Okku bar manager Tomas Dundulis picking up the award for Bar Manager of the Year from Shura Trading and Hotel Supplies operations manager Alad Faria. Okku bar manager Tomas Dundulis picking up the award for Bar Manager of the Year from Shura Trading and Hotel Supplies operations manager Alad Faria.

Okku was celebrating last night as its bar manager, Tomas Dundulis, took home the Caterer Middle East Bar Manager of the Year award, which was sponsored and presented by Shura Trading and Hotel Supplies operations manager Alad Faria.

Already a 2009 winner of Caterer’s Bartender of the Year Award, Dundulis was delighted to pick up a second Caterer award. Speaking to Hoteliermiddleeast.com at the event he said: “It feels great to win my second award. I feel like I have progressed a lot from when I won the bartender award in 2009 and it has been a couple of productive years. I’m proud that when I came to the UAE I had to start from scratch and now I feel like I’ve really achieved something.”

“However, winning this award is not just for me but also for my whole bar team, because without them I couldn’t have achieved it. I want everyone to enjoy themselves when they come to work because while I may be the boss, they’re also my friends, and it is really important to build a strong closely knit team,” added Dundulis.

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Congratulating Dundulis on the award, Caterer editor, Hannah-Farah Abdullah also took time to thank the highly commended runner-up, Lino Marchese of Dubai’s Bahri Bar at the Mina A’ Salam hotel, who launched his signature cocktail menu with 85% gross profit, reportedly increasing sales at Bahri Bar by 32%.

Dundulis was nominated for the award as someone who thrives under pressure “taking it upon himself to research the latest trends, ingredients and techniques, which contribute to both his own skill and the ever improving customer experience.”

Trialing unique and experimental ingredients have allowed Dundulis to develop 28 new cocktails for Okku’s cocktail menu. His ‘Clear Bloody Mary’ took the judges eye and got their winning vote – the result of six month’s work, it uses complex techniques that includes straining through tuna paper and then resting for 24 hours.

The Okku bar manager was also personally asked by Piper Drinks, which recognised his gift, to create a new cocktail for the company, which is now on the outlet’s signature menu, named the Kimochigai, which means feel good in Japanese.

Okku has also confirmed that it has increased the beverage GP margin by 4% over the space of a year thanks to its manager initiating new deals with suppliers.

Dundulis joined Okku in 2009 as a junior bartender, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge in the F&B industry, where he soon scooped an award in the World Class UAE competition. Climbing the ranks at the bar, he was promoted to bar manager in 2010 and assistant bar manager in 2011 before taking the helm in 2012 where he continues to train and develop the team.

Others shortlisted in this category included Felix Fischer, Fairmont Hotel, Dubai; Jens Macheledt, Porters Pub, Grand Millenium Hotel Dubai; and Donovan Warwick, West Beach Bistro and Sports Lounge, Moevenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, Dubai.