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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
It’s time to satiate your taste buds with sumptuous delicacies at the tenth edition of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), which kicked off at the Oxygen Park in Education City on Wednesday.
Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad al Thani and Secretary-General of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and GCEO of Qatar Airways Akbar al Baker attended the opening.
A number of cultural performances were held during the opening ceremony.
Celebrity chefs Masaharu Morimoto, Dominique Ansel and Noora al Kuwari demonstrated their master skills during the event.
The 11-day food festival has attracted 37 celebrity chefs from Qatar and 16 other countries.
Speaking at the event, Baker said, “QIFF is a celebration of our country’s cultural diversity and has played a key role in enriching our calendar of curated events, giving more reasons for tourists to visit Qatar. It has also elevated our food and beverage industry by introducing us to flavours and culinary artists from all around the world as well as supporting local entrepreneurs and upcoming businesses.”
He said a growing number of local entrepreneurs are using the festival as a launch pad of Qatari projects.
“The recently-established National Tourism Council is built on collaboration, unity and empowerment. This festival, which brings together so many partners from across the public, private and semi-government sectors to curate a unique and diverse tourism experience, is exactly what new governance model is about. This year being the Qatar India Year of Culture, we also look forward to seeing a special emphasis on the food and cultural elements of both countries in this edition,” he added.
With Qatar Foundation (QF) being a strategic partner and host of the event, the festival gives visitors an opportunity to explore the Education City.
QF’s Machaille al Naimi, President of Community Development, said, “We are immensely proud to be the host of the 10th edition of QIFF, and we thank Qatar National Tourism Council for choosing Education City as the venue for hosting such a key milestone event.”
“In Education City, we believe we have a venue that – through its facilities and its character -- befits the central place that this festival holds in the cultural and social fabric of Qatar. For those visiting the festival, Education City may be a new experience, or a familiar one. But what all of them will find is an open, diverse, inclusive, and vibrant environment that we hope will bring a new, exciting dimension to their enjoyment of this event,” she added.
Another first for the festival is its new and unique venue: Oxygen Park in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, which has three dedicated areas: O1 for main course specialties and centre stage; O2 for kids-friendly foods and activities; and O3 for cafes and light food.
In addition to over 150 mouthwatering F&B offerings, QIFF visitors will see vibrant cultural shows, roaming entertainment, and month-long side events offering learning opportunities of culinary craft and healthy nutrition to participants of all ages.
This year, over 30 global social media influencers attending the VisitQatar Inflow Summit will also attend QIFF and share their first-hand experience at the multicultural festival with their audiences.
QNTC also launched a marketing campaign to attract visitors from Kuwait, Oman and India to the event.
QIFF is welcoming residents and visitors from all over the world between March 20 and 30 to enjoy a diverse variety of cuisines, culinary and cultural performances and participate in numerous activities and competitions.
Entry is free and timings for this year are between 3:00 pm–11:00 pm (Saturday–Wednesday) and 3:00 pm–1:00 am (Thursday & Friday).
As in previous years, this edition of QIFF is organised and delivered by QNTC with support of numerous partners representing the aviation, entertainment, hospitality and F&B sectors in Qatar. These include: Qatar Airways, beIN, Vodafone, W Doha, Torba Farmer’s Market, Kidzania Doha, Aura Hospitality, Qatar India Year of Culture, Akly, La Cantine, Talabat, Uber, Chargello Qatar, Wahab, The Cooking Academy, and Qatar TV.
DOHA
It’s time to satiate your taste buds with sumptuous delicacies at the tenth edition of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), which kicked off at the Oxygen Park in Education City on Wednesday.
Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad al Thani and Secretary-General of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and GCEO of Qatar Airways Akbar al Baker attended the opening.
A number of cultural performances were held during the opening ceremony.
Celebrity chefs Masaharu Morimoto, Dominique Ansel and Noora al Kuwari demonstrated their master skills during the event.
The 11-day food festival has attracted 37 celebrity chefs from Qatar and 16 other countries.
Speaking at the event, Baker said, “QIFF is a celebration of our country’s cultural diversity and has played a key role in enriching our calendar of curated events, giving more reasons for tourists to visit Qatar. It has also elevated our food and beverage industry by introducing us to flavours and culinary artists from all around the world as well as supporting local entrepreneurs and upcoming businesses.”
He said a growing number of local entrepreneurs are using the festival as a launch pad of Qatari projects.
“The recently-established National Tourism Council is built on collaboration, unity and empowerment. This festival, which brings together so many partners from across the public, private and semi-government sectors to curate a unique and diverse tourism experience, is exactly what new governance model is about. This year being the Qatar India Year of Culture, we also look forward to seeing a special emphasis on the food and cultural elements of both countries in this edition,” he added.
With Qatar Foundation (QF) being a strategic partner and host of the event, the festival gives visitors an opportunity to explore the Education City.
QF’s Machaille al Naimi, President of Community Development, said, “We are immensely proud to be the host of the 10th edition of QIFF, and we thank Qatar National Tourism Council for choosing Education City as the venue for hosting such a key milestone event.”
“In Education City, we believe we have a venue that – through its facilities and its character -- befits the central place that this festival holds in the cultural and social fabric of Qatar. For those visiting the festival, Education City may be a new experience, or a familiar one. But what all of them will find is an open, diverse, inclusive, and vibrant environment that we hope will bring a new, exciting dimension to their enjoyment of this event,” she added.
Another first for the festival is its new and unique venue: Oxygen Park in Qatar Foundation’s Education City, which has three dedicated areas: O1 for main course specialties and centre stage; O2 for kids-friendly foods and activities; and O3 for cafes and light food.
In addition to over 150 mouthwatering F&B offerings, QIFF visitors will see vibrant cultural shows, roaming entertainment, and month-long side events offering learning opportunities of culinary craft and healthy nutrition to participants of all ages.
This year, over 30 global social media influencers attending the VisitQatar Inflow Summit will also attend QIFF and share their first-hand experience at the multicultural festival with their audiences.
QNTC also launched a marketing campaign to attract visitors from Kuwait, Oman and India to the event.
QIFF is welcoming residents and visitors from all over the world between March 20 and 30 to enjoy a diverse variety of cuisines, culinary and cultural performances and participate in numerous activities and competitions.
Entry is free and timings for this year are between 3:00 pm–11:00 pm (Saturday–Wednesday) and 3:00 pm–1:00 am (Thursday & Friday).
As in previous years, this edition of QIFF is organised and delivered by QNTC with support of numerous partners representing the aviation, entertainment, hospitality and F&B sectors in Qatar. These include: Qatar Airways, beIN, Vodafone, W Doha, Torba Farmer’s Market, Kidzania Doha, Aura Hospitality, Qatar India Year of Culture, Akly, La Cantine, Talabat, Uber, Chargello Qatar, Wahab, The Cooking Academy, and Qatar TV.
