Singapore Food Festival returns with nasi lemak tacos and Jelebu Dry Laksa with Boston lobster

For the first time since the pandemic, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF) is back with in-person experiences, including a festival village with 25 food establishments and a special nine-course dinner.

There will also be heritage tours and culinary workshops hosted by experts and chefs, as well as a new virtual marketplace from Aug 24 to Sep 11.

The festival village itself will run from Aug 31 to Sep 11 at the Bayfront Event Space.

There’s even something for those residing outside of Singapore who might feel like they are missing out. There is a chance to enjoy authentic local fare through SFF activations in select countries and virtual masterclasses, and an opportunity to go behind the scenes to learn more about the lives of local chefs and brands through on the festival site.

“The Singapore Food Festival has always been a celebration of our multi-cultural local cuisine, and a global platform for our chefs, bartenders and food personalities. As international travel resumes, we are excited to bring SFF back to its usual format, with engaging in-person programming so visitors can fully experience the international palate of our city,” said Teyi Guo, director for Retail and Dining at the Singapore Tourism Board. “We encourage everyone to come and experience Singapore cuisine in a new way through our exciting line-up of both in-person and virtual experiences.”

Here's a taste of what diners can look forward to:

FESTIVAL VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS: PERANAKAN FISH CAKE, NASI LEMAK TACOS, BEEF RENDANG SLIDERS AND JELEBU DRY LAKSA 

With a plethora of food establishments to choose from at the festival village, guests will be spoilt for choice. This year’s selections mostly centre around familiar favourites served up with an innovative twist. Must-try dishes include Peranakan fish cake from respected Rempapa Chef and MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva; Jelebu Dry Laksa’s titular signature dish topped with Boston lobster and tiger prawns; The Feather Blade’s beef rendang slider; Mezcla’s nasi lemak taco and Rappu’s black pepper crab roll.

Interesting collaborations are also highlights. There is a plant-based golden chilli crab burger from popular food truck The Goodburger in collaboration with Blue Lotus Eating House. And the newly minted Michelin Bib Gourmand stall One Prawn & Co will collaborate with heritage brand Hock Lian Huat to present a thick, silky prawn bisque with shrimps, mussels and clams, alongside a ngoh hiang (five-spiced meat rolls) platter.

Another major draw is the Kurobuta wanton mee by Aaron Wong and former TV actor Thomas Ong.

THE CHEF ARENA

The Chef Arena situated within the grounds of the festival village will present a special nine-course dinner created by top culinary masters featured in SFF 2022’s virtual masterclasses, complete with a Martell Noblige cocktail created by Juan Yi Jun, the head bartender of No Sleep Club.

VARIOUS WORKSHOPS INCLUDING ONE WITH JAYA SEELAN FROM JEYA SPICES

There will be a curated line-up of workshops that include a chance to learn the art of mixing spices from third generation owner, Jeya Seelan from traditional spice stall Jeya Spices; as well as to gather helpful Thermomix tips to whip up delicious meals with cookbook author Annie Xavier and other passionate home bakers.

RESTAURANTS ISLANDWIDE SERVING UP FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE DISHES

In an ode to the melting pot of cultures in Singapore, Two Men Bagel House will present a bagelwich packed with the aromatic flavours of Chinese, Indian and Malay curries. And Italian flavours meet Malay at Italian-inspired restaurant and bar Dopo Teatro with its sambal goreng pizza.

Deli veteran Steeple’s Deli will collaborate with new-school Park Bench Deli for a one-day pop-up at Steeple’s Deli, featuring sandwiches that incorporate the former’s mouth-watering corned beef and the latter’s pastrami. And for those craving something sweet, there is Teh Halia-flavoured ice cream or the guava sorbet with sour plum powder by Singapore’s Made With Passion brands The Ice Cream & Cookie Co and Creamier.

FOODIE TRIPS AND FARM TRIPS AROUND SINGAPORE

Atlas Aquaculture and Blue Aqua are organising trips to land-based urban fish and shrimp farms for participants to learn more about where their food comes from and how they can harvest their own shrimp at home. Foodies can also sign up for a plant-based cheese and gin pairing workshop by Nut Culture and Brass Lion Distillery, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the distillery and an introduction to the botanicals that make up their Singapore Dry Gin.

FREE-TO-VIEW VIRTUAL MASTERCLASSES

For those who are overseas or prefer their culinary adventures from the comfort of home, there are nine free-to-view virtual masterclasses to choose from, offering avid foodies the opportunity to cook-along live with some of the best culinary talents in Asia.

These include four-hands collaborations between Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2022 Maira Yeo from two-Michelin star Cloudstreet and Chef Justin Lee of JL Dessert Bar in Seoul; and Chef Will Goldfarb of Room4Dessert in Bali and Chef Genevieve Lee of Sourbombe Bakery.

There are also food kits are available on the SFF website to enrich the masterclass experience.

Check out www.singaporefoodfestival.sg for the full list of experiences and ticketing information.