Tickets for the upcoming Dubai Food Carnival, the UAE’s leading international culinary and entertainment event, will go on sale tomorrow (January 15).

After last year’s inaugural Dubai Food Carnival attracted 17,588 visitors from more than 90 countries, the 2015 edition will run from February 12 to 14 at Dubai International Marine Club.

“With an appealing fusion of global cuisines, celebrated international and regional chefs, engaging entertainment, and a diverse blend of established and new-to-market restaurants and food retailers, the second Dubai Food Carnival will solidify its standing as one of the region’s largest consumer food events and a fun, family day out,” said Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, Exhibitions & Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, the Carnival organiser.

Extended to three days due to popular demand, Dubai Food Carnival 2015, a headline event of the second Dubai Food Festival, will feature a plethora of interactive competitions across its new 15,869 sq m venue.

Heading the bill is ‘The Great Yalla BBQ’, a mega grill-off concept which returns with an exciting new format. Elsewhere, event newcomer SoHo Grill, Dubai’s home-grown New York-themed steakhouse, will host a ‘Ribs n Bibs’ eating contest on the Main Stage, while Hummingbird Bakery, the home of quality American baking in Dubai, will stage a ‘Little Bakers’ competition for kids at its stand.

Held in association with Weber Grills and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), and hosted by Chef Tarek Ibrahim, the multi-talented star of Fatafeat TV, ‘The Great Yalla BBQ’ will consist of three distinct competitions this year.

On February 12, local and international businesses face-off in the Corporate Cook-Off Relay, before So You Think You Can Grill - a hotly-contested man versus woman head-to-head – entertains crowds on February 13.

The final day on Saturday February 14 will see a range of sports teams from local football, rugby, netball and cricket leagues battle for honours in the BBQ Playoffs. Entry for all teams is completely free and registration is open now on the Dubai Food Carnival website.

On the main stage, Carnival newcomers Soho Grill will host five sessions of the epic ‘Ribs n’ Bibs’ eat-off - where eight contestants per session will be required to eat one kilogramme of SoHo Grill’s barbequed back ribs in only eight minutes.

 If no winner emerges during the five eat-offs, the contestants’ remaining ribs will be weighed to find the ‘King of the Ribs’, with each of the five winners receiving an AED500 voucher to spend at any SoHo Grill outlet in Dubai, as well as a ‘King of the Ribs’ medal and t-shirt. SoHo Grill will spice things up at its dedicated restaurant stand with the launch of its new ‘Fireball’ Atomic Hot Sauce.

Hummingbird Bakery, one of the world’s most loved bakeries, will hold a special competition for children and budding bakers dubbed ‘Little Bakers’. Open to boys and girls between the ages of five-to-12-years-old, the competition will see kids try to emulate intricate cupcake designs crafted on-site by a master baker.

With more than 80 local, regional and international culinary brands participating at Dubai Food Carnival, many of the exhibitors and event partners will also hold exclusive competitions on their stands with great prizes on offer for winners.

Three popular Jumeirah Group restaurants - Tortuga, the noodle house and Madinat Jumeirah newcomer Perry and Blackwelder’s Original Smokehouse - will accompany their delicious on-site menus with Instagram and Twitter-based competitions. – TradeArabia News Service