The APAC Food and Beverage Expo 2024 is currently on now at the Singapore Expo. This annual event features a diverse array of local and international cuisines. It brings attendees tad a gastronomic adventure with a strong emphasis on food innovation.
In a nutshell, the food expo caters to both food lovers, in a family-friendly event. Interestingly, the event offers a mix of retail and commercial foodstuffs on sale, including ready-to-eat options sold through a marketplace. This year’s event take a similar layout as last year’s event. It is organised by APAC Lifestyle and is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm at the Singapore EXPO Hall 5, running over the weekend of November 14-17, 2024. Let’s check out the event with a walk-through.
Food Products fair
Furthermore, this year’s expo maintains the tradition set by previous events, which have been staples in Singapore’s food and beverage scene, drawing large crowds annually. Attendees can explore themed zones featuring various cuisines, food technologies, and artisanal products. The hall’s front is dominated by big brand booths offering wholesale prices on their products. These booths feature a range of local brands selling staple foods like teas and frozen goods.
Also, there is also an International flavour being showcased. This includes dishes from Japan, Italy, Korea, and more, emphasizing sustainability with eco-friendly packaging and sustainable food practices. Exclusive deals are available on packaged snacks, sauces, and beverages. Interactive booths provide hands-on experiences, such as cooking ware and personalized meal creation methods.
Moreover, the main stage hosts special talks on food topics, including insights into products, cooking techniques, and educational discussions about food. It is not just food on sale but a hands-on one too.
If you are sharp, you can find cooks and chefs conducting cooking demonstrations, or offering samples of their cooking to try. This and cooking workshops are one of the highlights of the event. These culinary demonstrations are complemented by numerous food stations where attendees can sample a variety of dishes, from fusion cuisine to classic desserts.
Also, I like to call this the Gourmet Marketplace. It is tad a hub for premium ingredients, from truffle-infused oils, frozen dumplings to specialty cheeses. Here, home cooks can discover innovative cooking gadgets in the kitchen Tech section where you can have a go a trying the various cook wares on sale. Do not know how to cook? Weirdly, there are cooking and baking schools here too to have you covered. Weirdly, maybe signing up for a holiday while you are at it? (yes there is a travel agency here at a Food expo too, go figure!).
Cooked food marketplace
Furthermore, the far end of the hall is where a pasir malam (night market) reside. It is tad a nod to hawker favourites and heritage in the Food expo. Interestingly, this is also the source of the lingering smell of fried oil which seems to hang in the entire enclosed air-conditioned hall.
Also, you can find you old classic night market offerings where you can find options like noodles or soups heavy enough for a meal, or snacks, desserts or carnival foods as a post-dinner supper. Also, this central area is paid with rows of benches for patrons to have their meals, though they are always mostly full.
Interesting finds here includes rice dumplings on discount and bargain crab meat stew going for 50 cents a cup, it was thick, though but watered down in ingredients, albeit it was tad too saltish to my liking. The giant inflatable crab store is also back again this year, this time paired with an equally large curry puff.
The white rabbit brand, synonymous with the white candy is selling their gummy ice cream cone at a dollar a pop too, not a bad cool dessert on the go when exploring.
Lastly, going on the family theme, you can find a dedicated Kid’s Corner offers family-friendly activities and mini cooking workshops. Interestingly, adding to the family elements, the event has a carnival ride area operated by Uncle Ringo. The rides here delights, and interactive experiences and small claw machine section.
Wrapping up
All in all, that wraps up our exploration of the APAC Food and Beverage Expo 2024. You are good at the event for about 2 hours tops, especially if you were to explore the entire show in the Expo hall, which also hosted the Artbox event we also checked earlier this year. It offers an immersive experience celebrating food, innovation, and culture. It’s an event that caters to all ages and tastes, making it an unmissable outing for food lovers.