Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Start your engines, as for 10 days, Singapore’s historic quarter Kampong Gelam transforms into a vibrant festival running until 22 Sep leading up to F1. Capturing the vibrant and inclusive spirit of Kampong Gelam, The Glam Circuit Festival features race-themed activities, music acts, and over 80 F&B brands and retail outlets with some previously featuring in Pasar Malams.
The event spans Baghdad Street, Aliwal Street Carpak and Sultan Gate Park. I was presented with various culinary options to savour but this is what I ate at the event.
Upon arriving at the premises, my colleague and I were greeted by a long queue of customers waiting outside a store. Self-proclaimed 1st in the world, Croissant Tarik. Knowing the Singaporean culture of long queues, I reckoned that this was a great place to start.
Serving croissants and kunafas (shredded filo pastry) with various toppings, we opted for their signature Dubai Viral Chocolate (S$18) kunafa. Drenched in their homemade chocolate sauce, the kunafa was filled with cheese and drizzled with pistachio sprinkles. This was a rich and crunchy treat that will leave you filled. At S$18 it is pricy, but sharing it with 2 or 3 people would make it worth it.
We then moved on to a generational satay stall, Satay Solo. Established in 1939, the satay recipe, passed on for generations, truly captures authentic flavours. We got the Mixed Sticks of 15 (S$17) containing beef, chicken and mutton. Once on the grill, the chef uses the lemongrass as a brush.
This method imparts the flavours of lemongrass into the satay, giving it a slightly mellow and citrus note. The satays were perfectly cooked and had a charry flavour to it. Paired with the homemade peanut sauce, it was rich and intense in flavour, making for the perfect bite.
Further into the festival, we tried The Original Vadai and got the Prawn Grago (S$1.30 per pc), known as a prawn fritter. Previously having two good dishes, the prawn fritter left us slightly underwhelmed. The vadai was not crispy, very doughy and on the saltier end. Perhaps the other fried snacks at the stall would have been better off.
To bring down the saltiness of the Prawn Grago, we opted for something heavier and saw The Smashed Burg and had their Smashed Burger and Fries (S$10). This meal did not disappoint. The fries were crispy and well-seasoned. Paired with the burger which also contained caramelised onions and melted cheese, this was everything you imagined a burger would taste.
For our final stop, we saw a unique stall serving sushi tacos and I could not resist trying. We tried their Soft Shell Crab Sushi Taco (S$10), a delightful mixture of soft shell crab, cucumber, rice and a spicy mayo dressing.
Check out their exciting games village at Aliwal Street Carpark, where you can enjoy fun carnival games. Also, look out for other notable attractions at Baghdad Street Carpark. If you’ve ever dreamed about being an F1 driver, experience the Racing Simulator, offering an immersive racing experience with stunning graphics. Just next to it is their Scream Booth where you can scream for free game passes or dining vouchers.
What better way to usher in F1 weekend at the glam circuit festival than to head down and experience the diverse culture of Kampong Gelam.
Operating hours:
- Mon to Thu: 2pm – 10pm
- Fri to Sun: 2pm – 10.30pm
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