Time Out Dubai announces Young Chef finalists

Time Out Dubai and Emirates Culinary Guild last week announced the five finalists who will go head to head in front of a panel of judges and readers to compete for Young Chef of the Year Title.

The event will take place at H Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road on 11 December, with the winner to be chosen by a panel of expert judges led by Emirates Culinary Guild president, Uwe Micheel. As usual, Time Out readers are invited to join the panel as a food critic on the evening.

This year’s finalists come from the UK, Nepal, Uzbek and Germany. Click through for a sneak preview of the chefs and their festive themed culinary creations…

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Name: Christopher Graham
Age: 30
Nationality: British
Position: Executive sous chef, Atlantis, The Palm

Menu: 

Starter

Truffled beef pastrami, crispy quail egg, smoked beetroot macaroon, truffle vichyssoise e’spuma, pickled forest mushrooms

Soup

Bouillabaisse consommé, confit red snapper, fennel and oyster sphere, smoked salmon rouille

Main course

Butter poached turkey breast, cabbage, confit leg and foie gras garbure, honey glazed parsnips, bread sauce, cranberry puree

Dessert

Chestnut and glühwein parfait, gingerbread, plum jelly, mince pie beignet

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Name: Matthew James
Age: 29
Nationality: British
Position: Chef de cuisine, Jumeirah Beach Hotel\

Menu:

Starter

Tanned snapper, burnt charentais, compressed cucumber, melon ketchup

Soup

Beef & cider broth, jellied oyster, creamed stilton

Main course

Turkey & pear, foie gras “chipolata”, creamed spelt, sweet & sour onions, pine & mandarin pan juices

Dessert

Hidden clementine christmas pudding, brandy sauce candle

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Name: Navin Poon
Age: 30
Nationality: Nepalese
Position: Sous chef, Park Hyatt Dubai

Menu: 

Starter

Cured red snapper tartare, oyster beignets, smoked salmon tarama, Mandarin vinaigrette

Soup

Roasted chestnut soup, braised beef cannelloni, pickled butternut squash, puy lentil, black truffle coulis

Main course

Slow cooked turkey ballotine, foie gras croquettes, red cabbage mousseline, caramelised shallots, pear and mustard chutney

Dessert

Raspberry and ivory gingerbread parfait, poached strawberries and lime foam

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Name: Steven Peter
Age: 27
Nationality: German
Position: Chef de cuisine, Madinat Jumeirah

Menu: 

Starter

Trio of foie gras, cinnamon cream brûlée, gingerbread foie gras terrine, braised beef & foie gras croquette, rhubarb purée, vanilla parsnip, liquorice brioche

Soup

Brandy flavoured lobster bisque, red snapper & smoked salmon timbale, tarragon fluid gel, tempura oyster

Main course

Mushroom stuffed turkey breast, chestnut & apricot dumpling, glazed brussels sprouts, caramelised pear jus, turkey crackling

Dessert

White chocolate sphere, mandarin chiboust, cranberry orange sherbet, berry gelée, coconut snow

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Name: Timur Fazilov
Age: 29
Nationality: Uzbek
Position: Junior sous chef, Zuma

Menu: 

Starter

Red snapper, oyster & shallot relish, garlic ponzu sauce

Soup

Mushroom broth, beef & chestnut gyoza

Main course

Slow cooked foie gras stuffed turkey, root purée, vegetables

Dessert

Ginger financier cake, pear sorbet