QIFF 2015 continues to attract thousands of visitors

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Live cooking demonstrations and a series of entertainment shows at the Museum of Islamic Art Park continue to attract a large number of visitors who spent the evening with their families at the second day of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2015.

Guests and cooking enthusiasts took time to watch internationally renowned chefs cook fresh and sumptuous food at the Qatar Airways’ (QA) Cooking Theatre.

The 30-minute live cooking demonstrations hosted by QA chefs Vineet Bhatia and Massimo Capra provided tips on how to prepare delicious recipes at home. The programme runs between 4pm and 9pm until March 28.

Some of the celebrity chefs who will join the duo include Deema Hijjawi from Philips, Salma Soliman and Daad Abu Jaber from pan-Arab culinary television channel Fatafeat, and Frederick from Idam restaurant.

Qatari culinary expert chef Aisha al-Tamimi and chef Fawwaz al-Amim from Kuwait also started a fusion of cookery class yesterday from 2 to 4pm, inspiring enthusiasts to prepare local and Gulf dishes.

The QIFF 2015 has invited professional Qatari chefs to showcase their unique skills at the ice sculpting competition today at 7pm hosted by Qatar Culinary Professionals. The show is free of charge.

Visitors had the chance to showcase their cooking and barbequing prowess on Wednesday at the amateur cooking competition sponsored by Philips.

Organisers are urging people 18 years old and above to join the event which will continue until Friday. It runs from 5:30 to 6pm and another session from 6.30 to 7pm.

Besides food, singers and other artistes continue to entertain a huge audience with their songs and superb performances. Local performers such as a break dance group, musician and a juggler joined the show on stage.

Some stalls at the venue offer unique services aimed at raising awareness on a healthy and active lifestyle. A number of sport activities and games are also organised for children.

While hundreds of visitors savour different dishes offered by five-star hotels, restaurants and other stalls, many also lined up at the Kulluna Healthy Heart campaign booth.

This year’s festival also introduced the Health Truck launched by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, as well as a zone to display organic vegetables.

Visitors and guests can also enjoy English, Chinese and Arabic teas at the High Tea-Lounge Zone any time during the event.

Qatar Tourism Authority has organised a “Homemade Dishes” activity and built a kiosks for top Qatari women chefs who are active on Instagram in a bid to support local culinary talents.

The Doha Film Institute will also present a special selection of film screenings starting today. The charming romantic comedy from India, ‘Lunchbox’ will be screened under the stars. Winner of the Critics Choice award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, the film is set around a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system. It connects a lonely housewife to an office worker played by renowned Indian actor Irffan Khan.

On Friday at 9pm, a special ‘Made in Qatar’ programme will feature a selection of eight short films by Qatar-based film makers.