How many laddus can you eat in one sitting? Ten, or more? If you think you have the stomach and the speed, you can join the Fastest Laddu Eater Contest on July 21. The contest is one of several competitions that will be held by the Indian Restaurants Association of Singapore (IRAS) as part of the Food Festival@Little India.
The festival, from July 19 to 28, is billed as a 10-day fiesta with great food, exciting competitions and colourful entertainment.
Said IRAS president C. Shankar: "We will have food from several top restaurants, various beverage stalls, innovation ideas, lots of games and fun for the whole family."
With the theme of Traditions & Innovations, it will be held in the heart of Little India, in the open area in front of Serangoon Plaza. Visitors can expect savoury fare from various Indian restaurants, with 21 stalls to choose from. Some will also serve Western, Chinese and Malay dishes.
In addition, you can catch chefs from Singapore, Malaysia and India go head to head in the International Chef Competition on July 20.
And if you think you know Little India like the back of your hand, you can form a team and take part in the Amazing Food Race on that day. Contestants in this competition will have to visit various Indian restaurants in the vicinity to look for clues. The first team to arrive at the final stop in the shortest time will win $3,000.
The other competitions in this year's festival include The Highest Romali Toss, Best Prata Man Competition, Spiciest Food Challenge and The Tiger Beer Challenge.
But it isn't all about competitions. The organisers have also included an educational element. Participants can learn how to appreciate fine wines through colour, smell and taste at a wine tasting on July 23.
This year, the festival will also feature a special heritage exhibition to be held in a traditional kampung house. The exhibition will host various artefacts as well as have hands-on activities for visitors that will not only stir up nostalgia among the adults but also give children an opportunity to learn about Singapore's heritage.
Food Festival@Little India director Bimel Ram told tabla! that a lot of thought went into planning the activities for this year's event.
"Each day will be a new experience for everyone, both young and old. When you come on day one or day three, you will be engaged in entirely different activities," he said.
The Food Festival@Little India is part of the 20th Singapore Food Festival and also the Singapore Heritage Festival.
For more details on this year's Food Festival@Little India, log on to www.irasingapore.org.sg.