FROM LEFT: Mashal Shahbik, Director of Tourism Events and Festivals at Qatar National Tourism Council; Salam Al Shawa, Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Corporate Communications at Qatar Airways; Rashed Alqurese, Chief Marketing & Promotion Officer at Qa
Doha: With the participation of over 150 food and beverage (F&B) stalls and around 30 celebrity chefs, the 10th edition of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) will kick start on March 20, at Oxygen Park at Qatar Foundation’s Education City. The 11-day event will conclude on March 30.
Over 150 F&B stalls in Oxygen Park will be spreading over three dedicated areas: O1 for main course specialities; O2 for kids-friendly foods and activities; and O3 for cafes and light food along with private seating areas serving curated pre-set menus.
In partnership with Qatar Foundation, QIFF this year will also deliver a healthy food and nutrition awareness programme for students from 50 schools across Qatar from March 10-14 — in the phase one of QIFF — at the Qatar National Library where local chefs including Ayman Nasser Al Din, Youssef Oweida, Deldar Hussein, Noora All Mazroui and others will prepare healthy and tasty snacks in front of the students.
In line with the Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019 theme, the festival will also showcase special food and cultural offerings.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, Rashed Al Qurese, from Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) said: “QIFF has played a key role in our strategy to grow and diversify the country’s tourism experiences through vibrant festivals and events. We congratulate all our private sector partners for this success and look forward to continuing to attract people from all corners of the world, as well as residents representing different cultures, to come together and enjoy the intersection of food and culture.”
Sharing other details of 10th edition of QIFF, Mashal Shahbik, from QNTC, said that under ‘International Maestros at Live Cooking Theatre’ activity, QIFF will host around 30 international and local celebrity chefs from 14 countries to show their culinary magic.
Through ‘Chef’s Table’ activity, select 5-star restaurants across Doha will offer residents and visitors a unique opportunity to join internationally-acclaimed chefs for an interactive cooking and tasting experience.
This year, more than 35 restaurants and cafes will offer special food groupings of a three-course menu of three different set at discounted prices of QR45, QR95 and QR125 through ‘Qurated QIFF Menus’ activity. QIFF 2019’s Strategic Partner is Qatar Foundation (QF) therefore QF’s iconic Oxygen Park in Education City will offer an impressive venue, layout and format to QIFF visitors this year.
Mohammed A Fakhroo, Executive Director of Outreach and Institutional Advancement, QF, said: “We are happy that this successful festival will take place at Oxygen Park, a green space designed for recreation in Education City. In hosting it, we are emphasising the message that our doors are always open to all members of the community. And we would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone to discover for themselves the inclusive experience that Qatar Foundation offers, enabling them to explore and benefit from the facilities for education and enjoyment that we provide.”
Qatar Airways SVP Marketing and Corporate Communications, Salam Al Shawa, said: “We are delighted to partner with QIFF on its 10th anniversary, bringing new culinary masters from around the world to Doha to showcase their cultural flavours and culinary art. As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, we are looking forward to bringing the world to Qatar and offer residents and visitors a delicious selection of world cuisine.”
