The winners of the inaugural Leaders in Food and Beverage Awards 2016, presented by Du, were announced on Wednesday 9 November at a glittering ceremony at Westin Mina Seyahi, with more than 400 food and beverage professionals in attendance.
Twenty winners took home prestigious Leaders in Food and Beverage Awards, with accolades ranging from Best Newcomer, to Chef of the Year and Best Service Team.
Applauding the innovative sector in the region, Wissam Younane, CEO, BNC Publishing commented: “As part of BNC Publishing’s ongoing commitment to support exceptional business industry leaders and players in the region, we’re honoured to recognise the best of the best among the Middle East culinary scene.
“In our first Leaders in F&B Awards, it was with pleasure that we applaud the dedication of established and homegrown brands. It’s an exciting time, and we can’t wait to see more on this upcoming sector.”
Solutions Leisure was victorious in two categories as winner of Leading Nightlife Venue for Lock, Stock & Barrel, and with managing director Paul Evans taking home the coveted F&B Heavyweight award.
The award for Leading Homegrown Restaurant Brand went to Nola Eatery & Social House, which offers Southern American food, a colourful array of beverages, and live jazz music in a convivial, casual setting in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
Chef of the Year went to chef Alain Devahive of LaLuz, DIFC, who has brought his creative eye, and cutting-edge cuisine to Dubai, following a decade at the world-famous three-Michelin-starred ElBulli in Catalonia.
Meanwhile, The Sum of Us, a Melbourne-inspired eatery featuring an in-house bakery and coffee roastery, scooped the Leading Casual Dining Restaurant, with creators Bull&Roo also walking away with ‘Honourable Mention’ trophies in the Leading Homegrown Restaurant Brand and Pastry Chef of the Year categories.
The winners are listed in full below:
SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT AWARD
presented by:
Winner: Skye & Walker, Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek
Honourable Mention:
Boulvar, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
White Orchid, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai
HEALTHY RESTAURANT AWARD
presented by:
Winner: The Cycle Bistro, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Gourmet by Kcal, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai
Intersect by Lexus, Dubai
LEADING HOMEGROWN RESTAURANT BRAND
presented by:
Winner: Nola Eatery & Social House, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Bull & Roo Hospitality & Investments
Fume Neighbourhood Eatery, Dubai
DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR
presented by:
Winner: The Salad Jar
Honourable Mention
BilBayt
Stereo Arcade, Dubai
BEST NEWCOMER
presented by:
Winner: Brothaus Bakery – Bistro, Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Ramusake, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach – The Walk
The Hide, Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
BEST INTERIOR
presented by:
Winner: Aseelah, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
Honourable Mention
Coya Dubai, Restaurant Village, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
JB’s Gastropub, Amwaj Rotana, Dubai
LEADING CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT
presented by:
Winner: The Sum of Us, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Bazxar DIFC, Dubai
Bistro Des Arts, Dubai Marina
LEADING FINE DINING RESTAURANT
presented by:
Winner: La Petite Maison, DIFC, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Ossiano, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Roberto’s, DIFC, Dubai
LEADING NIGHTLIFE VENUE
presented by:
Winner: Lock, Stock & Barrel, Dubai
Honourable Mention
MAD on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
WHITE Dubai
LEADING KITCHEN CONTRACTOR
presented by:
Winner: TSSC
Honourable Mention
Chef’s First
Quality Kitchen
LEADING ASIAN RESTAURANT
presented by:
Winner: Carnival by Tresind, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Asha’s Dubai
Gharana, Dubai
PEOPLE CATEGORIES
LEADING F&B DIRECTOR
presented by:
Winner: Aldert Van Zyl, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
Honourable Mention
Niki Robinson Walsh, Taj Dubai
James Thompson, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
CHEF OF THE YEAR
presented by:
Winner: Alain Devahive, LaLuz, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Tristin Farmer, Marina Social Dubai
Uwe Micheel, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR
presented by:
Winner: Arnaud Noel Souchet, Fairmont The Palm, Dubai
Honourable Mention
Ludovic Audaux, The St Regis, W Dubai, The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City
Dave Sanderson, Bull & Roo, Dubai
LEADING F&B INVESTOR
presented by:
Winner: Naim Maadad, CEO, Gates Hospitality
Honourable Mention
Rajesh Lilaramani, owner, Jodhpur Luxury Dining
Manhal Naser, CEO and co-founder, Awj Investments LLC
YOUNG F&B LEADER
presented by:
Winner: Juliette Vidal, manager, Market Kitchen, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi
Honourable Mention
Stanislas de Boissieu, group operations director, Mahiki, Ramusake and CopperDog, Dubai
Dusty Tourani, owner, Dusty’s DIFC, Dubai
F&B HEAVYWEIGHT
presented by:
Winner: Paul Evans, managing director, Solutions Leisure
Honourable Mention
Emma Banks, GM, Jumeirah Restaurant Group and hotel restaurant operations, Jumeirah Group
Dennis McGettigan, CEO, the Bonnington and McGettigan’s Group
LEADING RESTAURATEUR
presented by:
Winner: Markus Thesleff, co-founder, Whissle Group
Honourable Mention
Joey Ghazal, founder & managing partner, The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
Kunal Lahori, founder and CEO, Create Hospitality
BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
presented by:
Winner: Sany Bacsi, bar manager, Coya Dubai
Honourable Mention
Henrik Baecklund, bar manager, La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie, Dubai
Joseph Fortuin, head bartender, Claw BBQ Crabshack Grill, Dubai
BEST SERVICE TEAM
presented by:
Winner: On41, Media One Hotel
Honourable Mention
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai
Okku, Dubai
The Leaders in F&B Awards was presented by DU, with support from Exclusive water sponsor Horeca Trade, distributor of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna; Cho’coa, Official Chocolate Sponsor; and Artisanal Foods, Official Coffee Sponsor.
Also supporting the event were: Pulsar Food Stuff trading, MKN, Cream of Europe, Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions / InSinkErator, PATH Bar School African + Eastern, TSSC, A. Ronai LLC, SIAL Middle East, and The Venture.
More pictures from the event can be accessed through this link
