Returning for its 26th year, the Singapore Food Festival takes over dining calendars for three weeks from July 12 to 28, with a spotlight on Singaporean flavors, hawker heroes, food tours, and home cooks.
Besides the myriad events taking place across the island, this year’s fest also features for the first time Liho, 7-Eleven, and Glico, the company behind Pocky. As a result, they’re introducing unusual snacks and drinks like Liho’s avocado kopi, a fusion of avocado shake and coffee, which will be made available at the brand’s selected outlets. Plus, the typical Singaporean breakfast of kaya and kopi appears in the form of kaya toast and kopi-o Pocky packs, which you can get at Ya Kun outlets while stocks last.
At 7-Eleven stores, the Japanese-Singaporean ready-to-eat snacks include chicken satay onigiri, salted egg tamagoyaki, and takoyaki with chilli crab sauce and egg mayo. Oh, and Ippudo and No Signboard Seafood are collaborating on a chilli crab ramen for those interested in trying it out.
Now that you’ve nibbled your way through the tidbits, here’s the lowdown on the top food-centric events happening over the next couple weeks. P.S. If you’re looking for discounts, try getting tickets via Klook.
#pluck
Four local chefs host four different dinners over two weekends, taking on diverse cuisines for each meal. Chef Evelyn Yap of Happivore focuses on plant-driven “New American Philosophy” food, while Ivan Yeo of The 1925 Brewing Company whips up modern Teochew dishes. Then there’s Lynnette Seah of Lynnette’s Kitchen, who spotlights Peranakan cuisine, and Anuar Abu of Lagenda, who dishes out traditional Malay plates.
July 21-20 & 27-28 at various locations. $65-$128/person.
Advanced Dining
This culinary session by Telok Ayer Arts Club and artist collective The Picnic reimagines the act of eating through a subversive seven-course meal that presents food as an artful experience. The event spans three Saturdays over lunch and dinner, with 15 participants at a time in the dining room, and includes a welcome tea ceremony and cocktail pairing.
July 13, 20 & 27, 1pm-4pm & 7pm-10pm at Telok Ayer Arts Club. $128/person.
Kueh Appreciation Day
It’s all about sweet and savory kuehs at this event, with ondeh ondeh by HarriAnns Nonya Table, soon kueh by Kuehs & Snacks, ang ku kueh by Poh Cheu Kitchen, and even rare kuehs brought in for the day. Also look out for kueh demonstration sessions by chef Damien D’Silva of Folklore and more.
July 28, 10am-4pm at OUE Social Kitchen, #03-02/03 Downtown Gallery. Free entry.
Open Air Film Club: Republic of Food
This edition of The Hive’s Open Air Film Club screens local movie Republic of Food, a light-hearted comedy about Singaporeans’ favorite pasttime: Food. Naturally, there’ll be snacks to accompany the flick, with local offerings like satay and BBQ chicken wings from well-known hawkers at Lau Pa Sat and Newton Food Centre.
July 19 & 26, 7pm-9:30pm at The Hive New Bridge Road. Free entry with purchase of food coupon.
PBD x Candlenut Guest Chef Series
This month, one Michelin-starred resto Candlenut joins forces with Park Bench Deli to create a buah keluak burger sandwiching a beef patty, the black nut, and a fried egg between potato buns. The item goes for $26.75, but $1 from each order will go to a charity of the chef’s choice.
Until July 31 at Park Bench Deli.
Singapore Tea Festival
Tea enthusiasts will enjoy this one, with over 50 brands displaying their tea and tea-related wares at Jewel. Highlights include a tea market with all sorts of blends by local and international brands, a tea room for workshops on tea pairings and kombucha making, and plenty of snacks to go along with your brews.
July 19-21, Fri 2pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm at Jewel Changi Airport B1 Atrium. Free entry; $35 for VIP tickets.
Singapore Vegan Street Food Crawl
You may not think Singapore has much to offer on the vegan side of things, but this trail is hoping to prove naysayers wrong with its tours of Geylang Serai, Chinatown, and Little India. Each group will sample six to eight local vegan offerings, from Peranakan kuehs, Indian snacks, and Malay desserts to street food like char kway teow, rojak, chendol, and more. Participants will also get a hands-on chance to try making treats like popiah and jackfruit dumplings.
July 13, 20 & 27 at various locations and timings. $45/person.
STREAT
With price tags starting from $3, this outdoor food fair highlights the dishes of 12 F&B stalls, alongside a pop-up counter by Origin Bar, a retail corner by Naiise, and workshops run by local chefs. Vendors such as Restaurant Ibid, Salted & Hung, Artichoke, and Meat Smith will be doling out everything from salted egg chicken chop and chicken rice kueh pie tee to beef curry bowl and watermelon Yakult ice pop. You can also bop to the beats of music acts like Astronauts and Charlie Lim and attend sessions on beer appreciation and cocktail making.
July 12-13, 5pm-11pm at The Promontory at Marina Bay. Free entry.
The 50 Cents Fest
The 2019 edition of this cheap and cheery fest focuses on Hokkien heritage and food, with eateries like Beng Hiang and Kim Choo Kueh Chang on the line-up. Just like years past, the food street will offer dishes starting from $0.50, with traditional Hokkien items like chut bee png (steamed glutinous rice), ang ku kueh, and cha gay ah (tapioca noodles) on the menu. There’ll also be a “hidden” roadside stall by the corner of the road selling fried Hokkien mee, hei zho (prawn rolls), and “Buddha Jumps Over The Wall”, a soup brimming with fish maw, abalone and ginseng.
July 27-28, 11am-11pm at Chinatown Food Street. Free entry.
The Great Indian Food Fest
In a throwback to the ’60s, this spotlight on Indian cuisine hosts 17 street carts and bustling activities by talents like parrot fortune tellers, snake charmers, a kacang putih man, and henna artists. Plus, dance performances, music showcases, and film screenings will keep you entertained through the evening.
July 19-28, 10am-10pm at Campbell Lane.
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