Taste of Kuwait Food Festival opens in Mishref

(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY March 5: Ministry of Commerce Undersecretary Abdullah Saqer Al Anizi together with Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) General Manager Board Affairs Fawzy Al Thunayyan US Ambassador Douglas Silliman and German Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth inaugurated on Thursday the ''Taste of Kuwait Food Festival'' dubbed to be the culinary event of the year organised by the Q8 Productions and presented by Fatafeat at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Mishref behind Exhibition Hall no 5.

''I''m sure everybody will enjoy the different food the different sights. We wish you all have a good time'' stated Al Thunayyan as he welcomed all the VIP guests and members of the press during the opening ceremony.

Q8 Productions Partners Caroline Rosinski and Michelle Lambros also welcomed all the guests to the three-day Kuwait Food Festival which is open to the public with VIP and general admission tickets is participated in by about 50 restaurants featuring their restaurant''s two or three most sought-after and signature dishes. They thanked the sponsors namely ABK Mercedes Benz OSN Costa Coffee Banana Media Creative Solutions Coca-Cola Al Mutawa Kitchens & Home Appliances Symphony Style Hotel Talabat.com Bazaar Food and Travel and Worldwide.

Taste of Q8 Food Festival attendees can enjoy shopping and tasting at the Farmer''s Market that showcases local organic produce and locally made artisan food and products. They can shop for a wide array of gourmet products produced locally as well as enjoy desserts snacks juices from local concept restaurants and producers. The Taste of Q8 Food Festival Main Stage will feature live music throughout the three-day event. Musical acts will include Classical Arabic and Jazz

One of the highlights of the food festival is the live cooking demonstration. Every hour on the hour will be a different Chef Cooking Demonstration featuring International and local Celebrity Chefs. Among the invited chefs are Chef Reza Mohammad Chef Layla Fathalla Chef Jenny Morris Chef Mohammad Orfali Chef Wafaa Al Kandari Chef Ahmed Al-Bader Chef Adlah Alsharhan Somkhuan Jampanad known as ''Chef Tong'' and Chef Mario & Chef Massimo of Alfredo''s Gallery.

Chef Reza Mahammad is the hugely popular TV chef and owner of the renowned Star of India restaurant in Kensington London. Reza is a top chef and main talent for the Food Network UK and has received high praise for his last two series Reza''s African Kitchen and Reza Spice Prince of India. His latest series Reza Spice Prince of Thailand/Spice Prince of Vietnam has just aired on the Food Network UK [out in October 2014] Reza makes regular appearances as guest chef on ITV''s This Morning and never fails to create a stir in the kitchen with fellow presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.

Chef Leyla Fathalla a Lebanese chef born in In Beirut in 1974 holds a degree in culinary art from ''Le Cordon Bleu'' France. Chef Fathalla who currently works in one of the top catering companies based in Beirut is also a Fatafeat chef presenter where she presented till now 2 cooking shows on Fatafeat TV which are Tislam Al Ayadi season 1 and 2 and Arousetna season 1 and 2 Chef Leyla Fathalla issued her first cookbook ''Sit Beit'' dedicated to the new cooking learners.

Jenny Morris - AKA The Giggling Gourmet * - is one of SA''s most-loved food personalities she is an author magazine writer radio and TV presenter celebrity chef teacher caterer and culinary tour guide who has had an ongoing love affair with food since she was a child when she started making mouth watering treats for school fundraisers. It''s a love affair in the true sense of the word one that employs all the senses. Among her kitchen essentials Jenny lists garlic butter olive oil trusty zester and dhania (cilantro).

Chef Mohammad Orfali a Syrian chef from Aleppo specialized in Aleppo cuisine and modern Arabic cuisine he is an expert with 18 years of culinary profession and kitchen management experience. Mohammad holds a Diploma in Hotels and Catering Management from Aleppo hospitality institute he also has Mastering the art of preserves Sous Vide cooking certificates from Le NUtre Paris School. Chef Mohammad Orfali who is currently the executive chef of Fatafeat has Presented 2 cooking shows on Fatafeat channel MATBAKHNA AL ARABI 3 seasons and MODERN CUISINE. Chef Mohammad Orfali issued his first cookbook ''Ana Halabi'' which was published in 2012 focusing

Chef Wafaa Yousef Ahmad Al Kandri Kuwaiti married since 16 years to Saleh Ibrahim and has 6 kids. Chef Wafaa holds a diploma in Chemistry and her hobbies are cooking and crochet. She works as an assistant chemistry engineer and come from a family that loves cooking her main inspiration and passion towards cooking is her mom and dad.

Chef Ahmed Al-Bader started his Restaurateur career launching International franchises in affiliation with TSC Group of restaurants Epicure and Good Food. It was the combination of his ambitious creativity along with unique blend of skill sets in investment banking entrepreneurship and culinary training that ultimately led Ahmed on the journey and execution of fourteen of his very own restaurant concepts. With credentials from the French Culinary Institute and Le Cordon Bleu Ahmed''s wonderful and diverse cuisines will be featured at The Taste of Q8 Food Festival.

Chef Adlah Alsharhan''s is affectionately known as Chef Adoola. She describes herself on her Instagram as ... A Kuwaiti Chef love and let love live and let live Kuwait cooking perfect ... Avocados and sports are my passion. Her Adoola Drop Off is her latest project a catering company described as fine dining meets the comfort of your own home. She is an accomplished chef and has her own culinary school here in Kuwait http://www.umamiq8.com/. Don''t miss her demonstration on the Fatafeat stage 6PM on Opening Day Thursday March 5th

Somkhuan Jampanad known as ''Chef Tong'' Chef Tong who is originally from Bangkok Thailand has 17 years of experience in Culinary Specializing Thai & Japanese Food. In 1995 he finished two years of Japanese Course in Tokyo Japan. He has been in Kuwait for 16 years and worked in two Japanese Restaurants for 12 years. He is now with the Symphony Style Hotel.

Finally Chef Mario & Chef Massimo who are currently connected with Alfredo''s Gallery - the birthplace of the original fettuccine Alfredo and authentic Italian cuisine will also do live cooking demonstration.

By Michelle Fe Santiago

Arab Times Staff

By: Michelle Fe Santiago