Sharjah, 18 March, 2014,

The highly anticipated 8th annual Al Qasba Food Festival in Sharjah, which will take place from March 27th until April 12th 2014, is cooking full steam ahead.

A variety of appetizing activities are on the menu, including top Arab and foreign chefs hosting an array of culinary competitions, live cooking shows, cookery workshops for young chefs, creative fruit/vegetable carving and cake decorating contests, as well as fun family cooking battles and a matchup between government and private entities employees. One of a store of valuable prizes will be awarded daily, by a professional judging panel, to the winners of each tournament, which will be contested in successive rounds between two of around 34 competing teams.

There will also be lectures on a diversity of foods, teachings focused on the treatment of illnesses through herbs mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, as well as information on the importance of proper nutrition and how it can help to combat common diseases.

To add to the prestige, more than a dozen expert chefs will join the festivities, sharing skills, knowledge, and the chopping board of judging panels.

Acclaimed celebrity chef, food ambassador and philanthropist, Sanjeev Kapoor, was on the judging panel for Master Chef India Season 3 and has published over 150 book titles.

A special treat will be the ‘Passion for Food’ presentation by Chef Manal Al Alem, whose mission statement is “to enhance awareness towards food education, nutritional dieting, multicultural recipe development, food styling & dining etiquette through continuous interaction with the public audience”.

Executive chef Tarek Ibrahim has graced many reputable kitchens and lecture halls over the past three decades. TV presenter and celebrity chef, Marta Yanci, was said to be “a master of under-dressing and matching dominating flavors with softer options and flavoring them subtly” by Time Out Dubai in 2013.

Celebrity Chef Amro Fahed Al Yassin is a senior member of the Emirates Culinary Guild. Multiple award-winning Chef Dermot O’Flynn has been in the industry for over two decades. In addition to the television darling, best-selling author and BBC favorite, Chef Silvena Rowe.

Other creatives include passionate saucier and hot kitchen specialist Chef Aziz Rajab; adept food stylist for Michelin starred restaurants and tapas extraordinaire, Chef Marco J. Morana; renowned entrepreneur and owner of Tomas Seger Food Consultants as well as elite restaurants in Dubai and Beirut, Chef Tomas Reger; and adventurous Chef Daniele, Emirates Flight Catering’s Executive Sous Chef. And finally Chef Asma Faisal Al Bahar, who has hosted a number of cooking shows in different countries.

Workshop Session Schedule: 

March 27th: Chef Sanjeev Kapoor
March 28th:   Silvena Rowe
March 29th & 30th: Chef Asma Faisal
March 31st: Chef Aziz Rajab
April 1st: Chef Daniele Bolognesi
April 2nd: Chef Dermot O’Flynn
April 3rd, 4th & 5th: Chef Manal Al Alem
April 6th: Chef Amro Al Yassin
April 7th: Chef    Marta Yanci
April 8th: Chef Marco Morana
April 9th: Chef Tomas Reger
April 10th: Chef Silvena Rowe
April 11th & 12th: Chef Tarek Ibrahim

Interested individuals, families, companies and food outlets can call 06 5560777 to get more information about how to participate in the competitions and cookery workshops organised by the Festival.

Al Qasba prides itself on giving its visitors the opportunity to enjoy culture, entertainment and leisure attractions representing the very best from the Arab world and beyond, as well as being an outstanding family destination with a range of activities that caters to people of all ages.

Spread over 10,000 hectares, Al Qasba boasts a range of state-of-the-art facilities and tourist attractions including, among others, various restaurants and cafes, Masrah Al Qasba-Theatre “winner of Leaf Award 2012”, Multaqa Al Qasba-Conference and Meeting Halls, Al Qasba Business Centre, Kids Fun Zone, Al Qasba Musical Fountain, Eye of the Emirates Wheel, and the Maraya Art Centre.