Familiar Flavours, Fresh Ideas: The Grand Nusantara Festival at Permata

A familiar dish can bring back a memory. A new combination can make you pause over the menu. At Permata, the Grand Nusantara Festival brings both to its Nusantara buffet in Singapore, pairing nostalgia with creative interpretations.

From 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, Permata presents the Grand Nusantara Festival, curated by Chef Mel Dean, Culinary Director of Permata Singapore. It celebrates nostalgic favourites and creative interpretations of Nusantara flavours.

Start With What You Know

The festival page names Tulang Merah and Nyonya Fried Mee Siam as nostalgic favourites. If those names feel familiar, they offer a way into the menu. You can begin with a favourite and see what else catches your eye as you browse the menu.

During this festival, the current menu’s “Signature Creations” section lists Beef Rendang Cottage Pie and Thai Green Curry Chicken Calrose Risotto, alongside Tulang Merah and Nyonya Fried Mee Siam. The festival menu also notes that some items may be substituted with an equivalent if unavailable.

There is no need to choose between nostalgia and novelty. The festival places both in one menu. You might start with a familiar item name or browse the menu’s section headings to see what interests you. The point is not to find one item representing the celebration. Enjoy the range.

The Wider Nusantara Table

Nusantara is commonly used for Maritime Southeast Asia and the interconnected communities of the Malay world. Permata’s Nusantara story describes the term through this shared regional setting. It gives the festival a wider frame than one national cuisine.

The National Heritage Board’s overview of Malay cuisine in Singapore explains that Malay cuisine has absorbed influences from different communities and cultures, including traditions associated with Malaysia, Sumatra and Java. It also notes that recipes are passed down and adapted to individual tastes. Food traditions can be carried forward while continuing to change.

In Malay cuisine in Singapore, rice is often served with an array of side dishes shaped by different flavour bases. The Heritage Board highlights chilli, coconut, tamarind, tomato, dark soy and turmeric. This is a useful cultural reference for reading the festival’s wide spread, while keeping clear that Malay cuisine is one tradition within the broader Nusantara region.

The menu’s dessert section includes several choices; Festive Fruit Cake is one example. Other parts of the menu are organised under headings such as Seafood & Salad, DIY Stations, Hearty Dishes Station and Signature Creations. The menu notes that its Grill Station is available for dinner buffet only.

A Festival Worth Exploring

The Grand Nusantara Festival is a seasonal invitation to see what Permata is presenting now. You do not need to plan every choice in advance. Look through the current selection, notice what feels familiar and leave room for something unexpected.

Whether this is your first visit or a return to Gedung Kuning, the menu offers a new way to enjoy Permata’s Nusantara dining experience. Check the current festival menu, read the festival details and reserve your table.