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Founder and Director of the Ubud Food Festival Janet DeNeefe (third from left) at the 2024 Ubud Food Festival in Gianyar, Bali, on May 30, 2024. (Photo by: ANTARA/Luh Putu Anggreny/wsj).

VOINews, Jakarta: Food lovers from near and far gathered at the 2024 Ubud Food Festival (UFF), drawing culinary aficionados, both local and international, to witness a dazzling array of local and global gastronomic talents in action.

As reported by Antara,This year's UFF, themed "Take it to the Streets," was an exploration of the flavors of street food in Indonesia, where every bite reflected the rich tradition, innovation, and sheer happiness derived from food.

Foodies at the festival were spoilt for choice in terms of the plethora of Indonesian street food and had the opportunity to meet the finest culinary figures of Asia.

The 2024 Ubud Food Festival provided a space for business owners and culinary brands, both local and foreign, to promote their products to culinary lovers and visitors.

At the event, local and global culinary brands associated themselves with top chefs, restaurant owners, academics, and culinary entrepreneurs, creating a colorful culinary collaboration.

UFF founder and director Janet DeNeefe said she was happy to invite local and foreign visitors to experience the richness of Indonesian cuisine, which ranged from traditional to new-fangled culinary creations.

Visitors could savor Indonesian meatballs, Indonesian pancakes "martabak" that were nothing short of a feast for the taste buds, the legendary culinary delicacy of babi guling, and vegan snacks that can be consumed without guilt. The event was held to ensure satisfied faces and full bellies.

Food For Thought, an interesting discussion session to explore insights, became a platform for producers and consumers to share stories with one another, build networking, and realize a dynamic and sustainable culinary industry. This is in line with the UFF goal to celebrate street food in Indonesia and the richness of gastronomy.

Indonesian gastronomy has come under the spotlight owing to its plethora of foods prepared with abundant spices and are emblematic of cultural philosophies.

Entering its sixth year, the latest edition of the festival was held on May 31, 2024, which kicked off with a press conference and the opening of food booths. It was held until June 2, 2024, with a variety of programs that presented new and prominent culinary talents from Indonesia along with Asia's best chefs and Michelin star award recipients.

This year, the festival opened its doors as wide as possible by offering free admission. The festival officially opened at Titik Dua, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, on Thursday, May 29, 2024, with the launch of an exhibition of mural works in collaboration with this year's festival committee.

The festival offered a platform for local culinary business players to promote themselves. Visitors could find a variety of local authentic specialties.

The 2024 UFF was an opportunity to introduce and praise the rich culinary arts of Indonesia. With a blend of culinary tourism, education, and community empowerment, the 2024 UFF was a must-visit agenda in Bali.//Antara/VOI