Dubai is host to a 23-day long food festival from February 6, 2015 to February 28, 2015, that takes you to a culinary trip across the Emirates. In its second edition, Dubai Food Festival is larger, better and tastier.
The festival has an exhaustive list of culinary delights that showcase the best of Dubai. Inspired from 200 nationalities living there, Dubai Food Festival provides a range of flavours that highlight the traditions of the Emirate with a premium taste of hospitality. An art installation of the Dubai skyline and landmarks completely assembled out of food is also on display. Go to Dubai to experience all this and much more and get your Dubai visa without any hassles.
Here are the key events of the festival. Read on to know what’s happening where.
With a view of Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah, soak in a perfect beach party for adults and kids alike. Be sure to witness a never-seen-before atmosphere at the Kite Beach with a line-up of musicians, films and family entertainers. The location will also be host to nice delicious homegrown restaurant concepts and celebrity chef pop-up stalls
The Beach Canteen Pop-up activations will include:
• 6 - 7 February - Saudi Top Chef Yousef Khamayes
• 9 February - Taste of Peru celebrity chef
• 13 – 14 February – The Inventing Room Pop up
• 21 February – Sanjeev Kapoor
• 22 – 25 February – Chef Manal
• 26 – 28 February - Jason Atherton
• 16 February – Good Day out with Good Magazine
• 20 February – Photography talk with award-winning photographer Penny De La Santos
• 22 February – Dubai Ladies Club Luncheon with Chef Manal
Ticketing Information: Free entry.
2. Dubai Food & Film, 6 – 28 February (various outdoor locations throughout the city)
The following films will be screened:
i. Chef: 8 February: Jumeirah Lakes Towers Park
ii. The Hundred-Foot Journey: 11 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
iii. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: 13 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
iv. No Reservations: 15 February: Jumeirah Lakes Towers Park
v. The Trip: 18 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
vi. Ratatouille: 20 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
vii. Daawat-e-Ishq (Festival of Love): 20 February: Masala! Food Fair, Zabeel Park
viii. Julie & Julia: 21 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
ix. Chocolat: 23 February: Jumeirah Lakes Towers Park
x. The Trip to Italy: 25 February: Beach Canteen, Kite Beach
xi. The President’s Chef: 28 February: Made In Dubai, Zabeel Park
Ticketing Information: Free to attend
3. Urban Bazaar, 6 February – The Archive, Safa Park & 27 February – Creekside, Bur Dubai
The inaugural and closing ceremonies of the Dubai Food Festival 2015 are marked by celebration of Middle Eastern food cuisines and the urban street food. Clocking 12 hours from 10 am to 10 pm, the events will host 10-12 stalls on each day.
Ticketing Information: Free entry.
4. Food Truck Convoy, 8 – 12, 15 – 19, 22 – 26 February (throughout the city)
In alignment with the food truck dining that is taking countries like UK, US and Australia by storm, Dubai has come up with its very own food convoy offering cuisines from around the world. A lunchtime pop-up food market will navigate throughout the city with a fleet of trucks filled with food. The food truck will be stationed at the following destinations
• Every Sunday: Emaar Boulevard
• Every Monday: Academic City (Zayed University and KHDA building)
• Every Tuesday: JLT Park
• Every Wednesday: Knowledge Village, beside the Gloria Hotel and beside the Cisco building
• Every Thursday: Studio City
Timings: 11.30am – 4pm
Ticketing Information: Free entry
Hosted by Lime&Tonic, the event has been curated for 5 mystery tours that take you through a unique dining experience in Dubai. From local cuisine to street food, each tour is tailored to tantalise your taste buds.
Ticketing Information: Different for each event
6. Dubai Food Carnival, 12 – 14 February, Dubai International Marine Club
The Dubai Food Carnival will showcase the best of global cuisines from over 20 countries. The fusion of elements is clubbed together with cooking competitions, celebrity chefs cook-offs, live music, kid zone and much more.
Ticketing Information: AED 30. Kids below 12 go free.
Taste of Peru is will take you on a Peruvian gastronomical journey through various dishes of Peru. Various preparations of ceviche and tiradito, causa, quinotto and empanadas will be on the platter.
Ticketing Information: Free entry.
8. Street Food Photography Exhibition (dates throughout February, Dubai Airport)
Myriad of cultures, cuisines and colours captured by the awards winning street-food photographer Penny De La Santos will be showcased at the Dubai International Airport. 30 photos will take you through the 200 nationalities that represent Dubai.
9. Fatafeat Kitchen, 20 – 21 February, Galeries Lafayette, The Dubai Mall
Dubai’s successful homegrown food channel Fatafeat has joined hands with Dubai Food Festival to bring together 9 celebrity chefs for Fatafeat Kitchen’s stage shows between 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Live demos, book signing sessions, Q&A round will also be a part of this event.
The line-up of 9 Arabic and international chefs include:
• Chef Mohamed Orfali – Heston Blumenthal for Modern Arabic cuisine
• Chef Wafaa Al Kandari – The authentic expert on Khaleeji cuisine
• Chef Salma Soliman – The modern housewife for Egyptian cuisine
• Chef Aya Enani – Cooking with and for the under 15s
• Chef Layla Fathallah Bayoon – Cooking for newlyweds
• Chef Da’ad Abu-Jaber – International Cuisine with an Arabic twist
• Chef Houriya Zannoun – The Mistress of Baking
• Chef Tarek Ibrahim – The Master of Meat
• Chef Andrew Mitchell – Real men can cook – quick and easy recipes for bachelors
Ticketing Information: Free entry.
10. Street Nights, 20 – 21 February, Street 4B, Al Quoz
A confluence of arts, music and culture, Street Nights brings together street art and music with a flavour of food. Live street performances, innovative art works and musical performances will set the moods on the streets. A giant warehouse after-party is also be held, an event that is novel to Middle East.
Ticketing Information: Free entry.
11. Masala! Food Fair, 20 – 21 February, Zabeel Park
A 2-day Indian food fair featuring street food as well as gourmet food will be laid across 20 food stalls in Zabeel Park. Famous actors like Shilpa Shetty and Raveena Tondon will accompany the world famous celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor.
Ticketing Information: Free entry (AED5 charge applies for entering Zabeel Park).
12. Made In Dubai, 27 – 28 February, Zabeel Park
Made in Dubai brings to you Emirati cuisine from burgeoning as well as established talents. The event infuses traditional and derived modern versions of the Emirati world. The event brings perfect conclusion to the Dubai Food Festival.
Ticketing Information: Free entry (However, AED5 charge applies for entering Zabeel Park).
Dine On The Creek is a beguiling dining experience in a boat on the Dubai Creek. Dine on the Creek brings celebrities on board to cook internationally renowned cuisines. Embark on this experience to get insights into recipes of the internationally acclaimed chefs.
• 10 February – Yousef Khumayes aboard Rustar Restaurant Dhow
Ticket Price: 350 AED per ticket
• 18 February – Sanjeev Kapoor aboard Al Mansour Restaurant Dhow
Ticket Price: 185AED per ticket
• 23 February – Manal Al-Alem aboard Al Mansour Restaurant Dhow
Ticket Price: 185AED per ticket
Apart from these events, Dubai Food Festival will also be a part of international conferences and events like GulFood (trade event), Global Restaurant Investment Forum (investment event) and What’s On Black Hat Guide Launch (magazine launch). The grandeur of this event completely proves the adage that ‘food is the way of life!’
Doesn't it sound interesting? So, plan your Dubai holiday and book hotels in Dubai and get Dubai visa within 5 working days.
Author : Winnie Karnik