The Peranakan Festival returns for an anticipated 3rd annual edition (7 June – 31 July), kicking off with its first-ever Kamcheng Peranakan Gala Dinner featuring cuisine by renowned local chefs, a Baba Nyonya Literary Festival, Halal Peranakan Cuisine Promotion, Wine and Sake Dinners, Locally-Crafted Gin Masterclasses, and exciting fringe activities that will be enjoyed by festival-visitors of all ages.

Celebrating the rich and diverse connections that Peranakans share with other cultures, in particular, Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian customs and cuisines, the 3rd annual edition of The Peranakan Festival heralds the theme Kamcheng Peranakan meaning: Friendship of the Peranakans.
Tipped to be the ‘Peranakan Event of the Year’, the festival’s opening Kamcheng Peranakan Gala Dinner to be held on Friday, 7 June, 6pm, is set be a stunning showcase of beloved Peranakan traditions with an anticipated 500 guests enjoying an elaborate 13-course Celebratory

Dinner prepared by Celebrity Guest Chefs Aziza Ali (author, host & chef), Devagi Sanmugam (The Spice Queen), Damian d’Silva (Folklore), Elizabeth Chan (Kueh Ho Jiak), Lisa Kassim (Asian Food Channel), Lynda Seow and Lionel Chee (Casa Bom Vento), Raymond Khoo and Carol Ee (The Peranakan) as well as Chefs Chan Tuck Wai and Daniel Tan from Marina Mandarin Singapore.
Dressed in their best batiks and Sarong Kebayas, guests will be welcomed with a signature Blue Pea Flower Gin Cocktail created by local craft brand Brass Lion Distillery, while participants of the event’s Make Over Nyonya showcase will dazzle one and all on a custom catwalk, decked out in batik Qipao by designer Ada Goh and hairstyle creations by Shunji Matsuo Salon.
The immersion into all things Peranakan is complete with a lively bazaar featuring authentic Straits Chinese crafts and artisan designs, as well as live music and entertainment that will get everyone in the mood to Joget and Gelek Gelek into the night.

Having always included a goodwill element, this year’s festival bazaar also features vendors displaced by the closing of Sungei Road Thieves’ Market, while a silent auction in aid of Assisi Hospice will be held during the Gala Dinner.
Organiser of The Peranakan Festival, Baba Chef Raymond Khoo, shares, “This Kamcheng Peranakan Gala Dinner is a landmark event for our festival and also the Peranakan community, as it is a first-ever feast that brings together so many heavyweight local chefs from the different cultures that have influenced Peranakan cuisine. It is a celebration of the kinship and friendship that has shaped our communities for over 500 years, and it is an opportunity to party in the most Peranakan way possible – with makan, merriment, music and joget.
Held on Friday, 7 June, The Peranakan Festival Opening Bazaar is open to the public from 4pm to 6pm at Marina Mandarin Ballroom, Level 1, Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594. Tickets to the Kamcheng Peranakan Gala Dinner are priced at $148nett, $168nett or $388nett, and are available for purchase online at: https://theperanakanshop.com/shop/kamchengperanakan2019/

* Bookings made by DBS Credit cards will receive a $30 The Peranakan restaurant voucher with tickets priced at $148 and $168, while $388 tickets will be bundled with an $80 voucher.

Peranakan Food Festival Highlights
As it is no secret that Peranakans are extremely proud of their culinary heritage, this festival edition will see the debut of the Peranakan Food Festival – a curated collection of cuisinecentric events that highlight essential elements of Peranakan cooking.
Not-to-be-missed is The Peranakan restaurant’s inaugural collaboration with Marina Mandarin Singapore’s AquaMarine – a Halal-certified buffet restaurant. Guests will have the chance to savour Straits Chinese signatures such as Nasi Ulam, Dry Laksa, Ikan Goreng Chuan Chuan, While Veal Shank Rendang and Apom Bokwa Pisang cooked to showcase their best and most authentic Peranakan flavours thanks to recipes shared by Baba Chef Raymond Khoo. AquaMarine’s Peranakan Delicacies promotion is available from 7 June to 11 July, priced from $60++ per adult. For bookings, visit: https://www.meritushotels.com/marina-mandarinsingapore/offers/peranakan-delicacies.html
Over at The Peranakan restaurant, Baba Chef Raymond Khoo welcomes Eurasian cuisine specialist Chef Lionel Chee (every Sunday in June and July) for a presentation of a collaborative Eurasian Peranakan Set Menu priced at $45++ per person featuring mouth-watering favourites such as Devils Curry and Pan-fried Black Pepper Stingray.
To explore the gourmet side of Peranakan cuisine, join in one of The Peranakan restaurant’s degustation-style wine dinners paired with Italian, German, Spanish vintages or discover the delectable complementary flavours of our spice-rich dishes with crisp Sake from Nagasaki Prefecture.
Singapore’s very own Brass Lion Distillery which launched its flagship Singapore Dry Gin in 2018, will showcase a brand-new Butterfly Pea Gin (made from Bunga Telang flowers and lavender with hints of citrus) that mystically morphs from a deep blue hue to soft lilac shade when mixed into a cocktail. For purists, we recommend checking out their Gin Cocktail Workshop (22 June, $70++ per person); those who enjoy a boozy good time should make a date for High Tea with Gin (14 July, $88++per person)
During the festival, travelers visiting the exclusive DBS Asia Treasures Lounges at Singapore Changi Airport Terminals 2 and 3 will savour a rotation of delicious recipes crafted to showcase The Peranakan’s authentic Baba Nyonya flavours and cooking traditions.

Cultural Talks & The Baba Nyonya Literary Festival
The Peranakan Gallery, a newly-launched exhibition gallery in the Orchard district, will be the host location of Cultural Talks organized by the festival. Subject experts will delve deep into the heritage’s vibrant material culture – from jewelry and textiles to the elaborate, symbolic artistry that adorns Peranakan porcelain.
The Baba Nyonya Literary Festival held on 20 and 21 July, is organized by The Peranakan Association of Singapore (TPAS), and will be an exciting addition to the festival’s latest edition. Expect an insightful gathering of authors and moderated discussions on the publications featured. Tickets are priced at $30 for a one-day pass, or $50 for a two-day pass. For bookings and more information, contact TPAS at tel: 9741 0610.

For more information, please visit: https://theperanakanfestival.com/