Singapore Food Festival 2008

The Singapore Food Festival returns for the 15th year to serve the nation’s rich culinary heritage, vibrant food culture and celebrated local delights. From 4 to 27 Jul 2008, all –time favourites such as Singapore Char Kway Teow, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Satay and Fish Head Curry take centrestage as thousands of participating establishments island-wide serve up a gastronomic storm to delight the tastebuds.

“Over recent years, Singapore cuisine, featuring Laksa, Satay and Hainanese Chicken Rice amongst others, has reached the far corners of the world with local street food even listed in the popular travel guide 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Shultz. Through the STB’s efforts to promote local cuisine overseas, we hope that local must-try dishes will be inextricably linked to Singapore in the minds of diners worldwide.” Said Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Cluster Development, Tourism Shopping and Dining, STB.

Visitors simply need to present their passports at the Singapore Visitor Centres and core event venues to receive Singapore Food Sampler redemption vouchers. These vouchers allow visitors to sample any three available must-try dishes at participating dining establishments in key tourist precincts for free.

City Gas Singapore Chef Awards returns for the second year with the coveted “Singapore Chef of the Year” category. New this year is the “Junior Chef of the Year” award for young chefs aged 23 and below. Both categories are open to chefs from any private restaurant or hotel.

A set of First Day Cover featuring popular dishes of Singapore and Macao was issued by Singapore Post (SingPost) and Macao Post on 4 Jul 08. This is also the first major collaboration between SingPost and Macao Post.

Co-organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Peter Knipp Holdings Pte (PKH), the Singapore Food Festival 2008 will feature more than 40 events.

Singapore Food Festivals 2008 Highlights

Lau Pa Sat
4 – 6 July
Set in a nostalgic theme of 50s and 60s. Features about 100 stalls serving dishes from Singapore Laksa and Hainanese Chicken Rice to Curry Head and Rojak. The Singapore Food Sampler will also be available for visitors to sample a variety of Singapore’s many “must try” local delights.

Central Food Festival
4 Jul - 31 Aug, 2008
Wine, dine and unwind as Central takes you on an epicurean trip with special set menus & promotions at selected fine restaurants during the Food Festival. Let Central's breathtaking waterfront view transform your dining experience like never before! Find out more in www.thecentral.com.sg or call 6532 9922 for enquiries.

Cooking Up A Singapore Storm, Spice Walk & Morning Gourmet @ At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy
5-27 July
A memorable Singapore hands-on cooking experience and guided walk in the Spice garden.

Seafood Weekend at Robertson Walk
From 11-12 July
Features signature menus specially catered by restaurants, bars and cafes al fresco-style under the stars. Also held at Robertson Walk on 12 July is the Major League eating competition, where participants will fight for the chance to face off with the reigning World Champion in a Satay Eating Competation on 27 July.

Chinese Dialect Food Showcase @ Singapore Chinatown
12 -13 July
Kreta Ayer Square (11am to 9pm)

A total of 8 different dialect restaurants will be showcasing signature foods of their heritage, including the three main dialects (Cantonese, Teochew, Hokkien) and other dialects such as Hakka, Hainanese, Shanghainese, Foochow and Henghua.

Singapore’s Annual Chicken Rice Eating Competition
12 -13 July
Kreta Ayer Square (12 pm to 7pm)

The Most Number of bowls of Chicken Rice eaten in 10 minutes. The top 3 Finalists will take home with them cash prizes of up to $3500!The contest is open to the public between 16 years old to 55 years old and charges a nominal fee of S$5.00.

Chinatown Old Brands Showcase
The Hunt for Most Popular Signature Dish
4-27 July
Vote for the most popular signature dish from eight Old Brands Restaurants and stand a chance to win up $500.

The restaurants are Bee Cheng Hiang (Sliced Pork), Da Dong Cantonese Restaurant (Fatty Weng Baked Pork Ribs), Lim Chee Guan Bak Kwa (Sliced BBQ Pork), Lee Tong Kee (Ipoh Hor Fun), Mui Lum Restaurant (Majestic Roast Chicken), Red star Restaurant (American Roasted Duck), Spring Court Restaurant (Peking Duck) and Tong Heng Oriental Pastry (Egg Tart)

Heritage Flavours 2008 @ Malay Heritage Centre
26-27 Jul
10am-8pm
Food demonstration, workshops, cooking competition for best nasi ambeng presentation & belanchan endurance eating competition, food bazaar, cultural performance and performance by local celebrities.

Heritage Flavour 2008 @ Little India
Thosai weekend (11-13 Jul)
Vegetarian fair (12 Jul)
Nasi briyani weekend (18 -20 Jul)
India dessert fair (25-27 Jul)

The Ulu Ulu Family Lunch
19 & 20 July
Features an extensive array of local favourites including Hainanese chicken rice, laksa and satay, amongst others. Filled with games and entertainment catering to both the young and old, the whole family gets to enjoy a different dining gastronomic experience.

The Sentosa BBQ
26 and 27 Jul
Held on the shores of Palawan Beach, this family event starts at dusk with local local BBQ delights accompanied by music and entertainment under the stars.

Edited by Eugene Tang. Photos by Lau Pa Sat and SingaporeSights. All Rights Reserved.