World-Class Celebrity Chefs to turn up the heat

A world-class line up of international celebrity chefs such as Vineet Bhatia, Nirmine Hanno and Mohammad Orfali are among the top names participating in the 10th edition of the Sharjah Food Festival from March 31st until April 9th, daily from 5pm until 11pm. The festival, organized by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), will take place in four destinations across Sharjah; Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Montazah and Heart of Sharjah and will host live cookery demonstrations and multiple culinary activities as well as entertainments for foodies and restaurant-lovers of all ages.

Vineet Bhatia, one of the celebrity chefs participating at the Sharjah Food Festival 2016, is renowned for being the only Indian chef to have received a Michelin star for each of his two restaurants, and known for critics branding him as the “master” of modern progressive Indian food. Nirmine Hanno ( Egyption chef) has held many titles over her prestigious career portfolio, which included becoming the Editor-in-Chief of Fatafeat, a popular food magazine, and Executive Chef and Consumer Relations Manager at Unilever Arabia for Knorr. Hanno also published and her very own cookbook, “Wala Bil Ahlam”, which received recognition and won the Gourmad World Cookbook Award. Mohammad Orfali a well-known celebrity chef from Syria, he currently holds the position of the Head Culinary Content at Fatafeat TV, and he is also the author of the first cookbook on Aleppian Cuisine, “Ana Halabi”.

Furthermore to the world-class and most distinguished chefs line up for this year’s Sharjah Food Festival, Aisha Altamimi, a chef from Qatar is also set to make her appearance at the festival. Altamimi was a key figure at the Noor Festival in the UK, and was known for training Italian chefs in Qatari cuisines at the Milan Expo. Issa Allamki ( a chef from Oman), who began cooking since the age of 14 years old and known for being the first chef to cook at the Four Seasons hotel in Saudi Arabia, will also be sharing his exquisite culinary practices and famous dishes with visitors at the festival. Ali Abdullah Saleh Al-Ali ( a chef from Saudi Arabia), another celebrity chef to appear at the festival, is known for hosting the Ramadan Food Program for Bahrain TV, Dubai TV and 1st Saudi Channel. Finally, the line-up will also feature Wafa Alkandari ( a chef from Kuwait), Sami Al Sherida ( chef from Kuwait), Chef Salwa Al Araifi from Bahrain and Bader Najeeb Al Awadhi ( Chef from UAE).

Food lovers of all ages will experience one of the most diverse culinary experiences, as chefs participating this year will provide a variety of world-class signature dishes representing various nationalities and cultures. Celebrity chefs will host cooking-class themed events, welcoming the public to visit and learn unique methods to cook selected dishes.

Restaurant lovers can also indulge in their dining experiences by exploring the new line up of food kiosks and food vendors, offering visitors a multi-cultural and multi-national food experience.

Visitors at the Sharjah Food Festival can participate in different entertainment events such as learning how to practice the art of food, fruits and ice-carving, and cookery competitions hosted by celebrity chefs and other famous media personalities.

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said, “This year’s line-up promises a newer and more diverse culinary experience to visitors of all ages and food interests. We welcome all the celebrity and world-renowned chefs taking part in the Sharjah Food Festival, and look forward to the vibrant joy they will be sharing with visitors with their world-class signatures dishes. The 10th edition of the festival marks a bigger and more energetic event for food-lovers and restaurant-lovers in the UAE.”

He added: “Shurooq’s objectives through this event is to create a platform for new and existing culinary companies and world-class restaurant to exhibit their products to a consumer market that’s hungry for diversity and delicious culinary experiences. Also, our aim is to ensure that tourists and leisure travellers in Sharjah and the UAE enjoy a genuine taste of the emirate’s entertainments and festivities. This plays a vital role in achieving the goal of promoting Sharjah as the region’s premiere family and tourism destination.”

The festival is a unique event that includes various fun and entertaining activities. It will feature a host of live shows, performances and competitions for kids. Visitors will get the opportunity to meet international chefs from all over the world, and explore the art of cooking and try different food, dishes and cooking styles. It seeks to diversify family and individual activities in the emirate of Sharjah and promote tourism and commerce all across the region.

Sharjah Food Festival’s activities and events were previously only held in Al Qasba since its launch in 2007. However, Shurooq’s management decided to spread the range of the festival’s activities during the ninth edition, to take place in four of Sharjah’s tourism destinations, due to the remarkable success the festival achieved in the first eight editions, and the great turn out of visitors and tourists. This urged Shurooq, and other supporting bodies and institutions to add new activities each year, including the participation of regional and

international celebrity chefs who visit Sharjah to demonstrate their expertise in the culinary art.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is the driving force behind the transformation of Sharjah into an investment, tourist and business destination. Shurooq also works dedicatedly to evaluate and follow-up on tourism, investment, and heritage-related infrastructure projects, as well as to contribute to the comprehensive development of the emirate. It provides facilities related to investment activity in collaboration with other bodies and organisations through the setting up of a comprehensive information centre that highlights investment opportunities in the emirate of Sharjah.