Who are the Young Chefs of the Year?

After receiving over 63,300 votes, the winners for Popular Choice categories were awarded at Hozpitality Group’s Middle East Chef Excellence Awards, held on 2nd May at Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai. Celebrity Chef Gary Rhodes also attended the event and was awarded with “Chef Entrepreneur of the Year” title.

The event was supported by the Emirates Culinary Guild. The Judges for the Awards were prominent hospitality professionals, and these champions were invaluable in judging the Young Chefs fairly.

The other Sponsors and Partners for the Chef Awards include, ICCA, Barakat Foods, Delta Food Industries, Quick Lease Car Rental, Fusia Events, TTG Mena, ZEE TV group, Big FM and Absolute frame.

The highlight for the evening was the cook off between 8 Young Chefs who battled it out for the prestigious “Young Chef of the Year” title. Nestle Professional had sponsored and supported the Young Chef of the Year Awards.

The winners at the Award night were;-

Young Chef of the Year- Gold Winner
Dashrath Pakhrin, Commis Chef, Radisson Blu Deira

Young Chef of the Year- Silver Winner
Kimberly Semmons, DCDP, Media One Hotel

Hozpitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year – Institutional Catering
(Airlines, Catering etc)
Gold Ahmad Al Fakhier, Executive Chef, Global Catering services
Silver Patrick Bischoff, Senior Production Quality Manager, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Hozpitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year – Hotel
Gold Sudqi Naddaf, Executive Chef, Kempinski Mall of the Emirates
Silver Vijay Anand, Executive Chef, Armani Hotel Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year- Free Standing Restaurant
Gold Bobby Retnakumar Geetha, Asha’s Restaurants International Limited
Silver Chandrasekhar Pandey, Corporate Chef, The Yellow Chilli Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Executive Sous Chef of the Year
Gold Lal Tamang, Ex. Sous Chef, Roda Hotels Dubai
Silver Deepak Kumar Parangodath, Executive Sous Chef, Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Pastry Chef of the Year
Gold Budi Setiono, Ex. Pastry Chef, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
Silver Ali Zaroual, Pastry Chef, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman

Hozpitality Excellence:- Chef de Cuisine of the Year
Gold Abdul Azeez Thokur, Chef De Cuisine, Teatro, Towers Rotana Dubai
Silver Syed Ali, Chef De Cuisine, Zero Gravity (Madinat Jumeirah Dubai)

Hozpitality Excellence :- Sous Chef of the Year
Gold Moussa Mohamed, Sous chef, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa
Silver Tamer Elazazy, Sous Chef, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence :- Chef de Partie of the Year
Gold Shane Ishtiaq, CDP, Four Points Sheikh Zayed Road
Silver Jagath Indika F Horanage, CDP, Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence :- Demi Chef of the Year
Gold Mahesh Kumara, Demi Chef, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek
Silver Dheeraj Singh, Demi Chef, Zero Gravity ( Madinat Jumeirah Dubai)

Hozpitality Excellence:- Commi Chef of the Year
Gold Anthony Buensalido, Commi I, Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre, Sharjah
Silver Chaminda Amila Kumara, Commis Chef, Palace Downtown Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Kitchen Steward of the Year
Gold Ayyappan Rajamanickam, Kitchen Steward, Bab al Shams Desert Resort & Spa Dubai
Silver Surendra Kunwar, Ch. Steward, Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman

Hozpitality Excellence:- Kitchen helper of the Year
Gold Rifas R M, Kitchen Steward, Ghaya Grand Hotel Dubai
Silver Bhabindra Rai, Kitchen Helper, First Central Hotel & Suites, Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Hidden Gem of the Year
Gold Christopher Sonza, CDP, Dubai International Hotel
Silver Antonette Ermino, Commis I, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Entrepreneur Chef of the Year
Gold Nick Alvis & Scott Price, Chef Patron, folly by Nick & Scott Dubai
Silver Clive Pereira, Head Chef, West 14th, Dukes Dubai Hotel

Hozpitality Excellence:- Rising Star Chef of the Year
Gold Rabeh Amir, Chef De Cuisine, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
Silver Faranak Shefiei, Faranak’s Kitchen Dubai

Hozpitality Excellence:- Lifetime Achievement Award
Michael Kitts, Director of Culinary Arts, Emirates Academy of Hozpitality
Gold Management
Silver Samantha Kumara, Kitchen Artist, Gloria Hotel Dubai

JUDGES CHOICE AWARDS
Judges Choice Award:- Chef Supporter of the Year – Individual
Gold Michael Wunsch, MD, Barakat Quality Plus
Judges Choice Award:- Culinary Partner of the Year – Company
Gold US Meat Export Federation
Judges Choice Award:- Food Supplier of the Year
Gold Barakat Fruits and Vegetables
Judges Choice Award:- Non Food Supplier of the Year
Gold Ginox Swiss Kitchens
Judges Choice Award:- Business Partner of the Year
Gold Samer Abou Daher, Food Service Manager, Arla Foods
Judges Choice Award:- Chef De Cuisine of the Year
Gold Naruemol Poolkan, Chef De Cuisine, Dusit Thani Dubai
Judges Choice Award:- Young Chef Supporter of the Year
Gold Roger Frei, Nestle Professional
Judges Choice Award:- Chef Guild Supporter of the Year
Gold Jagdish Menon, CEO, Magenta – Mitras International Trading LLC
Judges Choice Award:- Food Manufacturer of the Year
Gold Delta Food Industries
Judges Choice Award:- Chef Entrepreneur of the Year
Gold Chef Gary Rhodes
Judges Choice Award:- Celebrity Chef of the Year
Gold Chef Atul Kochhar
Judges Choice Award:- Sous Chef of the Year
Gold Tavish Umesh Bhasim, Sous Chef, Five Palm Jumeirah

A list of all the winners can also be seen at http://www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com/chef-winners-2018