Get a taste of heritage, literally, at the Singapore Heritage Festival this year.
The event, which kicks off on April 6, is packed with heritage trails, workshops and events spread over three weekends in April. With more than 120 events, there are more than enough programmes to keep everyone engaged.
What will interest the foodies are the more than 15 food-centric events.
Some of the more intriguing events, such as the tours of biscuit maker Khong Guan and sugar factory Cheng Yew Heng, are already fully booked. But there are plenty of other events foodies can check out.
ST Food picks 6 highlights.
For more information and to register for tours and events, go to https://heritagefestival.sg/
1. Jurong Singapore Hawkerpreneurs
Jurong Town Hall
Apr 6 - 8, 5pm to 11pm
Admission: Free, pay for food and drinks
Sample offerings from heritage and hipster hawkers. Grab a kopi-o from Kiat Seng Coffee Stall which has been caffeinating Singaporeans from their stall at Taman Jurong Market since 1970. Sample the famous Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak, which has been around since 1978.
If hipster is more your style, try the very Instagrammable Lakster Deluxe from halal stall Jenggood. This giant bowl of laksa comes with a whole lobster as well as prawns, squid and mussels.
Fishball Story, an updated take on fishball noodles which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand mention, will also be setting up shop for the weekend.
2. Behind The Scenes: Appreciating Tea Through The Generations
36, Mosque Street
Apr 14, 2pm
Admission: $5
Pek Sin Choon Nanyang Tea Brewing Challenge - Finals
21, Banda St, Kreta Ayer Square
Apr 15, 3pm
Admission: Free admission with registration, $40 fee (including a refundable $20 deposit) for competitors. Registration for competition closes April 6
Get an insider's peek at the tea trade at Pek Sin Choon from Kenry Peh, fourth generation tea merchant. Learn how tea is sorted and mixed at this company, which has a history dating back almost a hundred years. They also supply many bak kut teh stalls in Singapore.
And if you think you have tea brewing skills, sign up for a competition to brew the perfect cuppa. The contest will be held on Apr 15. Competitors will have to attend a briefing session at Pek Sin Choon and collect a brewing set before the competition.
3. Balestier Food Trail
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall
12, Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
Apr 14, 10am
Admission: Free, pay for food and drinks
Balestier Road has been a food and entertainment hub for decades. There are two heritage trails planned for the weekend of Apr 14 and 15, but foodies will want to check out the one on Saturday. This food-themed trail will take participants through various F&B establishments along the road, including a herbal tea business and a traditional bakery.
A must-stop is Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah. This traditional confectionary, opened in 1948, still makes its offerings by hand. Its tau sar piah, with its crisp flaky pastry shell and silky smooth lotus seed paste filling, is famous, drawing long queues.
4. Chinatown Food Stories
Kreta Ayer Community Centre Exhibition Hall, 28 Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 088995
Apr 15, 5pm
Admission: Free, registration required
Find out how the traditional Chinese sweet snack of sak kei ma is made, and discover the heritage stalls in Chinatown Food Complex. This sprawling hawker centre is home to 200 stalls which serve everything from traditional hawker fare to uniquely Singaporean dishes such as Chinese-style satay marinated with Indian spices.
5. Armenian Street Party
Armenian Street
Apr 20 and 21, 7pm
Admission: Free, pay for food and drinks
Foodies were disappointed when Mary Gomes closed her Mary's Kafe last year. But those who swear by her pang susie, curry debal and sugee cake will be delighted to know she is dishing out her familiar favourites at the Armenian Street Party on the last weekend of the festival.
Restaurant True Blue will also be serving its Peranakan specialties, including ngoh hiang, laksa, dry mee siam and nasi lemak.
Timbre, which started life as a bar at The Substation, is returning to its old stomping ground to serve old school soft drinks such as Kickapoo and Sinalco, and cocktails like tea panjang and kopi o mabuk.
6. Second and third Generation Hawkers
Dragon Playground, at Lorong 6, Toa Payoh
Apr 21 and 22, 5pm
Admission: Free, pay for food and drinks
Families will enjoy this casual hangout event at the iconic dragon playground.
Kids can play on the famed dragon while parents can check out the car boot flea market which will be set up in the vicinity. And everyone young and old can enjoy the food offerings from a range of hawker carts.
Look out for popiah from Good Chance Popiah and egg tarts from Tong Heng Confectionery as well as more substantial dishes such as Rumah Makan Minang's nasi padang and Katong Laksa.