Cover Latinada Festival last year, which took place at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine (Photo: Latinada Festival)
Latinada Festival last year, which took place at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine (Photo: Latinada Festival)
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The much-anticipated Latinada event is taking place at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine from March 21 to 23, with 14 Latin American chefs whipping up nostalgic street food dishes from their home countries
Daniel and Tamara Chavez, the brains behind Canchita Peruvian Cuisine and Tinto Spanish restaurant, have always been proud of their Latin American heritage. So, in 2018, they debuted the Latinada Festival in Singapore, gathering their Latin American chef friends based in Asia for a celebration of their heritage through food, drinks and music. The culinary event was a huge success, so for its fourth edition this year, it has evolved into a street food and music festival happening at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine from March 21 to 23.
“We started the Latinada Festival with the purpose of promoting Latin American food in Asia. In time we have managed to create an inclusive community that enjoys several aspects of the Latino flavour,” shares Daniel.
For this year’s lineup, 14 chefs hailing from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina Chile and Venezuela will whip up nostalgic street food dishes from their home countries, paired with cocktails inspired by Latin American flavours at the Amazon Room and Inka Room.
Read more: Meet Tamara Chavez, the chef-owner of Canchita and Tinto who turned adversity into opportunity
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Taking over the Inka Room are chefs Abel Ortiz, the chef-founder of Chullschick in Bangkok; Franco Aldana, the executive chef of Feliz in Kuala Lumpur; Carlos Rodriquez, the chef de cuisine of Seen Restaurant in Bangkok; and Maribel Colmenares, the co-founder of Mami’s Tamales in Singapore. Both Ortiz and Aldana will prepare unique versions of the quintessential ceviche, while Rodriguez will whip his popular tuna tostadas finished with truffle paste and togarashi. The team from Canchita will sweeten up the party with the tres leches, an indulgent coconut cake topped with mixed berries compote and vanilla cream, as well as chocolate cake with mixed berries compote and hazelnut crumble.
At the Amazon Room, you can expect Beto Garcia, the chef of La Lupita in Bangkok to whip up soft tacos bursting with beef cheek and chorizo, while Mauricio Espinoza from Papi’s Tacos in Singapore’s soft tacos brim with beef and Papi’s secret sauce. Tamara will complete the feast with her tortilla taco stuffed with crispy fish, pico de gallo, lemon mayo and cabbage. As for Daniel, he will bring back his iconic Latino Paella prepared according to the flavour of the day.
The Latinada Festival has grown so much since its launch in 2018, that Tamara and Daniel are bringing it to Dusit Thani Bangkok on October 18 and 19. Shares Tamara: “I always felt that being Latin American was special in so many ways. Being able to share our culture in Asia is for me an honour, a responsibility and it also brings me joy.”
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Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
