ubud food festival 2017: bali's annual culinary celebration that features world-class culinary experts

Category : Adventure | Posted On Apr 11, 2017

Sambal, rendang, and kecap manis – these are just some iconic Indonesian dishes and condiments that have helped place the Southeast Asian nation on the culinary world’s radar. And when it comes to celebrating Indonesian cuisine, we reckon no one does it better than the Ubud Food Festival, which returns for its third year from 12 to 14 May with the theme Every Flavour is a Story.

Here’s what you can expect as the archipelago’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, producers, and food enthusiasts descend upon beautiful Bali, Indonesia’s most popular holiday spot.

Masterclasses and Food Tours

As it turns out, Ubud – with all its rice paddies, jungles, and valleys – is one of Indonesia’s foodie capitals, so what better place to go for a culinary jalan jalan (walk)? A series of food tours will take you from supplier to plate – traverse the famous Gianyar Night Market for the tastiest local specialities, visit the home of Ubud’s famed suckling pig Ibu Oka’s.

Celebrated International and Indonesian Chefs

A whole host of celebrated chefs and culinary superstars from both Indonesia and abroad have already confirmed their attendance this year. In fact, many of them took out top spots at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, including Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bangkok’s Bo.lan, and the much-lauded Locavore (Indonesia’s only entrant at 22nd place).

Dessert queen Karen Carlotta and culinary trendsetter Andhika Maxi will be appearing alongside the world’s foremost tempeh expert Pak Bondan Winarno and the likes of ‘jungle chef’ Charles Toto, who uses ingredients from his fertile homelands to put a Papuan twist on Western classics. Meanwhile, Gallery VASK’s Chele Gonzalez flies the flag for the Philippines, and The Song of India’s Manjunath Mural does the same for Singapore.

The New Kitchen Stage

A new addition to festival programming this year is the Kitchen Stage, and it’s your chance to get up close and personal with your greatest culinary heroes, be it Bikini’s Jethro Vincent, Kelana Rasa’s Arie Parikesit, renowned Indian chef Manjunath Mural, or self-taught supercook Bara Pattiradjwane.

An Assortment of Fringe Events

Expanding into tasty new terrain, look forward to a feast of fringe events that brings the best flavours of Asia into some of Seminyak and Sanur’s most enticing dining destinations, from alchohol pairings to exlusive degustation dinners. Two venues that will play host include the newly-unveiled Mejekawi – a tasting laboratory and kitchen developed by the culinary team behind KU DE TA, and Bikini, the latest venture in the Sisterfields group fusing the urban flair of New York with the pulse of Miami.