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Tribune News Network
Doha
AFTER 11 days of celebrating and showcasing the best the country has to offer in food and beverage, the eighth edition of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) has come to a close. The festival's increasingly diverse menu of cuisines and culinary experiences included local restaurants and chefs, adding an authentically Qatari flavour to the annual event.
Running over two weekends, from March 29 to April 8, festivities included a variety of exclusive dining experiences, cultural and edutainment performances, interactive food art and photography workshops as well as health awareness activities.
While the festival has drawn to a close, QIFF continues to spread its passion for exciting culinary experiences through the special QIFF Menu which will continue to run until April 30. The Menu a new feature in this year's festival allows residents and visitors to enjoy mouth-watering food groupings of at least three menu items at a pre-set price of 59, 99, 139 or 179 Qatari Riyals at participating restaurants and cafes.
Hassan al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), commented,"QIFF demonstrates the impact and value tourism events can deliver to various sectors across the economy, particularly when we join hands to create unique experiences. The collaborative spirit shown from the various private and public partners, chefs, nutritionists and artists was the key ingredient in the cultural and culinary innovations that drew people back to Hotel Park for repeated visits."
To mark the end of the Festival, QTA thanked participants individually and held a small ceremony to recognise the volunteers who made the 11-day event possible. This edition of QIFF was organised and delivered by QTA with the support of numerous partners representing the education, entertainment, hospitality and F&B sectors in Qatar. QIFF 2017's strategic partner was Katara Hospitality, the global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar.
Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani, Chairman of Katara Hospitality, who visited QIFF during the week, expressed his pride in this edition of the Festival as well as his appreciation for the tremendous efforts made by QTA to ensure its success.
Over 20 local restaurants and chefs participated in QIFF this year, providing a local flavour to the annual festival.
Mashal Shahbik, Director of Tourism Events and Festivals at QTA, said,"QTA believes that the participation of local entrepreneurs in building the tourism industry is key to ensuring that it reflects Qatar's culture, and the economic and social needs of its people. As such, QIFF has been designed with local restaurateurs and chefs in mind, and we have been pleased with the increasing level of participation, especially as many businesses have returned to benefit from the Festival's growing popularity."
