Dubai has kicked off its popular 3-day food festival with a host of delectable dishes. Visitors are getting the opportunity to experience delicious cuisine prepared by top chefs across the world.

An exhibitor speaks to a visitor at a Taste of Nature stand during the Gulfood Exhibition at the Dubai International Trade Center in Dubai February 22, 2012. [File photo]

25 leading restaurants in Dubai are offering their signature dishes, from Arabian, Turkish and Latin American to Chinese, Japanese and Korean. As an international metropolis, foreigners account for 85% of Dubai's population. The festival claims to offer more than just food, but also a tour of multinational culture.

A tourist said, "When talk about 'Taste of Dubai', what you could get is this city, and the flavour of multinational culture."

People like to go to see the chefs in person. Many recipes might be business secrets, but here you can get cooking classes from international celebrity chefs. This top chef is showcasing his speciality dish "Salmon Beef Steak".

A chef said, "I like to share my recipes, I am not tight. I have a facebook page, where people can interact with me."

A tourist said, "It's interesting, very subtle, different from what we already have. Now I know the recipe, I will try this out."

It's the fifth year of the food festival, and about 20 000 people flock to Dubai every year for an amazing culinary experience.