3 November 2022
Now in its fourth year, the Darwin International Laksa Festival is back; celebrating our multicultural community and its shared love of Laksa.
This year the Festival spans across the Territory with participating venues in Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs vying for the title of Best Regional Laksa.
Featuring a month-long Food Tour, the Festival encourages people to eat, vote for and enjoy Darwin's signature dish; laksa. Once the community have tasted as many dishes as possible, they are encouraged to vote for their favourite laksa and inspired-by dish using the Golden Bowl vote via the app, to go in the draw to win a trip for two to Timor Leste.
A record number of inspired-by dishes have been entered this year including Laksa Arancini, Laksagna, Coconut Laksa Panna Cotta, Laksa Iced Coffee, Sweet and Chilli Laksa waffles, Laksa Chicken Nuggets, Laksa Buco, Laksa Chicken Pizza and more.
There are two categories to enter in this year's Festival: Best Laksa and Best 'Inspired By' Laksa dish, with the festival featuring more than 88 dishes from 70 local businesses, and welcoming Malaysian Celebrity Chef, Sherson Lian, who will promote a number of participating food venues throughout the Food Tour, and present a cooking demonstration on Festival Day.
The Festival culminates on Sunday 27 November with Darwin's best Laksa restaurants, market vendors, eateries and the community uniting for a Grand Finale Festival Day to celebrate everything laksa.
Quotes from Chief Minister Natasha Fyles:
"The Laksa Festival not only supports local business it encourages Territorians to continue visiting our food outlets while also exploring parts of the Territory. November is usually one of our quieter times of year, that's why it's important that we have events like this running.
"This year the Laksa trail will travel to in Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs, really highlighting our multicultural communities throughout the entire NT.
"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."
Quotes from Minister for Business, Jobs and Training 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 local businesses in the process!
"I encourage all business to have a go in this year's laska festival and even if you don't traditionally sell a Laksa, there's plenty of scope to be creative and add something to your menu for a month."
Northern Territory Government
