Irish cooking competition launched in Dubai

A new culinary competition has been launched in Dubai, which is designed to highlight the finest products from Ireland.

The ‘green box’ contest is open to all chefs working in the region, and is supported by the Emirates Culinary Guild. It is also supported by the Embassy of Ireland, Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) and Enterprise Ireland (the government organisation responsible for internationally developing and growing Irish enterprises).

The chefs will be given a box of ingredients from Ireland, ranging from beef to seafood and oils to honey. Judges will shortlist 12 teams who will showcase their menus at a gala dinner at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel on Thursday May 24.

Uwe Micheel, president of the Emirates Culinary Guild and director of kitchens at Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, said: “We are honoured to be part of this new and exciting enterprise which will encourage our chefs to be creative with recipes that are totally unique.

“This competition will also give them international exposure. We the Chefs are always in search of new products in the market, and are really looking forward to some great Irish products, the aim is not to recreate traditional Irish dishes but be really creative with the given products.”

Tickets for the Taste of Irleland Green Box Competition Gala Dinner, where chefs will create a four-course meal, are now on sale at AED 500 (US $136). The winner’s prize is an all expenses paid trip to Ireland to meet the producers of the products which they had worked with.