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Singapore Food Festival goes virtual with free online experiences this August

(PHOTO: Singapore Food Festival 2020)
Tarte by Cheryl Koh. (PHOTO: Singapore Food Festival 2020)

SINGAPORE – For the first time since its launch in 1994, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF) is going virtual over two weekends in August 2020 (21 – 23 and 28 – 30 August). The 2020 edition seeks to encourage Singaporeans to rediscover their love with local cuisine and invites foodies from around the globe to join in the festival from the comfort of their own home.

“For the past six months, the F&B industry had weathered many storms,” Ms Ranita Sundramoorthy, Director of Retail and Dining, Singapore Tourism Board shared during the media preview today (28 July). “For the first time in Singapore Food Festival’s 27 years of history, we are going virtual.”

Hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, SFF 2020 is reinventing Singaporeans’ relationship with food during this extraordinary time in its 27th edition. This includes never-before live online Masterclasses, virtual tour of Singapore’s cultural precincts, and exclusive food bundles and merchandise delivered to your home.

“With social distancing, it is not possible for a large scale physical event. Despite the challenges, the virtual event allows us to reach out to a bigger audience. Many people can be a part of the festival digitally and people from around the world can also experience Singapore’s cuisine,” Sundramoorthy added.

SFF 2020 is a highlight under the recently launched SingapoRediscovers campaign which seeks to show locals a different side of Singapore. Being the only event in Singapore dedicated to the local vibrant food scene, over 25 chefs, bartenders, brands, and food personalities will be taking part in the festival this August.

As compared to ticketed events during the previous editions of the food festival, the virtual masterclasses and virtual food tours can be viewed for free. Viewers can also choose to participate in virtual cook-along during the masterclass with an ingredient kit purchased beforehand on the Singapore Food Festival website. These kits will be available for order from 14 August to 13 September, while stocks last.

There will be a total of 17 masterclasses held over two weekends. The online cook-along will feature some of the top names in the local F&B scene, such as award-winning pastry chef Cheryl Koh of Tarte by Cheryl Koh and chef Julien Royer of the three Michelin-starred Odette.

(PHOTO: Singapore Food Festival 2020)
Learn how to fry the 'Damn Easy Hokkien Mee' by Slake’s Chef Ming Tan. (PHOTO: Singapore Food Festival 2020)

One of the digital masterclass available is also the “Damn Easy Hokkien Mee” by Slake’s Chef Ming Tan during the 2Fast, 2Delicious - Hokks and Clay Masterclass. “Hokkien Mee is one of the dishes that you don’t see the preparation behind the broth, seafood, ingredients, and the Damn Easy Hokkien Mee celebrates the efforts that the hawkers put in before a dish is served,” Chef Ming shared.

Foodies can also join in a fun-filled mixology class with award-winning bartenders from Nutmeg and Clove, or get a glimpse of Michelin star chef Dave Pynt making the highly-sought Doughnuts from Burnt Ends Bakery. Chef Dave had also developed the special Milo Dinosaur Doughnuts, especially for Singapore Food Festival, which you will get to learn how to make during his online cook-along.

Part of the SFF 2020 line-up includes virtual journeys through the historical Chinatown precinct, as well as the whimsical Katong and Joo Chiat district to discover stories behind popular eats in the area, tales behind its heritage food businesses, and lesser-known food gems. Limited slots will also be available for participants to join local tour guides on a physical guided tour over the two weekends.

The first 90 early-bird participants who pre-book 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. More information will be updated on the SFF 2020 website closer to the festival.

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