Why is it important to keep the food heritage of Singapore alive.
Hawker centres are very much the pillar of Singapore’s vibrant culinary scene and tell the story of the nation’s rich history and evolution. They are our community dining rooms, where foodies of all ages, races and backgrounds gather together without boundaries.
Many hawkers, including those who own popular stalls with snaking queues, are retiring without successors. If we don’t encourage the preservation of our food heritage or try to preserve it ourselves, it may slowly disappear. If this happens, it would be like losing a part of ourselves and who we are as Singaporeans, as our food heritage reflects Singapore’s multi-ethnic culture.
It’s clear that the government knows the value of this as part of our national identity, which is why it nominated Singapore’s Hawker Culture for UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. More importantly, we are so glad an international committee agrees with the nomination, and the nation’s valuable hawker heritage has now been officially added to the list!
Local food and its culture are part of our national identity and provide shared memories and experiences across generations. We must be proactive in preserving, protecting and promoting our local food culture.
Hawker Culture was consistently highlighted as an intangible cultural heritage that best represents Singapore's multicultural heritage, with hawker centres viewed as important community spaces. With the inscription, it is hoped that there will be greater appreciation and recognition for our hawkers.
We would like to see our heritage food being firmly cemented on the global map and to be considered as one of the great cuisines in the world. While maintaining the essence of each dish, we do a little bit of cultural cross-pollination. This includes informational snippets of the origins of the dishes.
Thankfully, Singaporeans and residents here love their local food. The challenge is getting them to appreciate the time and dedication it takes to produce these specialties.
According to UNESCO, intangible expressions of our cultural heritage are inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants. Other characteristics of the list are that they are simultaneously traditional and contemporary; Contribute to cultural identity; and Transmitted from generation to generation.
Take Singapore as an example: Ask any Singaporean where their favourite food haunt is, and a hawker centre will likely be a common refrain – regardless of whether you are Malay, Chinese or Indian. And it’s not just because you can enjoy all of Singapore’s multicultural cuisine in one place.
Hawker centres are Singapore’s “community dining rooms” because it’s where Singaporeans, regardless of race and background, can come together at one place to share an affordable plate of satay, carrot cake, or thosai.
IBF through World TOP Heritage Gourmet Awards labels and sets standards for local food and traditional cuisine of high quality - produced and prepared by people and businesses committed to social and sustainable responsibilities with respect for historical and cultural values in the process.
For a long time, certifications for responsible practices and awards for superior taste have remained distinct - one honors social and environmental responsibility, while the other celebrates craftsmanship and flavor. The IBF TOP Awards recognizes truly good food and respect for culinary traditions as the main elements - for bringing people together building strong and sustainable communities with authentic feelings.
IBF aims to organize an epic and globally recognized event - based on local competitions and communities. The global event will be held for the public and the trade to meet, celebrate and taste the delicious food from the IBF’s World TOP Heritage Gourmet and Top 100 All-Star Chefs awarded local and international winners.