Eat your way through the weekend
Foodies, this one’s for you. What The Food festival is returning to Alserkal Avenue for its fifth edition this October, bringing two days of food, culture, workshops and creative experiences to Al Quoz.
Taking place on Friday 31 October and Saturday 1 November, the festival is curated by Leen Al Zaben and presented in strategic partnership with Dubai Eats. This year’s theme, Khubz wa Milh (خبز وملح), meaning “bread and salt”, explores the idea of gathering around a table and the connections created through sharing food.
Pull Up a Seat
The communal table will take centre stage at The Yard, transforming throughout the weekend into a space for visitors to eat, meet and take part in daily workshops.
The programme will look beyond what’s on the plate, exploring the heritage, traditions, artisans and communities that shape food culture. Expect keynotes, conversations, masterclasses, art installations, film screenings, performances and food concepts spread across Alserkal Avenue.
Among the highlights is a lecture performance by filmmaker and storyteller Nadir Nahdi, while Emirati poet and artist Shamma Al Bastaki will join a conversation at Concrete.
The festival will open with a keynote from Aline Kamakian, entrepreneur and founder of Armenian restaurant Mayrig, who will explore how food can preserve culture and bring communities together. Emirati entrepreneur Nazek Al Sabbagh, founder of Malleh Gourmet, will also join curator Leen Al Zaben for a conversation about maleh, the Emirati tradition of salted, sun-dried fish.
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Food, Art and Workshops
There’s plenty to get stuck into, too. Caroline Petit-Mason will lead A Collective Table, a collaborative porcelain workshop, while Shereen Al Mulla, co-founder of Hikma Rituals, will explore the connection between edible plants, food traditions and herbal medicine.
House of Habanero founder Faisal Al Mutairi and Peruvian chef Roberto Segura will also host a workshop inspired by the traditional sauce served with anticuchos, exploring salt, spice and preservation.
Suspended above the communal table will be What We Leave Behind, a large-scale textile commission by artist Nour Hage, created from personal recipes, ingredients and memories collected through participatory workshops.
The celebrations begin before the main weekend with Off The Menu, a series of activations taking place across Alserkal Avenue on October 17–18 and 24–25.
Highlights include a salsa and guacamole workshop by Lila Molino, a sourdough workshop by Subko and Our Mother’s Recipes Supper Club by Kave, alongside activations from House of Habanero, Maison Etherique and Cinema Akil.
Image credit: Supplied
Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
Contact me: zainab@nommemag.com
