Singapore Recreates Food Lovers' Playground for the 16th Year with Singapore Food Festival 2009

Hong Kong, 16 June 2009 – Scheduled to send Singaporean taste buds soaring from 17 July to 26 July 2009, Singapore Food Festival 2009 is back on the streets delivering culinary masterpieces for its 16th year in a row.

A full-on sensory experience, the Singapore Food Festival is a decadent celebration of the gourmet melting pot that defines Singapore’s diverse and multi-racial culture. Visitors of the festival are encouraged to indulge themselves in Singaporean-style food-loving, to learn about the heritage of local food through a variety of themed events set up throughout Singapore, and most importantly, to treat their stomachs to the unique blend of flavours on offer in this uniquely diverse city.

Peranakan Cuisine Takes Centre Stage
Taking the spotlight among all the different kinds of food to be served at the festival this year will be Peranakan food. Descendants of an early Chinese community who settled in the Malay Archipelago in the 17th century, Peranakans observe traditional Chinese traditions but show a strong Malay influence in their language, dressing and most especially in their food. Deftly making use of spices, coconut milk, aromatic roots and leaves, many Peranakan dishes are built on the fascinatingly flavourful foundation of a rempah, or spice paste.

All Visitors are Treated to Something Sweet
All visitors who decide to take the Singapore Food Festival culinary rollercoaster will have the opportunity to get their hands on a specially packed Nyonya Kueh Sampler which will include a mouth-watering variety of 4 Nyonya kuehs (glutinous cakes). All visitors have to do is spend a minimum of S$50 at any dining establishment and show their receipts at any of the participating Bengawan Solo outlets island-wide, or at Changi International Airport, in order to redeem their free gift of treats.

A Peranakan Village Sets Up on Clarke Quay
From 6 to 10pm throughout Singapore Film Festival on Clarke Quay, visitors will be invited to watch as this historical centre of commerce is tastefully transformed into a true Peranakan Village, the festival’s core event.

Bringing back the hustle and bustle of the area which used to be the centre of Singaporean life in the late 19th century, Clarke Quay will feature a fantastic food street on the romantic Read Bridge. The scrumptiously set-up street will present Singapore’s most delicious cuisines, Peranakan included, under the light of the stars.

On the last day of the festival, Read Bridge will play host to the longest Peranakan Buffet Line, where foods traditionally served during a Peranakan wedding will take to the spotlight.

Ethnic Precincts Bring Global Culture to Life
During the two weekends of Singapore Food Festival, explore some of the globe’s most diverse cuisine as you take a walk throughout Singapore’s heritage food trail.

Experience an introduction to the different regional cuisines of China in Chinatown, and discover the heritage of Malay sweets and other Malay culinary traditions at the Malay Heritage Centre at Kampong Glam, then wander down to Little India to learn about the differences between regional Indian cooking.

A lover of late-night dining adventure? Special late night dining experiences will be available in each cultural precinct throughout the festival, to top off every visitor’s global sampling foray with a late-night course.

Get a Singaporean Cuisine Fix in Hong Kong
In collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong is holding its own version of the Singapore Food Festival in its buffet theatre, café TOO. A feast both for your eyes and for your taste buds, celebrity Chef Willin Low, owner of the Wild Rocket Singaporean restaurant group, will showcase his signature dishes from 12 to 16 June 2009, and a sampling of Peranakan dishes will be available from 12 to 28 June 2009.

All guests who indulge in the Shangri-La Hong Kong’s taste of Singapore will be entitled to entry in a lucky draw with a stunning grand prize for two. The grand prize includes two nights stay at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore with roundtrip flight on Singapore Airlines. Those who enjoyed the Shangri-La Hong Kong’s Singapore buffet will also receive a discount of HK$300 off any Singapore package booked through Singapore Airlines Holidays.

Throughout Singapore Food Festival 2009, food lovers will be both well-entertained and well-fed with the soiree of mouth-watering cuisines that will be taking to the Singaporean streets.