12 top chefs to serve a Taste of Ireland in Dubai

After more than 50 UAE hotels and dining establishments were invited to participate in the inaugural Taste of Ireland Green Box competition, promoting Irish foods, twelve finalists have been chosen to battle it out today May 24 at a gala dinner to be held at the at the Ibn Battuta gate hotel.

Open to all chefs working across the region, the green box contest has been arranged with the support of The Emirates Culinary Guild.

Irish Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Ciaran Madden, pointed out the importance of food products within the Irish economy.

“Ireland's agri-food industry remains a key component of our modern economy and it is very important that we promote our extensive range of food products to the UAE,” he said.

“We are very proud of this initiative by the Irish Business Network and the wonderful support of the Irish food producers and distributors as well as the many UAE based sponsors for the event.”

The 12 finalists will be supplied with the box including a wide selection of Irish foods, ranging from beef and seafood to oils, honey and dairy products. They will then use these ingredients to create the most inventive and mouthwatering menu, which will then be submitted for judging and showcase their menus at the gala dinner.

The winner chosen by a select panel of judges and announced at the Gala Dinner will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Ireland, to meet with the sponsoring producers of the key ingredients utilised in their winning dishes.

The Twelve finalists are:

Kjell Kollin,  Jumeirah Zabeel Saray,  Executive Chef
Sebastian Nohse,  Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf,  Executive Chef
Andrea Strim,  Jumeirah Emirates Towers,  Executive Chef
Salvatore Silvestrino,  Movenpick Hotel Deira,  Executive Chef
Robert S W,  Amika Lounge,  Chef de Cuisine
Diyan De Silva,  Radisson Blu DDC,  Executive Sous Chef
Tobias Pfister,  Burj Al Arab, Executive Sous Chef
Sascha Triemer,  Atlantis, The Palm,  Executive Chef
Bernadette T. Calvez,  Movenpick Hotel IBG,  Culinary Coordinator
Mark Taquet,  The Irish Village,  Head Chef
Michael Kitts,  Emirates Academy Team Advisor,, Jumeirah Culinary Team, Hotelympia 2012
Derek Flynn Bonnington JLT Derek Flynn