LATINADA 2019: Latin American Food Festival in Singapore
LATINADA 2019 will see a number of chefs and restaurants coming together for multiple events across a week of festivities from 8 to 16 September that celebrate the culture and cuisine of Latin America.
The food festival, initiated by Chef Daniel Chavez (Owner of OLA Kitchen Group), will be held at various venues on different days including OLA Cocina Del Mar, TONO Cevicheria, Kilo Kitchen, Kilo Lounge, Camp Kilo Charcoal Club, Preludio and boCHINche.
Chefs from Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Chile will bring you on a Latino adventure to showcase the best of Latin American food.
Kicking off the events at Camp Kilo Charcoal Club on 8 September, Sunday is a mini street food festival “Domingo Tropical”. Think Latin street favourites like tacos, roasted pork, ceviche and themed cocktails, coupled with hot Latin beats and salsa dancing, and you’ll find yourself transported to Latin America for the night.
Chef Christian Encina of Pica takes over the kitchen and grills on 12 September at Kilo Kitchen for a traditional Chilean barbeque – the asado – an important part of life at Chile, where family and friends gather to share hearty meals. Then get set for a gastronomic journey at “Noche Caribeña” on 13 September, where co-founder of Kilo Kitchen, Josh Adjodha, will present a slew of dishes and cocktails inspired by the diverse islands of The Central Americas. Lastly, Chef Manel Valero and Daniel will team up for a “Latino Tapas Party” on 14 September, with a curated menu of small plates served communal style, setting the stage for great conversations in a casual dining environment.
Besides enjoying Latin American food, LATINADA also highlights the sounds of Latin America with Kilo Lounge at Tanjong Pagar. The dance floor will be open to all at “Rumba Latina!” on 12 September, with a live band and DJ drumming up the atmosphere with Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Latin Pop and more! Jive to the beat with a cocktail in hand and perhaps a decadent late-night snack in the other, as Daniel and Chef Tamara Chavez work up your appetites with Latin sandwiches served till 2am.
Over at Singapore’s CBD at OLA Cocina Del Mar, Daniel, Tamara and Chef Ricardo Luján will showcase their heritage through “Tacos, Tacos, Tacos” on 9 September, serving up varieties of the traditional Mexican dish. OLA Cocina Del Mar will also play host to “Barra Latina Nikkei” on 12 September, a Nikkei dinner, with Peruvian-Japanese plates by Chef Edwin Guzman of Aji in Macau.
Take a breather from all that partying with “Movimiento Preludio”, a contemporary 4-hands dinner with Columbian Chef Fernando Arévalo of Preludio and Edwin. The menu will showcase both chefs’ interpretations of Latin American flavours inspired in black and white – a monochromatic break from the festival’s vibrance, in style but not in taste.
Expect the culinary diversity of Latin America to shine through at TONO Cevicheria with “Cuban Night” on 10 September, as it pays tribute to the tastes of Cuba with traditional dishes like Moros y Cristianos and Lobster Empanadas. Then, be wowed by the flavours of Peru and Mexico at “PeruMexico” on 11 September, with classics such as Ceviche Norteño and Costilla Cargada Con Esquites. Lastly, revel in the array of Mexican street food over the weekend at “Mexican Brunch” on 14 and 15 September, with favourites such as Tacos Al Pastor and Tamales De Pollo Con Mole Verde.
Ending off the week-long celebration is a decadent 6-hands dinner titled “Our Journey Back Home” on 16 September, which will take guests on a culinary journey back to the childhood memories of boCHINche’s Chef Patron Diego Jacquet, Ivan Brehm, Chef-Owner of Nouri and Daniel. The three South American chefs will whip up a 5-course menu showcasing signatures from their home countries, closing the food festival on a high.
More information and tickets for the various culinary events can be found here: http://ola.kitchen/latinada/
Plato Tipico Puerto Rican
Lechon Rice Bowl con Habichuelas
Chicken Anticucho Nikkei
Taco al Pastor
Archiote pork, pineapple
Tostadas de Ceviche
Pico de gallo, diced fish
Soft Shell Crab Taco
Maseca tortilla, chiles toreados
Lulo Bonbon
Chocolate Pinata