The stars of the Middle East’s F&B industry have been recognised for their dedication and achievements at the Caterer Middle East Awards 2011.
Three hundred excited chefs, restaurant managers and bar staff, alongside industry suppliers and awards sponsors, gathered at the Mehteran Theatre at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on the Palm Jumeirah last night for the third edition of the Caterer Middle East Awards.
Three of the 14 accolades were for the best outlets in the Middle East.
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Okku Dubai was named Restaurant of the Year; Barasti at Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina bagged the Bar of the Year Title; and Tribes at Mall of the Emirates was awarded best New Outlet of the Year 2011.
On collecting the Restaurant of the Year Award, Okku operations manager Ross Ledingham said: “There’s no such thing in the Middle East as Michelin stars or Rosettes, and this is effectively the Middle East version of Michelin stars”.
The remaining 11 awards were individual titles for kitchen and service professionals.
The top chef gongs went to Okku Dubai’s head chef Hugh Sato Gardiner, named Chef of the Year — Standalone Restaurant, and to Scott Price, executive chef at Verre by Gordon Ramsay, Hilton Dubai Creek, who was crowned Chef of the Year — Hotel Restaurant.
Caterer’s Kitchen Hero of the Year title was awarded to Chamara Segera, commi 1, Butchery, Iberotel Miramar Al Aqah, Fujariah.
Segera was praised by the judges for his work ethic and for continually demonstrating professionalism and innovation against the odds and far beyond expectation.
Front of house, Arun Narayanan of Blue Orange Restau¬rant at The Westin Dubai scooped the award for Restaurant Manager of the Year and Armani Dubai’s Rengarajan Rengasamy was named Sommelier of the Year.
The new category of Events Caterer of the Year was won by chef Harald Oberender, director of kitchens — F&B production, event and hospitality services at Dubai World Trade Centre.
After receiving some of the biggest cheers of the night, Oberdender said: “I have to say that it wouldn’t be possible without the team. The team is behind me, the team makes it happen, as well as our senior vice president. For such big events you can’t do it alone — you need someone behind you. I hope this award will give something back to the team”.
Caterer Middle East received more than 400 nominations for the awards.
The top nominations in each category were then whittled down to a shortlist of five and a team of independent judges, each with their own areas of expertise, was tasked with picking the winner and highly-commended nominees from each category.
Commenting on the success of the 2011 awards, ITP business group editor — hospitality Louise Oakley said: “It was fantastic to see so much support from the industry both over the months leading up to the awards and at the Awards ceremony itself, which was a real celebration of the booming food and beverage business in the Middle East.
“I would like to offer my personal congratulations to all the winners and to every highly commended and shortlisted nominee.”
A full list of winners and highly commended nominees is detailed on the next page.
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