5 things to try at Singapore Food Festival, including Australian pastry chef Adriano Zumbo’s creations

SINGAPORE – Calling all foodies. The annual Singapore Food Festival (SFF) returns with a series of gourmet events for its 32nd edition from Sept 4 to 24. 

Dessert lovers, especially, can look forward to headlining events featuring famed Australian pastry chef and TV show host Adriano Zumbo, whose unique dessert creations are part of several key events. 

Expect a “Singapore version” of his showstopper V8 vanilla signature cake. The intricate eight-layered dessert will include chrysanthemum, among other flavours. 

The confection rose to fame for its extreme difficulty, after contestants were tasked to recreate it in a challenge on Season 2 of reality competition show MasterChef Australia. 

Zumbo, 43, who is in town for the festival till Sept 6, says: “The dessert scene in Singapore has always been very competitive, from local delicacies to pastry shops to the large hotel offerings that Singapore has.

“Global brands and name chefs have ventured into the highly regarded market, and, if the right opportunity arose, I’d consider opening in Singapore.”

For now, one can also savour Zumbo’s salted egg yolk lamingtons, Milo and pandan macarons and canapes at other events. 

The festival includes food truck pop-ups, food tours and collaborations with restaurant partners, like a special sake dinner ($250 nett) at Morsels on Sept 17 and a Farmer’s Market at Air CCCC on Sept 20 and 21. 

Hungry? Here are five SFF events to whet your appetite. 

Food Is Art

Where: Factory @ New Bahru, 58 Kim Yam Road 
When: Sept 6, 6pm till late 
What: Food meets fashion, design and music in this event ($150 a person) that brings together dessert whizz Adriano Zumbo, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore’s pastry chef Goh Dah Liang and local rapper Yung Raja.

Four couture-inspired canapes, fashioned for the occasion, feature flavours such as guava, grapefruit, corn and kumquat. The immersive experience also includes curated cocktails, wine, sake, whisky and coffee. 

Mise en Place 

Where: 01-15A, Block 8 Dempsey Hill
When: Sept 4 to 24 (at Mise en Place), 10am to 10pm 
What: This location in Dempsey serves as an all-day cafe and SFF event lounge. It is also where you can learn from dessert maestro Zumbo in a 90-minute masterclass ($80 a person) on Sept 5 and 6 (11am to 12.30pm). 

Not to worry if you miss the classes. You can indulge in chefs Zumbo and Goh’s treats, such as Zumbo’s chrysanthemum-infused V8 vanilla signature cake, salted egg yolk lamingtons, and Milo and pandan macarons. 

The goodies will also be available at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel’s deli counter. 

The hotel’s Lobby Lounge will also showcase Zumbo’s whimsical flair in its signature afternoon tea ($88 a set for two people) from Sept 4 to 30, 3 to 5pm daily (

str.sg/Gfos

). It will include an exclusive Zumbo pastry and two Zumbo-inspired cocktails.

Food Truck City Tours 

Where: Open Plaza 1, outside D’Marquee, Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close
When: Sept 6 and 7, 11.30am to 10pm 
What: This roving food truck pop-up makes its next stop at Downtown East on Sept 6 and 7. Highlight dishes include those crafted by chefs from IHG Hotels & Resorts, such as salted egg yolk chicken taco and Singapore laksa with baby abalone.

Other brands to look forward to include The Maha Co by Yung Raja, Hello Arigato and Sydney’s dessert maker 11:11 Sweet. 

Following this, the food trucks make their final run at Geneo in Singapore Science Park from Sept 8 to 14. 

The Long Table 

Where: Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road 
When: Sept 12 and 13, from 6pm
What: Five chefs from properties under IHG Hotels & Resorts will showcase a dish each in a five-course menu.  

Dishes include a soup course of assam laksa with seared halibut by head chef Huang Jiaxing from Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong. There is a choice of main course – buah keluak chicken roulade with black truffle or oven-baked sustainable barramundi with Singapore chilli crab sauce, both by InterContinental Singapore’s executive chef Kenny Chung. 

Future Food 

Where: Skai Loft, Swissotel The Stamford Singapore, 2 Stamford Road 
When: Sept 19 and 20, from 6pm
What: What would dining in 2035 be like? Get a taste of that with a menu ($150 a person) that features alternative proteins, climate-resilient crops and molecular gastronomy. 

The Liquid Lab will craft multisensory drinks with edible vapour, glow-in-the-dark ingredients and AI-calibrated pairings.

For more information and reservations, go to

singaporefoodfestival.com