WGS kicks off today! This promises 11 days (26 Mar- 5 Apr) of gastronomic wonder with themed dinners, showcases of great wines and fine cuisines, and a slew of culinary workshops and talks by Michelin-starred chefs – some visiting, some hosting. With the 18th edition of one of the world’s biggest gourmet extravaganzas, here are 18 things to get your head around.
1. The theme this year is ‘Back to the Classics’. So, you can expect big name vintners and renowned chefs to gather on our little red dot to celebrate the timelessness and elegance of, well, food!
2. Mark your calendars! WGS runs for 11 days, from 26 March to 5 April.
3. WGS attracted more than 20,000 guests last year, bagging a spot as one of the biggest gourmet events of 2013.
4. 12 international master chefs (including seven Michelin starred chefs) will be attending this year’s WGS.
5. Nine local top-nosh spots like Dolce Vita at Mandarin Oriental, Raffles Grill at Raffles Hotel, Clifford at The Fullerton Bay Hotel, and The White Rabbit, will be hosting international masterchefs and presenting specially crafted menus (in collaboration with said chefs) for their guests.
6. 22 other local restaurants, like Cocotte, Absinthe, Moosehead Kitchen and Bar, Bacchanalia Singapore, and Fordham & Grand, will be offering special WGS menus as well!
7. Your littlies can get a piece of the action! Guest masterchef Christian Escribá (aka the Mozart of Chocolate) will be holding a junior chef pastry workshop.
8. Want to know how to pull off the perfect party? Learn the best of classique service from dining etiquette specialist, Geoffrey Delhaye, and the art of food and wine pairing from Three-Michelin-star Chef Thomas Bühner.
9. Hone your food photography skills (not just for Instagram) with Canon’s food photography workshop at The Prime Society! You stand to win a prize if you take the best picture during the workshop!
10. Incorporating traditional Chinese Herbs into modern day cooking is much easier than you think! Eu Yan Sang Four-Hands culinary workshop, featuring Masterchef Arron Huang from Taiwan, will get you started.
11. If you can’t get enough of Foie Gras, book a spot at Bacchanalia’s exquisite Foie Gras-themed dinner.
12. Is caviar more your choice of delicacy? The decadent black gold will take centre stage at Straits Room’s wine-paired caviar-themed dinner. What are you waiting for!
13. Vino lovers will have a field day with WGS’s array of wine tasting events, which will showcase stellar wines from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France.
14. If whisky is your choice of poison, you’ll be glad to know that Stellar at 1-Altitude will be holding an elite six-course Macallan whisky and wagyu dinner.
15. Have you got a Citibank card? Citibank cardholders enjoy up to 20% off WGS events.
16. WGS concludes with the 14th edition of its Awards of Excellence, honouring the finest talents in the global gastronomic scene.
17. WGS is organised by A La Carte Productions and supported by Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Citibank Singapore
18. Psst… we managed to snag interviews with some of the amazing master chefs who will be gracing this year’s WGS. Watch this space.
All Images: World Gourmet Summit