First Oman Chef Competition launched

InterContinental's Jean-Luc Amman

Oman’s chefs are sharpening their skills this month in preparation for the debut of the country’s first culinary competition.

Organised by Oman’s largest FMCG distributor Enhance and event management company Gazelle Marketing, the Oman Chef Competition will take place in the third week of May, at a location to be confirmed.

Enhance business manager Tafzir Azad explained: “We’ve been looking to establish such a competition for a very long time.

“Servicing the F&B industry, it is the responsibility of suppliers like us to take some time to conduct such events.”

Azad said he hoped the competition would give chefs the opportunity to showcase their talent and raise awareness of the country’s hospitality industry.

“It will also encourage suppliers and large companies from outside Oman to come into the market, which will help the hotels here in sourcing products,’ he added.

The competition format will feature up to 12 teams, each comprised of three chefs, one of whom must be Omani.

The groups will be given three to four hours to prepare a three-course meal, on which they will be evaluated.

Story continues below

“The judging criteria and format will be finalised shortly,” Azad confirmed.

InterContinental Al Bustan Palace Muscat executive chef Jean-Luc Amann is just one local chef supporting the event and has assisted organisers by sourcing various food suppliers, mainly in Dubai, to sponsors the competition — as well as assembling a team of judges.

“Uwe Micheel, president of Emirates Culinary Guild, has accepted to be one part of the judging team, which is great news,” he revealed.

Amann said there were several aims for the event: “First to let the region know what’s happening in Oman, as we have so many top hotels at the moment…where fine cuisine is offered, created by talented chefs.

“Another goal is to show how we have trained young Omani chefs over the year, as each team has to have an Omani chef in it,” he continued.

“Some of the chefs here are very talented, having come a long way to achieve the standard required in a five-star hotel, and this will provide a great opportunity for them to demonstrate what they have learned. Plus for most of them, it will be their first time participating in such competition — and I hope the first of many more to come,” he noted.

“And my personal ambition will be to set the wheels in motion to send an Oman culinary team to next Gulfood competition in Dubai.”

Crowne Plaza Muscat executive chef Gireesh Nair confirmed a team of the property’s chefs would be participating, adding that he “keenly supported” the initiative.

“We need to establish a sound foundation for the upcoming chefs of Oman,” he asserted.