1 November 2021
Laksa-lovers can begin voting for their favourite dish from today, with the 2021 Darwin International Laksa Festival officially underway.
New features of the festival this year include The Laksa Wheel of Fortune, which will be positioned in the Smith Street Mall to help voters choose their next tasty fix. A digital wheel is also available to spin on the website.
Festival Day attendees will also have the opportunity to enter a competition from Laksa Festival sponsor Yknot, which includes a full day Fishing Charter for 8 people with Yknot Fishing Charters and also a one night stay at the new Yknot Gateway at Dundee Beach for up to 20 guests.
The month-long festival encourages Territorians and visitors to download the Darwin International Laksa Festival app, visit local eateries, taste laksa-inspired recipes and vote for their favourite concoction. It celebrates our multicultural community and supports small business and jobs through our love for laksa.
The competition which is in its third year, has been expanded from Darwin to include the whole of the Territory, with the Best Regional Laksa category added.
This year there has been a record 93 entries from 63 businesses right around the Territory.
For the overall Golden Bowl winner, top secret 'Laksa Ninjas' will be visiting registered eateries through the month and shortlisting the best of the best.
Each venue will be visited by multiple secret Ninjas at different times, and scores tallied to determine the top 10 laksa venues that go onto the shortlist.
The top 10 venues will then participate in a blind tasting by an expert panel of judges, to decide the 2021 Golden Bowl winner, which has gone to Chok's Place two years in a row.
The festival will culminate on Festival Day on 28 November with category winners announced at Laksa Park in front of Parliament House.
Quotes from Chief Minister Michael Gunner:
"This is our biggest and tastiest Laksa Festival to date, which means we're supporting even more jobs and businesses.
"The festival will drive more visitation to restaurants and eateries in the CBD, as well as businesses in regional parts of the Territory who have this year jumped on board.
"What better way to celebrate out love of laksa than hit the road and taste some of the best dishes Territory businesses has got to offer."
Quotes from Minister for Small Business Paul Kirby:
"Territorians, it's that time of the year again where we've got an excuse to eat as much Laksa as we want, and support small businesses in the process!
"This festival gets bigger and better every year, and with record number of entries in 2021, we look forward to activating our CBD with another fantastic event."
