Qatar international food fest draws more than 32,000

A chef pours batter to make Belgian waffles, which have turned out to be a crowd favourite at the Qatar International Food Festival held at the Museum of Islamic Art Park. PICTURE: Peter Alagos

By Peter Alagos

Business Reporter

The fifth instalment of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), which opened on Thursday, attracted more than 32,000 visitors on the second day alone, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) announced.

The four-day gastronomic fest has gathered some 15 hotels and at least 12 restaurants, which are showcasing epicurean delicacies that satisfies even the most exquisite palate.

The fusion of flavours provided by the participating Qatar-based hotels ranges primarily from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine while the restaurants offered a variety of pastries, snacks, pastas, gourmet fast foods and ice cream, among others.

An American visitor said she marvelled at the affordable prices of the food sold by participating hotels at the food fest. “Almost all of the food they sell here are well-priced and budget friendly,” she said.

Toufik Imam Shaikh, a sous chef at Oryx Rotana, told Gulf Times his love for cooking Mediterranean cuisine stems from the rich, exotic flavours and the intricacies involved in preparing each dish.

He added that the food festival is an opportune moment to showcase the multiplicity of cuisine that Qatar has to offer.

Last night’s long queue at the Grand Heritage Doha stall, kept its staff busy serving Belgian waffles, which seems to be one of the favourites of most visitors. One of the chefs revealed that for the second day alone, the hotel had already consumed more than 100 kilos of batter. “Some customers had to wait for 15 to 30 minutes just to get their orders,” he said.

The event was also highlighted by novelty ways to enjoy fine dining — with a twist.

The “Dinner in the Sky” is a three-course meal that is taken 40 metres above the ground. Guests are seated in a platform that is slowly raised by a crane giving everyone a breathtaking view of the city, particularly the nightscape of the West Bay area.The food festival was not only a blending of flavours but also a fusion of cultures.

The events at the Museum of Islamic Art Park were aplenty and bursting with lights and colour through performances from Brazil, Qatar and Italy, among others.

Children also had a swell time with both the sweet delights and the abundance of playgrounds, kiddie shows and photo opportunities with mascots and other cartoon characters.