Media Release
Riyadh, Feb 18: KWAR (Karavali Welfare Association Riyadh) successfully conducted their much awaited annual event Karavali Food Festival on February 5 with a lot of fun and fare. A total of 11 teams participated in the mega event, in the city and a huge crowd gathered withering the cold and chilly weather. It was a treat to watch the lovely well decorated and well presented food stalls.
The mega show began with traditional lighting of deepas. KWAR former president Ramesh Shetty was on the dais along with acting president Santosh Shetty, general secretary Nelson D’Souza, KWAR treasurer Shashidhar Haridas, cultural secretaries as well as other executive members of KWAR managing committee.
KWAR acting president Santhosh Shetty welcomed the dignitaries, guests, sponsors and participating teams and the Karavali public.
P M Bhsskar, Umesh Shetty and Nitin Kukkuvalli managed the stage well with their running commentaries as well as wit and humor to enthrall the guests.
The 5 wise champions in their own field and knowledgeable of variety of Indian and continental cuisines had to select the best dish, best ethnic (Karavali oriented) dish, and the best vegetarian dish from 30 to 40 different varieties of prepared food samples. They also had a herculean task of selecting the best presentation as well as the best hygienic stall among the 11 participating stalls. True to their expertise in these time tested fields, the final judgment was unanimous and the following teams/stalls were declared the outright winners of KWAR’s mega event Karavali food festival.
1. Best dish : Spandana by Ashwini
2. Best vegetarian dish : by Smitha Haridas
3. Best ethnic dish : Nama Moole -Barsa
4. Best hygiene : AKR SUVAD by Aangan Konknichen
5. Best presentation : Nama Moole Barsa
6. Best decorated stall : Nama Moole Barsa
All the winners were awarded mementoes and gifts as well as certificates.
The other participating teams, Magic Chef, hot and spicy, Puli Munchi, Ruchi and Aliyankaro Hotel, were well appreciated and awarded with gifts and certificates.
The four judges who adjudicated the whole event were:
1) Shaikh Ahmed – from Al-Marai
2) Chef Kayamuddin
3) Chef Chetan
4) Gopal Shetty - MASA
KWAR executive members Suresh Suvarna, Jayakar Poojary, Prasanna Rao and Mahesh Hegde escorted the judges to a comfortable environment at the competition. The crowd who gathered were on their feet when KWAR children danced to the tune of PM Bhaskar’s well composed Karavali Tulu song related to the food festival.
It was fun and food all the way. The crowd was also very happy to participate in the raffle draw which had many prizes to be won. The first prize was an LCD color TV, won by one of the members. The special attraction of KWAR Food Festival was Ring-o-Ring. The game was well handled by KWAR’s ringmaster Bhaskar Salian.
Special guests Pushpa Raj from the Embassy of India, MASA (Mangalore Association of Saudi Arabia based in Dammam) president Narendra Shetty were also present.
Main sponsors of the event were Mazola Oil, Al Kadesia Clinic, OTE (Othman Trading Est), Tajmahal Group of Restaurants, AL Mass Restaurant, Guthu Restaurant, Xpress Money, Country Club and McDonalds. Individual contributions were made by the executive members.
All the sponsors and VIP guests and guests were honoured with a flower bouquet.
The acting president Santosh thanked all the sponsors and judges for their wholehearted support to charity work taken up by KWAR.
The gates were well managed by Victor D'Souza, Alfred Fernandes and Ashwath Rai.
The eye catching photography was ably handled by Iqbal, Subhash and Chetan.
KWAR general secretary Nelson D'Souza thanked all the sponsors, members, participants, guests, judges, executive members who toiled hard for the grand success of the food festival, and all those who directly or indirectly supported KWAR cause.
The festivities ended around midnight with the reciting of the national anthem.