Chef Kasun Hirantha and Chef Tiran Rathugama of the Dubai-based Pots, Pans and Boards have won Season 7 of Nestlé Professional Golden Chef’s Hat Award UAE.
The young boys, from British chef Tom Aikens’ restaurant at The Beach opposite JBR Dubai, turned out to be surprise champions as they edged out nine other teams that made it to the finals.
They created a pan-seared sea bass with broccoli puree and Thai foam, and combined it with a modern twist on the Black Forest Cake. The recipes wowed the Worldchefs-certified judges who were invited to score the dishes.
As part of their winnings, the chefs will get to experience some of the country’s most exclusive fine-dining destinations over seven days. This mouth-watering expedition will help broaden their knowledge of how the UAE’s top restaurants adapt their menus during unprecedented times.
“Nestlé Professional and its commitment to the chef community, especially young chefs, is a long-standing tradition. This is our seventh consecutive year for the Golden Chef’s Hat Award in the UAE, and we’re thrilled at the overwhelming response,” says Ayça Koç, food business manager – MENA, Nestlé Professional.
“We want to ensure that our young chefs have a platform to showcase their talent and push the boundaries of culinary innovation. It has been a delight to see the creative efforts gone into these dishes. This year, for Season 8, we have doubled the size of the competition and are inviting 20 of UAE’s best culinary teams to participate.”
The competition runs year-round and is open to all professional young chefs in the UAE. To be invited, two chefs must apply as a team, and both chefs must work in the same hotel, restaurant, company or culinary institute.
The twenty teams with the most innovative dishes will be invited to the semi-finals and their recipes published for all to see. Following this, the top 10 teams will be invited to a final cook-off early next year, where the winning team will be decided.
To participate in this competition or to know more about Golden Chef’s Hat Award, please email amaresh@gulfgourmet.net.
