Singapore Food Festival Swings Back To The Sixties

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. October 14, 2008

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2005. The Singapore Food Festival, held in Singapore from 1 - 31 July, is cooking up traditional hawker food (street food) of the 1960s to celebrate the country's 40th birthday this year. Old favourites, including Red Wine Chicken Soup, Braised Beef Brisket, shaved ice-balls and Rickshaw Noodles, will be served by hawkers with pushcart stalls in a 1960s replica setting of wooden chairs under canvas shelters with strings of 'ping pong' lights. Visitors to the island-state in the month of July are without a doubt in for a truly gastronomic experience.

Singapore's diverse population of Chinese, Indians, Malays and Eurasians have brought together a rich medley of tastes and flavours, which, over the years have fused to create a varied and mouth-watering cuisine unique to the island-state. One such dish is Chilli Crab, which is Singapore's unofficial "national dish and also free to all visitors during the period of the Food Festival in July courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board.* The sumptuous Chilli Crab, which has a delicious gravy made from fresh chillies, tomato sauce, eggs and spring onions, is best eaten with your fingers despite the mess you are bound to make!

Now in its twelfth year, the month-long food extravaganza boasts 38 mouth-watering events including themed banquets, workshops, food trails and competitions.

"Singapore is a food lover's paradise and eating is definitely classified as one of Singaporeans' national passions! Over the years, the traditional "must-try" Singapore dishes like Chicken Rice, Chilli Crab and Laksa have gained a strong following amongst the locals, as well as visitors to our shores. Visiting Singapore during July for a first-hand experience of the Singapore Food Festival is a real treat for the senses, as the tastes, smells, colours and sounds make it a truly memorable experience," says Tee Yen Chew, Singapore Tourism Board's Area Director for Northern & Western Europe.

Singapore Food Festival highlights include:

• Makan Mania of the 60s, 1 - 3 July 2005 at Parco Bugis Junction

Clusters of stalls, themed 'Favourites of Yesteryears' and 'Childhood Delights', will serve hawker classics like Oyster cakes, Malay kuih muih, Crystal dumplings and Chwee Kueh.

A must-try is the Singapore Satay, an all-time favourite. There will also be games from the era including Five Stones, Kuti Kuti/Bottle Caps, Tikam Tikam and Hopscotch.

• Deep Sea Medley, 8 - 10 July 2005 at East Coast Seafood Centre

Singapore has always been world renowned for seafood and the must-tries, of course, are the famous Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crab. Chilli Crabs are best enjoyed 'hands-on' with each drop of the delicious sauce mopped up with mantou, a Chinese sweet-tasting bun.

• Sips & Bites Delight, 15 - 17 July 2005 at Suntec Square

Eat like the locals and select one of the wide range of beverages including teh tarik (pulled tea) or soya bean milk to go with a local favourite such as satay, otak otak, ngoh hiang and barbequed chicken wings.

• Vegetarian & Fruits Jamboree, 22 -24 July 2005 at Parco Bugis Junction

Local tropical fruit wholesalers will showcase a whole spectrum of tropical fruits like the durian, mangosteen, rambutan, lychees, longans and jackfruit.

• Foodventure for Kids, 23 - 31 July 2005 Civic Plaza, Ngee Ann City

Designed to educate and influence children on their food choices through fun activities and entertaining performances.