Singapore Food Festival

In its 13th year, the annual Singapore Food Festival is still going strong. This year’s festival of Singapore dishes promises its biggest showcase yet, with 50 events and activities lined up in the whole of July.
Kicking off the festival is an event centered on a dish that’s close to the hearts (or mouths) of Singaporeans—chili crab. If you’re a big fan of this man tou-dipping delicacy, then this event is for you: the Super Crab 101 Buffet will set Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on fire on Jul 2 ($30 adult, $15 child). If you think there’s only one way to cook the crustacean, think again. Literally 101 crab dishes will be presented at this buffet spread, while 30 stalls will feature their own renditions of the chili crab dish.
The Singapore Food Ball Festival (Jul 6-9, 11am-9:30pm, Bugis Junction) is another much-touted event. This free admission event features, you guessed it, all food spherical—all in the name of World Cup mania. Hainanese chicken rice balls, glutinous rice balls, onde onde, Takpachi octopus balls, ice balls … you get the picture.
How about sampling some edible flowers? At Dining in a Garden City (Jul 12-16, 11am-9:30pm, Plaza Singapura), not only do you dine in a lush and luxuriant garden setting, discover how to make flowers palatable in your food too.
Go to any wedding and you’re always guaranteed a good feed. The Wedding Feast (Jul 28-30, 10am-9pm, Marina Square & Millenia Walk) showcases not one, but three, weddings—Malay, Indian and Chinese—including the food, cultural customs and wedding preparations of each ethnic group. At just $25 per person, this is also cheaper than a regular ang pao. And at $20, you can gorge yourself silly at Marina Square with the longest multicultural wedding cake, sweets, savories and candies.
Look out for food promotions, special menus and discounts at over 100 participating food establishments around the island. For more details, log on to www.singaporefoodfestival.com.