Dubai Food Festival announces line-up for Made in Dubai
The diverse and delicious 2015 edition of the Dubai Food Festival launched on Fridayas the ever-popular Beach Canteen opened the doors to 11 homegrown restaurants on Kite Beach, with Saudi Arabian Super Chef Yousef Khumayes cooking up a weekend of treats. The Emirate’s much-loved weekly farmer’s market, Ripe Food & Craft Market also launched its new Deli Section and the maiden voyage of the Festival’s Food Truck Convoy took place, with a fleet of trucks visiting Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard on Sunday. With the Festival under way, organisers revealed details about the closing event, the new-for-2015 Made In Dubai, which will celebrate Emirati hospitality and cuisine over the course of the weekend of the 27 and 28 February.
Following 21 days of foodie-inspired fun, the free-to-attend Made In Dubai will see Emirati tradition come alive, with authentic local cuisine, appearances from the city’s very own chefs and culinary celebrities and Emirati-inspired performance, fashion and film on offer. Taking place at Zabeel Park between 10am – 9pm on 27 and 28 February, the event will celebrate the 96 dishes synonymous with local cuisine, including Luqaimat and Machbous. Emirati chef and blogger Shaikha Al Ali will also be on hand to showcase traditional dishes as part of an interactive cookery masterclass.
Speaking of the event, Her Excellency Laila Mohammed Suhail, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, organiser of the Dubai Food Festival, said: “To experience Dubai is to experience its food. As a city home to more than 200 nationalities and 5,000 eateries, Dubai’s residents and visitors can eat their way around the world in our Emirate. This year’s Dubai Food Festival is set to celebrate this eclectic offering, and as part of this we are delighted to be showcasing the vibrant and rich culture of the UAE. Emirati cuisine will feature in events and pop-ups throughout the Festival and over the final weekend, the Made In Dubai event will provide a special focus and honour the flavour of Dubai.”
The first day of the inaugural Made in Dubai will also play host to a Junior Chef Cooking Challenge, supported by the School of Culinary and Finishing Arts, Scafa. Continuing throughout the two days, the young victor will be announced after six grueling rounds at 6pm on Saturday 28th. Guests can also look forward to a number of Emirati films, including a screening of Middle Eastern comedy, The President’s Chef, as part of the Dubai Food Festival’sFood & Film season. Emirati singer/songwriter Hamdan Al Abri and Dubai’s first local professional comedian Ali Al Sayed also join the tasty line-up, as well as THE MAZE series – four extensive panel discussions looking at the styles and future of Emirati fashion, as supported by Dubai Design District.
Local motorcyclists, the Emirates Riders, will also commence a one-off morning ride on 27 February from the event’s location at Zabeel Park, before circling the city and returning to the venue, ahead of doors opening to the public at 10am. A small 5AED charge applies to enter Zabeel Park.
The first weekend of the Dubai Food Festival 2015 has set the precedent for the remainder of the 23-day culinary extravaganza. In the following week, Dubai’s residents and visitors can look forward to foodie-inspired movies as part of the Festival’s Food & Film season, Mystery Dining Tours will take place across the city and the popular Dubai Food Carnival will return. Similarly, Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food, beverage and hospitality trade show, will arrive at the Dubai World Trade Centre until 12 February. The Festival’s Food Truck Convoy is also well underway, which will continue to supply key business districts with street food fare on weekdays throughout the Festival – with the trucks situated at Academic City today, before moving onto JLT Park tomorrow.
