Returning for its third year this 1214 May, the Ubud Food Festival (UFF) announced today a sneak peek of Indonesian and international chefs ahead of its full program launch in March. This year the Festival will be infused with the theme Every flavor is a story. As Indonesias leading food festival, UFF brings together the archipelagos most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, producers, professional food enthusiasts and food lovers for a three day culinary adventure with Indonesian food as the star.
Joining the UFF17 will be Australias much-loved Tasia and Gracia Seger, the Indonesian born spice sisters who recently shot to fame after taking out the top spot in one of Australias fiercest culinary competition television series. The sisters will appear alongside other culinary icons including the worlds foremost tempeh expert, Professor Winarno, and raw food specialist Arif Springs, whose plant-based approach to nutrition is underpinning a growing health food movement across Indonesia.
The Festival will also welcome Charles Toto, the Jungle Chef from Jayapura, Papua, who uses local ingredients from his fertile homelands to put a Papuan twist on well-known Western favorites. Across the Kitchen Stage and in a new addition to the program a free cooking demonstration series conducted in Bahasa Indonesia, the Festival will play host to a Balinese culinary showdown with the return of the Four Mades Made Lugra (The Ayung Resort), Made Runatha (Moksa), Made Janur (Moksa) and Made Surjaya (The Standing Stones).
An opportunity for Indonesian chefs to connect with industry members from Southeast Asia and the world, the UFF will also welcome chefs Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones of Bangkoks Bo.lan which featured in S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna Asias 50 Best Restaurants 2015 list. The husband and wife duo will be collaborating with the Street Food Chef Will Meyrick to present a special event at his celebrated Hujan Locale restaurant. Expanding into tasty new terrain, a feast of Fringe Events will bring an array of Asian flavors to some of Seminyak and Sanur’s most enticing dining destinations, in dynamic collaborations between international and local chefs in some of Balis most chic surrounds.
Two venues playing host to Fringe Events are the recently-unveiled Mejekawi a tasting kitchen and laboratory concept by the culinary team behind KU DE TA; and Bikini the latest addition to the Sister fields empire fusing the urban flair of a New York warehouse with the pulse of a Miami Beach party. After the Festival, spice sisters Tasia and Gracia will set sail for the the Komodo National Park and lesser Sunda Islands on a 7-day collaboration with Sea Trek Cruises, serving up a stunning feast of freshly-sourced Indonesian cuisine alongside UFF Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe.
This year, the Festival will be infused with the theme Every flavor is a story, explains UFF Founder and Director, Janet DeNeefe. The theme celebrates Indonesias culinary heritage, in which every ingredient, recipe and culinary tradition tells a story of the archipelagos diverse history, geography and culture. The theme also reflects on the journey from producer to plate; from forging relationships with local growers to fostering awareness of broader ecological and industry trends that are shaping Indonesias and the worlds culinary landscape.
More Information About the Festival: – The three-day program spans a range of ticketed and free events, from cooking demonstrations, special events, workshops and food tours, to markets, film screenings, live music and in-depth forum discussions. – Special events will take place before, during and after the Festival, at various locations across Ubud and Bali. – A not-for-profit initiative, the Ubud Food Festival is underpinned by a mission of supporting Indonesias vibrant and sustainable culinary and tourism industries.
Photo by Anggara Mahendra – Ubud Food Festival
