapore Restaurant Festival
Traditions in Singaporean cuisine extend beyond hawker centres—there are many restaurants in the city whose histories stretch back for decades. As part of this festival, 52 restaurants—including 12 heritage ones such as Yum Cha and Tim Palace—will create brand-new dishes inspired by the city and its many cultures.
Various locations. 1 Jul—30 Sep. Various prices.
14—30 Jul: Launch of Singapore-inspired bottled cocktails by Sunday Punch
Want a hip souvenir to take home? Pick out a homemade cocktail. Homegrown brand Sunday Punch has been bottling its own cocktails for close to three years now, and it’s launching two new drinks inspired by the flavours of Singapore. The gin-based East Side pays homage to laksa(Peranakan noodle soup), while Kopi B puts a spin on the classic Boulevardier with bourbon fat-washed with butter and vermouth infused with coffee grounds.
For more information, visit drinksundaypunch.com. +65 9634 2121. 14—30 Jul. SGD 38/a pair of 100ml bottles, and SGD 68-78/500ml.
SSF
