The eagerly awaited Eat Festival, Karachi’s beloved food and music extravaganza, is set to make a triumphant return for its 11th edition from January 12th to 14th, 2024. This three-day celebration guarantees an unforgettable experience for the city’s food enthusiasts and music aficionados, featuring a diverse array of culinary delights and a vibrant lineup of musical artists.
Since its inception, Karachi Eat has been at the forefront of empowering small businesses and home chefs, providing them with a platform to showcase their culinary creations to a larger audience. Over the past 11 years, the number of home-based vendors has steadily increased, with nearly 75% of the stalls being operated by home chefs rather than commercial entities. These hidden gems, offering a wide spectrum of international and traditional cuisines, consistently attract the most attention and appreciation at the festival.
This year, the festival introduces the B.E.A.T Festival (Bringing Emerging Artists Together), a musical event designed to spotlight Pakistan’s up-and-coming and undiscovered musical talent. The mission is to curate a unique ensemble of young and talented musicians, seamlessly blending them with underground artists and street performers. The grand finale, presented on the main stage at Karachi Eat, promises to showcase a diverse range of musical talent.
Omer Omari, CEO of Eat Festival, expresses the festival’s commitment to providing opportunities for aspiring chefs and musicians alike. He states, “Just as Karachi Eat provides a launching pad for aspiring chefs who want to step into the city’s food scene, the B.E.A.T aspect of the festival aims to do the same for young, budding musicians who are only waiting for an opportunity to prove their mettle. We believe in harnessing the immense potential of Pakistan’s music scene.”
The 2024 Eat Festival marks its 11th year and features a captivating blend of seasoned players who began their journey at the festival, alongside emerging eateries and foodpreneurs set to follow in their footsteps. The diverse stalls include De Calzone, 75-degree hot, Yak Grill, Dear Croissant, Jani Biryani, E street, Sweetistry, and Sombrero, among 120 eateries present during the three-day event.
As part of its 11th edition, Eat Food Pakistan introduces EATSAPP, a food discovery platform designed for use beyond the festival. This app allows users to rate, review, and discover new eateries throughout the year. Beyond basic functionality, EATSAPP informs users of menu items with the highest engagement and popularity. The app also provides foodpreneurs the opportunity to market their brands, upload real-time menus, and exercise control over their brand visibility and sales. The app’s launch at the Eat Festival 2024, as a pilot, aims to guide visitors to the most popular eateries and share real-time reviews, aligning with its tagline, “We Know What You Want To Eat Before You Do.”
The festival also celebrates the success of its second season of “Beginnings With Us,” a competition where home chefs vie for a coveted spot at Karachi Eat. The winner, Ayesha Mughal of Aysh De Cuisine, secured her victory for the second consecutive year with her innovative twists on rabri, chicken, and pizza-flavored gol gappay, available at stall number 76. Omer Omari expresses pride in the increasing number of home chefs, stating, “Over the years, it’s been very gratifying to have helped so many home chefs just by giving them the right platform. It’s our way of giving back to the city that has made the Eat Festival its own.”
The Eat Festival Karachi 2024 promises to be a harmonious blend of gastronomic delights and captivating musical performances, uniting the city to experience the creativity and talent of participating eateries and foodpreneurs. Hosted at the customary Beach Park, Clifton, the three-day festival aims to showcase the best of Karachi’s food and music scenes, fostering a sense of community and celebration.
