Abu Dhabi Crowns Emirate’s Gourmet Stars

Beach Rotana’s Rodeo Grill Scoops ’Restaurant of the Year’ Emirates Palace’s Wolfgang Fischer Named Best ’Executive Chef’

After 16 days of free-to-attend masterclasses, epicurean dinner events and dozens of culinary promotions, the curtain came down on the third edition of Gourmet Abu Dhabi last night, at the Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards Gala Dinner.

The ‘Oscars’ of the local hospitality industry’s biggest winners were Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi’s Rodeo Grill, which scooped the much-coveted ‘Restaurant of the Year’ accolade, and Emirates Palace’s Chef Wolfgang Fischer, who walked away the prestigious ‘Executive Chef of the Year’ gong.

Bestowed on individuals and restaurants deemed to have most significantly contributed to the evolution of the domestic F&B scene, 10 Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards were presented by Their Excellencies Saif Mohammed Ali Al Hajari, Chairman, Abu Dhabi National Hotels, and Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman, Rotana Group, during a glittering ceremony at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.

With people across 34 countries voting for the initial awards shortlist, the total number of votes counted was up 30% on last year. A judging panel chaired by France’s three-Michelin-starred Chef Bruno Menard selected the overall winners.

“The number of votes cast signals the growing international pedigree of Abu Dhabi’s F&B industry,” said Dayne Lim, Product Development Director, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority – the Gourmet Abu Dhabi organiser. “There is also a correlation between the sector’s global reputation and revenue return: F&B accounted for 36% of total revenue in the emirate’s hotels last year - a 16% rise on 2009. The ever-improving quality and quantity of restaurants available to Abu Dhabi and international diners is underlining this growth.”

The opulent Emirates Palace landed four awards, the highest of any single property, including a clean sweep of the ‘Regional Cuisine’ category gongs: ‘Restaurant’, ‘Chef’ and ‘Manager’ of the year. “To dominate the regional cuisine awards highlights the depth of culinary offerings at Emirates Palace – we have set a new benchmark in completing this hat-trick of regional cuisine awards,” said Hans Olbertz, the landmark hotel’s General Manager.

Fischer agreed. “Personally, it is fantastic to win my ‘Executive Chef of the Year’ award,” he said. “The bigger picture, however, is that Emirates Palace has won five awards for work in three different restaurants.”

In addition to the UAE capital’s leading F&B industry players being crowned, Chef Ali Salem Ebdowa, Head Chef at Emirates Palace’s Mezlai restaurant – the world’s first fine dining Emirati restaurant – scored the hotel’s fifth award when he received an ‘Honorary Mention’ for his traditional contribution to Abu Dhabi’s increasingly diverse culinary landscape.

“At Mezlai, we are trying to put Emirati food on the international culinary map, so to have our work recognised in this way will provide everyone with a lift. We are a niche restaurant, but we are endeavouring to claim a significant stake in Abu Dhabi’s very competitive F&B sector,” said Chef Ali.

With Yeray Gutierrez, of Yas Hotel’s Amici, claiming best ‘Host of the Year’, Chinthaka Bandara’s was recognised as ‘Pastry Chef of the Year’ for her work at the iconic, Formula 1™ circuit hotel. The Rotana Group, which contributed all three nominees in the highly prestigious ‘Restaurant of the Year’ category, walked off with three awards, while the remaining award,

‘Restaurant Chef of the Year’, went to Amrish Sood, from Ushna, Souk, Qaryat al Beri.
Reflecting on the Rodeo Grill’s success, Rotana’s Helmut Arthold, Corporate Vice-President F&B Operations, Rotana said: “We have won three notable awards tonight, including the big one – ‘Restaurant of the Year’ – but equally as pleasing as winning is knowing that the strength of the Rotana portfolio dominated such an important category.”

The Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards saw 250-plus diners enjoy a five-course meal prepared by Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s John Cordeaux, one of the ‘Executive Chef of the Year’ nominees, as well as international masterchefs including, Vivek Singh, of the UK’s The Cinnamon Club, Jacques Marcon of Regis et Jacques Marcon in France and Singapore’s Chef Willin Low – the host of Wednesday evening’s Gourmet Abu Dhabi inaugural Charity Dinner.

The Charity Dinner, held in conjunction with Donate a Brick – an initiative aiming to raise AED25million for the construction of a special needs centre in Abu Dhabi – raised an impressive AED66,635 via ticket sales, donations, and auctions.

“I’m actively engaged in lots of charity work at home, but to come to Abu Dhabi, where I had never been before, and work alongside some of the local hotels’ chefs and kitchen staff has been a great experience. To do so for such a worthwhile cause as Donate a Brick just completes the picture,” said Low.
 

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