QIFF2018 brings back the live cooking theatre with a fantastic line-up of international and regional chefs, and local personalities. For the first time each day of the Qatar food festival will highlight a different culinary theme, with options including Arabian, International, Beef and Dough.
If there was ever a reason to rejoice it’s the interactive and fun cooking theatre element of QIFF, which brings gourmet and high class cooking techniques to the public. This year there will be plenty of reasons to celebrate with Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck, Chef Morimoto and Indian Chef Ajay Chopra confirmed.
QIFF 2018 Cooking Theatre
To mark the launch of QIFF 2018 on Thursday 15th March, there will be a special opening ceremony at 6:00pm with one of Hollywood’s favourite chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Qatar’s very own Aisha Al-Tamimi sharing the QIFF Cooking Theater stage for an extraordinary display of culinary insights that span from East to West!
This will be followed by the first cooking demonstration by US Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto – his cooking demo will be shortly followed by the first of many firework shows above the Doha Corniche.
NOT TO BE MISSED:
- Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s live carving a 80kg tuna on the opening day!
- QCP’s Ice Carving Culinary Competition!
For 2018 the QIFF Cooking Theatre will provide a space for foodies and novices to learn all about how to handle, prepare, cook, present and even photograph food. There will be live cooking competitions and demonstrations daily from 4:00pm to 10:30 pm.
Live Cooking Theatre – The Chefs
Over 14 internationally-renowned chefs will take to the cooking stage to share their secret techniques and tricks to cooking delicious gourmet food. Regional and locally-based chefs will also be cooking at this signature QIFF attraction.
Chef Wolfgang Puck (US)
Chef Masaharu Morimoto (US)
Chef Luis Rey ‘Niño’ Logarta (Philippines)
Chef Ajay Chopra (India)
Chef Christine Ha (US)
Chef Sulaiman Al Qassar (Kuwait)
Chef Ranveer Barar (India)
Chef Ramzi Choueiri (Lebanon)
Chef Murat Bozok (Turkey)
Aisha Al-Tamimi (Qatar)
Cooking Theatre Schedule QIFF2018
Please note that while all QIFF details have been double-checked, but timings and scheduled events may be subject to last-minute changes as per organisers discretion
Thursday 15th March – International Cuisine Day
6:00pm Opening Ceremony with Chef Masaharu Morimoto
7:35pm Chef Wolfgang Puck – Seafood Risotto and Chinois Lamb Chops
8:45pm Chef Sulaiman Al Qassar – Chicken Kabsa and Potato Kebbah
9:30pm Chef Christine Ha – Mexican Beef Steak Fajita and grilled corn
10:30pm Chef Nabil Asfar – The Coach Salad
Friday 16th March – Seafood Day
4:00pm Qatar Culinary Professionals Ice Carving Competition
6:05pm Chef Masaharu Morimoto – Tuna Sashimi
7:35pm Chef Luis Rey – Crab fat fried rice with fresh lump crab meat and crispy fried squid
8:00pm Chef Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chef Ameena Musa, and Dunya Abed, WE Cafe – Salmon with vegetable and garlic sauce
9:10pm Chef Damien Leroux, IDAM – Steamed Koffar with seaweed and sautéed vegetables
10:00pm Chef Zarmig, Mamig Restaurant
Saturday 17th March – Chicken Day
5:00pm Plate Dressing Contest with Lady Aisha
6:05pm Chef Ajay Chopra – Chicken Bites with pistachio and crushed beef loin
7:35pm Chef Mohammed Najem – Crazy food
8:10pm Chef Christina Ha – Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Rolls with fish sauce vinaigrette
9:15pm Chef Vu Thi Ha & Chef Pham Minh Khanh – Pho noodle soup with chicken
10:00pm Chef Luis Rey – Chicken and crab meat embutido with roasted capsicum sauce
Sunday 18th March – Beef Day
4:00pm Food Photography Masterclass with Mohammad Al Ansari
5:00pm Best Burger Sauce Contest with Abdulaziz Al Ajail
6:05pm Chef Murat Bozok
7:35pm Chef Nabil Asfar – Beef Fiesta
8:15pm Chef Aisha Al Tamimi – Jareesh
9:00pm Chef Murat Bozok
10:10pm Chef Herna Tabah
Monday 19th March – Dough/Pasta Day
4:00pm Food Photography Masterclass with Mohammad Al Ansari
5:00pm Best Fresh Juice Contest with Ghanim Al Muftah
6:10pm Chef Ranveer Barar Chef Ravel Tazutdinov
7:25pm Chef Emanuele Sabatini – Cacio and Pepe
8:00pm Chef Binsadani – Briased Lamb Chops on Gnocchi
9:00pm Chef Gianluca Taglia – Pizza
10:05pm 09:05pm Chef Vincent Lee – Stir Fry Szechuan
Tuesday 20th March – Veggie Day
5:00pm Best Veggie Dip Contest with Khalifa Al Haroon
6:05pm Chef Ravil Tazutdinov
7:35pm Kim Nawbar – Springtime strawberry lime mango crumble
8:00pm Chef Fawaz Al Omaim
9:05pm Chef Asma Al Bahar
10:00pm Chef Ravil Tazutdinov – Potato flavoured ice cream
Wednesday 21st March – Arabic Cuisine Day
5:00pm Best Sandwich Contest with Mohammad Al Dahl
6:10pm Chef Marco Arlotti, Four Seasons Hotel
7:25pm Chef Ravan Parst
8:00pm Chef Asma Al Bahar
9:05pm Chef Fawaz Al Omaim
10:10pm Chef Mayssam Abedlkhalek – Smoked stuffed vegetables with seafood
Thursday 22nd March – Organic Cuisine Day
4:00pm Food Photography Masterclass with Mohammad Al Ansari
5:00pm Best Bowl Contest with Mohammad Al Ansari
6:10pm Kim Nawbar – Green Taco Wraps
7:30pm Chef Francesco Scala – Yoghurt Cake
8:15pm Ghanim Al Sulaiti
9:05pm Chef Damien Leroux, IDAM – Cocotte of Quinoa, Crispy vegetables and herb pesto
10:00pm Chef Anna Olson
Friday 23rd March – Dessert Day
4:00pm Qatar Culinary Professionals Fruit Carving Contest
6:00pm Chef Damien Leroux, IDAM
7:20pm Chef Anna Olson
8:00pm Chef Aisha Al Tamimi – Kabesa and Cupcake
9:00pm Chef Anna Olson
10:00pm Chef Alessandro Esposito
11:00pm Chef Ramzi Choueiri – Oriental Lebanese Rice with Lamb Meat and prawns
Saturday 24th March – Legumes Day
4:00pm Food Photography Masterclass with Mohammad Al Ansari
5:00pm Best Salad Contest with Dr. Hamood
6:00pm Chef Aisha Al Tamimi – Kabab with tahini and lentils with spinach
7:20pm Ghanim Al Sulaiti
8:45pm Chef Ramzi Choueiri – Lebanese Sea Fruit Moghrabieh with roasted chicken and caraway chickpeas and almond sauce
9:00pm Chef Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chef Ameena Musa, and Dunya Abed, WE Cafe – Green Biryani with cashew and coriander sauce
10:00pm Chef Zarmig, Mamig restaurant
Sunday 25th March – Seasoning Day
4:00pm TOMOH Contest
7:20pm Chef Ahmed Attiata – Traditional Umm Ali
8:45pm Chef Francesco Scala – Russian Pelemni
9:00pm Chef Zarmig, Mamig restaurant
10:00pm Chef Nabil Asfar – Sweet Chicken