Truckloads of taste coming up at Love Food Festivals in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi

The Love Food Festival has plenty to relish thanks to an array of food trucks, celebrity chefs, entertainment and an exciting kids’ programme. Stacie Overton Johnson has the low-down

The Love Food Festival features food trucks, demonstrations by celebrity chefs, live music and workshops for kids. Courtesy Real Food Festivals

Forks at the ready. Abu Dhabi’s inaugural Love Food Festival is coming to Al Ain’s Al Jahili Park and Mushrif Central Park in the capital for two weekends of street-style fun, offering a variety of world-class dishes.

The festival serves up delicious bites from a fleet of local and international food trucks and events include celebrity-­chef demos and culinary workshops. There’s even a tea and cake pavilion, hosted by renowned baker Eric Lanlard.

Organised by Philip Lowery, the director of Food Market Events, the festival boasts the same crew as last year’s Street Feast, which was part of the Abu Dhabi Food Festival (which has now moved to the end of the year).

“Love Food Festival is all about the passion and enjoyment of great food from all around the world,” says Lowery. “We started the Real Food Festival in the UK years ago, and we are delighted to be bringing a similar concept all the way to the UAE. We believe there is a great appetite here for a quality food offering in a relaxed and family-friendly setting.”

One highlight of the festival is the gathering of 15 food trucks and vendors from the UK, complemented by at least six food trucks from the UAE.

Lowery has no doubt foodies in the capital will be lining up for a taste.

“The food-truck phenomenon has been hot for a while around the world but is still pretty new in the UAE,” says Lowery. “I think that people here just love the informality, the focus on great ingredients and the passion of some of the traders.

“It’s a different experience from a restaurant, too, because you can engage with passionate, knowledgeable traders who are cooking your food right in front of you – a theatre of food.

“Simply put, [people] can expect world-class food at affordable prices in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, with great live entertainment.

“And they’ll get up-close and personal with some of the most popular chefs today. There will be something for everyone and it will make for a great family day out.”

• Love Food Festival is at Al Jahili Park, Al Ain, on Thursday from 5pm to 11pm, and from noon to 11pm on Friday and Saturday. It’s at Abu Dhabi’s Mushrif Central Park on February 18 from 5pm to 10pm, and from noon to 10pm on February 19 and 20. Tickets cost Dh30 at www.lovefoodfestival.ae, or Dh40 at the door. Children under 12 get in free. There is a Dh5 general admission fee for Mushrif Central Park, which is not included in the ticket price.