Food, glorious food at Kuching Festival

‘There is no love sincerer than the love of food.’-Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw.

If you love food, you must visit the Kuching Food Festival which is being held at the car park of the Kuching South City Council‘s community hall in Padungan.

The famous food festival, organised by the council, opened on July 28 and will be on until August 20.

An annual event to commemorate the elevation of Kuching to a city status on August 1, 1988, Kuching Food Festival also promotes the state’s tourism and food industry and reflects Kuching’s title as the ‘UNESCO City of Gastronomy.’

The event, which showcases the diversity of Sarawakian cuisine, features both traditional and modern dishes.

Every evening, starting at 4 pm, foodies head to the venue to try the plethora of cosmopolitan food and drinks sold at over 300 food stalls.

If you are a tourist and new to the city, do not miss the opportunity to visit this popular festival.

Do you know that the event is also attracting Sarawakians from other parts of the state as well as those who are working in other countries and states as well?

For example, my niece, Ah Hong, who is working in Singapore, will be back soon just to enjoy the sights, tastes and sounds of Kuching Food Festival. She is bringing home a friend who has never tasted Sarawak food and drinks before. They will be in the city for just a few days.

I think it is wise of Ah Hong, who’s 27 this year, to work hard and to play hard as well. Her working life in Singapore is no bed of roses. She works for a company that sells luxury bags and every day, she has to carry heavy bags from the stores to show to potential customers. Many a times, she has to work odd hours to help check the stock in the shop.

Luckily, Ah Hong, who works hard for her money, knows how to enjoy life and destress. Eating all her favourite food and diverse Sarawakian cuisine at the Kuching Food Festival will certainly help her and her friend to destress from the hard working life in Singapore.

When I was Ah Hong’s age, I worked hard but did not know how to play hard. I did not know how to enjoy life or take breaks from my hard working life in Kuching.

I am no foodie but if my niece is here, maybe I will follow her to the food festival. I hate driving there alone.

One big challenge that all visitors to the festival face is the need to look for a good parking space near the venue.

If you go there early and you are lucky, maybe you can find a parking space near the community hall. If you turn up late, you may have to park far, far away, even on the other side of the road and walk a long way to the venue. But then, come to think of it, if you are a foodie, what is a bit of exercising compared to the glorious food you will savour at the festival?

If you are visiting the Kuching Food Festival, remember to be adventurous. Try everything and anything unusual.

Before you go, try accessing the festival’s first-ever interactive food stall map by clicking on the link: https://kuchingcreativecity.com/kuching-fest-2023-map/

Kuching City South Council mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng encourages everyone to explore this exciting feature which has been exclusively designed for the festival.

He says, “The interactive food stall map offers a diverse tapestry of culinary delights from various parts of the world, right at the fingertips of the visitors.

“Whether one is craving sizzling street food or delectable desserts. this map has it all. It also caters to health-conscious individuals, offering options for halal and vegetarian preferences, ensuring a mouthwatering journey tailored to each person’s taste buds.”

Oh, before you visit the festival, remember to bring enough money so that you can eat to your heart’s delight. With the ever-increasing costs of living, don’t expect anything to be cheap or to remain at the same price as last year.

While you are there, my friends, beware of snatch thieves and safeguard your personal belongings.
Kho Teck Wan, a Kuching South City Councillor, gave this advice following two snatch theft incidents involving two victims last Wednesday night.

She said one of the snatch thieves had been caught, adding that police had placed extra enforcement in the areas surrounding the community hall in Padungan since the beginning of the festival and would continue to do so.

Kho also advised the public to report anything lost or stolen personal belongings to the police officer at the police booth at the food fair immediately.

Yesterday, mayor Wee also urged the public to be aware of pickpockets at the Kuching Food Festival.
He said police had allocated 12 personnel to guard the venue every night.

It’s most unfortunate that the snatch theft incidents had happened. So be extra vigilant, my friends, when you are at the fair. Don’t just look at the food and drinks. Pay attention to your surroundings as well.
See you there!

The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.