The annual Malaysia’s Kita Food Festival returns this September and October, encompassing both Malaysia and Singapore. Curated to unite the dynamic personalities shaping Southeast Asia’s culinary landscape, the event presents a captivating array of speakers, symposiums, collaborative dining experiences, and workshops for aspiring industry professionals.
Co-founded by Malaysian chef Darren Teoh, renowned for his leadership at Dewakan, Kuala Lumpur, alongside Australian food and travel journalist Leisa Tyler and Adrian Yap, the Kita festival has evolved into a pivotal regional occasion. It celebrates Southeast Asian cuisine, talent, and innovations on a global scale.
This year’s iteration showcases the participation of more than 80 restaurants across various tiers, over 100 prominent chefs from around the world, and an array of distinctive pop-up dining affairs. The festivities span Kuching (27 September), Penang (13 to 16 October), Kuala Lumpur (26 to 30 October), and Singapore (19 to 23 October).
Structured with culinary showcases, discussions, and skill-enhancing masterclasses, the event incorporates Horizons – a mentorship initiative that empowers the future vanguards of Malaysia’s culinary excellence.
Horizons reaches its pinnacle as a group of 12 young chefs collaboratively craft a Thank You Dinner for the Kita Food Festival. Their task: to create a delectable feast from surplus or underutilized ingredients.
“Kita Conversations” serves as a dedicated platform fostering an ongoing discourse about food and its complex ecosystem in the region. Exploring themes of production, history, and consumption, this space navigates the challenging queries and solutions shaping our present and future.
