After its inaugural outing in 2014, the Dubai Food Festival is set to return with an expanded 23-day programme from February 6-28, 2015, with a variety of events, activities, promotions and celebrity chef appearances.

Four themes will be seen across the programme: Emirati Cuisine, authentic local cuisine and cultural experiences that showcase both traditional as well as up-and-coming Emirati concepts and chefs; Home-grown, celebrating the emerging scene of independent restaurants and concepts; multicultural dining and street food; and, international chefs and restaurants in Dubai, highlighting the influx of restaurants conceived or owned by Michelin-starred chefs who increasingly are choosing to open in Dubai.

Her Excellency Laila Mohammed Suhail, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, organiser of the Festival, said: “Along with celebrating the diversity, depth and talent of Dubai’s culinary community, Dubai Food Festival 2015 further reinforces the Emirate’s position as the gastronomic capital of the region and its emergence on the global scene. Through an expanded 2015 programme, Dubai Food Festival 2015 will draw upon and celebrate home-grown concepts, warm Emirati hospitality and cuisine, global trends as well as international cuisine and identities that have been inspired by Dubai.”

She continued: “For the 2015 edition we have taken the most successful consumer and business events from the inaugural season and around them built an exciting and dynamic three-week programme of events, activities and promotions. This programme will firmly establish Dubai Food Festival as a core fixture on Dubai’s extensive events calendar and attract increased visitation from across the region and beyond.”

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Among the highlights are a selection of celebrity chefs confirmed to participate in DFF events, including Silvena Rowe, Sanjeev Kapoor, Manal Al Alem, and Michelin-starred Jason Atherton with more due to be announced in the lead up to the Festival.

In addition to 2014 festival events Gulfood, Dubai Food Carnival, Taste of Peru and Global Restaurant Investment Forum, also returning will be the Beach Canteen, which in 2015 will take residence on Kite Beach.

New to DFF 2015, a series of Mystery Dining Tours, hosted by Lime & Tonic will take place, with tickets on sale on Lime & Tonic's website.

DFF will also welcome Al Quoz Street Nights as part of the Festival’s line up. Pairing street art with street food, Street Nights (February 19-20) will be a celebration of urban art, culture and food in the city’s up-and-coming arts precinct.

Similarly, a showcase of street-food photographer Penny De La Santos’ images of the multicultural dining and street food on offer in Dubai will be on show at Dubai Airport between February 14-28, and a convoy of food trucks will move throughout the city, making appearances at key destinations.

A key thread of the festival will highlight the range of Emirati chef talents and both Emirati and non-Emirati chefs innovating new dishes with traditional ingredients. The festival will close with a celebration of Emirati food, taking place on The Palm Jumeirah.

Debra Greenwood, Dubai Food Festival director, said: “Dubai Food Festival 2015 promises entertainment for the entire family as it challenges festival goers to truly discover Dubai’s unique and growing culinary offer. Along with expanding 2014 event favourites, such as the highly popular Beach Canteen, Dubai Food Festival 2015 will see the addition of some truly memorable events and activities that, while inspired by global food trends, will have a distinctly Dubai flavour.”