A Singaporean-owned café in Paris, The Hood Paris, will host a Chicken Rice Party on October 7 as part of a global celebration for International Chicken Rice Day on October 10. The event marks the launch of a social media campaign aimed at showcasing the cultural significance and widespread appeal of chicken rice, a dish rooted in Singaporean heritage.
Founded in 2016 by Singaporean entrepreneur Pearlyn Lee, The Hood Paris is a Southeast Asian café and community space dedicated to promoting local and Asian cuisine in the French capital. The Chicken Rice Day initiative is organized in collaboration with the cultural platform BLK65 and The Urbanist Singapore, an independent heritage education and concept practice. The project receives support from the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Global Network.
The campaign invites individuals worldwide to share their personal stories related to chicken rice on social media using the hashtag #1010ChickenRiceDay. Participants are encouraged to describe who introduced them to the dish, where they go when they miss it, or what the meal symbolizes, especially for those living far from home. Restaurants and cooks are also welcome to contribute by sharing their own variations of the dish and the histories behind them. The organizers emphasize that the campaign is not a competition to declare the best chicken rice but rather an effort to create a collective snapshot of how the dish has become part of diverse culinary tables globally.
Ahead of the international observance, The Hood Paris and BLK65 will present a live storytelling session titled "No Seat, No Problem: The Story Behind Singapore’s Hainanese Chicken Rice" on October 7. The event features Singaporean urban and cultural geographer Ho Yong Min—known as Yong—from The Urbanist Singapore. During the presentation, Yong will discuss the dish’s origins and evolution, framing chicken rice as more than just a meal but as a symbol of community resilience. “We want people to understand why it exists at all, and what it says about how a community with no seat at the table builds one anyway,” Yong said, highlighting the broader social narrative tied to the dish.
The Chicken Rice Party will also include culinary and artistic elements. The first 100 guests will receive complimentary portions of chicken rice and housemade kaya, staple offerings since the café’s Paris debut. Lee, who also runs Nonette Banh Mi & Donuts nearby, noted that while the flavors have found enthusiastic audiences, the stories behind them have yet to be fully explored.
Beverages at the event will include a Singapore Fling cocktail, a reinterpretation of the classic Singapore Sling made with Gunpowder Gin from The Orientalist Spirits, a local distillery. Natural wine from French winery Opi d’Aqui’s Grand Jardín label will also be available.
Adding to the cultural atmosphere, Singaporean pianist Wang Congya will perform a specially composed chicken rice-inspired soundtrack, while Berlin-based visual artist Kenn Lam has created chicken and egg-themed prints for the occasion. Entry to the event is free, with food and drinks offered for purchase throughout the evening.