QIFF final weekend promises a blend of flavours, music, fun

The final weekend of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2018 willhighlight Canada’s pastry chef Anna Olson’s live demonstration andcooking classes, and the performances of Kuwaiti singer Abdulaziz Louisand Lebanon’s oriental music band Wahdon on stage.QIFF’s Theatre has been continuously bringing internationally renownedchefs to share their culinary skills and tips at the 11-day festival,which has been attracting a large number of visitors from day one. Itwill run until March 25. Olson is set to make her first appearance atthe QIFF Live Cooking Theatre today at 10pm and will return tomorrow(March 23) at 7.20pm and 9pm, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said. Qatar residents and visitors who registered for Olson’s cooking classeswill have the chance to join her for an interactive cooking and tastingexperience. Dubbed as the Food Network’s baking guru, Olson will be atSharq Village & Spa’s Al Dana Restaurant for the last of QIFF’s sixcooking classes. “I’m delighted to be in this beautiful city representing Food Networkand beIN at QIFF. Doha has such a rich culinary tradition, and I can’twait to try your local delicacies, and showcase my favourite bakes fromthe new season of Bake with Anna Olson,” said the celebrated pastry chefin a statement.Lebanon’s Chef Ramzi is also scheduled to make his first live cooking tomorrow at 11pm and on Saturday at 7.30pm.  The culinary event’s first weekend featured Japanese Iron Chef MasaharuMorimoto and IDAM’s Doha-based Executive Chef Damien Leroux, showcasingtheir expertise and creativity at their restaurants at Mondrian Hoteland Museum of Islamic Art. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti singer Abdulaziz Louis will take the centre stagetomorrow, his first appearance in Qatar, to perform live from 9pm to1am. “It’s an honour to have been chosen to be part of this festival. Icame to Qatar excited to meet with my family and friends and promise youall a memorable night of entertainment,” he said in a statement.On March 24, Lebanon’s oriental music band Wahdon will take spectators“back to the golden era of Arabic music” from 9pm to 11pm. Theseven-member band is famous for playing songs from across the Arabworld. “We believe in music as food for the soul which makes it anhonour to be sharing our passion with our audience at Qatar’s biggestfood festival,” members of the band said. Besides offering a myriad of local, regional and international dishes,QIFF 2018 will continue to entertain visitors with fireworks display at8pm in the evening and an array of cultural and entertainment shows,according to QTA.“We are delighted to see thousands of visitors flock to Hotel Park eachday to enjoy a taster of Qatar’s diverse food and beverage offering,”Sara al-Kuwari, QIFF project manager at QTA, said. “As the festivitieswill soon draw to an end, we would like to invite everyone to explorethis different side of food and join us for the festival’s finalweekend,” she added.The festival opens at 4pm and runs until midnight on weekdays (Saturday – Wednesday) and extends to 1am on Thursday and Friday.