The Middle East Junior Chef of the Year, organized by the Emirates Culinary Guild and a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises, officially opened on June 23 at BurJuman, a key sponsor of DSS, to kick start the most awaited culinary battle this year.
Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, and Eisa Adam, General Manager of BurJuman, inaugurated the event accompanied by Chef Uwe Micheel, President of the Emirates Culinary Guild.
"The Middle East Junior Chef of the Year is among the most awaited culinary events in the GCC, attested by the presence of over 600 chefs from all over the region. As a signature event of Dubai Summer Surprises, these Awards are not only a platform for chefs to compete but reflect the direction of DEPE in organizing quality entertaining events for different visitor segments," said Yousif Mubarak.
"As a key sponsor of the festival since its inception, BurJuman is proud to be the host of signature events throughout this year's Dubai Summer Surprises. Offering our visitors the opportunity to observe the talented participants of the Junior Chef of the Year event in action goes hand in hand with our desire to offer a unique set of experiences at BurJuman that go beyond shopping. The mall's relaxing ambience is the perfect place for visitors to admire the skills of some of the region's best young chefs, and the event is sure to delight everyone with an appreciation for gourmet creations, as well as shoppers keen to brush up their culinary skills," said Eisa Adam Ibrahim, General Manager, BurJuman.
The Awards are among the highest recognitions accorded to chefs in the Middle East that will see more than 600 chefs of the rank Chef de Partie or below contest in about 22 challenging categories this year. The competition is assessed via a point system that will result in bronze, silver and gold medals being awarded to winners.
The Emirates Culinary Guild, an association for chefs in the UAE, will be the facilitator of the competition. Categories in this year's awards include pastry showpiece, chocolate carving, fruit and vegetable carving, five-course gourmet dinner menu, new Arabian cuisine, and ice carving, in addition to many others. The awards are judged every year by a jury panel consisting of renowned international chefs.
This year, a jury consisting of renowned chefs such as Marco Bruschweiler, Thomas Gugler, Zain Sidhu, Tarek Mouriess, Josef Ozeli, Hubert Oberhollenzer, and Gavin Duthie will adjudge the contest.
