Anchor MasterChef Challenge final today

After an intense first round, four teams of the best, young culinary talent from leading hotels across the UAE will compete in the final of the Anchor MasterChef Challenge title today.

Chefs from The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina; The Address Downtown Dubai; Grand Millennium Abu Dhabi and Grosvenor House, Dubai, will be facing a ‘mystery basket’ round, which will test their culinary skill and creative flair.

Over the past week, eleven teams have been producing their signature dishes in the hope of being one step closer to the title. The 22 participating chefs represent top hotels and restaurants from across the UAE including Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai; Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai; Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai; The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai; The Cove Rotana Resort, Ras Al Khaimah; Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort, Ras Al Khaimah and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.

Peter Hallmanns, Fonterra’s advisory chef, said the competition once again is serving to showcase the skills and talent on offer in the professional kitchens throughout the UAE. “This is the second year we have held the Anchor MasterChef Challenge, and I believe the teams this time around have taken culinary imagination and creativity to the next level. We have seen some very unusual flavour combinations with spectacular results.

“In the first round, the chefs had to produce a three-course meal of their signature dishes – and the judges got to experience some simply outstanding food. For the final, the chefs will not know what ingredients they will be faced with until the morning of the competition, and there will definitely be a few challenges on offer!”

The competition is being held at Fonterra’s state-of-the-art innovation kitchen, the Culinarium, in Dubai. After the judging at the kitchen, the winning team will be announced at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, Dubai, where a prize pot of AED 30,000 will be divided amongst the top teams.

The Anchor MasterChef Challenge is just one of a number of culinary events being hosted by Fonterra between January and July 2011.