Photos: Abdul Basit © The Peninsula
Food enthusiasts all over Qatar and other GCC countries have extra opportunity to enjoy sampling some of the best culinary masterpieces in the country’s burgeoning food scene as Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) opened its longest edition yet yesterday.
With over 130 food stalls, trucks and carts dotting the 80,000sqm scenic Hotel Park which provides a fresh take on the festival’s eight-year journey towards becoming the most anticipated and biggest culinary extravaganza in the country which attracts foodies from neighbouring countries.
Restaurants at hotels and malls which have made their mark in the culinary scene along with up and coming food outlets have joined this edition of the festival under the theme “A different side of food.”
Festival-goers are spoilt for options with a variety of signature dining experiences including Dinner in the Sky, Garden Picnics and High-Tea/Fine Dining.
Food and beverages offered at the stalls, food trucks and carts are priced between QR5 to QR35, while Dinner in the sky is available at QR500.
Some the world’s top chefs are featured at QIFF Cooking Theatre which runs live demonstrations daily from 4pm to 9.30pm. Food Network’s Andy Bates and Graham Elliot are among the celebrity chefs who will take to the stage to share their secret ingredients and techniques.
Mashal Shahbik, Director of Festivals and Tourism Events commented, “The QIFF Cooking Theatre is a long-standing feature of the Festival and we are excited to bring it back this year with a slew of world-renowned chefs. The variety of cuisines, skills and techniques offers something for everyone. It is truly a space for connoisseurs and novices alike to learn all about how to handle, prepare, cook, present and even photograph food.”
Elliot, who is one of the most recognised cooks in America today, will take to the Cooking Theatre stage twice on the first weekend of QIFF: tomorrow 8pm and again on Saturday at 7pm.
Later in the week, Bates, a champion of British food and family-style cooking is set to take to the stage for three consecutive days. Fans can catch him presenting live on Monday at 9pm then on Tuesday at 8pm and finally on Wednesday at 9pm.
The QIFF Cooking Theatre will also feature chefs from neighbouring countries such as Kuwaiti Cook, Fawaz AlOmaim and Queen of the Arabian Kitchen, Chef Manal Al Alem. Adding a dash of oriental spice, Indian celebrity Chef, Sanjeev Kapoor will also appear on the Theatre.
A series of Chef’s Table events are being held at select five-star hotel restaurants, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy special live cooking and dining experiences with internationally-acclaimed chefs.
Other attractions at the festival are the signature Live Cooking Theatre, fireworks display, and screenings of food-related and international movies by Doha Film and Institute, Siraj - Qatar Foundation’s new 3D animation edutainment TV series and Baraem shows by Jeem TV.
Festival organisers have partnered with UBER to provide registered QIFF-goers 20 percent discount using the promocode QIFF2017 throughout the festival. Additionally, first-time users of the application will receive up to a QR40 off on their first trip to the festival.
