As part of the SingapoRediscovers campaign, SFF will go virtual for the first time – allowing festival-goers to support local F&B players by rediscovering the rich depth of Singapore’s gastronomic scene
Singapore, 28 July 2020 – For the first time in its history, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF), Singapore’s only event dedicated to local cuisine and local F&B talent, will take on a virtual format this year. Themed “Rediscover the Foodie in You”, SFF 2020 will see more than 25 F&B partners coming onboard to serve up gastronomic experiences for festival goers to enjoy at home.
Taking place across two weekends in August (21–23 August and 28–30 August), Singapore’s dining scene will come to life in the form of virtual food tours, live masterclasses, chef collaborations, food bundles and limited edition food merchandise. SFF 2020 is a highlight under the recently launched SingapoRediscovers campaign[1] which seeks to show locals a different side of Singapore, encourage rediscovery of our world class tourism and lifestyle offerings, and stimulate demand through hidden gems and stories, as well as value-for-money experiences, packages and promotions.
In line with SingaporeRediscovers, SFF also encourages the rediscovery of our local cuisine – from the rich depth of foodie traditions to innovative new takes on Singapore cuisine that continue to shape the past, present and future of our food culture. During this challenging period for the F&B industry, SFF 2020 also aims to be a platform for chefs and local F&B businesses to collaborate and showcase their culinary passions and products.
Ms Ranita Sundra, Director of Retail and Dining, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said: “The Singapore Food Festival has always been about putting the spotlight on our vibrant and evolving local F&B landscape. While we are unable to host SFF in its usual form, we are excited about the possibilities that the festival’s very first virtual edition will bring. This year’s programming aims to bundle the joy of feasting with interactive and engaging experiences. We encourage everyone to support our chefs, bartenders and food personalities, while rediscovering the foodie in them through the exciting gastronomic activities we have planned.”
Programme highlights
This year’s festival line up comprises four components: Live Masterclasses, Food Bundles, Virtual Food Tours and SFF food merchandise.
The Live Masterclasses, which are free for viewing, will offer a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process by renowned chefs and experts. Viewers in Singapore and overseas can tune in via the Webex virtual platform to these intimate live sessions as they
let audiences in on their tips, tricks and secrets. A total of 17 masterclasses will be held, featuring some of the top names in our F&B scene – such as award-winning pastry chef Cheryl Koh of Tarte by Cheryl Koh (presenting an éclair-making masterclass – left), chef Julien Royer of three Michelin-starred Odette (who will put together one of his most popular salads, Promenade A Singapour, created to showcase farmed-in-Singapore greens), and bartending honchos Colin Chia and Charmaine Thio of speakeasy bar Nutmeg & Clove, ranked #32 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020 (teaching the basics of cocktail making and demonstrating how to create two different tipples).
Selected masterclasses will also offer slots for in-person interaction at restaurants[2], and ingredient boxes that festival-goers can purchase and get delivered to their doorstep – allowing participants to cook along for a truly engaging experience.
No SFF is complete without feasting. This year, prepare for an indulgence of epic proportions – without stepping out of your home! Mobile marketplace Shopee will be hosting Food Bundles that festival-goers can order for delivery. These food bundles feature tantalising offerings and dishes that Live Masterclass chefs and presenters will demonstrate in their culinary tutorial sessions. Look out for treats such as Damn Easy Hokkien Mee[3] (right) by Chef Ming Tan who will cook from Singapore virtually alongside Chef Margarita Forés who will join live from the Philippines, and Kueh Kuehs presented by Jeremy Nguee of Mrs Kueh and Claire Ariela Shen of Cooking Art.
For foodies who also love exploring, the Virtual Food Tours lined up at SFF this year will surely whet appetites. Rediscover Singapore’s charming precincts with one of Singapore’s most endearing local TV personalities, Chua Enlai. Journey virtually through the historical Tanjong Pagar and Chinatown precincts; as well as whimsical Katong and Joo Chiat to discover stories behind popular eats in the area, tales behind its heritage food businesses, and lesser-known food gems. For example, while Tong Heng is a well-known fixture in Chinatown selling traditional Cantonese pastries, few may know its founder was a former Qing Dynasty security official who came to Singapore in search of a better life.
Through these virtual tours, audiences will learn more about the history and heritage of the precincts and the food secrets they keep. Limited slots are available for participants to join local tour guides on a physical guided tour[4] over the two weekends, with more details available on the SFF website.
Finally, foodies will be treated to SFF food merchandise such as Uniqlo’s UTme! range of T-shirts that pay tribute to Singapore’s much-loved hawker culture with 8 exclusive limited-edition designs featuring famous hawker dishes – think laksa, kueh tutu and nasi lemak – specially created for SFF 2020 by popular local illustrator, Mandy Kew (@haruko412 on Instagram). Local craft brewery, Brewerkz, has developed an SFF exclusive beer, Passion Gao Siew Dai (left), to accompany the delicious festival dishes. Glico x Wee Nam Kee’s collaboration this year to produce Chicken Rice Pretz will surely be another one to look out for, while local bakery stalwart Cedele’s prawn otah cookies and Violet Oon’s signature Sambal Bajak and Goreng Chilli (the condiments go best with grilled meats and seafood) will also be made available for sale.
The first 90 early-bird participants who pre-book the SFF 2020’s offerings – such as pre-booking a Live Masterclass session or ordering an SFF Masterclass food bundle in advance - will be rewarded with SFF Boxes that contain some of the delicious SFF food merchandise.
Supporting SFF 2020
With SFF going virtual this year, popular mobile app Snapchat will also join in the fun with their launch of an exclusive foodie-themed filter lens that participants can use to record and share their favourite SFF moments. This will be available on 21 August.
Festival goers can check out www.singaporefoodfestival.sg for a full list of activities. Purchases of SFF ingredient boxes, food bundles and merchandise can also be made on Shopee. Further details about SFF activities including the full programme, dates, images and prices, can be found in the SFF 2020 Fact Sheet via this link.
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About the Singapore Food Festival
The Singapore Food Festival (SFF) returns for its 27th edition this August and will be held virtually for the first time. SFF honours generations of our local foodie heritage, our culinary talent and creativity that pushes the envelope on Singaporean cuisine. Held virtually this year from 21 to 23 August and 28 to 30 August, the festival is a celebration of Singapore’s obsession with local cuisine – from the rich depth of culinary traditions to the tapestry of flavours, immersive culinary experiences to the endless innovations that continue to shape our foodie culture past, present and future. Look forward to two weekends of feasting and exploring your culinary passions in a plethora of exciting programmes and interactive experiences hosted by experts and chefs in Singapore. For more details, visit: www.singaporefoodfestival.sg.
About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions. More: www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com
[1] On July 22, STB, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) launched SingapoRediscovers, a campaign that supports local lifestyle and tourism businesses and encourages locals to explore different sides of Singapore.
[2] Subject to prevailing Safe Management Measures at the point of the event happening
[3] The dish will be made available to consumers for self-assembly with pre-charred noodles, pork and prawn broth and other quality ingredients to complete the dish.
[4] Subject to prevailing Safe Management measures at the point of the event happening