This Halloween season, Singapore’s dining scene is getting a soulful twist, and it’s one that reaches back over 2,000 years. Long before costumes and candy, Halloween began as Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), Ireland’s ancient harvest festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It was a time when communities gathered around fires to share food, celebrate abundance, and honour the turning of the year.

Now, that spirit of gathering and gratitude is being rekindled across some of Singapore’s most celebrated restaurants. From 15 October to 15 November 2025, Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board) presents A Taste of Ireland: Samhain Edition — a month-long culinary celebration inviting Singaporeans to rediscover the roots of Halloween through the flavours of modern Ireland.

Partnering with six top restaurants, including Cygnet by Sean Connolly, Brasserie Astoria, Carnaby, UMMI Beirut, Boaters Bar at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, and Morsels — the initiative spotlights Ireland’s finest produce: grass-fed beef, tender duck, creamy dairy, and pristine Atlantic oysters.

Each chef has crafted exclusive dishes inspired by the season of harvest, creating menus that feel both rooted and revelatory.

At Carnaby, British-born Chef Adam Penney adds a playful twist to Irish flavours. His “What’s the Quack?” ($38) features confit duck leg from the Irish Duck Company, paired with colcannon, charred sprouts, wild blackberries, and a hot honey-thyme jus, an earthy, comforting dish that feels tailor-made for cooler evenings. Pair it with the “Shanky Panky” ($22), a cocktail of Born Irish Whiskey, Shanky Whip, Campari, and blood orange bitters, a cheeky nod to the convivial warmth of an Irish pub.

Over at Boaters Bar at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore’s only floating bar, the theme of land and sea takes delicious form. The Char-Grilled Irish Oysters ($16++ for two) are kissed by flame and brushed with herb butter, while the Irish Duck Breast ($38++) dazzles with a Blackpitts orange reduction and red wine pear — a stunning interplay of smoke, salt, and citrus.

At UMMI Beirut, the spirit of family takes centre stage. Their four-course A Taste of Ireland menu ($88++ per person, served for two) blends Lebanese warmth with Irish ingredients. Expect silky hummus topped with Ostra Regal oysters, spiced duck leg with orange glaze, and Cannoli Baklawa paired with Irish ice cream, all Halal-certified and crafted for shared joy.

Meanwhile, Cygnet by Sean Connolly transforms Irish comfort into contemporary elegance with a seared Irish fillet on buttery colcannon and whiskey cream sauce ($68). It’s the kind of dish that demands slow conversation and good company.

And at Brasserie Astoria, within the grand halls of Victoria Theatre, the Aged Irish Duck arrives golden and glistening, served with browned butter hollandaise and pommes frites, a refined homage to Ireland’s autumn tables.

Behind the rich flavours and seasonal comfort lies a deeper commitment, one to the land itself. Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme is the world’s first national food and drink sustainability initiative, uniting over 61,000 farmers and 300 food companies in a shared promise to care for the environment and future generations.

“From the Atlantic coast to Singapore’s dining tables, A Taste of Ireland brings together chefs who share our belief that great food begins with great integrity,” says Lisa Phelan, Bord Bia’s Southeast Asia Director. “These collaborations reflect the shared respect for provenance, creativity, and sustainability that define both Irish producers and Singapore’s culinary leaders.”

Whether it’s the smoky oysters at Sentosa, the whiskey cream sauce at Cygnet, or the pomegranate-glazed duck at UMMI Beirut, A Taste of Ireland: Samhain Edition offers everyone an invitation to slow down, gather close, and savour the connection between culture and cuisine. Because while Halloween may have evolved into a night of costumes and candy, its origins remain timeless: food, fire, and fellowship. And this October, Singapore gets to taste it all.

A Taste of Ireland: Samhain Edition runs from 15th October to 15th November 2025 across Cygnet by Sean Connolly, Carnaby, UMMI Beirut, Boaters Bar at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Brasserie Astoria, and Morsels. More information available on their respective websites.