Some of the Asia-Pacific’s most celebrated chefs will head to the Indonesian island of Sumba next month, swapping their restaurant kitchens for a culinary adventure shaped by the island’s farms, fishing boats and local markets.
It’s all part of this year’s Sumba Food Festival, which returns to Cap Karoso from October 5 to 18, bringing eight chefs from across the region to the eco-luxury resort in West Sumba.
The two-week line-up includes two-Michelin-starred chef Joseph Lidgerwood of Evett in Seoul, Yusuke Takada of Osaka’s two-starred venue La Cime, and Davide Garavaglia of two-starred Cote by Mauro Colagreco in Bangkok.
Other acclaimed chefs joining the festival this year include Dan Bark of Cadence in Bangkok, Keiko Kuwakino of Japan’s Sanaburi at Satoyama Jujo, Eelke Plasmeijer of Locavore NXT in Ubud, Brando Moros of Dubai’s 11 Woodfire and Gaetan Biesuz of Rumari at Raffles Bali.
Despite all the culinary talent descending on the island, the real star of the festival might just be Sumba itself.
Join chefs fishing at dawn before eating the catch later that day, visit local markets and venture further afield on food safaris
The island lies about an hour’s flight east of Bali, yet feels a world away from its considerably busier neighbour.
And Cap Karoso — the luxury beachfront resort hosting this year’s festival — wants visiting chefs and guests to get to know the island through its food.
As such, guests can join chefs fishing at dawn before eating the catch later that day, wander through the resort’s 3ha organic farm, visit local markets and venture further afield on food safaris.
There will also be a series of collaborative four-hands dinners throughout the festival, each limited to just 22 guests. It’s a deliberately intimate format that proved popular when the festival made its debut last year.
Two-Michelin-starred chef Mano Thevar likened Cap Karoso’s organic farm to a “toy store”, becoming so inspired by its fresh ingredients that he ended up adding extra courses to his farm lunch at the last minute when taking place in last year’s event.
The festival will also feature traditional Sumbanese dance performances, farm and permaculture tours, beach dinners, wellness activities and a cooking competition for local home cooks to be judged by the visiting chefs.
Families are catered for, too, with cinema under the stars, pastry showcases, stargazing and mini farm tours for younger guests.
Proceeds from the festival will support local projects including access to clean water, nutritional education, sustainable farming workshops and grants for food entrepreneurs working with Sumbanese produce such as cacao, seaweed and organic vegetables.
fast facts
+ This year’s Sumba Food Festival will take place October 5-18 at the Cap Karoso resort on the Indonesian island of Sumba.
+ Cap Karoso is on the westernmost tip of Sumba, about a 50-minute drive from Tambolaka airport, which is a one-hour flight from Bali.
+ Accommodation at Cap Karoso starts from $US380 ($533) a night, including breakfast and transfers, while festival events are individually priced.
Event pricing
+ Tickets to the festival’s opening party cost $US90 ($126) before taxes and fees.
+ The event’s four-hands dinners start from $US170 ($239) and are limited to 22 adults.
+ The chef’s dinners, food safari, farm dinner and closing party start from $US120 ($168).
+ All events include a welcome drink.
Bookings
+ To make a booking and secure your tickets to the Sumba Food Festival, contact the team at Cap Karoso via reservations@capkaroso.com or +62 811-386-260 (WhatsApp).
+ For more information visit capkaroso.com.
More from the region
+ Renata Perino finds the slice of paradise she has imagined since childhood on Sumba Island.
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