#News • 8 November 2024

Balfegó Partner at 8th edition of The Best Chef Awards in Dubai

The Best Chef Awards held its 8th annual edition in Dubai from November 4 to 6, 2024. Balfegó, an event partner, was part of the program at various activities during the awards.

The 2024 edition of The Best Chef reflected the growing influence of the platform and the increasing importance of Dubai in the culinary world. Promoted by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), this innovative edition of the Best Chef Awards became the first global culinary awards event to be held in Dubai and the Middle East

An impressive cast of global culinary figures assembled at The Best Chef Awards 2024 in Dubai, including renowned chefs such as Vaughan Mabee from Amisfield, Albert Adrià from Enigma, Ángel León from Aponente , and Floriano Pellegrino and Isabella Potì from BROS. Dubai’s leading chefs, including Gregoire Berger, Mohammed Orfali and Himanshu Saini, were also candidates for the top awards.

An ambitious three-day program awaited the attendees, who were able to sample Balfegó Bluefin Tuna in the space created for this purpose in the partners area, with stunning views from Sphere, One and Only One Za’abeel. The event showcased emerging culinary talents from Dubai, such as Wassim Orfali and Christophe Devoille in pastry, together with Tetsuya Wakuda from Sagetsu and Rita Sueidan from Maisan15, who enriched the city’s programming with their innovative approaches. Local candidates Eva Halasa from Three by Eva, Kelvin Cheung from Jun’s, and Arianna Bundy from Ariana’s Persian Kitchen, underscored even more the breadth of culinary know-how that Dubai has to offer. The Best Chef Awards 2024 mark the largest edition in the event’s history, and also serve as a key link for networking within the industry, collaboration, and the recognition of culinary professionals, both established and emerging, on a local and global scale.

It began on the 4th with the round table: The future of food. Chefs Paul Ivić (TIAN Restaurant, Austria), Mohamad Orfali (Orfali Bros, UAE), Vaughan Mabee (Amisfield, New Zealand), Grégoire Berger (Ossiano, UAE), Inés Páez – Chef Tita (Morisoñando, Dominican Republic), Manu Buffara (Restaurante Manu, Brazil) and Salam Daqqaq (Bait Maryam & Sufret Maryam, UAE) delved into the future of food, sustainability and the evolving culinary landscape.

The day ended with the regional chefs in the culinary experience The Best Chefs, a journey through the Middle East.

Opening on the 5th was Antonio Bachour, followed by Himanshu Saini (Trèsind Studio, UAE), who presented his innovative vision of Indian cuisine that is changing global perception. Then came Ángel León (Aponente, Spain), who shared his work on sustainable seafood and marine life as a culinary resource.

It was then time for the Kaitai Show by Balfegó, an interactive representation of the old Japanese art that offered a captivating blend of culinary art and precision in cutting a bluefin tuna specimen weighing nearly 400 kg.

In the afternoon, the program continued with Tala Bassimi (Fusions by Tala, Bahrain) and Prof. Newman (University of Durham, United Kingdom), who discussed the ancient culinary traditions of the Middle East and how they are being revived. Christophe Devoille (The Royal Tearoom at Atlantis The Royal, UAE) showcased his mastery of pastries, blending creativity with classic techniques. And Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij (Potong, Thailand) presented her innovative approach to Thai cuisine, focusing on the balance between tradition and modernity in her culinary creations.

On November 6, the iconic Asateer tent at The Palm hosted the Gala for the Best Chef Awards sponsored by Atlantis The Palm.

The winners were announced amid the nervousness of the many chefs gathered.

First place went to chef Rasmus Munk of the restaurant Alchemist (Copenhagen).

With second going to Catalan chef Alert Adriá of Restaurante Enigma in Barcelona. Third place was for Eric Vildgaard of Jordnær Restaurant in Gentofte.

Closing and celebration by all the chefs, including a beautiful tribute to Valencia and the victims of the fatal flooding. The event ended with a gala dinner prepared by nine of the leading restaurants of famous chefs in Atlantis Dubai.