Any time the words ‘festival’ and ‘food’ are present in the same sentence, only good things are bound to follow. From the 5th to the 7th of June, Ubud will host the very first food festival of its kind — a weekend-long event offering tastings, soirees, demonstrations and more to the public. Designed to be a grand celebration of food, especially of the Indonesian variety, the Ubud Food Festival is inviting chefs from all over to share their kitchen magic with us in a three-day culinary adventure.
Tell me more:
Janet DeNeefe, the founder of the hugely successful Ubud Reader’s and Writer’s Festival, is at it again and this time focusing on our taste buds.
The motivating force driving the Ubud Food Festival (UFF) is to celebrate the mythology, authenticity and flavours of the world’s largest archipelago nation, Indonesia. “As well as just showcasing great food, the UFF is about taking a journey, to understand its past, present and future. We also want to strengthen linkages within the local and international culinary community, cementing Indonesia as one of the best food destinations in the world”, DeNeefe says.
Film screenings, cooking demonstrations, market tours, food forums, workshops and other appetite-inflating affairs will take place over the three day period, ending with a festive closing party on Sunday night, 7th of June.
Who will be there?
Chefs, restauranteurs and food enthusiasts in general who are making a large impact on Indonesia’s culinary landscape will be showing their faces at the inaugural Ubud Food Festival. Indonesian and Western chefs alike will be there to show off their creations and techniques, including the adored TV host Chef Wan, the leader behind Sarong, Mamasan and Hujan Locale Will Meyrick, Locavore’s head chef Eelke Plasmeijer and Ryan Clift of Singapore’s Tippling Club to name just a few.
Food bloggers, photographers, professors and experts of all varieties will also participate in this long-anticipated Bali gathering. Guests of the UFF will have a unique opportunity to pick the brains of these culinary wizards up close and personal; whatever your interest is with food, whether it be writing about it, taking pictures of it (iPhones included), smelling it, growing it or just plain eating a lot of it, this program of events is not to be missed!
Where will the festival take place?
The Ubud Food Festival will be hosted at two primary Ubud venues: Taman Baca and Indus Restaurant, both of which are located on the central street of Jalan Raya Sanggingan.
Events to look out for:
Both free and ticketed events are on the festival program, so travellers of all budgets can get a taste of the succulent food and expertise that will be on display. The following have caught our eye as ones to look out for —
- 5th June, 10:30-11:30am: Cooking Demonstration | Chris Salans IDR 60,000 — 150,000
- 5th June, 5:00-9:00pm: Markets | Pasar Malam Free
- 6th June, 2:00-4:00pm: Masterclass | Janice Wong IDR 750,000
- 6th June, 7:00-10:00pm: Special Event | Flavours of Asia with Will Meyrick & Chef Wan IDR 450,000
- 7th June, 8:00-11:00am: Markets | Sunday Farmer’s Market Free
- 7th June, 2:30-3:30pm: Food Forum | Once Upon a Table Free
Where to stay:
It just so happens that Ubud is one of our favorite places to escape to for the weekend, so why not opt for your own private villa to accompany your three days of gastronomic glory? A selection of Ubud villas that are still available for the weekend of 5th-7th June can be found on the list below —
Villa Umah Shanti
3 bedrooms
3 km/8 minute drive from the festival
Villa Ria Sayan
2 bedrooms
5km/10 minute drive from the festival
Villa Rumah Lotus
2 bedrooms
8.8km/15 minute drive from the festival
Villa Jendela di Bali
2 bedrooms
21 km/40 minute drive from the festival
Villa Constance
4 bedrooms
12.9 km/25 minute drive from the festival
The Mahogany Villa
2 bedrooms
22km/45 minute drive from the festival
more info, don’t hesitate to contact ticket@ubudfoodfestival.com
Food Festival Images By: Anggara Mahendra. The Kitchen.
