- What The Food explores ‘Disrupting the Table’ through talks and workshops.
- Asma Khan delivers the opening keynote on redefining food for tomorrow.
- Tindahan Sa Tahanan Co. exhibition honours Filipino tindahans and diaspora stories.
- Hands on masterclasses, panels and food labs that teach practical skills.
This October, Alserkal Avenue convenes chefs, artists and thinkers for What The Food, a two-day cultural platform titled ‘Disrupting the Table’. Across talks, workshops and installations, the festival will probe power, provenance and practical techniques that chefs and creators can take back to their kitchens and projects. Expect masterclasses, screenings and public programmes aimed at makers and curious diners.
Under the banner Disrupting the Table, the weekend will examine where food sits inside systems of power, production and storytelling. Panels and sessions are curated to move beyond trends and toward practical methods and critical thinking, with a first day devoted to innovation and sustainability. That more deliberate approach is designed to give attendees ideas they can apply, from sourcing to plating.
The festival opens with a keynote from Asma Khan, whose work blends restaurant practice with social equity and sustainable thinking. Claudia de Brito curates the talks, bringing a global perspective to sessions that interrogate who holds knowledge and how innovation happens in kitchens and communities. Expect a mix of provocation, technique and tangible takeaways across the schedule.
What The Food pairs conversation with cultural installations, including Tindahan Sa Tahanan Co., an exhibition by Sa Tahanan Co. that celebrates Filipino tindahans and daily rituals across diasporas. The show gathers artists from the UAE and beyond, making space for storytelling that connects everyday commerce with identity and memory. Alongside exhibitions, community activations by local groups will highlight food as a site of culture and care.
- Hands on masterclasses and food labs that teach concrete techniques.
- Panels focused on Dubai DNA and Emirati chefs shaping regional identity.
- Installations that connect diaspora stories with food practices and retail.
- A blend of film, workshops and public programme suitable for curious visitors.
Picture a young chef leaving a masterclass with a new method for fermenting local produce, or a home cook adopting a sourcing practice that supports small farms. The festival is built so those small shifts add up, helping individuals translate ideas into action while building community around shared meals.
What The Food returns to Alserkal Avenue on 25 and 26 October, offering a hands-on, ideas-first weekend for chefs, creators and the public. Check the full programme and book sessions to join conversations, try workshops and visit installations that redefine how food connects people.
For the full programme visit the website.
