Caterer Awards countdown: INDIVIDUAL AWARDS #2
After a long process of whittling down the hundreds of nominations submitted by outlets around the region, the shortlists for the first ever Caterer Middle East Awards are to be revealed.
Between three and six outstanding nominees have been shortlisted in each category — with the exception of the highly anticipated Chef of the Year title, for which 10 candidates are in the running. These shortlists will be unveiled online at HME.com over the course of the next two weeks.
The winners will then be announced right here online in the third week of November, following which the trophy presentation ceremony and photo shoot with the winners will feature in the December issue of Caterer Middle East.
Today in the Caterer Middle East Awards 2009 countdown, sponsored by The Hotel Show, we reveal the shortlisted nominees for Sommelier of the Year and Mixologist of the Year
Read on to find out who made the cut…
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Baqer Mohebi
Our shortlisted Sommelier of the Year candidates are all dedicated to their outlets and the profession as a whole, making it a priority to stay up-to-date with current wine trends and customer preferences across the globe.
These candidates all display the ability to pair appropriate wines with food, but can go that step further as well — being approachable and helpful to customers, happy to assist with wine selections and offer recommendations (and up-selling) when appropriate; demonstrating good business sense through building strong relationships with suppliers and sourcing new wines for best prices; and successfully devising and executing wine-related promotions in their outlet.
Selecting a few top performers from the incredibly impressive submissions received was no easy task, but finally it came down to three outstanding nominees…
• Ritwik Shastri, The Exchange Floor, Fairmont Dubai
Ritwik’s dedication to — and enjoyment of — his role was particularly praised in this nomination, which included glowing testimonials from colleagues and supervisors alike.
His success in the property’s Penfolds competition this year, along with his involvement in implementing wine masterclasses for his colleagues, made Ritwik stand out from the masses.
• Nicolas Vallet, The Palace — The Old Town
This submission highlighted Nicholas’ wide-spread talents, ranging from careful sourcing and building solid supplier relationships to innovative promotions and staff training schemes.
His efforts to personalise the wine experience for guests was particularly impressive.
• Julien Coron, Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire, InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City
Taking the pressures that come with working in a top fine-dining establishment in his stride, Julien has demonstrated unflappable good humour and passion for his role, attributes which have inspired his staff.
His commitment to sourcing rare vintages to perfectly match the menu was cited as a major contributor to guest satisfaction.
Read on to see who made it onto the Mixologist of the Year shortlist…
MIXOLOGIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Monin
A top mixologist naturally has a thorough knowledge of the menu and ingredients used and can comfortably make recommendations and chat with customers.
But to reach the shortlist in this hotly-contended category required individuals who also keep track of beverage trends; demonstrate clear ability in menu development; and also take into account the cost-efficiency of the menu.
This category also seeks to recognise someone who guides and trains their more junior team members, thereby helping the business to grow and develop.
Four highly-accomplished bar professionals made it onto the shortlist…
• Channaka Janak Bandara, Vu's Bar, Jumeirah Emirates Towers
This nomination described Channaka as “an exceptional colleague who is open for change, shows enthusiasm and interest…is self-driven, sets his own goals and enjoys challenges”.
He was also praised for the key role he played in developing the successful new cocktail menu and upselling.
• Christopher Ashley Bowles, Fai, The Palace — The Old Town
Christopher’s dedication to trying out new cocktails and developing new flavours to deliver a top-quality product to guests was praised in this nomination, as was his attention to devising clever bar promotions and his enjoyment at interacting with customers.
• Stephen Martin, The Bed Lounge, InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City
Describing Stephen as “a mentor” to his team, this submission highlighted the emphasis he puts on training and supporting his staff.
His dedication to the role and willingness to carry out anything from the smallest to the most difficult tasks to ensure everything runs like clockwork also marked Stephen out.
• Falil Mohamed Jayah, Skyview Bar, Burj Al Arab
Our final shortlisted candidate has shown significant growth and progress in his time in the role, taking on responsibilities for menu development and staff training.
Falil was also cited as being instrumental in building up a loyal customer following, remembering regulars’ preferences and delighting new guests with his innovative and personalised drinks.
Keep an eye on HME.com for the Commis Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef of the Year and Sous Chef of the Year shortlists, to be revealed at the end of this week!