The Higher Organizing Committee of the Emirates International Date Palm Festival (EIDPF) today announced the participation of celebrity chefs at the Cooking Area feature. Chef Manal Al Alem, Chef Khulood Saeed, Chef Suzanne Husseini, Chef Nada Jaber Ali and Chef Tomas Reger will provide live cooking demonstrations for visitors with the theme being Date Cuisine.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minster of the UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the date palm festival will take place this month, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 21 – 26 November 2011.

Visitors will have the unique opportunity to interact and learn culinary secrets from these professional chefs.

Qaboos Khalid, Event Director of the Festival, Turret Media, said: “National cuisines are significant features of cultural identity, regardless of the commercial food industry. We strive to promote our indigenous food traditions to a global public with an aim to widen knowledge about the traditional importance of the date fruit in Arabian hospitality; and how we can cherish its cultural legacy in a contemporary society. It is exciting to collaborate with celebrity chefs of the highest caliber in the region.”

For over 15 years, Chef Manal Al Alem has been sharing her cooking skills with families in the Middle East region. She has a stellar reputation of being a leading expert in the food industry, appearing on television several times in shows like: Al Najm Al Chef; Asrar Manal; Ramadan Kareem w Khafif; Manal’s Kitchen; and more. Her recipes have been featured in publications consisting of: Majalat Al Matbakh; Wasafat Mish Maqoola; Wasafat Shahiya among several others.

Furthermore she has contributed in production of new varieties and improving existing products in the food market. Companies she has collaborated with include: Coca Cola; Philadelphia; Pillsbury; Betty Crocker; Tilda Rice and more.

Chef Manal Al Alem, said: “At the date palm festival Cooking Area, visitors can witness preparations of a wide variety of quick and easy recipes rich with nutritional values that we obtain from dates. Throughout the festival we will showcase interesting and professional cooking recipes that preserve the heritage of the Gulf along with its culture and traditions. They are recipes that combine the past with the present for adults and children to enjoy the delicious flavors.”

Emirati Chef Khulood Atiq Saeed, said, “I am delighted to be a part of this festival. With the new Cooking Area, we will be able to showcase how Emirati cuisine reflects the country’s tradition, heritage and history.”

Chef Tomas Reger, Owner, Tomas Reger Food Consultants, said: “I am fascinated by the several different flavors and textures of the date fruit. I will showcase the ways the fruit can bring richness and complexity to both sweet and savory dishes.”

Chef Tomas Reger was also responsible for introducing Dubai based Steam Sum Dim Sum restaurant as well as reinventing the menu for Le Sushi Bar.

Others Chefs confirmed to participate at the Emirates International Date Palm Festival include TV Chef and author of ‘When Suzanne Cooks’, Chef Suzanne Husseini; MBC 1’s ‘Sabeh El Kheir Ya Arab’ TV Chef; and Chef Nada Jaber Ali from the Jumeirah Group.

Chef Nada Jaber Ali, said: “It is a great honor for us to be able to demonstrate, using local dates, a selection of unique modern dishes. The team at Madinat Jumeirah is committed to the use of dates throughout the resort and stuffed dates left in the room upon guest arrival form an important part of our traditional Arabic welcome.”

Over 17,000 visitors are expected to visit the 6-day date palm festival that promises a week of fun filled activities celebrating the heritage of the date palm.

The festival is very committed to building communities through social media. It’s Facebook/datepalmfestival and Twitter/datepalmfest networks engage fans by offering year round news and promotions.

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