Madinat Jumeirah Hosts The Chilli Crab Festiva

Madinat Jumeirah, the luxurious Arabian Resort of Dubai, is proud to announce the return of the popular Chilli Crab Festival from 24 – 26 April, 2014.

This three-day culinary event celebrates mouth-watering dishes from the Far East including the famous Singaporean chilli crab which is covered in a delicious stir-fried, tomato and chilli sauce.
Located in the amphitheatre, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, visitors can experience a variety of oriental flavours and culinary favourites, including dim sum, wok-fried blue swimmer crab and tempura crispy crab.

The amphitheatre has hosted the Chilli Crab Festival for the last five years and the venue’s al fresco setting, with views of winding waterways and the iconic Burj Al Arab, adds to the festival experience.

Food stalls, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment from Dubai musician Tim Hassell and a children’s corner with face painting, computer games and a build-your-own burger stand will ensure a fun day out for the whole family.

Tasting Australia’s Origins dinner sold out

Culinary adventure is in store for the 300 people who have booked their tickets to Tasting Australia’s Origins Dinner next month.

The exciting new event – which will feature 30 acclaimed chefs cooking their favourite dishes in a secret city location on 3 May – is now sold out.

International chefs taking part in the event include Fergus Henderson, Skye Gyngell and James Henry, who will be in action alongside national and local cooks such as Maggie Beer and Poh Ling Yeow.

Chefs will serve their dishes straight to guests, who will also be able to speak directly with winemakers as they enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Tasting Australia creative director Simon Bryant said the festival program – released in full on 15 March – boasted an array of eating and drinking experiences.

“We’ve put together a week of events that are all about encouraging people to eat, drink, think and really be part of the fun,” Mr Bryant said.

 
“The centre of Adelaide is hosting a fantastic range of events in addition to the Origins Dinner, so don’t worry if you missed out on tickets! On 3 May you can also head along to Sweet Streets from 8pm, which will feature seriously wicked desserts, cocktails and tunes along Leigh and Peel streets.”

With 75 events to choose from, food and wine lovers are urged to secure their place at the table now.

 
Tickets are still available for lunches and dinners featuring event special guests including A Trio of Consuming Attitudes in the Barossa on 30 April, which will feature chefs Matt Wilkinson (Pope Joan, Melbourne), Mark McNamara (the Food Luddite, Barossa) and US-based farmer Joel Salatin.

London’s Fergus Henderson, Melbourne chef Ian Curley and Andrew Davies of Adelaide favourite Press Food & Wine will feature at Nose to Kale on 2 May, while Origin of the Species at McLaren Vale on 3 May is set to be a five-course feast exploring the region’s flavours.

“South Australia is home to an incredible array of world-class produce and this festival is all about celebrating that and showing what some of the most influential names across the international dining scene can do with it,” Mr Bryant said.

Qatar International Food Festival welcomes 32000 guests on Day 2

More than 32,000 visitors experience a festival of flavours and cultures on day two of Qatar International Food Festival, thus demonstrating the continued success of the event over the years.

Be it up-in-the-air, at sea or on the ground, the Qatar International Food Festival 2014 offers an amazing range of dining options, from three-course meals, to snacks from around the world. And after a highly successful opening night on Thursday, visitors are back in huge numbers on day two of the festival, with many families coming to enjoy the festive atmosphere and delicious food.

  

For thrill-seekers, the Dinner in the Sky, sponsored by the Renaissance Hotel, has proved to be hugely popular this year again. Diners have a unique opportunity to enjoy a three-course meal 40 meters above the ground, while admiring the breathtaking views of both the Doha skyline, and the festival grounds.

 
And for those who love the sea, there is an elegant dhow to enjoy an authentic Arabic buffet. Dinner on a Dhow is sponsored by Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels and offers the best of Qatari hospitality, as well as a sumptuous selection of dishes prepared in an authentic Arabic manner. And for BBQ lovers, there is the BBQ Donut, sponsored by the Diplomatic Club, where you can enjoy your meal while gently floating on the water.

For those who prefer to eat with their feet firmly planted on the ground, a stroll through the International Zone, the Healthy & Active Zone, the Snack Zone, the Family Zone and the Qatar Brazil Zone is a must. On top of that, there are ample opportunities to learn more about the art of cooking at the Qatar Airways Cooking Theatre, located in the Live Cooking Zone, where celebrity TV chef Ramzi Choueiri and Chef Aysha Al Tamimi showcase their amazing culinary skills.

 
And amateur chefs have the chance to put their grilling skills to the test at the Oryx Rotana BBQ Live Cooking Competition which takes place each day at 5pm and 7pm.

Tasting Australia’s Origins dinner sold out

Culinary adventure is in store for the 300 people who have booked their tickets to Tasting Australia’s Origins Dinner next month.

The exciting new event – which will feature 30 acclaimed chefs cooking their favourite dishes in a secret city location on 3 May – is now sold out.

International chefs taking part in the event include Fergus Henderson, Skye Gyngell and James Henry, who will be in action alongside national and local cooks such as Maggie Beer and Poh Ling Yeow.

Chefs will serve their dishes straight to guests, who will also be able to speak directly with winemakers as they enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Tasting Australia creative director Simon Bryant said the festival program – released in full on 15 March – boasted an array of eating and drinking experiences.

“We’ve put together a week of events that are all about encouraging people to eat, drink, think and really be part of the fun,” Mr Bryant said.

“The centre of Adelaide is hosting a fantastic range of events in addition to the Origins Dinner, so don’t worry if you missed out on tickets! On 3 May you can also head along to Sweet Streets from 8pm, which will feature seriously wicked desserts, cocktails and tunes along Leigh and Peel streets.”

With 75 events to choose from, food and wine lovers are urged to secure their place at the table now.

Tickets are still available for lunches and dinners featuring event special guests including A Trio of Consuming Attitudes in the Barossa on 30 April, which will feature chefs Matt Wilkinson (Pope Joan, Melbourne), Mark McNamara (the Food Luddite, Barossa) and US-based farmer Joel Salatin.

London’s Fergus Henderson, Melbourne chef Ian Curley and Andrew Davies of Adelaide favourite Press Food & Wine will feature at Nose to Kale on 2 May, while Origin of the Species at McLaren Vale on 3 May is set to be a five-course feast exploring the region’s flavours.

“South Australia is home to an incredible array of world-class produce and this festival is all about celebrating that and showing what some of the most influential names across the international dining scene can do with it,” Mr Bryant said.

Qatar International food festival kicks off with much grandeur

The fifth edition of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) was formally inaugurated at the Museum of Islamic Art Park in Doha in the presence of dignitaries, the media and the general public. QIFF social media contests were also launched simultaneously on Instagram and Twitter that allow users to compete for prizes such as free flights to Brazil and tickets to “Dinner in the Sky”.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Qatar Tourism Authority Chairman His Excellency Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, and Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. Once the ribbon was cut, the dignitaries received a tour of the event and the audience was treated to a special performance by Brazilian and Korean bands on the stage.

Like every year, QIFF brings together people from all countries and cultures to sample delicious cuisines from the world over. It is also a chance for Qatar’s hospitality industry to show off their best food and beverage offerings.

“The dining alternatives in Doha continue to grow year after year, and the Food Festival is a great way to showcase new tastes and trends,” said Issa Al Mohannadi, Chairman of QTA. “QIFF has been growing every year in size and popularity, and in keeping with that trend I expect this fifth edition will be the biggest and best yet.”

The festival features 11 general zones, including four food zones, a live cooking zone, 55 food stalls and five kiosks of restaurants and exhibitors. Signature zones and activities include the Dinner in the Sky zone – one of the most popular signature activities sponsored by Renaissance Hotel – as well as the BBQ Donut, which is sponsored by the Diplomatic Club.

Another signature area is the ‘Qatar/Brazil Year of Culture’ zone, which serves as an activation for this year’s cultural exchange programme between the two countries. Also new is the Health & Active zone, which combines healthy food outlets and information on healthy nutrition and a well-balanced diet.

“Qatar Airways is proud to be a partner for QIFF once again in 2014,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways. “In their own way, both QIFF and Qatar Airways are playing a part in connecting Qatar with the rest of the world – one through amazing culinary experiences and the other through amazing travel experiences.”

 
QIFF named Qatar Museum Authority (QMA), Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, and Qatar Events Diary OnQ the strategic partners. Partners of this year’s festival include: Doha Film Institute (DFI), BBC Good Food, Al Rayyan TV, QF Radio, Jeem TV, Baraem TV, Qatar Brazil Year of Culture, Philips and the Crown Plaza Hotel.

A shuttle service will run between two dedicated parking lots and MIA Park, and this will help ease the amount of traffic to and from the venue. The first shuttle bus pick up will be located close to Al Bidda Park, with a second one located near Al Sharq. Signage will be placed along both routes to help drivers identify and locate the parking lots. Organisers strongly recommend making use of the shuttle service to avoid being caught in traffic near MIA Park.

 
The shuttle service will run continually on the following days and times:
• Friday, March 21: 1:30pm – 11:00pm
• Saturday, March 22: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
• Sunday, March 23: 1:30pm – 10:00pm

 
Jointly co-organized by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways, QIFF will be open to the public on Friday March 21 from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Saturday March 22 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm, Sunday March 23 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm. Entry to the event is free for the public.