Caterer Awards '17 shortlist: Bartender

Find out which six nominees made the bartender of the year shortlist at the Caterer Awards 2017.

Arkhie Labidzal
Bice Ristorante, Hilton Dubai JBR

In 2012, Labidzal joined Bice as a busboy and climbed the career ladder to become a waiter at the restaurant. Given his passionate interest in fine wines, spirits, and cocktails, Arkhie was promoted to the position of a bartender at Bice Ristorante.

Ajay Kumar
Segreto Italian Restaurant and Bar

Kumar started his career as a waiter with Jumeirah. A promotion to bartender saw Kumar continue to develop his bar skills, showing initiative and keeping updated on industry trends. Today, Kumar works as senior bar team leader at Segreto and is in line for a promotion.

Dejan Krstev
Downtown Toko

Krstev has over 10 years of international hospitality experience. He moved to Abu Dhabi in 2015 to work in Bu! Trinity as bar manager overseeing eight bartenders in a venue with a capacity of 500. Now bar manager of Downtown Toko, Krstev has worked to develop the innovative cocktail menu.

Dhanesh Nair
Dhow and Anchor, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Nair has worked for Jumeirah for four years. He started off as part of the pre-opening team of D&A. He moved back to D&A in November 2016 where he is playing a supervisory role and not only showing off his cocktail skills, but also training others in mixology.

Maria Essa
Jannina Sinay Bahri Bar, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Madinat Jumeirah

Sinay started her career in Le Royal Méridien, Dubai as a bartender where she showed off her skills in several competitions. She was recently promoted to bar team leader at Bahri Bar at Mina A’Salam.

Sanjay Fernandez
Areia pool bar, DoubleTree by Hilton Jumeirah Beach

Fernandez joined Areia barely a year ago. Once the necessary inductions were performed, Fernandez started to work on his own development. His level of product awareness was such that he naturally became a bar departmental trainer.