Nova Maldives To Host ‘Community Street Food Festival’
Saturday 18th of March 2023
The ultimate heaven for gourmands and epicureans, Nova Maldives brings guests the crème de la crème of gastronomy with its ‘Community Street Food Festival’. Delivering up to eight Asian-Pacific cuisines, the food fest will take place on May 1st, 2023 on the white-topped sandy beaches of Nova Maldives. The festival draws inspiration from authentic historical events when the Maldives became a prominent key port for traders sailing from Indonesia and India to Arabia, carrying cargoes of various spices.
Paying tribute to these events dating back 5000 years, the Community Food Festival will highlight eight culinary traditions from Maldives, Mauritius, Thailand, India, China, Morocco, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Here, guests can embark on a unique culinary voyage where vibrant stalls and culinary arts as well as an assortment of delicious fusion food set the stage for a cheery evening. Complete with entertainment, the experience is designed to spoil all foodies with innumerable choices to indulge in.
One of the key cuisines features in the festival includes the local Maldivian cuisine. Characterized by its rich, sweet and spicy flavours, guests can sample authentic recipes carefully passed down from generations while being surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the island nation. The base ingredients for the cuisine are also obtained from its natural reservoirs such as fish from the abundant ocean and copious amounts of milk and oil from the palm trees. Therefore, the Maldivian stand will showcase various kinds of fish set alongside several vegetarian and vegan options for guests to try!
East African and Mauritius cuisine is renowned for its bold and complex flavours, often described as a combination of sweet, sour and spicy notes that merges African, Indian, Chinese and European culinary influences. Food connoisseurs can get adventurous at this stand, by digging into everything from salads to slow-cooked beef and curry.
A personal favourite for many people, guests will also encounter Thai cuisine during their culinary journey which is famed for its ingenious incorporation of fresh herbs, spices and ingredients known for its balance of spicy, sour, sweet and salty favours. This includes lemongrass, limes, chilis, peppers and fish sauce. Guests can even get their hands on well-beloved traditional Thai dishes here with the lineup comprising salads, curries and classic Khao-Neow Mamuang and Khanom Ba Bin among others.
Indian cuisine has deep roots of culinary heritage which date back thousands of years and is world-famous for its use of spices and herbs which create an array of complex yet sumptuous flavours that tantalize the tastebuds. The Indian stand at the festival will constitute a selection of delicacies ranging from drool-worthy Paneer to Tikka Masala and veggies as well as sinful desserts like Saffron Phirni and Maal Pua.
The Chinese food stand is another interesting avenue to explore with a rich culinary history that spans over 5000 years. Recognized for its popping flavours and meticulous cooking techniques, key ingredients in the cuisine include soy sauce, ginger, garlic and an assortment of rice and noodles, Guests can find their appetites raised with delicate dim sums and fried sweet sesame balls stuffed with red beans, giving an unexpected sweet surprise.
Heavily linked with the country’s history and cultural diversity, Moroccan cuisine is deemed a vibrant and fulfilling one for all avid gourmands. Fusing spices, herbs and fruits into their dishes of meat, couscous and hummus, the Moroccan stand is a must-try at the festival. Guests can top off the savoury meals with a touch of sweetness in the form of Basboussa or Baklava.
Indonesia’s regional diversity means its cuisine is teeming with aromatics, herbs and species thrown together with a pinch of turmeric, chilli and lemongrass. Rice, noodles and tofu play an integral role in this cuisine too and several delectable desserts are also not amiss. Pisang Cokelat- fried bananas with chocolate sauce and Kue Cubit- sweet cake with chocolate and cheese are some definite highlights for all sweet tooths!
Those seeking to truly excite the tastebuds can find their match at the Sri Lankan stand where a display of seafood, meat curry and rice and vegetables is exhibited. Cardamom, curry leaves and coconut milk are quintessential to this cuisine, evident from its most popular dishes such as the traditional cream coconut custard Wattalapam and Bibikkan.