The Dubai Food Festival brings a world of flavour to our door as part of DSF.
Regardless of skin colour, nationality, gender or age, there is one thing that undisputedly unites the entire world - we all love to eat. The Dubai Food Festival (DFF) celebrates just that.
With evenings of fun, good food and learning, the festival, which started on January 24, brings together people from all over the world to enjoy the wonder of food and the art of cooking.
So what's on the menu? There are a number of tempting options ranging from dinners served with a side of entertainment, a dash of record-breaking behaviour, mouth watering discussions, gourmet food tasting and a dollop of demonstrations by top chefs from Dubai. Add to this generous free tasting sessions, a pinch of fabulous dining offers, a handful of hands-on activities and a jug of entertainment for the kids and it's safe to say you have a recipe which just can't fail.
INSPIRATION
A signature event of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), the week-long event has already attracted people from all over the UAE as well as many tourists and visitors.
Some of the most famous names in the UAE are on hand to offer advice and inspiration to old-hats in the kitchen along with those just starting out.
The official UAE food festival is now in its second year and runs until Saturday, February 2, at Uptown Mirdiff from 4pm to 11pm daily, except Friday when the gates open at 12 noon and close at 11pm.
Award-winning chefs and cookbook authors teach their recipes and offer free samples of the dishes they demonstrate, attracting thousands of attendees from all over the world.
Local exhibitors and restaurants offer free food sampling and special "show" discounts, while food-related stage performances entertain the crowds who wish to simply sit back and enjoy the atmosphere.
New addition
A new addition to the festival, this year has also seen the introduction of the Record-Breaking Food Festival with a Lebanese restaurant making the largest Manakish and a man attempting to hold as many eggs in his hands as possible.
Visitors of all ages have the opportunity to talk to food producers, see and taste the delicious recipes being introduced to the marketplace, and eat at discounted prices.
Luci Parker-Mann, 34, has lived in Dubai for six years and says she has always wanted to improve her skills in the kitchen.
A teacher and mother-of-two, she said: "The festival is wonderful this year. There is so much to see and do that I just can't fit it all in. I came to pick up some tips to improve my cooking and it has been a worthwhile visit. One of the most important things I have learnt is to keep things simple and not get too adventurous - especially when you're cooking for fussy kids!"
Top national experts give talks on health and nutrition, while presenters inspire everyone with their techniques from live cooking stations.
Follow the story of ingredients from food to fork in a series of themed tents from around the world which includes Mexican, Thai, Egyptian, Moroccan, Chinese, Lebanese, Indian, an array of Biryanis, mouth-watering dim sums as well as local food, sweets and much more.
But the best way to learn is by getting stuck in and having a go yourself. At the Market place, taste and compare various kinds of olive oils and preserves, exotic chocolates, as well as coffee and spices.
SIGNATURE DISHES
The Ladies @ 3, a non-profit organisation, sells home-cooked food and gives festival goers the chance to learn about baking and try their hand a cake decorating.
Under the canopy of the main tent, local restaurateurs and chefs prepare their signature dishes and those interested in having a go on the other side of the burner can enter the cooking competitions which give people the chance to test their culinary skills.
You don't have to spend long at the DFF to see the event is about getting the entire family excited about food.
The main aim is to get people back in touch with where food comes from and re-establishing cooking as something we can all do with confidence and pleasure.
And the Dubai Food Festival does just that - target achieved.
For more information about DFF, visit www.dff.ae and for more information about DSF visit www.mydsf.com
