ABU DHABI: An exciting line-up of food competitions and entertainment activities awaits you at a 10-day food fiesta which kicks off at the capital’s Umm Al Emarat Park on March 30.
The Abu Dhabi Flavours Festival will feature over 100 food tents and street trucks by homegrown F&B brands, but its main highlight will be the Flavours League competition.
The head to head contest will see competitive eaters flexing their appetites for the ‘Flavours League Champion 2017’ title and a cash prize of Dh5,000. The competition will run throughout the fest and the final playoff will take place on April 7 at 9pm.
Fast food: Eat with speed
Burger lovers can indulge in the first-of-its-kind Burger Grand Prix, a lap challenge where the only clue to win is that there aren’t too many burgers for a real burger lover. Two applicants will be selected every day to complete a lap of five burger stops, where they have to finish a burger to reach the next stop. The person who completes the lap in the fastest time will walk away with gift vouchers.
Organisers said those willing to take part in the contest must register themselves on their website. Another higlight of the festival is the Tabkhati (‘My Recipe’) contest where home cooks can demonstrate their culinary talent for a chance to win an iPad. All you need to do is to upload a photo of your dish on Facebook or Instagram with the recipe in the post, using the hashtag #Tabkhati and tag @ADFlavors. Five submissions will be shortlisted according to the criteria: likes, comments, creativity and sponsor’s decision. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to have their dishes judged at the festival on April 8.
Flavours Festival will also host an exciting programme of activities sure to delight children and deliver a festive atmosphere for families.
Football Freestylers will show off their tricks and techniques, and a spectacle of traditional folklore dance will provide visitors with a unique glimpse into the culture of the region.
To make the weekends more memorable, talented magicians will mesmerise visitors with their sleight of hand.
Majid El Hamamy, general manager, Line Rise Exhibitions, organiser of the event said: “The festival aims to provide a unique taste of UAE’s rich and diverse cuisine, which is a blend of different influences and inspirations, making it as international as much as it is local.”
Participating brands include Selfie Burger, Bubo Barcelona, Koshari Point, Mixtures, Raclette DXB, Mlk El Mashakeek, Shawarma Code, Spheerz, Rock & Rolls, Top Your Pizza, Extreme Burger, Shamma Café, Churros Café, Rezz Be Halib, Parata Guys and Qahwat Al Zaman Al Jameel.
Eating competition tips:
Try to exercise regularly before the contest. Exercise will keep you flexible, focused, and in good shape.
Practise at home briefly before you enter a contest so that you know how it feels and what to expect when eating the food quickly. Try the same foods that are used in the contest
Prior to the contest, drink as few liquids (water, soda, alcoholic beverages, etc) as possible. Some herbal tea can be consumed for calming and cleansing.
Eat meats and proteins first, and then carbohydrates. The meats and toppings typically make up a large percentage of the total challenge weight, so get those down first.
Take it easy. It’s important not to panic or rush as it would lead to choking. Eat steadily with speed.
The writer is an Abu Dhabi based freelancer
