Singapore Food Festival returns with in-person experiences, workshops, tours, and exclusive menus

The annual Singapore Food Festival (SFF) is one of the events that foodies always look forward to and we’re glad it’s back for its 29th edition from 24 August to 11 September this year.

For the first time since the pandemic, SFF 2022 returns with a spread of in-person experiences. You can look forward to over 70 gastronomic experiences based on the pillars of heritage, contemporary and innovation, including a Festival Village with over 25 food establishments and a special nine-course dinner, as well as an array of workshops, tours, and exclusive menus at partner restaurants.

singapore food festival 2022 press conference
(From left) Ms Teyi Guo, Director, Retail & Dining, STB; Chef Damian D’Silva from Rempapa; Chef Jayce Ho of SGBrisketKitchen, pictured here at the Singapore Food Festival Media Preview responding to media questions.

Even if you’re residing outside Singapore, you’ll still get to enjoy a taste of authentic local fare through SFF activations in select countries and virtual masterclasses. You can also go behind-the-scenes to learn more about the lives of local chefs and brands through SFF-exclusive video content on the festival site.

Highlights at the SFF 2022

Themed “Real Foodies Only”, this year’s line-up comprises several components: the Festival Village, limited-time menus at partner restaurants, tours and workshops, virtual offerings, as well as overseas activations.

The Festival Village

(From top-left) The Goodburger – Golden Chilli Crab Burger (plant-based); The Proper Concepts Collective – The Feather Blade: Beef Rendang Slider, MEZCLA: Nasi Lemak Taco, RAPPU: Black Pepper Crab Roll; One Prawn & Co.x Hock Lian Huat – Seaweed Prawn Cracker and Signature Prawn Bisque; (From bottom-left) Jelebu Dry Laksa – Jelebu Dry Laksa and Tipsy U.F.O.; Rempapa – Peranakan Fish Cake; Aaron Wong x Thomas Ong – Kurobuta Wanton Mee

A highlight at the SFF 2022, the Festival Village will bring together over 25 culinary and beverage brands at the Bayfront Event Space from 31 August to 11 September 2022.

Check out over 25 food establishments that will serve familiar favourites with an innovative twist, such as Jelebu Dry Laksa’s signature dish topped with Boston lobster and tiger prawns.

Food truck The Goodburge will partner Blue Lotus Eating House to present a SFF-exclusive plant-based Golden Chilli Crab Burger, while the newly-minted Michelin Bib Gourmand stall One Prawn & Co will collaborate with heritage brand Hock Lian Huat to present a thick, silky prawn bisque with shrimps, mussels and clams, alongside a ngoh hiang (five-spiced meat rolls) platter.

Don’t miss the Chef Arena, which is situated within the grounds of the Festival Village, a nine-course dinner will be presented. This special meal is created by top culinary masters featured in SFF 2022’s virtual masterclasses, and the gastronomic experience includes a Martell Noblige cocktail created by Juan Yi Jun, the head bartender of No Sleep Club.

Prefer to get hands-on? Then look forward to a curated line-up of workshops where you can pick up culinary skills such as the art of mixing spices from 3rd generation owner, Jeya Seelan from traditional spice stall Jeya Spices; as well as gather Thermomix tips to whip up delicious meals with cookbook author Annie Xavier and passionate home bakers.

Festival-exclusive dishes at restaurants island-wide

Various restaurants island-wide will also offer festival-exclusive dishes.

Highlights include Two Men Bagel House that will present a bagelwich packed with the aromatic flavours of Chinese, Indian and Malay curries; while Italian meets Malay at Italian-inspired restaurant and bar Dopo Teatro with its sambal goreng pizza.

Deli veteran Steeple’s Deli will collaborate with new-school Park Bench Deli for a one-day pop-up at Steeple’s Deli, featuring sandwiches that incorporate the former’s mouth-watering corned beef and the latter’s pastrami.

If you have a sweet-tooth, try the Teh Halia-flavoured ice cream or the guava sorbet with sour plum powder by The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. and Creamier.

Tours and workshops

Various tours and workshops will also happen during the festival period.

Atlas Aquaculture and Blue Aqua are organising trips to land-based urban fish and shrimp farms for participants to learn more about where their food comes from and how they can harvest their own shrimp at home.

Foodies can also sign up for a plant-based cheese and gin pairing workshop by Nut Culture and Brass Lion Distillery, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the distillery and an introduction to the botanicals that make up their Singapore Dry Gin.

For those who crave interactive drama, learn to make comfort foods of the 60s’ while being regaled with stories by grandpas and grandmas, in an immersive theatrical workshop by Oh! Stories.

Festival goers can attend fringe events including the Singapore Vegan Festival and Feed 9 Billion Singapore Restaurant Week, both of which feature sustainable, healthy food options and creative innovations.

SFF has also partnered Airbnb Experiences for three highly immersive workshops including one where coffee aficionados can make and taste cold brew coffee using locally roasted coffee beans.

One-Michelin star restaurant Burnt Ends will also be throwing a party, gathering restaurants within the enclave to serve good food and groovy tunes.

Home-based activities

If you prefer culinary adventures from the comfort of home, you’ll be pleased to know that there will be nine free-to-view virtual masterclasses held, offering avid foodies the opportunity to cook-along live with some of the best culinary talents in Asia.

These include four-hands collaborations between Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2022 Maira Yeo from two-Michelin star Cloudstreet and Chef Justin Lee of JL Dessert Bar in Seoul; and Chef Will Goldfarb of Room4Dessert in Bali and Chef Genevieve Lee of Sourbombe Bakery.

Food kits are available on the SFF website to enrich the masterclass experience.

Overseas activations

Singapore’s rich and diverse culinary scene will be brought to 13 countries during the festival, where foodies can look forward to locally-inspired treats such as a four-hands dinner in the Philippines by Chef Han Li Guang of Labyrinth and Chef Chele Gonzales of Gallery by Chele, and in the United Kingdom where KEK Seafood collaborates with UK burger chain Honest Burger on a Cereal Chicken Burger, served with a limited-edition craft beer by UK-based brewery Northern Monk and Singapore’s Off Day Beer.

Singapore Food Festival 2022 will run from 24 August to 11 September. Visit its website for the full list of experiences and ticketing information.