Zabeel Park to host DSF's first International Food Fiesta

Zabeel Park that was officially inaugurated on Tuesday is the first technology-based theme park in the Gulf, situated in the heart of Karama.
The park would come alive during a special DSF three day Food e-tainment from January 19 to January 21 next month.

The various entertainments surrounding this delightful food fiesta would culminate into a mini festival by itself and will be held at the Mega Bowl, Main Park from 5pm to midnight during the three days.

The International Food Fiesta, which is being held in Dubai for the first time would provide a mouthwatering selection of international cuisines, along with a mix of free food sampling, stage events, a food bazaar that sell organic foods, spices and gift items, and loads of interactive activities for the young and the old.

Four continents - South east, Middle East, Far East and European would be represented with their respective delicacies offered to visitors during this food festival. Each of the four "villages" will represent one continent where visitors would be able to taste the delicious and varied fare of 16 different cuisines from the different food stalls of the continents. Chefs of all nationalities from hotels as well as individual restaurants of high repute will entice visitors this year with food good enough to die for all.

Visitors can also witness and participate in an assortment of exciting competitions, while the various performances and interactive events on the main stage would offer plenty of entertainment for all including the Young Creative Investor from January 7-27 and Sports Zone from January 4 to February 4.

The first day of the Food e-tainment would kick off with a gala opening ceremony including a performance by Shaolin Monks. A cookery demonstration by Chef Gertz, head chef of Fins Restaurant - South African Cuisine, will follow the opening ceremony. Visitors will also have the wonderful opportunity of witnessing some of the best chefs in town vying for the title of best carver at the Ice Carving competition. To top it all, the semi finals of the internationally renowned Boogie Woogie Dance Competition would wind up the first day of the fiesta.

The second day's events would kick off with a Community Kitchen session, followed by Ready Steady Cook Contest, where the audience can participate onstage to create on spot their best possible dish with the ingredients provided. The Hot Dog Eating Contest on day two is also predicted to be a hot favourite with the audience. The audience would also have the opportunity to watch a live culinary show with celebrity Chef Lap, former executive chef of Sheraton Dubai.

Day three will spell the most spectacular culinary event of the festival - Largest Buffet 505. As the name suggests, park goers are invited to come join the largest buffet of the world with 101 soups, 101 salads, 101 appetizers, 101 main course and 101 deserts. The Buffet will be prepared under the wings of Chef Uwe Micheel, executive chef of Hotel InterContinental, and President of the Culinary Guild Dubai, while Spinneys would sponsor the ingredients. The festival will come to end this year with a DSF event on stage, an awards ceremony for all the participants and a mega closing ceremony.

Visitors need to purchase tickets priced Dh5 to enter Zabeel Park, and additional vouchers to buy any food, the prices of which would vary. Counters would be set up around the Mega Bowl of the park to sell the coupons.

According to Ahmed Abdul Karim, Director of Public Parks, Dubai Municipality, The US$51 million (Dh186 million) Zabeel Park features a series of high-tech interactive displays including educational and recreational exhibits grouped into three separate areas to distinguish one zone from another.

The park boasts of a great number of entertainment activities for people of all age groups including the Panoramic Tower, Imax Theater, Space Maze, Barcode Garden, Lake, Energy Zone and Play Zone.Housed within are the park's four major highlights: a sports area, the star gate, an amphitheatre, and a gallery and pizza building for displays and exhibitions.

The jogging track of 4.3 kilometres surrounding the park with soft and hard landscaping is another attraction of this park.
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2006 runs between January 4 and February 4, 2006.