It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years, but here we are, with more gastronomic adventures for “real foodies only” at Singapore Food Festival (SFF) 2023.
Happening from Jul 19 to 30, Singapore Food Festival 2023 will be a celebration of the past, present and future. The annual event will showcase Singapore’s indelible food culture and rich heritage while savouring the vibrant flavours of the present and the innovative creations that could shape the future of dining.
What to expect
Festival highlights include an expansive Festival Village with three new zones, Food Cartel, Sweets Alley and Cafe Boulevard; island-wide activations like culinary tours, workshops and chef masterclasses; as well as exclusive finds specially created for the event.
The Festival Village at Bayfront Event Space is where most of the action will take place. Occupying over 17,000-square-metres, the Festival Village will house more than 100 brands, each bringing unique creations to the table.
Head to the SG Food Walk that will show off the diversity of flavours in this little red dot. This zone will feature festival-exclusives such as Curry Chicken Fried Popiah (thin crepe-like roll) from Mr. Popiah, and Calamari Nachos with a remoulade made from belimbing (a fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia) – a collaboration between sustainability-focused restaurant Kausmo and local fish farm Ah Hua Kelong.
Other festival-only options include Papachos (North Indian crackers), Veggie Bajji (fritter) and Prawn Mee (yellow noodles) Roll by The Black Hole Group; and Bakmi Hae Bee Hiam (wheat noodles with dried shrimp chilli paste) from Kulon.
At Food Cartel, foodies can catch their favourite chefs and personalities in action. Here, find pop-ups, bar concepts, four-hands collaborations, and masterclasses conducted by renowned chefs such as Ivan Yeo of Blue Smoke; Eric Neo of the Singapore Chef’s Association; Paul Longworth of Rhubarb Le Restaurant; and Shen Tan of Ownself Make Chef. Visitors can also get to curate their own customised indulgence – a personalised granola bag or bespoke bombolini – from granola cafe Dearborn and Sourbombe Artisanal Bakery.
Cafe Boulevard, which pays tribute to Singapore’s thriving cafe culture, will feature fine coffee and bakes from homegrown names such as oat milk brand Oatside, Le Matin Patisserie, and Hapi Café in collaboration with Pourabucha kombucha.
Those with a sweet tooth must visit Sweets Alley. Satisfy sugar cravings with a mix of traditional and modern sweets such as Chinese desserts from traditional dessert shop Yat Ka Yan; Nonya-style handmade ang ku kueh (glutinous rice flour skin encasing a sweet or savoury filling) from Ji Xiang Ang Ku Kueh; and artisanal local ice cream company Creamier with exclusive flavours such as sesame tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) and waffled putu piring (palm sugar-filled rice flour cake).
Browse local brands at SG Mama Shop, a collaboration between local e-commerce platform Food Culture Singapore and Easygo AI Vending Machine to sample old and new versions of traditional beverages and snacks, and purchase exclusive merchandise.
Like previous years, there will also be fringe events, tours and workshops. Indie Singapore Tours’ Market, Mingle, Mixology tour, for instance, brings participants to Tiong Bahru market for fresh herbs for their own concoction, while pastry chef Yeo Min of Pastories in Joo Chiat will teach participants how to make and decorate a heritage shophouse cake
The spotlight shines brighter on the beverage segment at the festival this year, a reflection of the rising trend of microbreweries and distilleries in Singapore. Apart from the thirst- quenching offerings by the likes of Papa Doble, Archipelago Brewery and The 1925 Brewing Co at the Festival Village, SFF fringe event Brewnanza Fest by Brewlander will showcase over 100 unique craft beers at the same spot from Aug 3 to 6.
Entry passes to the Festival Village start from $8. Visit www.singaporefoodfestival.sg for more information.
