Golden Chilli Crab Burger – I know it’s a combination of words you never imagined strung together, but now that they are, can you feel your mouth water? Blending local flavours with contemporary cuisines might be a hit or miss, but when done right, it certainly gives you the best of both worlds. This is exactly what The Singapore Food Festival (SFF) strives to offer all foodies this year!
Returning for its 29th edition from 24 August to 11 September 2022, with a feast of over 70 gastronomic experiences, SFF is sure to get your tastebuds excited for some unique fusion cuisines. This year’s lineup includes a Festival Village, limited-time menus at partner restaurants, tours and workshops, virtual offerings, as well as overseas activations.
For the first time since the pandemic, The Festival Village will bring together over 25 culinary and beverage brands at the Bayfront Event Space from 31 August to 11 September 2022, serving local favourites with an innovative, modern twist.
One of the many dishes to keep an eye out for this year is from Singapore’s hottest vegan food truck, The Goodburger, who are set to sizzle with Blue Lotus Eating House with an exclusive plant-based Golden Chilli Crab Burger. For a vegetarian like me, this is probably the closest I can get to eating Chilli Crab – and that too in a burger? Count me in!
As for all the seafood fanatics out there, do not miss the delicacies from the newly-minted Michelin Bib Gourmand stall One Prawn & Co! They are collaborating 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.
Now, it’s one thing to enjoy scrumptious, mouth-watering meals, but it’s a whole different ball game preparing them ourselves. For those up for a challenge or simply curious about learning to whip up certain dishes in the comfort of your kitchen, get your hands dirty at the curated line of workshops. From learning spice mixing from 3rd generation stall owner Jeya Seelan of traditional spice stall Jeya Spices, to gathering Thermomix tips to make delicious meals with cookbook author Annie Xavier and passionate home bakers – SFF offers a wide array of workshops to upgrade your cooking chops!
If you cannot make it for the festival itself, fret not! Various restaurants island-wide will offer festival-exclusive dishes for a limited time. I’m particularly excited for the bagelwich by Two Men Bagel House – an ode to the melting pot of cultures in Singapore which presents a bagel packed with the aromatic flavours of Chinese, Indian and Malay curries. If we thought the Rojak represents our cultural mix, the bagelwich might be a worthy contender.
More fusion food awaits in a meeting of old and new with deli veteran Steeple’s Deli collaborating with the new-school Park Bench Deli for a 1-day pop-up at Steeple’s Deli, featuring sandwiches that incorporate the former’s mouth-watering corned beef and the latter’s pastrami.
There are also delectable deserts in the mix as well! Foodies with a sweet tooth must try the Teh Halia flavoured ice cream or the guava sorbet with sour plum powder by Made With Passion brands The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. and Creamier.
If you are one with an adventurous streak and a never-ending curiosity about food, various tours and workshops are happening around the island during the festival period. Wonder where your food comes from? Get your answers from Atlas Aquaculture and Blue Aqua, who organise 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.
For the alcohol connoisseur, you 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.
Alongside the main event, there are other fringe events worth exploring! For those who have a flair for the theatrics, you can learn to make the comfort foods of the 60s while being regaled with stories by grandpas and grandmas, in an immersive theatrical workshop by Oh! Stories.
For all plant-based lovers out there, or those who are yet to be convinced by the enigma of vegan food, look no further than the Singapore Vegan Festival and Feed 9Billion Singapore Restaurant Week, both of which feature sustainable, healthy food options and creative innovations.
SFF has also partnered with Airbnb Experiences for three highly immersive workshops, including one where coffee aficionados can make and taste cold brew coffee using locally roasted coffee beans. One-Michelin star restaurant Burnt Ends will also be throwing a party, gathering restaurants within the enclave to serve good food and groovy tunes.
SFF 2022 also caters to those who prefer culinary adventures from the comfort of home. 9 free-to-view virtual masterclasses will be held via Facebook, offering avid foodies the opportunity to cook along live with the crème de la crème of chefs 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 Artisanal Bakery. In addition, food Kits are available for public purchase on the SFF website from 11 Aug to 18 Sep 2022 to enrich the masterclass experience.
So what are you foodies waiting for? Sign up for the festival and the events at the Singapore Food Festival website. SFF this year promises a blend of mouth-smacking flavours from various cultures and cuisines. My stomach is already grumbling writing this article, and I hope yours is too! I’m ready for a feast this SFF, are you?
Singapore Food Festival: Festival Village Details
Date: 31 August to 11 September 2022
Location: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018970
Price: S$15 per pax and S$50 for a group of 4 (weekdays), S$20 per pax and S$70 for a group of 4 (weekends)
Visuals courtesy of The Singapore Tourism Board.
