Top chefs have been crowned at the first UAE Sustainable Eating Awards in recognition for their achievements in creating the nation’s first menus utilising 100% local ingredients.
The awards, distributed at the Speciality Food Festival, running until Tuesday 9 November at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) honoured chefs and food professionals who contributed to the UAE’s sustainability and food security efforts, particularly during Expo 2020 and the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The winners were selected by a panel including chefs, sustainability experts comprising overseas guest academics and industry representatives, who judged the nominees based on their initiatives to reduce food and kitchen waste, use of sustainable suppliers, and their commitment to food security.
Chef awards went to Sebastian Nohse, Senior Culinary Director Hilton UAE, on behalf of 17 Hilton chefs, Matthijs Stinnissen, Executive Chef of DIFC’s BOCA Restaurant, and Raymond Wong, Executive Chef Atlantis’ Seafire Steakhouse.
Accepting the Hilton award ChefNohsesaid: “This recognition really underlines our mission to do our best and I hope all go ahead and try our new menu that promotes sustainable and smart eating!”
Supporting the sustainable eating drive, ChefStinnissen, commented: “The UAE has an excellent coastline so that we do not have to import seafood – this also helps us reduce our carbon footprint which we as an entity are extremely cautious of. I personally believe that if all the restaurants in the country start focusing even 10% on sustainability, we as a nation could do so much good.”
Chef Wong, said his restaurant’s 100% UAEjourney began earlier this year. “Our Atlantis Atlas Project sources local ingredients to replace imported ones and reduce our carbon footprint and provide fresh ingredients. We’re extremely grateful to have received this award and hope to take this initiative forward.”
As part of the Sustainable UAE Eating initiative, chefs and food professionals were invited to send a sustainable recipe to be published in an online collection on www.uaeating.ae in addition to designating one of their dishes as representing their sustainability commitments. The recipes are available to the public for free
The sustainability drive is endorsed by the Emirates Culinary Guild and coincides with the 12th Italian Cuisine World Summit (6-11 November 2021), which has sustainability as its theme.