Now in its 6th year, the Ubud Food Festival takes to the streets from the 31st of May to the 2nd of June 2024, with an overflowing program of established and emerging Indonesian talent alongside Asia’s best chefs and Michelin star awardees.
This year, the festival throws open its doors at Taman Kuliner, offering free entry to all.
Festival attendees can sample the latest in regional cuisine while enjoying cooking demos, food talks, live entertainment, special events, dining pop-ups, workshops and food tours around Ubud, our beloved town, which is fast becoming Southeast Asia’s most exciting food destination.
From Aceh to Surabaya, from Sigi to Papua, a once-in-a-lifetime feast of Indonesian flavours and fine creations from across the globe will be presented. Renowned Balinese chef and author Wayan Kresna Yasa graces Kappa Senses with an unforgettable dinner of signature dishes inspired by his Nusa Penida origins.
Joining forces with Locavore’s chefs at Nusantara by Locavore, rising stars Freddie Salim of Silk Bistro and Ryan Thejasukmana, of Lulu Bistro, offer an ethno-culinary portrait, drawing inspiration from the flavours of their hometowns. Aditya Muskita, a trailblazer in Jakarta’s culinary scene, will elevate traditional Jakarta cuisine to new heights with an ESA pop-up at Amandari.
At Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Chef Hans Christian of August, recently named Best Restaurant in Indonesia at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards returns to orchestrate his culinary magic. From across the seas, New Zealand’s gourmand virtuosos Nick Honeyman, of the elegant Michelin-starred Le Petit Léon in France, and Zennon Wijlens, Head Chef of Auckland’s Paris Butter, will bring to Apéritif a dash of French sophistication in a collaborative dinner with Apéritif’s own Belgian Chef Nic Vanderbeeken.
Drawing on his Zen Buddhist heritage and culinary journey, Japanese-NZ maestro Makoto Tokuyama will craft an enchanting menu at Api Jiwa at Capella Ubud, featuring timeless dishes and next-level perfection. The fusion of Balinese and Japanese flavours takes centre stage as chefs Rui Yamagishi and YUKI host an outstanding dinner at the Ubud’s latest Japanese hotspot, Rayjin. Australia’s finest Mexican food truck, Dingo Ate My Taco, transforms Cantina Rooftop into a vibrant, fiesta, tantalizing taste buds with innovative twists on classic margaritas and dazzling Tex-Mex flavours.
Ubud’s iconic Casa Luna takes us on a journey to Sumatra with a Long Table Lunch featuring spice-laden favourites from Aceh to Padang presented by Reno Andam Suri, Indonesia’s leading rendang authority, Chef Blangkon from Kaum, Wira Hardiyansyah, respected storyteller-chef and Rika Andriani, Aceh’s digital culinary star.
The terrace of Indus will come alive with a relaxed, jazzy, modern-minded menu by Tim Stapleforth of the new Ghost Kitchen and Andres Becerra of Santanera. Smoked, whipped, marinated, fermented and chargrilled delicacies will be served with paired wines, Indus signature cocktails and sundown vibes overlooking the majestic Tjampuhan ridge under a silvery moon.
In partnership with the Bali Restaurant Cafe Association (BCRA), we are thrilled to unveil the inaugural Sustainability Forum as an integral part of the festival. Attendees will have the opportunity to be immersed in discussions and workshops facilitated by pioneering organizations who are leading Bali’s eco-tourism movement to achieve sustainability targets for Bali’s hotels and restaurants. Change-maker chefs will also grace the stage, including Deepanker Khosla, hailed as Asia’s 50 Best Chef and the recipient of 2023’s Asia’s Sustainable Restaurant Award for his renowned, Haōma in Bangkok. Joining him for an engaging panel will be prominent Balinese culinary figures, Eelke Plasmeijer of Locavore (recipient of the same award in 2019), Wayan Kresna Yasa from @Home by Chef Wayan, Mandif Warokka from BLANCO par Mandif, Chris Salans of Mozaic, Chef Cynthia Louise of Jhoii and Chef Will Goldfarb of Room4Dessert.
For coffee aficionados, barista-led workshops and talks will be held in the spacious grounds of RÜSTERS, lifting the lid on the secrets of Bali’s unique coffee culture alongside sessions on coffee cupping and latte art. Canggu’s hippest bar, Club Soda, will host our first pop-up VIP bar at Taman Kuliner showcasing Bali’s finest mixologists at the Festival hub. Settle in under the stars, sip on a modern mocktail or indulge in something sparkling and immerse yourself in a gastronomic paradise like no other.
Hong Kong’s acclaimed mixologist-duo, Agung and Laura Prabowo, hailing from Indonesia, unveiled the sustainability marvel of Penicillin, ranked 26 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Their unique ‘closed-loop’ mixology concept has set the standard for sustainable bar practices in Asia.
Our popular food market returns to Taman Kuliner, boasting an array of delicious offerings from over 70 food stalls. Authentic dishes from the streets of Ho Chi Minh City at MeVui Vietnam Kitchen can also be savoured along with award-winning smoky burgers from Bali’s famous 2080 Burger and Mazaraat Artisan Cheese.
For a drop of alcohol, the most sought-after refreshments from Anggur Merah, Iceland Vodka, and Singaraja can be enjoyed. For the ultimate sweet Indonesian experience, Es Puter 99 Medan offers authentic Medanese ice cream with flavours such as durian, chocolate, and mung beans.
The Festival will kick off in style at Titik Dua on Thursday, 29th of May, where we’ll launch both the festival program and showcase the remarkable work of our featured artist, Yessiow. Join us for a Gelato Rave presented by Gelato Secrets, where we’ll unveil our new gelato flavour specially chosen for the festival by Chef Wayan. It will be an evening of artistic celebration and delectable indulgence that festival-goers won’t want to miss!
“This year’s exciting collaborations, where Indonesia’s finest talent join forces with culinary stars from across the region and beyond, epitomise the essence of the Ubud Food Festival,” expressed Founder and Director Janet DeNeefe. “Our goal is to bring together both the remarkable chefs and artisan producers of this country shining a spotlight on Indonesia’s rich culinary heritage and the dedicated individuals behind its creation. I’m truly excited that we are bringing to Ubud such an incredibly diverse, talented mix of creatives from the hospitality world!”