Sharjah Food Festival 2016 kicks off tomorrow (Thursday), featuring an array of regional celebrity chefs and international artists and performers, giving its 10th edition the theme; ‘Many Flavours, One Festival’.

Organised by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the Sharjah Food Festival takes place at four of Sharjah’s premier family and leisure destinations; Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Montazah and Heart of Sharjah.

Al Majaz Waterfront, a leading leisure and tourist destination in Sharjah will play host to international chef Vineet Bhatia, the only Indian chef to have received a Michelin star for two restaurants. Labelled the ‘master of modern progressive Indian food,’ Vineet will be tantalising the audience’s taste buds with live cooking of his signature dish.

Al Qasba – Sharjah’s premiere leisure, tourist and family destination – and the home of the first ever Sharjah Food Festival, will start its proceedings with cookery competitions between Shurooq staff, government and private sector employees, and celebrities and social media influencers. Other entertainment shows
and professional chef contests will follow, including chocolate, ice and fruit carving, three-tier wedding cake creation, five course gourmet dinner menu, barbecuing, coffee art and pizza creation.

Heart of Sharjah will feature an array of entertaining activities that suit people of all ages during its hosting of the Sharjah Food Festival. The ‘Dish of the Day’ will be prepared every day from 6:00 to 6:30pm, while the ‘Amateurs Cooking Competition’ gives the chance for budding kitchen professionals to impress the audience with their culinary skills daily from 7:00 to 8:00pm. The ‘Family Cooking Competition’ will enable relatives who wish to work as a family unit to prepare great dishes for the judges, with the activity taking place each day from 8:00 to 9:30pm.

Al Montazah Amusement and Water Park, another host location for the 10th edition of the Sharjah Food Festival, will also offer an array of engaging activities. The ‘Junior Chef Challenge’ is held each day for children aged 9 to 13 years. Celebrity chefs will give the audience ‘Tips and Cooking Recipes’ every day from 7:00 to 8:00pm, while ‘Daddy Can Cook’ gives fathers the chance to shine with their culinary abilities daily from 8:30 to 9:30pm.

Children will also be able to enjoy their fair share of exciting activities during the Sharjah Food Festival, including being able to meet and have their photos taken with famous Sesame Street characters. Norman will be making his presence known at Heart of Sharjah, while Grover and Abby will be appearing at Al Montazah.

Speaking about the event, Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said; “Through organising the 10th edition of the Sharjah Food Festival, Shurooq aims to enhance the emirate’s cultural and leisure offerings. It forms part of our commitment to expand innovation, creativity and the diversity of events that we present to residents, tourists and citizens. This important culinary event brings together multiple prestigious flavours that reflect the rich multi-national nature of the Sharjah community.”
World-renowned entertainment artists are performing shows at all four destinations during the Sharjah Food Festival. Al Qasba plays host to French artist Jacques Couteau El Cataldo, who will be putting on a circus theatre show with a mix of slack-rope, comedy and improvisation every day from 5:00 to 7:00pm. He will be followed by Venezuelan artist Katay Santos, who mixes contemporary dance, physical theatre and acrobatics to enthral audiences.

Italian artist Luigi, presenter of the comic show ‘Sweet Dreams’, will be performing his show at Al Majaz waterfront every day at 5:00 and 7:00pm. Luigi creates a comic atmosphere using sugar as the central theme, taking the role of a candy floss street vendor. Also present will be Spanish free-style street artist El Kote, who engages the audience with a creative interactive performance, which includes juggling, acrobatics, dance, pantomime, uni-cycling, drama and comedy, every day at 8:30 and 10:00pm.

Japanese artist Senmaru, a performer of ‘Edo-Daikagura’, will be showcasing Japanese tricks and sleight-of-hand while wearing a kimono, the traditional Japanese garment, at Heart of Sharjah daily at 5:00 and 7:00pm. Italian artist Raoul, the Pizza Guy, who performs comedy, improvisation and interactive gags while preparing pizza, has a show at Al Montazah each day at 5:00 and 7:00pm.