Cookies in satay and laksa flavours the highlight of new Chillax Asia food fair

Chillax Asia 2018 opened at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 14, 2018. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/CHILLAX ASIA

SINGAPORE - Cookies in satay, laksa and chicken rice flavours emerged as the main attraction at Chillax Asia 2018, a new trade and consumer fair which opened on Thursday (June 14).

About 300 boxes of Singapore Iconic Cookies, which were launched at the fair, will be sold exclusively during the event, to run from Thursday to Sunday at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Admission to the fair is free.

The cookies are the brainchild of Ms Judy Koh, 55, managing director of culinary institute Creative Culinaire. Ms Koh and her team worked to create a delicacy that would capture the essence of Singapore.

About 120 booths set up by food and beverage retailers, suppliers and schools will be offering treats ranging from traditional wonton noodles to new flavours of gelato, such as dark chocolate sorbet.

On Thursday, exhibition-goers watched six bakers from around Asia compete in the inaugural International Bake-A-Star competition in two categories - bread and pastry.

Mr Andy Cho, a senior baker in home-grown Deluscious Patisserie, was a familiar, local face in the bread category of the competition. The 40-year-old said he was proud to be representing Singapore at the international level and that participating in the competition was good exposure.

"Maybe I'll have the confidence to start my own patisserie after this," added Mr Cho, who faced stiff competition from contestants from countries such as the Philippines and China. The winners will be announced on Thursday evening.

Local talents will also battle it out in the Singapore Bake-A-Star Championship on Friday and Saturday. The winners will represent Singapore on the international baking stage.

Chillax Asia also offers Singapore food and beverage entrepreneurs and enterprises a platform to collaborate with one another and with multinational corporations such as IE Global, an established ingredient and equipment distributor in the region.

The event, at Suntec Halls 401-403, is organised by the Singapore Bakery and Confectionery Trade Association and The Planner Affairs.

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