Dubai: Dubai residents and visitors who trooped to the Mall of the Emirates last night were treated to a seven-minute laser and animation show that marked the grand opening of the Food Surprises Week.
Weekend shoppers also enjoyed a variety of cuisines at the food stations and witnessed the formal cutting of a huge cake during the ceremony that was attended by VIPs and officials of Dubai Department of Tourism and Marketing (DTCM). Each evening until the end of the Food Surprises Week on July 12, residents and visitors can enjoy the culinary delights from across the globe, to be dished out by over 600 chefs at five of Dubai's shopping malls Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, BurJuman, Deira City Centre and Mercato.
With a budget of Dh5 million, Food Surprises organisers have lined up 300 activities to entertain people of different nationalities and age groups.
"Attractive prizes await the winners of different competitions to be conducted in association with the participating companies during the week," said Marwan Bin Beyat, DTCM events manager and chairman of the Food Surprises committee. Aisha Mohammad Bin Tayeb, the Food Surprises committee coordinator, said live cookery shows, plays and displays of international cuisines are sure to appeal most of the visitors.
"Food decoration and ice and butter sculptures would also be a major crowd drawer," Bin Tayeb added. One of the event sponsors, Nestle, has put up a "City of Gold" at the Mall of the Emirates, where chefs recreate the major tourist attractions of Dubai with Maggi cubes. The City of Gold will be given to a winner, to be selected through a raffle draw.
Nestle will host shows in Asian Food, and market chocolate bags, the proceeds of which will go to charity. The Emirates Culinary Guild will hone the skills of international chefs by organising the "Kitchen of International Food."
Braun, Better Life and Siemens also joined the DTCM as sponsors of the Food Surprises Week, in addition to those who have been working with the department over the years Jumeirah, Emirates Culinary Guild, Intercontinental Hotel Dubai, Bab Al Shams, Nestle, Abela and Paris Gallery.
The Week is also being supported by Park Hyatt, Grosvenor House, Kempinski Mall of the Emirates and Chelsea. Avari Dubai and Lotus hotels will participate in different activities for the first time.
