Singapore Food Festival 2009

The Singapore Food Festival, one of the most anticipated annual food events, is back for the 16th year from 17-26 July 2009. This year, in addition to showcasing Singapores many local ethnic food delights, various events taking place at Clarke Quay will also spotlight Peranakan cuisine such as Sambal Udang, Kueh Pie Tee, and Ayam Buah Keluak for the first time.
 
Jointly organised by Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore Food Festival 2009, will kick off with a colourful Peranakan Parade where over 200 elaborately dressed Straits Chinese will add a dash of colour walking through Clarke Quay to the opening ceremony on Read Bridge. At the close of 10 days of lorious food and festivities, foodies can look forward to the Longest Peranakan Buffet Dinner offering 100 delectable dishes as a fitting close to the Festival.
 
THE PERANAKAN CULTURE REFLECTS SINGAPORE’S MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
A unique culture that is only found in this part of the world, Peranakan is a cultural juxtaposition between the Chinese and Malay or Indian and Malay resulting in a colourful and multifaceted culture from history to costumes and jewellery.
 
“The colourful mix of the Peranakan heritage and their delicacies is very much a reflection of Singapore’s cultural melting pot, not only existing together but melding together to evolve a new and distinct personality. By highlighting Peranakan cuisine this year, we hope visitors will have the opportunity to savour the many rich Nonya flavours at the Festival and have an authentic experience immersing in the other aspects of Peranakan culture, “said Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Tourism Shopping and Dining at the STB.
 
“Singapore’s local fare is increasingly gaining recognition worldwide. Aside from Singapore style foodcourts that are opening up all over the world and serving our local favourites, local foodie KF Seetoh also recently appeared in a much talked about interview on the Martha Stewart Show to introduce Laksa to global audiences. Even Grammy award winner rap artist and actor Ludacris was said to be so impressed with Singaporean chef Chris Yeo that he opened a restaurant, Straits Atlanta, in his hometown to great acclaim. These efforts, together with events like the Singapore Food Festival, ill allow local dishes to gain more international prominence and we hope that these will soon become synonymous with Singapore in the minds of diners worldwide.”
 
This year, visitors to the Singapore Food Festival can also enjoy traditional desserts with the Nonya Kueh sampler set at selected Bengawan Solo outlets. Part of the year long ‘2009 reasons to enjoy Singapore’ campaign, visitors and Singapore residents simply need to spend a minimum of $50 at any dining to redeem the sampler set.
 
On average, about 20 per cent of the Singapore Food Festival attendees are tourists. The STB hopes to draw more locals and visitors during this year’s festivities, which also coincides with the Great Singapore Sale (29 May-26 July 2009) as well as events such as the Singapore HeritageFest 2009 (15-26 July 2009) and Baba Bling: Peranakan Family Jewels exhibition at the Peranakan Museum (29 May-13 December 2009).
 
Lending her expertise and authenticity to this year’s Singapore Food Festival is Singapore’s notable food ambassador, Ms Violet Oon, who is herself a true blue Nonya. Violet has been active in the content creation for the festival and is excited about her mission to bring to the forefront as many of Singapore’s Peranakan Culinary Treasures as possible in the 10 day event.
 
"It is great that STB is showcasing the essence of our cultural DNA. Starting with the Peranakans is wonderful for me personally because it is my very own culture. Nationally, it is significant as the culture celebrates diversity and inclusion. The richness of the cuisine originates from the marriage of Chinese ingredients such as bean paste, garlic and bamboo shoots with Malay spices like chillies, turmeric, lemon grass and belacan peppered with influences from India and Britain, as Singapore’s modern history began as a British colony in 1819," said Ms Violet Oon, Consultant for Singapore Food Festival 2009.
 
AN EXCITING HOST OF PERANAKAN DELIGHTS AWAIT
Clarke Quay, the home of Singapore Food Festival 2009, is chosen for its central, strategic and scenic location; a place where tourists and Singaporeans enjoy visiting for food & beverage as well as retail therapy.
 
"The lineup of events this year has been specially crafted and chosen to appeal to a wide spectrum of diners from a mass audience all the way to the high end epicureans. This is made possible through a range of innovative and exciting events that are friendly to every wallet from the no charge Nonya Mobile to the $200 a seat Beauty and the east dinner, which features premium ingredients like Wagyu beef and foie gras," said Mr Luke Lee, Director, SPOC Solutions Pte Ltd.
 
Some of the notable events at this year’s Singapore Food Festival include the transformation of Read Bridge at Clarke Quay into a Food Street with more than 30 stalls selling Peranakan, Chinese, Malay and Indian food.
 
This is the first time that Singapore Food Festival will feature a Nonya Mobile, which is an interactive kitchen that will travel island wide with Peranakan culinary experts onboard who will share their skills in Peranakan culinary arts and demonstrate the echniques to roll popiahs, wrap bak changs and create spicy sambal belachan, amongst others.
 
Another key event where the culinary enthusiasts can learn the "secrets" of Peranakan cooking, ranging from homemade recipes and classic dishes to savoury snacks and sweets, will be the daily Culinary Workshops helmed by our group of Peranakan culinary Treasures, including Ms Violet Oon, Mr Joe Yap, Mr Peter Wee and Mr Jolly Wee, amongst others.
 
The exclusive Beauty and the Feast Dinner brings Peranakan cuisine to the next level ith traditional Nonya dishes given a modern twist through the use of premium ingredients including Wagyu beef, foie gras and lobster.
 
The Singapore Food Festival will end off en masse with the LONGEST Peranakan Buffet Line prepared by Swissôel Merchant Court, for the first time. Spanning the entire length of Read Bridge, more than 100 Peranakan dishes will be featured for food lovers to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience y the Singapore River and under the starry night sky.
 
For the uninitiated to Peranakan cuisine, Violet recommends the Nonya 10 "Must Tries", comprising Ayam Buah Keluak, Babi Pong Tay, Chap Chye, Masak Assam Pedas, Udang Goreng Assam, Ngoh Hiang, Bakwan Kepiting, Satay Ayam Goreng, Sambal Timun with Sambal Belacan and Nonya Kueh. All these and more will be showcased during the estival’s key event line up, such as the Culinary Workshops, Beauty and the Feast inner and The Longest Peranakan Buffet.

A MULTICULTURAL GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE
In addition to the Peranakan offerings this year, the festival is also complemented by the best of other ethnic cuisines in the various ethnic precincts itself, such as Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, with food tasting sessions, competitions, live demonstrations, workshops and late night dining experiences.
 
Look out for Chinatown Super Supper Madness on the 18th of July 2009 at the Chinatown food street from 9pm to 12am. With a supper pass ticket price of only $15, you can enjoy Chinatown’s best food, entertainment and lucky draw perks at this longest and biggest supper event!
 
In collaboration with the Malay Heritage Centre at Kampong Glam, Sweet Heritage Treats ’09, an initiative to allow the public to immerse in Malay food culture, will showcase sweet goodies and desserts from various local Malay Ethnic enclaves including the Javanese, Boyanese, Arabs and Minangs and other ethnic groups, such as Eurasian.
 
Also noteworthy is the Wet Market Tour in Little India by Celebrity Chef Devagi, who will take participants on a journey through the colourful wet markets of Little India to discover interesting tips on how to buy, store and use the variety of local ingredients on display. In addition to a concert by local and international celebrities, 20 Indian restaurants in the precinct will also vie for the title of “The Singapore Food Festival Indian Chef of the Year 2009”.