Catering News Middle East reveals the much-anticipated shortlist for the Leaders in F&B Awards, to take place at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi on 9 November
The inaugural Leaders in Food & Beverage Awards garnered more than 330 nominations for the region’s best and brightest industry players across 20 categories, from Best Newcomer, to Leading Homegrown Restaurant Brand and Chef of the Year. Our panel of eight independent judges took on the arduous task of whittling the nominations down to the very best in class, and here we present the shortlisted candidates for each category. The winners will be announced on stage at a glamorous ceremony on 9 November 2016, with just 20 lucky winners to take home prestigious Leaders in F&B Awards.
RESTAURANT CATEGORIES
All ‘Restaurant’ categories are in alphabetical order
Sustainable Restaurant Award
- Boulvar, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
- Market Kitchen, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi
- Skye & Walker, Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Creek
- Smart Brat, Dubai
- White Orchid, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai
Healthy Restaurant Award
- Gourmet by Kcal, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai
- Intersect by Lexus, Dubai
- Mint Leaf of London, Dubai
- The Cycle Bistro, Dubai
- Ultra Brasserie, Dubai
Leading Homegrown Restaurant Brand
- Bistro Des Arts, Dubai
- Bull & Roo Hospitality & Investments
- Fume Neighbourhood Eatery, Dubai
- Nola Eatery & Social House, Dubai
- Play Restaurant & Lounge, The H Hotel, Dubai
Disruptor of the Year
- BilBayt
- Chez Charles
- Smart Brat, Dubai
- Stereo Arcade, Dubai
- The Salad Jar
Best Newcomer
- Brothaus Bakery – Bistro, Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai
- Firebird Diner by Michael Mina, Four Seasons DIFC, Dubai
- Lock, Stock & Barrel, Grand Millennium, Dubai
- Ramusake, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach – The Walk
- The Hide, Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Best Interior
- Aseelah, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
- Bussola, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi
- Coya Dubai, Restaurant Village, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
- JB’s Gastropub, Amwaj Rotana, Dubai
- LaLuz, DIFC, Dubai
Leading Casual Dining Restaurant
- Bazxar DIFC, Dubai
- Bistro Des Arts, Dubai Marina
- Mythos Kouzina & Grill, Dubai
- Reform Social & Grill, Dubai
- The Sum of Us, Dubai
Leading Fine Dining Restaurant
- Al Diwaan, Al Maha – A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
- La Petite Maison, DIFC, Dubai
- Ossiano, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
- Pierchic , Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
- Roberto’s, DIFC, Dubai
Leading Nightlife Venue
- KLUB360º, Bahrain
- Lock, Stock & Barrel, Dubai
- MAD on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
- WHITE Dubai
- Zero Gravity, Dubai
Leading Kitchen Contractor
- Chef’s First
- Elenco
- Quality Kitchen
- TSSC
Leading Asian Restaurant
- Asha’s Dubai
- Carnival by Tresind, Dubai
- Gharana, Dubai
- Indigo by Vineet, Dubai
- Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar, Dubai
PEOPLE CATEGORIES
All ‘People’ categories are in alphabetical order by surname
Leading Hotel F&B Director
- Niki Robinson Walsh, Taj Dubai
- Simone Stanco, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa
- Ahmad Taher, Citymax Bur Dubai
- James Thompson, Burj Al Arab, Dubai
- Aldert Van Zyl, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
Chef of the Year
- Alain Devahive, LaLuz, Dubai
- Tristin Farmer, Marina Social Dubai
- Susy Massetti, The Palace Boutique Hotel, Bahrain
- Uwe Micheel, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek
- Robert Rathbone, R Trader, Dubai
Pastry Chef of the Year
- Ludovic Audaux, The St Regis, W Dubai, The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City
- Roland Eitzinger, Raffles Dubai
- Arnaud Noel Souchet, Fairmont The Palm, Dubai
- Dave Sanderson, Bull & Roo, Dubai
- Achala Weera Singhe, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Leading F&B Investor
- Rajesh Lilaramani, owner, Jodhpur Luxury Dining
- Naim Maadad, CEO, Gates Hospitality
- Manhal Naser, CEO and co-founder, Awj Investments LLC
Young F&B Leader
- Stanislas de Boissieu, group operations director, Mahiki, Ramusake and CopperDog, Dubai
- Kyle Grant, sous chef, Fairmont The Palm, Dubai
- Dusty Tourani, owner, Dusty’s DIFC, Dubai
- Juliette Vidal, manager, Market Kitchen, Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi
- Warrem Willmot, banqueting manager, The St. Regis Dubai
F&B Heavyweight
- Emma Banks, GM, Jumeirah Restaurant Group and hotel restaurant operations, Jumeirah Group
- Paul Evans, managing director, Solutions Leisure
- Tony Habre, founder & CEO, Addmind
- Dennis McGettigan, CEO, the Bonnington and McGettigan’s Group
- Yunib Siddiqui, CEO, Jones the Grocer
Leading Restaurateur
- Joey Ghazal, founder & managing partner, The Maine Oyster Bar & Grill
- Tony Habre, founder & CEO, Addmind
- Kunal Lahori, founder and CEO, Create Hospitality
- Bhupender Nath, CEO and Owner, Passion F&B
- Markus Thesleff, co-founder, Whissle Group
Bartender of the Year
- Sany Bacsi, bar manager, Coya Dubai
- Henrik Baecklund, bar manager, La Serre Bistro & Boulangerie, Dubai
- Joseph Fortuin, head bartender, Claw BBQ Crabshack Grill, Dubai
- Prabhat Poojary, head bartender, Meliá Dubai
- Sebouh J. Tato, beverage manager, Addmind UAE
Best Service Team
- Claw BBQ Crabshack Grill, Dubai
- Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai
- Market Kitchen, Le Royal Méridien, Abu Dhabi
- Okku, Dubai
- On41, Media One Hotel
