Food festival to promote Qatar as 'world-class hub'

Three renowned chefs show their cooking prowess at a press conference. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter

A variety of food offerings, entertainment shows, and live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs are among the highlights of the sixth edition of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2015.
Set from March 24 to 28 at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) park, the much-anticipated and crowd-puller event will be held for five days with a larger number of restaurants, exhibitors and unique entertainment shows this year.
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways (QA), as co-organiser, are expecting huge number of tourists from the region to visit the festival.
“The QIFF 2015 will bring together the world's culinary cultures in a unique event that reflects Qatar's diversity and rich culture,” said QTA’s chief marketing and promotions officer Rashed al-Qurese at a press conference on Wednesday. “The festival will allow us to promote Qatar as a world-class hub with deep cultural roots.”
He noted that they worked hard to make the sixth edition bigger and more exciting this year. QTA wants the event to be a milestone in the agenda of tourism activities in Qatar and the region.
The QIFF 2015 will host a total of 48 stalls that include the international zone (31 stands), Qatar/Turkey zone (four stands), Qatar/Turkey (three tents) and Instagram Market (10 stands).
A range of entertainment activities will take place at the Welcome and Stage zones where visitors, especially families, can relax and watch the shows.
Al-Qurese said five-star hotels will serve almost all the international dishes at the international zone at reasonable prices. Meanwhile, the food zone will host high-profile restaurants which will serve premium food.
As part of the Turkey-Qatar Year of Culture, the Turkey-Qatar zone will offer authentic Turkish and Qatari food in a traditional Qatari tent.
The live cooking zone is also expected to enthral spectators with actual cooking demonstrations by celebrity and local chefs.
The QIFF 2015 will also build a high tea lounge zone that hosts a double-deck tent with shaded terrace: the ground floor will host food stalls while the first floor will offer premium English, Chinese and Arabic tea at any time during operating hours.
Visitors will also see top Qatari chefs who are active on Instagram preparing local dishes live at the Instagram Market.
Al-Qurese said they are supporting local culinary talents and intend to promote the festival on social media channels by allowing Instagram users to exchange ideas and thoughts about the event.
The water zone, sponsored by the Diplomatic Club, will include festival attendee favourites, Barbeque Donuts and Dinner on a Dhow.
The Dinner on a Dhow on the sea is a perfect mixture of fine dining and a touch of local and regional culture. A traditional dhow will be fitted out with tables, seating and buffet sections as well as barbecue and cooking facilities.
The health truck of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, which roams around Doha to raise awareness on healthy living, will stay at the health zone to showcase internationally certified organic vegetables provided by Al Safwa Farm.
Singers as well as regional and international music bands will also participate in the festival's entertainment shows by performing popular tunes and traditional shows.
Cultural partners of the festival include the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, the Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture, MIA and the Doha Film Institute.