CHEF OF THE YEAR

until cook-off.

The BBC Good Food Middle East Chef of the Year is the only award in the region of its kind. This prestigious award celebrates talented chefs across the region, and rewards their gastronomic excellence.


This November, four top chefs are set to go head-to-head in a mystery box cooking challenge at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management. Held on Sunday 3rd November, the chefs - who were selected from restaurant nominations in our Fine Dining categories across Dubai and Abu Dhabi - will battle it out using the same set of ingredients plus pantry staples. They will then present a three-course menu to an independent panel of judges, in a challenging time frame. The winner will be announced at our awards on Wednesday 27th November and will not only take home the title of BBC Good Food ME Chef of the Year, but also the prize of a 3-night stay at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali!


Who are the finalists?

Craig Best, Hell's Kitchen
Gilles Bosquet, La Cantine du Faubourg
Karl Kollmitzer, La Serre
Lee Kok Hua, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi

JUDGES

  • Claudia Saumell

    Regional Director Middle East

    Bord Bia – Irish Food Board

  • Michael Kitts

    Director of Culinary Arts

    The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management

  • Luigi Vespero

    Executive Chef

    Waldorf Astoria DIFC and 2018 Chef of the Year

Voting will remain open in our other BBC Good Food ME Awards categories until November 3rd. CLICK HERE to cast your vote.

You can take a look at our 2018 competition here: