We Never Bluff – Local Food Going For Only 50¢ At Chinatown!
Ever wished you could stuff yourself silly with local delights without breaking the bank? At this year’s 50 Cents Festival, you can! For as little as – you guessed it!- 50 cents, enjoy a great variety of authentic local favourite dishes that will propel you right back to the good old 1950s.
[caption id="attachment_11000" align="alignnone" width="2000"]
Image Credits: Chinatown Food Street[/caption]
50 Cents Festival at Chinatown
The entire food street at Chinatown will be transformed into a “pasar”, or street hawker food scene. It’s specially designed to transport visitors to an authentic recreation of the 1950s and 60s! Treat yourself to delectable local delights – 35 iconic traditional dishes cooked by 20 stores!
Do also watch out for the mobile hawkers who roam the streets selling old-time favourites.
[caption id="attachment_11003" align="alignnone" width="4320"]
Ice Ball, $0.50[/caption]
50 Cents is Bigger Than a Bull Cart Wheel
An old Hokkien saying (translated) goes: “50 Cents is Bigger Than a Bull Cart Wheel!” What does this mean? In the 1950s, SGD 50 cents was enough to buy so much food that most would consider it a ridiculous amount to spend on a meal! Singaporeans and tourists alike will be pleased to note this will be a reality at the 50 cents festival!
[caption id="attachment_11004" align="alignnone" width="5616"]
Rickshaw Noodles, $0.50[/caption]
35 Iconic Local Delights at as Little as 50 Cents Only
That’s right budget hunters, 50 cents for your favourite Char Kway Teow, UFO (Fried Oyster Cake), Rickshaw Noodle, Ice Balls and Fried Carrot Cake. Other 50 cent dishes include BBQ Chicken Wings, Nasi Lemak wrapped in banana leaf, Satay and Roti Prata. For an additional 50 cents or one dollar, customers can even enjoy specialities such as Hainanese Chicken Rice Balls, Bak Kut Teh and Singapore’s signature Chilli Crab!
[caption id="attachment_11052" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Pig trotter with vinegar, $0.50 x 3[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_11008" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Hainanese Chicken Rice Balls, $0.50 x 2[/caption]
Fringe activities
To truly make the experience an unforgettable one, there will be a myriad of Fringe Activities lined up for all ages. Families can indulge in outdoor movie screenings, marvel at performances by martial arts professionals and opera singers. These activities will mimic “kampong-style” communal activities. Get your Chinese name artfully written by calligraphers, or you could also pay a visit to letter writers and fortune-tellers. All these while munching on your food spoils of the day!
[caption id="attachment_11001" align="alignnone" width="5616"]
Steamed Glutinous Rice (Sweet & Savoury), $0.50[/caption]
50 Cents Festival Details
With so much happening along this street bazaar, we say this is a must-visit for everyone! So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars and get ready to have a feast!
50 Cents Festival
Address: Chinatown Food Street, Smith Street
Date: 30 July, Sat, 3PM – 11PM; 31 July, Sun, 11AM-11PM
Menu: click here.
Also read, A Timbre+ Event: Expect Only The Best Food & Music @ Open Stoves!
A Timbre+ Event: Expect Only The Best Food & Music @ Open Stoves!
Delight in a fun-filled weekend at Timbre+ this coming 23 and 24 July! As part of Singapore Food Festival, Timbre+ presents Open Stoves, its largest food-centric event to date. A variety of gastro-adventures awaits you!
Tuck into newly created mouth-watering dishes from nine Timbre+ chefs, food partners, and other invited chefs. You’ll get to enjoy the fruits (and food) of their inspired labour. Kick back and relax with nostalgic games and entertainment!
Chefs collaborating at Open Stoves
[caption id="attachment_10357" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
At Open Stoves, Timbre+ chefs and invited guest chefs will be paired together. These collaborative pairings will bring about different cuisine styles and cooking techniques to create unique off-menu items.
You can look forward to chef pairings to the likes of chef Jeremy Cheok (Dusk by Slake, Timbre+) with chef Tan Huang Ming (Park Bench Deli). The duo has come up with prata taco, topped with stewed tripe or barbequed pork collar. What a modern take on soft-shelled tacos!
Click 
Dessert Duriancanboleh. Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
3-course menu at Open Stoves
[caption id="attachment_10385" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Chilli Crab Rillette. Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
In addition, look out for chefs cooking up a 3-course Mod-Sin (modern Singaporean) menu. The menu starts with delectable appetiser Chilli Crab Rillette, main course Nasi Kuning Opor Ayam, and dessert Duriancanboleh from 11 July to 9 August 2016. Enjoy 10% discount off drinks from the Timbre+ Bottle Shop when you purchase this set meal.
BBQ Blowout
[caption id="attachment_10384" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Satay Chicken Burger by Kush. Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10388" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Zesty garlic butter lobster tail served with a grill brioche bun. Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
On 23rd and 24th July, Timbre+ chefs will run pop-up BBQ kitchens at the outdoor event space. Tuck into special Striploin Steak from chef Bernie Utchenik (Big Bern’s American Grill), and signature Chicken Satay Burger with homemade rice patties ($14) from chef Chung Deming. Dancing Crab Shack will be grilling up a storm with two kinds of Lobster Tails (available with signature sauce or zesty garlic butter) with Grilled Brioche Bun ($22).
To add to your BBQ experience, Timbre+’s courtyard space will be transformed into a large outdoor playground area. This will be complete with picnic benches, beanbags, and hammocks for lounging. Sit back and relax while the chefs cook up a storm with their off-menu BBQ creations.
Games at Open Stoves
[caption id="attachment_10878" align="alignnone" width="915"]
Image credit: Amazon[/caption]
Once you’re full, entertained, and satisfied, gather your friends and family for a fun-filled time of games. Enjoy a friendly game of life-sized Jenga, Connect Four, and Pick-up Sticks!
Open Stoves is definitely for the young and young-at-heart. You can even try your hand at neon beer pong and ‘Run the Dish’, a race that combines running and speed eating!
Live Music & Entertainment
[caption id="attachment_10383" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Image credit: O.K READY Facebook page[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_10368" align="alignnone" width="500"]
Resident bands -Supersonic. Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
What is good food without great music? At Open Stoves, you’ll get to experience both. Wind down to live music from Timbre resident bands, such as SuperSonic, and O.K READY!. With the best live music scheduled throughout both days, you’ll get to enjoy great music while you indulge in the food.
Timbre+ Open Stoves details
There’s no better way to bring on the weekend than to indulge in the best food, great music, and entertainment! Open Stoves is definitely an event not to be missed.
[caption id="attachment_10367" align="alignnone" width="724"]
Image credit: Timbreplus[/caption]
6 Affordable Japanese Buffets So You Can Gorge On Fresh Sashimi!
For more information about Singapore’s Food Festival, click here.
What To Expect At The Singapore Favourite Food Village 2016!
Attention foodies, the Singapore Favourite Food Village (SFFV) is back! Themed “A Wok Through Singapore’s Culinary Heritage”, the festival will be held at Rochor Event Space (Bugis MRT Exit A) for a period of 10 days, from 22 – 31 July 2016!
[caption id="attachment_10795" align="alignnone" width="949"]
Image source: SSFV[/caption]
In celebration of good food, visitors (free admission yas!) can expect a helluva unique variety of local dishes with over 20 culinary partners from three different school of thoughts – Old Favourites, Modern Take and On The Go.
Culinary Face Off: Old Favourites VS Modern Take
[caption id="attachment_10796" align="alignnone" width="740"]
Image source: SSFV[/caption]
The key feature of this year’s festival is the culinary showdown between two dominant groups of culinary talents – the traditional Old Favourites and the avant-garde Modern Take. The two waves would be presenting their version of our local dishes, where the best part has to be getting visitors to taste before deciding on the winning dish.
[caption id="attachment_10797" align="alignnone" width="797"]
Image source: SSFV[/caption]
On top of that, there will be food trucks and pop-up cafes dishing lip-smacking street food, live cooking demonstrations and street performances to keep the lively atmosphere going. We understand going through all 20 culinary vendors can get a little tough on your waistlines so listed below is are our top 5 picks of the festival.
1. Chilli Crab In Prata Bag by Big Street
[caption id="attachment_10794" align="alignnone" width="702"]
Source: Glamour Wave Photography[/caption]
Chilli Crab in Prata Bag sure does sound like a heavenly combination. The birth of this signature dish from Big Street however, is certainly not by chance. After many unsuccessful attempts at flavour experimentation and presentation, this uniquely Singaporean dish was created. Thank you Big Street.
2. Cow’s Taco Bowls by The Travelling C.O.W
[caption id="attachment_10812" align="alignnone" width="597"]
Image source: jiaruiii_[/caption]
A favourite at any food festival, we’re more than delighted to hear of Singapore’s first gourmet food truck, sous-vide!
3. Rainbow Churros by Churros Factory
[caption id="attachment_10813" align="alignnone" width="596"]
Image source: Churros Factory[/caption]
We’ve had salted caramel churros, chocolate churros, cinnamon coated churros, but have you head of Rainbow Churros? Inspired by the traditional Nyonya 9 Layers Kueh, Jeremy Chiang, founder of 4. Fortune Food
[caption id="attachment_10814" align="alignnone" width="439"]
Image source: fortunefoodsg[/caption]
With a variety of dishes that include Popiah (spring rolls), Kueh Pie Tee, Nyonya Laksa, Muah Chee to Ayam Koro Bun (a braised chicken in a bun), 5. Souperstar
[caption id="attachment_10815" align="alignnone" width="596"]
Image source: souperstarsg[/caption]
The brain child of Fortune Food, 
Image source: SSFV[/caption]
Now who is excited for the end of the month? We know we are! No better time than the present to make a list of dishes you wish to try at the festival, eh? What is the dish you’d love to try the most? Drop us a comment and let us know!
Singapore Favourite Food Village – A Wok Through Singapore’s Culinary Heritage
Date: 22 – 31 July 2016
Time: 5PM-11PM daily
Venue: Rocher Event Space (Bugis MRT Exit A)
Ticket: Free admission
Website: Singapore Favourite Food Official
(All images in courtesy of Singapore Favourite Food)
Also read: Lobster Chicken Rice? Gastronomic Event STREAT 2016 Is Here!
Lobster Chicken Rice? Gastronomic Event STREAT 2016 Is Here!
Whether it’s a bak chor mee stall, the latest food trend or a new fine-dining restaurant, the people of this tiny island is pretty much passionate about food. After all, eating (besides queueing) is sort of like the national hobby. As part of the Singapore Food Festival this year, 
This year’s theme “Savour The Past, Taste The Future” presents mouth-watering locally-inspired dishes and top-notch local favourites at affordable prices. Times may change, but Singaporeans will always be up for a good ol’ bowl of Bak Kut Teh or a plate of Char Kway Teow. So gear up and get ready to indulge in traditional and modern flavours at STREAT!
Pop-up restaurant with renowned chefs
[caption id="attachment_10528" align="alignnone" width="740"]
Featuring Chef Ken Ling, Chef Han Liguang and Chef Susur. Image credit: yoursingapore[/caption]
STREAT 2016’s pop-up restaurant will feature three renowned chefs. They’ll create new expressions of Singapore’s iconic street food, presented in an exclusive six-hands dinner menu. One of the most sought-after chefs in the world, Canadian chef Susur Lee, is the consultant chef to the TungLok Group. He is also one of the pioneers of fusion food scene in Singapore and was recently a judge on MasterChef Asia.
[caption id="attachment_10733" align="alignnone" width="999"]
Lobster Chicken Rice[/caption]
Chef Lee will be collaborating with Tunglok Heen senior executive chef Ken Ling, and Restaurant Labyrinth’s chef-owner Han Liguang. Chef Lee, Han, and Ken Ling will be delivering an exclusive five-course dinner menu ($40 a person) that promises to re-interpret and elevate Singapore’s iconic street food.
[caption id="attachment_10722" align="alignnone" width="799"]
Laksa Chee Cheong Fun[/caption]
Local favourites re-imagined
Savour dishes such as a “cup” made of Fried Oyster Omelette placed on top of a collaborative dish of grilled chicken satay, housed in an egg shell, and topped with peanut sauce foam. If you’re craving for something more local, give the Laksa Chee Cheong Fun a try! At STREAT, you’ll get to try unique local favourites re-imagined, while preserving the familiar flavours of the dishes.
[caption id="attachment_10517" align="alignnone" width="780"]
Chef Ken Ling and Susur Lee preparing a dish of laksa chee cheong fun. Image credit: The Straits Times[/caption]
More pop-up restaurants
In addition, hawkers and chefs from Casuarina Curry restaurant, The Disgruntled Chef, Candlenut, and Char will also helm stalls alongside the pop-up. This pop-restaurants are only available from 15 to 16 July, so be sure to save the dates!
[caption id="attachment_10724" align="alignnone" width="999"]
STREAT[/caption]
Besides the pop-up restaurant, diners get to choose from a curated selection of more than 10 popular hawkers and celebrated chefs. A variety of classic and modern interpretations of local food will be served.
Singapore’s culinary scene has certainly come a long way. With a dazzling range of delights at STREAT to choose from, you’ll sure be spoilt for choice.
So what are you waiting for? Mark down your calendars, call your makan kakis and get your tummies ready for some good food!
When: 15 – 16 July 2016, 5pm – 10:30pm
Admission: Free entry, variable pricing for food items
(All images are in courtesy of Singapore Food Festival unless otherwise stated. Header image by STREAT Facebook Page, words by author)
Also, read Kopitiam Talk – The Art Behind Your Everyday Kopi O Siew Tai
For more information about Singapore’s Food Festival, click here.
