If you are a lover of good food, then there is some awesome news coming your way. The annual Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) is set to return with a bang, with more flavours and stalls than ever before.

Tastes from around the world will take centre stage when the ninth edition of the annual event kicks off on March 15. The event, which runs until March 25, will boast of as many as 177 stalls, food trucks and trolleys across an 80,000sqm area at the Hotel Park, reported Gulf Times.

The country’s longest-running food festival will see a 36% increase in the number of stalls taking part. A total of 16 luxury hotels in the country will bring the best of culinary experiences to the festival. The prices of the offerings will range from QR5 to QR40, reported The Peninsula.

The QIFF is organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority in partnership with the country’s entertainment, hospitality and F&B sectors, People visiting the event will not have to struggle for parking as there will be 2,500 underground spaces for parking cars.

A total of 16 additional restroom units and several ramps for easier wheelchair and pram access have also been provided at QIFF, reported Qatar Tribune.

Live cooking theatres, cooking classes, food photography sessions and contests are also going to be added attractions.

The festivities will also extend to more than 60 restaurants and cafes around Qatar. They will offer special food groupings of at least three menu items at a pre-set price of QR 49 (cafes & restaurants) and QR 99 (hotels).

In celebration of the unique mix of cultures that Qatar is home to, nine embassies based in Doha will invite festival-goers to savour the flavours of East and West. The participating countries are the USA, South Africa, Vietnam, the Philippines, Turkey, Lebanon, Mexico, India and Ethiopia. 

Also back this year, is the Health Zone which encourages conscious eating habits and life choices that promote overall well-being. There will also be free fitness classes.

QIFF will also shed a spotlight on locally-owned coffee shops which have become contemporary symbols of cultural and social exchange. There will be a dedicated Coffee Zone towards this end.

The main festival stage will host a variety of live performances and cultural shows running throughout the day. In the evenings, fireworks displays will light up the sky above the Doha corniche at 8pm. 

QIFF has expanded the children’s area to include a mini zoo and farmer’s market, providing parents and children an opportunity to learn more about our food’s journey from farm to fork.

Demonstrating its consideration for the community, QIFF organisers have also signed up with Wahab food collection and distribution service for this year’s Festival. The charity will ensure that festival goers can donate untouched food so it is carefully repackaged and delivered to those in need.

Picture courtesy: The Peninsula