Steve Harvey will be in Abu Dhabi to host the Open Fire Food Festival taking place at the end of February
PARTNER CONTENT: Ready for a weekend by the pit? All that and more awaits the best gourmands at the Open Fire Food Festival.
The highly-anticipated event hosted by Steve Harvey is a first-of-its-kind event, both in the MENA region and globally, taking place at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on 24 and 25 February.
Iconic host
The Open Fire Food Festival will be hosted by American television presenter, producer, actor and comedian Steve Harvey, whose love of open-flame cooking was the inspiration for the event.
On announcing the event, Harvey said: “The Open Fire Food Festival is more than just a feast for the senses; it’s a celebration of unity and the universal love for delicious food cooked with fire. My aim is to create an event in the UAE capital that inspires connections, where people can come together, enjoy food, and create cherished memories.
“Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Open Fire Food Festival will ignite not only the senses but also the spirit of togetherness, fostering an atmosphere of shared enjoyment and cultural appreciation.”
Celebrity chefs showcasing their skills
A star-studded line up of celebrity chefs will be taking part in the event, with the likes of Moe Cason and Steven Raichlen already confirmed.
A self-taught barbecue expert, Cason has featured as a contestant and judge on high-profile US cooking shows such as World of Flavour With Big Moe Cason, Pitmaster’s, BBQ Pit Wars and SMOKED.
Cason honed his skills through taking part in over 260 cooking competitions where he won multiple awards.
Raichlen, meanwhile, has created and hosted several popular television shows in the US, Canada and Italy, including Planet Barbecue®, Project Fire, and Project Smoke, while also serving as a culinary expert on the likes of Good Morning America, Oprah, The View and CBS Mornings.
He has also written more than 30 books focused on various aspects of the cooking industry, including Project Fire, Project Smoke, The Brisket Chronicles, and the multi-million copy international bestsellers The Barbecue Bible and How to Grill.
Another starry addition to the line-up is none other than the expert Melissa Cookston, seven-time World Barbecue Champion. She will be joining the festival as one of the three barbecue experts.
A trailblazer in an industry traditionally male-dominated, Cookston became the first female inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2021, Melissa launched a nonprofit called the World Junior BBQ League with the mission of engaging kids in BBQ competitions while teaching them life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and work ethic through fun and delicious competition.
You might also like: First celebrity chef in the Open Fire Food Festival line-up
Entertainment offerings
Over the course of the two days, guests attending can look forward to a host of cooking workshops, panel discussions and competitions, along with thrilling family entertainment in the form of live musical performances.
Keep your eyes peeled for artist announcements, including a big-name headline act, over the coming weeks.
Affordable tickets and kids go free
Tickets for the event are on sale now, with prices starting from just AED 60 and a range of packages available. Children aged 12 and under will gain free admission over the course of the two days, while guests wishing to attend on both days can purchase weekend passes.
Experience history being made
Presented by MELT Middle East, a joint venture between OWS Capital and Steve Harvey Global, the inaugural event is set to enhance Abu Dhabi’s fast-growing reputation as a culinary hub, bringing a selection of the world’s finest chefs together to create a host of fantastic dishes on an open flame.
Tickets for the two-day event are available to purchase at yasmarinacircuit.com/en/open-fire-food-festival
Date
24 and 25 February
Location
Yas Marina Circuit
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