A wealth of cookery classes, demonstrations and shows will be available to everyone at the upcoming Sharjah International Book Fair 2015 (SIBF) taking place this November 4-14 at the Sharjah Expo Centre. World famous chefs, including Egypt’s TV personality, Chef Hassan, renowned Indian entrepreneurial cook, publisher and restaurateur, Nita Mehta and Frenchman, now decamped to Australia, Jean Michel Raynaud who will be enthralling visitors, young and old, with a range of culinary delights.In addition to cooking demonstrations, entertainment of a culinary flavor will also be provided by “Saltimbanco Italiano”, a global art theatre company who parade as cakes or comedic chefs and, with a range of props, entertain visitors with stunts, tricks and acrobatics that will prove to be fun for all the family. A highlight of the entertainment troupe is their Acrobatic Pizzaioli stage show which they describe as an explosive sport and an art form with spinning pizza’s and flying dough, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Chef Hassan has been a feature of TV cooking shows in Egypt for 20 years, first with his “Min Kul Balad Akla” TV show and “Halo Ya Halo” on Egyptian TV Channel. After which Chef Hassan could be found at Al Hayat TV for the last six years. While Hassan favours Italian and French cuisine there will also be a great range of Egyptian and other Arab classic recipes featured on his live show during the fair. Catch Chef Hassan on Tuesday 10th and Thursday 12th November at 7.30 pm or on Wednesday 11th at 4.55 pm.Nita Mehta is almost an institution in her native India where her cookbooks can be found in the homes of millions of people. Nita Mehta has written over 600 books on various topics, covering a multitude of cuisines from around the world and 450 of her books have been on the best-seller list. So far Mehta has sold over 7.5 million books with knowledge backed up by a MSc. degree and Gold Medal in Food and Nutrition. Mehta’a cooking demonstration will showcase a range of dishes with a creative blend of exciting flavours that will appeal to every palate. See the show on Friday 6 November at 8.15pm.
The United Arab Emirate's first female national chef, Khulood Atiq, from Dubai will also be making an appearance at the fair on the 5th November at 8.15 pm and on 6th November at 7.15pm. Atiq is the author of cook book "Sarareed"- containing traditional Emirati recipes and she has her own cookery shows, "Hani w A'afya", "Sarareed Khulood" and coming soon is her show, "Surood Khulood".Also thrilling the crowds with culinary delights will be Jean Michel Raynaud who began his career under the tutelage of Master Pâtissier, Robert Schicchi in Marseilles and was a head pastry chef by the age of 20. He later migrated to Australia and joined Sweet Art and Planet Cake as head chef and now continues creating exceptional tarts, pastries, macarons and desserts at La Renaissance Pâtisserie in Sydney’s The Rocks district. Raynaud is a sweet treat you will not want to miss, catch him on the 10th November at 4.45pm, 12th November at 4.30 pm and Friday 13th November at 4.45 pm.
Other chefs not to be missed include China’s “The Dumpling Sisters”, Amy and Julie Zhang who have relocated to the UK. The sisters have been delighting thousands of followers on YouTube with their recipes for delicious Chinese food that anyone can create at home. They have appeared on Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube and recently released their first recipe book, “The Dumpling Sisters Cookbook” which is full of Chinese-food favourites. Find them on Saturday 7th November at 4.55 pm and at 7.30 pm on the 8th and 9th November. Also appearing at the fair is Felicia Campbell, an IACP award-nominated food writer and former staff editor at the nationally acclaimed American food and travel magazine Saveur. She is author of “The Food of Oman: Recipes and Stories from the Gateway to Arabia” and now lives in Muscat where she is the executive features editor of the Times of Oman. See Campbell from the 4th to 7th November. Faiza Moosa is one of Kerala's most renowned chefs where her North Kerala Muslim cooking is well loved. Moosa conducts cooking classes in her 150 year-old house and she can be found at the fair on Friday 13th November at 7.15pm.Finally, Ummi Abdulla from India is an award winning cook who specialises in Malabar cuisine. She has appeared on cookery programs on both radio and television at can be found at the SIBF at 6.00pm on November 13th.