A world-class line-up of celebrity chefs will turn up the heat at the Cookery Corner at the 12^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

Top culinary experts from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and Morocco will lead 20 activities throughout the 11-day event that runs from May 19 – 29 at Sharjah Expo Centre, under the theme ‘For Your Imagination’. They will share popular recipes from their respective countries and give the audience practical tips at interactive sessions that will be held at the ever-popular Cookery Corner.

The stellar line-up includes Jordanian chef Daad Abu Jaber who studied economics and business administration, but her passion for cooking drove her to quit business and finance to follow her dream. She has participated in the Star Chef competition on Fatafeat, the food and lifestyle television channel. She was ranked among the top ten and is one of Fatafeat’s popular stars.

Joining her is Chef Alia Al Kassimi from Morocco, one of the country’s most popular gastronomy ambassadors to the world. She has presented many cookery programmes and competitions such as Master Chef in Poland. She has also published eight cookery books.

The festival will also host top Egyptian chef Ghada El Tally. She grew up in an Egyptian-Jordanian family and her love for cooking led her to becoming a celebrated chef. She joined Ro’ya TV in 2011 where she presents several progarmmes such as The Cooking Queen.

UK-based Sudanese chef, Zahra Abdullah will be demonstrating some recipes from her book, Cooking with Zahra, considered one of the best modern-day references in Middle Eastern cuisine. The book also explores her Arabic heritage and exposure to world cultures growing up abroad, and how these influences shaped her culinary style.

UAE-resident and Syrian national, Badiya Khaireddein, Events and Operations Manager of the International Chef Centre (UAE) and a member of the International Gourmet Association, will share with visitors her expertise in Syrian cuisine. She is a lecturer at the University College of Mother and Family Sciences, a popular presenter of cookery shows on radio and television, and designs and conducts programmes and workshops on healthy eating and diets for children.

SCRF 2021 will be open to visitors from 4:00 to10:00 pm every day except Saturdays, when the timings will be from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. The event features 537 events and specialised activities as well as a series of theatre performances. The festival will host 172 publishers and 27 writers from 15 countries.