SIBF 2024 Combines Literature And Culinary Arts For An Unforgettable Experience

The 34th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) is set to take place from 6th to 17th November. This year, the event embraces the theme ‘It Starts with a Book,’ merging storytelling with culinary arts. Attendees will experience a unique blend of literature and cuisine, featuring 47 live events at the Cookery Corner. Seventeen renowned chefs from 13 countries will showcase diverse traditions and innovations.

Chefs from Vietnam, Oman, Slovenia, and Nepal will make their debut at SIBF 2024. They will share their culinary heritage, enriching the event's global dialogue on food as both craft and culture. This inclusion adds an experiential dimension to the fair, appealing to those intrigued by culinary diversity.

Moroccan chef Alia Al Kasimi, known for her YouTube channel Cooking with Alia, will be among the featured chefs. Her channel has garnered over 80 million views, highlighting how digital media transforms our food experiences. Ruby Bhogal, famous for her role in The Great British Bake Off, will also participate. She brings insights from her work with magazines like GQ and The Times.

Iraqi chef Lamees Attar Bashi will contribute her expertise in blending Middle Eastern flavours with modern techniques. Her programme Lamees’ Dining Table and US-based company Bashi Foods reflect this fusion. South African chef Zola Nene adds another layer with her bestselling books and TV appearances, exploring African cuisine's complexities in a contemporary setting.

SIBF’s culinary focus extends beyond cooking to cultural traditions connecting generations through food. British-Vietnamese Thuy Diem Pham and Slovenian sourdough expert Anita Šumer exemplify this connection. Pham’s London restaurant The Little Viet Kitchen offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine with a twist. Šumer showcases sourdough expertise, a skill gaining global interest as both culinary art and cultural practice.

Irish chef Anna Haugh highlights heritage's enduring relevance through her London restaurant Myrtle. Her work reflects personal and cultural history in modern cuisine. South African chef Elmarie Berry’s food styling and photography have reached a global audience through her book Kosbaar, offering a personal reflection on her culinary roots.

Exploring Culinary Heritage

Lebanese chef Lina Saad will share insights from her Gourmand Award-winning book Ramadan Express at SIBF 2024. Her work explores Islamic holy month's rich culinary traditions, showing how food bridges cultural understanding. South African chef Mokgadi Itsweng will also feature at the event, known for promoting indigenous African ingredients.

Itsweng’s award-winning book Veggielicious supports the growing movement towards plant-based diets rooted in traditional African flavours and sustainable practices. This highlights how chefs use their platforms to connect culinary traditions with modern trends.

The Sharjah International Book Fair continues to offer more than just books by integrating diverse cultural experiences through its Cookery Corner events. By bringing together chefs from around the world, it fosters a deeper appreciation of food as an art form that transcends borders while celebrating cultural heritage.

With inputs from WAM