STREAT 2017 @ Clifford Square - Kickstarts Singapore Food Festival 2017

This year's Singapore Food Festival 2017 has lined up a series of events around island happening from 14 to 30 July 2017. Kick-starting this year's Singapore Food Festival is STREAT. The two day event from 14 to 15 July 2017 takes place at Clifford Square.

This year Singapore Food Festival has rooted in Peranakan Chef Malcolm Lee of Michelin-starred restaurant Candlenut and Chef Willin Low of Wild Rocket to helm  a pop-up restaurant where the 2 chefs present contemporary interpretations of local dishes, through a 3-course mod-sin and modern Peranakan Tok Panjang menu. Diners will get to sample a variety of 3 appetizers and 3 mains served communal style, capped off with individual desserts for $50 nett.

Among the dishes prepared by Chef Malcolm and Chef Willin, my favourite dishes are the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Rojak and Buah Keluak Chye Tow Kway. I thought I have already seen the last of what can be done with the local hawker fare but both chefs have proven me wrong.

Buah Keluak Chye Tow Kway

Valrhona Dark Chocolate Rojak

In addition, the 2 chefs have also curated 9 stalls, each helmed by a line-up of young hawkerpreneurs and chefs. Each stall will present a unique spin on quintessentially local dishes. The 9 stalls are,
1. The Masses
2. KEK x Good Chance Popiah
3. New Ubin Seafood
4. Khek (Dessert)
5. Whampoa Prawn Noodle
6. Madam Tan's Nasi Lemak
7. Olympics Team
8. One Kueh At A Time
9 Native x Sunday Punch (beverage)

KEK - Coffee Pork Burger 

Good Chance Popiah - Tempura Kimchi Popiah

New Ubin Seafood - USDA Ribeye Heart Attack Fried Rice

Madam Tan's Crispy Pork Nasi Lemak

Whampoa Prawn Noodles - Spicy Prawn Pasta

To make a booking at the pop-up restaurant by Chef Willin Low and Malcolm Lee, please do not hesitate to email wildnuts2017@gmail.com. For those who do not manage to reserve a table, fret not as there is also a takeaway counter of the pop-up restaurant’s menu.

More information of the Singapore Food Festival can be found at the link here.


STREAT 2017 
(Beside Fullerton Bay Hotel)
Clifford Square
80 Collyer Square
Singapore 049326

Opening Hours:
14-15 July 2017
5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Clifford Centre. Cut across the building. Go to 2nd floor, take the overhead bridge link across the road. Turn left at the base of the overhead bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

What to Expect at Singapore Food Festival 2016

Singapore is a bustling and dynamic city - in fact, there is a major event taking place every month in Singapore!

For the month of July, we have the Singapore Food Festival running from 15 to 31 July 2016. During the festival, you can experience 18 different dining events all over Singapore.

1. STREAT

Kick-starting the Singapore Food Festival is STREAT 2016 which took place from 15 to 16 July 2016 at Clifford Square. STREAT 2016 is curated by international celebrity chef Susur Lee, Tunglok Heen's Senior Executive Chef Ken Ling and Restaurant Labyrinth's chef-owner Han Liguang. The three chefs joined hands in helming a pop-up restaurant featuring an exclusive, five-course, six hands dinner menu that aims to elevate Singapore's iconic street food.

A stellar selection of hawkers and chefs also joined the trio, setting up stalls alongside the pop-up restaurant at Clifford Square in celebration of our dining scene.

Some of the food items I tried at STREAT 2016 are Tequila Chendol from Propaganda Bar, Braised Veal Cheeks with Asian Spices & Fried Mantou from The Disgruntled Chef, Blue Swimmer Crab, Rice Noodles & Yellow Turmeric Coconut Curry from Candlenut and Kueh Dadar Waffle from Stellar at 1-Altitude.onon

2. East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Hawker Spotlight

After checking out the modern interpretation of Singapore's iconic street food at STREAT 2016, I headed down to East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Hawker Spotlight on 17 July to learn more about the rich history behind our local heritage food through a guided tour led by celebrity host Moses Lim.

Besides getting to know more about the heritage hawkers at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, we got to watch live cooking demonstrations of the hawkers working in the confined area of their stall. Some of the participants even got to learn how to roll popiah.

After the tour, we get to savour some of the delicious local dishes that can be found at East Coast Lagoon Village such as Popiah from Lagoon Carrot Cake, Curry Fish Head from East Red Seafood, Satay from Haron's Satay, Bak Kut Teh from Han Jia Bak Kut Teh and Char Kway Teow from Choon Hiang.

3. Singapore Favourite Food Village

One of my favourite events at this year's Singapore Food Festival is the Singapore Favourite Food Village which is taking place from 22 to 31 July 2016, 5pm - 11pm at Rochor Event Space (Bugis MRT Exit A). There are a total of 25 stalls at the food village, offering a mix of traditional favourite dishes and modern interpretations of these dishes. There is even an alfresco area with food trucks and pop-up cafes.

The Singapore Favourite Food Village is an ideal venue to gather with like-minded foodie friends and families to savour an eclectic selection of local favourites as well as some modern interpretation and Instagram-worthy food.

A special mention goes out to one of the vendors - Hoo Kee Bak Chang - who has just been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand in the first edition of Michelin Guide Singapore 2016.

SNAP & WIN
Take your best flatlay image of your favourite SFF dishes and share it on instagram with the hashtags #SFFflatlay & #SingaporeFoodFestival and tag @Visit_Singapore to win delicious prizes! Full T&Cs here: http://bit.ly/29MRBLw

These are only 3 of the events that I have attended, but there are still many events that are taking place during the Singapore Food Festival, until end of the month. You can find out more of these events at http://www.singaporefoodfestival.com or check out the individual event websites.

One Farrer's Food Street
Venue: One Farrer Hotel & Spa
Date: 30-31 July 2016
Website: http://www.onefarrer.com/Promotions/Pages/FoodstreetJuly2016.aspx

One Farrer’s Food Street will recreate the great food stalls that once lined the roads of the Farrer Park district. While this is a recurring event, July’s edition will be a SFF special, with a focus on local heritage cuisine with unique fusion creations. Pop-up food stalls will feature local food that was originally from Farrer Park Area such as Hokkien Prawn Noodles and Rojak, as well as innovative dishes like chilli crab pie. Executive Chef Kong Kok Kiang will also be serving snacks using recipes from his family, such as Png Kueh Ball and Turnip and Peanut Fritters.

The 50 Cents Fest
Venue: Chinatown Food Street, Smith Street
Date: 30-31 July 2016
Website: http://www.chinatownfoodstreet.sg/the-50-cents-fest/

Relive the nostalgia of dining along the shophouse-lined streets of Singapore! Chinatown Food Street will be transformed with street hawkers, lively music from a bygone era, buskers and costumed entertainers. Dishes include Kok Kok Mee, Ice Ball and Trishaw Noodles.

Dining in the Garden City
Venue: Gardens by the Bay along Dragonfly Lake
Date: Now-31 July 2016
Website: www.facebook.com/dininginthegardencity/

Part of this year’s Singapore Garden Festival. The Indian Chefs and Culinary Association, Singapore Halal Culinary Federation and Food Gen 2 hawkers are coming together to serve up various ethnic dishes at the Gardens by the Bay. Two of the 24 stalls will also feature rotating guest chefs.

Chatterbox Food Truck
Venue: Follow Mandarin Orchard Singapore Instagram or Facbeook for its whereabout
Date: Now-31 July
Website: www.chatterbox.com.sg

Taste the legendary Chatterbox Chicken Rice, often listed as among the best in Singapore, at a location near you, as the Chatterbox Pop-Up truck rolls up to several locations around Singapore during SFF 2016! In celebration of the restaurant’s 45th anniversary, the chefs from Chatterbox will also whip up special versions of the Mandarin Chicken Rice, such as chicken rice maki.

"Savour the Past, Taste the Future" at The Singapore Food Festival 2016, taking place from 15 to 31 July 2016

The annual Singapore Food Festival 2016 is back again for the 23rd year, happening from 15 to 31 July 2016. The theme for this year's event will be "Savour the Past, Taste the Future", and it's the biggest Singapore Food Festival to date. This year's event will features a stunning line up of 18 gastronomic experiences at various locations across the island. Singaporeans and visitors will be able to savour Singapore's food heritage and discover modern Singaporean cuisine around the island during the festive period.

Together with a few foodie friends, we went on an exclusive tour to give us a glimpse of some of the events that will take place during the Singapore Food Festival. Our first stop was Open Stoves by Timbre+, where the resident chefs at the gastro-park have collaborated with guest chefs to develop new and innovative dishes that will be available for purchase during the festival.

One such dish is the Cebu Bellychon Curry Noodles with Salted Vegetables and Lime created by Chefs Christian Calledo of Iskina Cebu Singapore and Bjorn Shen of Artichoke and Bird Bird. We got to interact with the chefs themselves during the tour to understand their inspiration behind the dish. We even got to prepare the dish ourselves and savour the delicious creation, igniting a fiery start to the tour.

Open Stoves by Timbre+ will be taking place on 23 and 24 July 2016, 12pm till late. Other new innovative dishes you can look forward to at the event include the Prata Taco with Stewed Tripe and the Prata Taco with BBQ Pork Collar made by Chefs Jeremy Cheok of Dusk by Stake and Tan Huang Ming of Park Bench Deli. It will also features activities like cooking demos, bands jamming, a pop-up barbeque blowout etc. Find out more at http://www.timbreplus.sg/open-stoves

Our second stop is at Restaurant Labyrinth where we had a fun session plating our own dish or rather the dishes curated by International celebrity Chef Susur Lee, Senior Executive Chef Ken Ling of Tunglok Heen and Chef-Owner Han Liguang of Restaurant Labyrinth for STREAT 2016 taking place at Clifford Square, 15 to 16 July 2016, from 5pm to 1030pm.

The chefs have re-interpreted and created new expressions of Singapore's iconic street food, presenting it in an exclusive five-course, six-hands dinner menu. We were given a glimpse into some of these modern interpretation of our signature street food such as the Singapore Satay, Chilli Crab and Oyster Omelette Pie Tee.

A stellar selection of hawkers and chefs will also join the trio, setting up stalls alongside the pop-up restaurant at Clifford Square in celebration of our dining scene. Some of the curated medley of Singaporean food establishments which includes Candlenut, The Disgruntled Chef, Char, Casuarina Curry Restaurant and more.

STREAT 2016 will be taking place on 15 and 16 July 2016, 5pm to 1030pm. STREAT will showcase how food in Singapore has evolved over the year with an all-star cast of hawkers and chefs convening in one location in celebration of our dining scene. Find out more at http://www.singaporefoodfestival.com

Our last stop is at  Chinatown Food Street at Smith Street where The 50 Cents Fest by Select Group will be held. The food street will be transformed with street hawkers, lively music from a bygone era, buskers and costumed entertainers. The event taking place on 30 and 31 July 2016 will bring back many nostalgic dishes during the festival.

Look out for street hawkers such as the rojak on bicycle as you dine along the shophouse-lined streets of Singapore. Most of the dishes will be sold at only 50 cents and not more than $2 each in denomination of 50 cents.

Bringing back memories of our parents' childhood, we even learn how to make the ice ball. A popular dessert during our parents' time. During the event, public can get to purchase the ice ball to cool off from the humid weather for only 50 cents.


Relive the good old days at the The 50 Cents Fest! happening on 30 July (3pm - 11pm) and 31 July (11am - 11pm) where public can feast on more than 30 iconic hawker dishes, with many priced at 50 cents each. Some of the dishes includes Sweet Noodles, Kok Kok Mee, UFO (Fried Oyster Cake), Mee Teh and more. Find out more at http://www.chinatownfoodstreet.sg/the-50-cents-fest

SNAP & WIN
Take your best flatlay image of your favourite SFF dishes and share it on instagram with the hashtags #SFFflatlay & #SingaporeFoodFestival and tag @Visit_Singapore to win delicious prizes! Full T&C here: http://bit.ly/29MRBLw

Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Food Trail, Singapore Food Festival 2014

This year Singapore Food Festival 2014 kick started at the Chinatown Food Street. The 10 days festival from 11 July to 20 July 2014 will see events at different parts of Singapore featuring an array of dining experiences and cuisine.

Themed as A Walk Down Memory Lane, it is even more appropriate to launch the event at the heart of Chinatown where our ancestors came to the shore of Singapore from various part of China bringing along their different dialect group's cuisine.

For this year Singapore Food Festival 2014 at Chinatown, a Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Food Trail has been specially designed to introduce 20 Chinese dialect dishes that are not commonly found now.

From the Hakka Chinese dialect group, one can try dishes such as Red Glutinous Wine Chicken, Traditional Hakka Yong Tau Foo, Abacus Seeds, Salted Egg Steam Meat, Stir Fried Pork Wrapped in Lettuce. The Cantonese Chinese dialect group will feature Deep Fried Taro Dumpling, Paper Wrapped Chicken, Pig Trotter with Vinegar and Ginger.

The Hokkien Chinese dialect group, you will find Richshaw Noodle, Wa Kueh, Tapioca Starch Kway Teow, Kong Bak Pau While you can frind Yam Paste, Sweet & Savoury Glutinous Rice and Pork Aspic from the Teochew Chinese dialect group.

Lastly from the Hainanese Chinese dialect group, you can savour dishes such as Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball, Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup and Vermicelli with Cuttlefish & Chives. The food trail also features 2 very traditional item such as the Bird's Nest Drink and Ice Ball.

Do head down to the Chinatown Food Street from 11 July to 20 July 2014 to check out these different Chinese dialect group's dishes Informative boards will also be put up to explain the significance of the 20 dishes that is specially selected to be featured in this year Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Food Trail in conjunction of the Singapore Food Festival 2014.

For more information on Singapore Food Festival 2014, please visit SFF Website.