QIFF's around the corner, and so are some of the world's best chefs it turns out. We've thrown together a quick guide about these aficionados in the event that you want to check out the festival for yourselves. So here goes:

1. Aisha Altamimi 

Aisha Al Tamimi is a star Qatari chef and television host. Over the past decade, she has published six cookbooks in Arabic and has been running her own television show since 2006 on Qatari TV. She has become a symbol of Qatari culinary standards and recently she gave a lecture on EXPO in Milan. Mrs. Al Tamimi wants to expand her business in the countries in the GCC and in the world.

2. Ajay Chopra 

An acclaimed culinarian, Ajay Chopra's love and passion for food has seen him grow as a modern Indian chef. His conviction and diligence has conferred him as one of the most celebrated chefs in the Indian television and food industry.

3. Anna Olson 

Anna Olson is a pastry chef on Food Network. She has become one of Canada's most recognizable television chefs. Hosting Food Network’s “Bake with Anna Olson”, “Fresh with Anna Olson”, and “Sugar”, she has earned a loyal following in over 190 countries and can now be watched on the Oh Yum YouTube Channel as well as on her latest series, “Inspired with Anna Olson”.

4. Asmaa Albahar 

Asmaa Albaher is a Kuwaiti celebrity chef. She is well-known for her culinary shows in Kuwait and the Gulf.

5. Christine Ha 

Christine Ha is the first blind contestant to have particpated in US MasterChef. She won the title in 2012. She has also opened small-scale pop-up restaurants around the world in the 5 years since winning Master Chef (2012-2017). She acted as judge on the third season of MasterChef Vietnam, having been a guest judge in the previous series, and a guest judge of US MasterChef (season 4), making her the first former contestant and winner worldwide to become a regular judge.  

6. Damien Leroux

Damien Leroux is the Executive Chef at IDAM at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). Born into a family of restaurant owners, Leroux developed the love of cuisine at a very young age. He has worked at many acclaimed restaurants in France, and spent 6 months at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay as a chef de partie.

7. Fawaz Al Omaim 

Fawaz Al Omaim, popularly known as NamNam Chef on social media, is a celebrated Kuwaiti chef that taught himself the art!

8. Murat Bozok

Murat Bozok is a Michelin Star Turkish celebrity chef. He has worked with the Gordon Ramsay Group, and at some of the highest-ranked restaurants in the world, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Istanbul.

9. Nino Logarta 

 Nino Logarta is a celebrity Filipino TV chef. He is more than a familiar face on TV, as host and kitchen manager for QTV Channel 11’s cooking shows such as “Ka-Toque: Lutong Barkada,” “Daddylicious,” “Sarap at Home,” and “Quickfire.” His expertise is highly respected, and he consults for several food manufacturing companies.

10. Ramzi Choueiri 

Ramzi Choueiri is a Lebanese celebrity chef. In 2009 and 2010, he achieved 3 Guinness World Records for the largest servings of hummus (10.452 kg), tabbouleh (3.453 kg) and falafel (150.000 unit). To date, Chef Ramzi performs his weekly live cooking show on the LBC Pan Arab Satellite Channel.

11. Sulaiman Al Qassar 

 Sulaiman Al Qassar is a Kuwaiti celebrity TV chef. Al Qassar praises authenticity in all aspects of his life, from genuine folkloric cultural shows to the food prepped in his kitchen. With his incredible skill and talent, he has created an art arena, establishing this musical field for Kuwait and the GCC. He hosts his own cooking show, Flavor and Spice with Al Qassar.

12. Masaharu Morimoto 

Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese chef, best known as an Iron Chef on the Japanese TV cooking show Iron Chef and its spinoff Iron Chef America. He is also known for his unique style of presenting food.

13. Wolfgang Puck

Wolfgang Johannes Puck is an Austrian celebrity chef, restaurateur, and occasional actor. Wolfgang Puck restaurants, catering services, cookbooks and licensed products are handled by Wolfgang Puck Companies, with three divisions. This LA-based Michelin Star celebrity chef is famous for preparing the post-Oscars feast for 24 years!

Image credits:

Cover image - CBS News; inline image 1 - aprioriworld.com, 2 - Indian Food Network, 3 - National Post, 4 - Boubyan Bank, 5 - metrord.do, 6 - Gulf Times, 7 - eng.alostouramagazine.com, 8 - Mutfak Haber, 9 - kinoxchef.blogspot.qa, 10 - themanual.com, 11 - AL Qassar Show, 12 - Las Vegas Review, 13 - The Gazette Review.