08. Francesco Guarracino

Italian

Executive chef, Roberto’s Abu Dhabi, Roberto’s group

With an almost entirely different menu to its sister venue in Dubai,  Francesco Guarracino has carved out a reputation for Roberto’s Abu Dhabi as a fine dining destination in the UAE capital.

At Roberto’s Abu Dhabi Guarracino has developed a range of new specialty dishes from around Italy. Though Guarracino oversees Roberto’s Abu Dhabi, he also acts as consultant to the other five brands within the Skelmore portfolio.

Along with Enrico Bartolini, who heads Michelin-starred restaurant Mudec in Milan, Guarracino is working on setting up a training programme to mentor and teach promising talent in the region. Guarracino envisions Roberto’s Abu Dhabi as a prototype for a concept that can be successfully exported. It has all the traditional elements of an Italian restaurant, but also brings a contemporary and modern feel, and appeals to guests from all around the world.

NUMBERS GAME...

Number of years in this role: 12

Number of years working in the Middle East: 07

Number of years working in the F&B industry: 30

Coming soon: Two new concepts

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