Food Talks & Workshops

Ombak: A Communal Food, Sensory & Tasting Experience

by Lukman Hakim (UNTA Aromatics), Suria Insyirah (Dapur Cahaya)
17 May • 10:30am

Participants are introduced to coastal-inspired scents by Lukman Hakim of UNTA Aromatics, evoking memories of familiar ingredients, followed by a live demonstration of pepes ikan daun pisang by Chef Suria of Dapur Cahaya. They engage through smell and observation before concluding with a communal tasting.

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Register here: https://ombak.eventbrite.com

Sunday (17 May): 10.30am - 12.30pm

Ombak is a two-hour communal food, sensory, and tasting experience that brings together scent, cooking, and memory. 

The session begins with a guided scent experience by Lukman Hakim of UNTA Aromatics, introducing participants to coastal-inspired aromas that evoke familiarity with notes of herbs, spices, banana leaves, and the sea. This segment invites participants to slow down and engage with scent as an entry point into the experience. 

Following this, Chef Suria of Dapur Cahaya presents a live demonstration of pepes ikan daun pisang, a dish found across the Nusantara where ingredients are wrapped in banana leaves and gently cooked to allow flavours to infuse. Participants observe the preparation of the spice paste, the handling of the fish, and the wrapping technique, while engaging with key ingredients through smell and observation. 

The programme focuses on a clear, demonstration-led approach, allowing participants to follow the process closely while experiencing the ingredients through their senses. Rather than a hands-on format, the session encourages attentive observation and sensory engagement. 

The experience concludes with a communal tasting of the prepared dish, where participants are invited to reflect on how scent, flavour, and cooking techniques come together, and how these elements can evoke memory and familiarity. 

Lukman Hakim (UNTA Aromatics)

Lukman Hakim is a Singapore-based perfumer, creative entrepreneur, and founder of UNTA Aromatics, boutique fragrance house inspired by travel, culture, and the spirit of modern nomads. Blending artistry with storytelling, he creates scents that capture places, memories and natural elements—from desert landscapes to tropical shores. Beyond perfumery, Lukman is also a performer and creative storyteller, known for weaving together scent, culture and sensory experiences.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/unta_aromatics

Suria Insyirah (Dapur Cahaya)

Suria Insyirah is a cook and founder of Dapur Cahaya, a community-rooted culinary platform dedicated to exploring and celebrating Malay cuisine. Her work explores the ingredients, techniques and living traditions that shape Malay cooking and its connections throughout the Nusantara. Through workshops, research and shared meals, she curates spaces for curiosity and exploration, inviting communities to reconnect with food through taste, memory and the experience of sharing a meal together.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/cahayaa.kitchen





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