Dubai Food Festival has unveiled the programme for the ‘Dine with the Stars’ gala dinner event and masterclasses with international and local chefs.

The masterclass series and gala dinner will offer food enthusiasts the opportunity to learn from Australian MasterChef stars George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, Manu Feildel of ‘My Kitchen Rules’, and well-known F&B figures Matt Moran, Shannon Bennett, and Chef Manal Al Alem.

Masterclasses with these chefs, and with MasterChef India winner Nikita Gandhi and MasterChef New Zealand winner Tim Read, will take place at Dubai’s School of Culinary and Finishing Arts (SCAFA) on 26 and 27 February, and from 4-6 March.

Additionally, the Festival is launching a ‘Local Greats Series’, where chefs from Dubai restaurants including Coya, Tresind, Tom & Serg and Jean-George will unveil their top tricks and tips from 8-11 March.

“Our diverse schedule of Masterclass series enhances Dubai Food Festival’s programme by providing a hands-on and highly interactive experience for our visitors to learn from some of the most high-profile chefs in both Dubai and across the world,” said Debra Greenwood, director of Dubai Food Festival, an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), which organises the event.

“These Masterclasses provide a fun, new activity for businesses, couples and groups of friends to enjoy together.”

‘Dine with The Stars’ will launch on 26 February with the five Australian celebrity chefs creating a five-course menu for guests.

The evening will include entertainment and personal anecdotes from elite chefs on all things food.

George Calombaris said: “I’m so excited to be coming back to Dubai again and am honoured to be invited to be part of the upcoming Dubai Food Festival in February and cooking alongside some great friends and chefs for the Gala event.

“This will be a first with us all cooking together, anything could happen, but it’s sure to be a night not to be missed!”

Debra Greenwood added: “Dubai Food Festival is proud to host a once-in-a-lifetime event of this scale, with so many high-calibre celebrity chefs cooking one menu together, further reinforcing Dubai’s position on the map as the culinary capital of the region.”

Tom Arnel, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Bull & Roo, parent company of Tom & Serg, commented: “It is a great opportunity to get together with some of my exceptionally talented chefs and share our love of food with culinary enthusiasts.”

The masterclass series, sponsored by Al Islami, will take place at Dubai’s School of Culinary And Finishing Arts (SCAFA). The programme is available at www.dubaifoodfestival.com.

Dubai Food Festival, which promotes the diversity of Dubai’s culinary offering, runs from 25 February – 12 March 2016.