Latest news with #SingaporeHeritageFest
CNA
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Singapore HeritageFest 2025 features over 100 programmes, including a Chinese opera in English
An experimental theatre production combining Chinese opera, getai and modern music — all with English subtitles — is just one of about 100 programmes at this year's Singapore HeritageFest. The festival, which runs until May 25, puts the spotlight on Singapore's intangible history. CNA spoke to Mr Qazim Karim from HeritageSG and Ms Lim Hai Yen, artistic director of The ETCeteras, the group behind 'Out of the Red Box', a Chinese opera in English.
AsiaOne
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
What to do this weekend (May 2 to 4), Lifestyle News
Ready for the weekend? Here's what you can look forward to this week. 1. Singapore HeritageFest 2025 [embed] Explore Singapore's living heritage at the 22nd edition of Singapore HeritageFest, Singapore's longest-running celebration of our shared cultural identity. This year, the festival spotlights our Intangible Cultural Heritage, or living heritage - the rich customs, traditions, practices, and stories that connect us across generations. You're invited to experience, learn about, and celebrate these irreplaceable cultural expressions through engaging tours, interactive workshops, fascinating exhibitions, and dynamic performances across the island. Till May 25 2025 Find out more here 2. European Film Festival 2025 [embed] Head to the movies with the return of the European Film Festival from now till May 24. This annual festival showcases a curated selection of foreign films from the best of contemporary cinema across the EU, from documentaries to cartoons, dramas, slice-of-life stories, and more. Till May 24 2025 Find out more here 3. Curious Worlds Journey into the neuroscience of the human experience with the ArtScience Museum's newest programme. Organised as a micro-festival accompanying "Mirror Mirror: Journey into the Mind" and "Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses", Curious Worlds draws from the topics and themes explored in both exhibitions to showcase the work of neuroscience researchers, modern naturalists, and even fashion designers and technologists who are innovating for a more inclusive and accessible future. You can look forward to thought-provoking exhibits, insightful talks, pop-up conversations, workshops, performances, demonstrations and naturalist tours across three thematic tracks - neuroscience and neuropsychology, adaptive fashion and assistive tech, and natural history and biodiversity. [embed] Till May 25 2025 Find out more here 4. Peter Rabbit High Tea Step into the world of the classic children's story The Tale of Peter Rabbit with a whimsical high tea experience by Skai. Inspired by the adventures of Peter Rabbit and the rustic beauty of Mr. McGregor's garden, the menu features a delightful medley of sweet and savoury creations, thoughtfully crafted to capture the nostalgia and magic of Beatrix Potter's timeless tale. [[nid:699610]] Feast on savoury delights like the Mr McGregor's Garden Sandwich with beef brisket and miso on seeded bread and The Forbidden Orchard Tartlet, which combines foie gras with apple. Then, nibble on sweet treats such as Flopsy's Berry Basket, which offers a waffle cup filled with blueberries, and Peter's Garden Pot, which creates an edible chocolate garden with gelato and citrus. You can also pair your meal with a floral mocktail like Flopsy's Blossom Fizz, or upgrade to the Mischief in the Garden cocktail, which blends vodka, carrot juice, and honey ginger syrup. Till June 30 2025 Find out more here This article was first published in Wonderwall .sg .
New Paper
22-04-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Brewing new love for bak kut teh at Singapore HeritageFest 2025
Two of Singapore's enduring heritage brands are joining forces to elevate the profile of a local classic dish - bak kut teh, "meat bone tea" or pork rib soup. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and tea merchant Pek Sin Choon will showcase the culinary delight's origins and the harmonious pairing between the dish and tea at the Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2025. Titled "A Tasting Journey through the History of Bak Kut Teh with Song Fa and Pek Sin Choon", the interactive sessions will run on May 7, 9, and 16 at Song Fa's outlet at Velocity@Novena Square from 3pm to 5.30pm. Participants will explore the rich history and evolving tastes of bak kut teh, and discover how both brands have adapted to Singapore's dynamic food scene. There will be guided tea pairings with Song Fa's signature dishes and hands-on tea brewing experiences. For a special fee of $20, attendees will enjoy a full meal, tea and exclusive giveaways. Song Fa founder Yeo Eng Song, 77, started his business in 1969 as a humble pushcart hawker along the former Johor Road. He named it Song Fa after his own name and the Chinese word for "prosperity". The chain of 14 Song Fa outlets is now managed by his three children, including Ms Diana Yeo, 47. While traditional bak kut teh is lean and tough, Song Fa's pork ribs are "fall off the bone" now to cater to evolving taste and attract younger customers, said Ms Yeo. Song Fa also worked with Pek Sin Choon owner Kenry Peh to curate the King's Garden tea in 2018 - an in-house special brew, which can be either hot or cold, to wow modern palettes. Bak kut teh and Nanyang tea are inseparable, said Ms Yeo. Taxi drivers and business merchants who used to have the dish as a breakfast staple would start the day and the meal with sips of tea. "That was how tea brought people together, but this tea-drinking culture has diminished over the years," she said. "Nowadays, the younger generation likes bubble tea, but Nanyang tea has many health benefits." Pek Sin Choon, a 100-year-old business, has also been reinventing itself with fresh creations of Nanyang tea blends. The tea merchant in Chinatown supplies tea leaves to about 80 per cent of bak kut teh shops in Singapore. Nanyang tea is a distinctive tea, blended and roasted to suit local tastes. It generally comprises oolongs from North and South Fujian in mainland China. Mr Peh, 55, said he is thankful that brands like Song Fa are partnering him on his journey to promote Nanyang tea. "Bak kut teh is a unique local delicacy, and we hope it will be as popular as chicken rice and chilli crab," he said. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and Pek Sin Choon will showcase the culinary delight's origins and the harmonious pairing between the dish and tea at the Singapore HeritageFest 2025. PHOTO: SONG FA BAK KUT TEH Associate Professor Michael Stanley-Baker of Nanyang Technological University has invited his history students to a special session of the bak kut teh workshops with Song Fa and Pek Sin Choon, which he sees as a transmission and preservation of culture. The students will learn about the origins of bak kut teh and the accompanying tea and the significance of preserving this unique culinary tradition. "Bak kut teh has transformed from working class migrant origins to the evolving cuisine it has developed into now. It has a rich cultural heritage," said Prof Stanley-Baker, who was born in the United Kingdom and has lived in East Asia for almost two decades. Heritage enthusiast Victor Yue said: "Bak kut teh is literally 'meat bone' plus tea. The pairing between the dish and tea inspired the dish's name. Malaysia recognises it as a heritage dish, and I hope our younger generation will better appreciate its origin and evolution." The 22nd edition of SHF presented by National Heritage Board showcases Singapore's intangible cultural heritage - the rich customs, traditions, practices and stories that connect Singaporeans across generations. It will introduce more than 100 programmes in various locations islandwide, or online, from May 1 to 25. They include heritage and cultural trails, workshops, performances and exhibitions. Participants can take part in the Gotong-Royong: Nasi Ulam Recipe Crafting Workshop at the Singapore HeritageFest. PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST Besides featuring food heritage, there will be crafts such as flower tying and Indian woodblock printing, performing arts like Arab samrah dance and Malay drumming traditions, and social practices including wedding traditions. Homeground Village, a signature SHF offering, will be set against the lush backdrop of the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay from April 25 to May 25. Inspired by the former Singapore Handicraft Centre, this is a one-stop experience space featuring Singapore's heritage such as craft and performing arts through exhibitions, workshops and performances. Homeground Village, a signature SHF offering, will be set against the lush backdrop of the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay from April 25 to May 25. PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST During the weekends, there will be a pop-up hawker experience in partnership with the National Environment Agency and a heritage retail market co-presented with the Singapore Tourism Board. All programmes and activities at the Homeground Village are free, with no registration required. For more information and to register for SHF's programmes, visit
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Brewing new love for bak kut teh at the Singapore HeritageFest 2025
(From left) Heritage enthusiast Victor Yue, NTU Associate Professor Michael Stanley-Baker, Pek Sin Choon owner Kenry Peh, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh's brand and corporate director Diana Yeo and Pek Sin Choon's assistant general manager Yuen Eng Wah at Song Fa's Chinatown Point outlet. ST PHOTO: CHIN SOO FANG Brewing new love for bak kut teh at the Singapore HeritageFest 2025 SINGAPORE – Two of Singapore's enduring heritage brands are joining forces to elevate the profile of a local classic dish – bak kut teh, 'meat bone tea' or pork rib soup. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and tea merchant Pek Sin Choon will showcase the culinary delight's origins and the harmonious pairing between the dish and tea at the Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2025. Titled 'A Tasting Journey through the History of Bak Kut Teh with Song Fa and Pek Sin Choon,' the interactive sessions will run on May 7, 9, and 16 at Song Fa's outlet at Velocity@Novena Square from 3pm to 5.30pm. Participants will explore the rich history and evolving tastes of bak kut teh, and discover how both brands have adapted to Singapore's dynamic food scene. There will be guided tea pairings with Song Fa's signature dishes and hands-on tea brewing experiences. For a special fee of $20, attendees will enjoy a full meal, tea and exclusive giveaways. Song Fa founder Yeo Eng Song, 77, started his business in 1969 as a humble pushcart hawker along the former Johor Road. He named it Song Fa after his own name and the Chinese word for 'prosperity'. The chain of 14 Song Fa outlets is now managed by his three children, including Ms Diana Yeo, 47. While traditional bak kut teh is lean and tough, Song Fa's pork ribs are 'fall-off-the-bone' now to cater to evolving taste and attract younger customers, said Ms Yeo. Song Fa also worked with Pek Sin Choon's owner Kenry Peh to curate the King's Garden tea in 2018 – an in-house special brew, which can be either hot or cold, to wow modern palettes. Bak kut teh and Nanyang tea are inseparable, said Ms Yeo. Taxi drivers and business merchants who used to have the dish as a breakfast staple would start the day and the meal with sips of tea. 'That was how tea brought people together, but this tea-drinking culture has diminished over the years,' she said. 'Nowadays, the younger generation likes bubble tea, but Nanyang tea has many health benefits.' Pek Sin Choon, a 100-year-old business, has also been reinventing itself with fresh creations of Nanyang tea blends. The tea merchant in Chinatown supplies tea leaves to about 80 per cent of bak kut teh shops in Singapore. Nanyang tea is a distinctive tea, blended and roasted to suit local tastes. It generally comprises oolongs from North and South Fujian in mainland China. Mr Peh, 55, said he is thankful that brands like Song Fa are partnering him on his journey to promote Nanyang tea. 'Bak kut teh is a unique local delicacy, and we hope it will be as popular as chicken rice and chilli crab,' he said. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh and Pek Sin Choon will showcase the culinary delight's origins and the harmonious pairing between the dish and tea at the Singapore HeritageFest 2025. PHOTO: SONG FA BAK KUT TEH Associate Professor Michael Stanley-Baker of Nanyang Technological University has invited his history students to a special session of the bak kut teh workshops with Song Fa and Pek Sin Choon, which he sees as a transmission and preservation of culture. The students will learn about the origins of bak kut teh and the accompanying tea, and the significance of preserving this unique culinary tradition. 'Bak kut teh has transformed from working class migrant origins to the evolving cuisine it has developed into now. It has a rich cultural heritage,' said Prof Stanley-Baker, who was born in the United Kingdom and has lived in East Asia for almost two decades. Heritage enthusiast Victor Yue said: 'Bak kut teh is literally 'meat bone' plus tea. The pairing between the dish and tea inspired the dish's name. Malaysia recognises it as a heritage dish, and I hope our younger generation will better appreciate its origin and evolution.' The 22nd edition of SHF presented by National Heritage Board showcases Singapore's Intangible Cultural Heritage – the rich customs, traditions, practices, and stories that connect Singaporeans across generations. It will introduce over 100 programmes in various locations islandwide, or online, from May 1 to 25. They include heritage and cultural trails, workshops, performances and exhibitions. Participants can take part in the Gotong-Royong: Nasi Ulam Recipe Crafting Workshop at SHF. PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST Besides featuring food heritage, there will be crafts such as weaving ketupat and Indian woodblock printing, performing arts like Arab Samrah dance and Malay drumming traditions, and social practices including wedding traditions. Homeground Village, a signature SHF offering, will be set against the lush backdrop of the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay from April 25 to May 25. Inspired by the former Singapore Handicraft Centre, this is a one-stop experience space featuring Singapore's heritage such as craft and performing arts through exhibitions, workshops and performances. Homeground Village, a signature SHF offering, will be set against the lush backdrop of the Silver Garden at Gardens by the Bay from April 25 to May 25. PHOTO: SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST During the weekends, there will be a pop-up hawker experience in partnership with the National Environment Agency, and a heritage retail market co-presented with the Singapore Tourism Board. All programmes and activities at the Homeground Village are free, with no registration required. For more information and to register for SHF's programmes, visit Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
