UAE Capital’s Hospitality ’Oscar’ Winners Awarded

Expanded Honours Programme Gets Bigger Response

Abu Dhabi’s expanding constellation of hospitality ‘stars’ have been feted in style in the glittering surroundings of the Gourmet Abu Dhabi Gala Dinner.

The event at Al Raha Beach Hotel, was attended by more than 350 hospitality industry personalities and food connoisseurs who gathered four days before the curtain comes down on the 15-day culinary festival to recognise the event’s star-studded cast, hosting establishments and local industry elite.

And the gathering heard that this year’s Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards – which had been expanded to 11 to take in a new ‘Pastry Chef Of The Year’ honour – has pulled almost 50% more votes that last year’s inaugural edition with 30% of the polling coming from outside the UAE. Votes were cast by people in 32 countries including destinations as widespread as Norway, Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago.

The keenly competitive Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards - the ’Oscars’ of the local hospitality industry – were presented by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which is presenting the culinary extravaganza. The awards recognised the culinary prowess of the UAE capital’s hospitality sector and were subject to public voting and final adjudication by an expert panel including: Jeremy Weeks, Membre due Conseil Magistral of the Association Mondiale De Las Gastronomie; Noel Massoud, Chief Executive Officer, Jinan Hotels & Resorts; Patrick Willis, Chief Operating Officer of the Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation and Susanne Drexler, Director of Germany’s Gourmet Connection.

“This really was a difficult task for the judges with voting being extremely close in most categories,” said Dayne Lim of Gourmet Abu Dhabi organising committee. “What was particularly noticeable this year is the amount of nominations – up by around 40% on last year, which reflects the growth in Abu Dhabi’s fine dining stock.”

And the winners were: Executive Chef Of The Year: Gary Robinson, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi; Food & Beverage Manager Of The Year: Ahmed Issa, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi; Pastry Chef Of The Year: Avril Dsylva, Yas Island Rotana Abu Dhabi; Regional Cuisine Chef Of The Year: Hassan Assaf, Al Mawal, Hilton Abu Dhabi; Regional Cuisine Manager Of The Year: Prasad S, India Palace; Regional Cuisine Restaurant Of The Year: Diwan L’Auberge, Emirates Palace; Restaurant Chef Of The Year: Jean Hurstel, Bord Eau, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi; Restaurant Host Of The Year: Marie Irene, Ushna; Restaurant Manager Of The Year: Thaer Hanna, Finz, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi; Restaurant Of The Year: Sayad, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi.

The Gala Dinner also recognised Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s stellar premium partners and its impressive line-up of visiting masterchefs. ADTA’s Director General, His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, presented each masterchef, who boast 25 Michelin stars between them, with a commemorative gift marking their role in Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2010, which continues its run across 12 hosting establishments in the UAE capital, until Friday night (February 19). A special Gourmet Barbecue in the grounds of Al Raha Beach Hotel when some of the world’s best chefs and their hosting chefs will serve up an al fresco feast, will bring the curtain down on an event which had a cast of over 50.
 

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