From sacred land to shared tables – exploring Sumba’s food, soul and spirit for a cause
Cap Karoso, the eco-conscious resort redefining luxury on Indonesia’s remote Sumba Island, has unveiled the island’s first-ever international culinary celebration: the Sumba Food Festival. Taking place from 4th – 18th October, the immersive event will gather ten acclaimed chefs from across the Asia-Pacific region, to cook for over 600 guests using native ingredients from Cap Karoso’s three-hectare organic farm and the wider island. Set in one of the world’s most culturally rich and spectacular landscapes, a portion of each festival event will directly fund local community projects, support clean water access, food entrepreneurship, and education.
Marking a first not only for the resort but for the island itself, the Sumba Food Festival will offer over 30 curated culinary experiences, from intimate Four-Hands dinners and ocean-to-table adventures to food safaris through the island’s varied terrain. Each experience is designed to foster a deeper connection with Sumba’s landscape and spirit while celebrating the power of food as a vehicle for community and positive change.
Among the culinary luminaries participating are Michelin-starred and 50 Best chefs including Deepanker Khosla (Haoma, Bangkok), Sun Kim (Meta, Singapore), Mano Thevar (Thevar, Singapore), Janice Wong (2am:dessertbar, Singapore), and Will Goldfarb (Room4Dessert, Bali), recently crowned the world’s best pastry chef. Together, they will collaborate with local producers and ingredients to craft dishes that are both globally refined and deeply rooted in place.
Cap Karoso was founded by two globe-trotting, ethically minded French adventurers, Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara, who holidayed on the island in 2017 and immediately fell for the enchanting allure and the Marapu culture that is woven into Sumba’s fabric. Passionately committed to working in harmony with the indigenous community, Fabrice and Evguenia were clear on the mission from the start: to protect Sumba’s natural treasures and support its communities, whilst immersing their guests in the magic of Sumba. In line with Cap Karoso’s community ethos, proceeds from Sumba Food Festival will support a series of local initiatives chosen in collaboration with community partners, including clean water access in Hameli Ate, nutritional education in schools and sustainable farming workshops. Additionally, the festival will provide seed funding for small food businesses working with native ingredients such as cacao, seaweed, and cashews, allowing businesses to tap into powerful global markets for the first time and in turn, stimulating the local economy.
Alongside its culinary programme, the festival will feature 15 cultural experiences that celebrate the soul of Sumba, from traditional dance performances, visits to local villages, and wellness rituals to DJ sets and film nights under the stars for younger guests. Families are welcome, with dedicated children’s activities that blend play and learning, including farm tours, stargazing, and pastry workshops.
“Cap Karoso was born from a feeling, standing on a beach in Sumba, completely drenched by tropical rain, and sensing something sacred in the stillness. The Sumba Food Festival is a natural extension of that moment. It’s not just a celebration of world-class chefs and bold flavours; it’s a deeper invitation to explore a place that reveals itself slowly. Sumba’s richness isn’t always obvious… But look closer and you’ll find extraordinary ingredients like cacao, vanilla, rosella, cashew nuts, and more. This festival brings those hidden stories to the table, connecting cultures and giving back to the community that welcomed us. For us, hospitality has never been just about rooms or recipes – it’s about creating meaning, together” – Fabrice Ivara, Co-Founder of Cap Karoso.
