Meat & Livestock Australia Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 Honours Culinary Talent In Dubai

Culinary excellence in Dubai was honoured recently during the prestigious and exciting Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 which brought together 60 chefs from 15 top hotels and resorts as well as the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, who toiled in their kitchens for honors in one of the world’s top culinary competitions.

Organized under the auspices of Dubai Tourism and Commercial Marketing Department, by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), representing the Australian Meat industry, the main supplier of quality halal beef and lamb products to the local and regional catering markets, the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 was held at Madinat Jumeirah and was overseen by no less than nine international culinary judges, representatives from the World’s Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), the Emirates Culinary Guild, Dubai hospitality industry and journalists from local and international F&B, social and lifestyle media.

Lachlan Bowtell, Regional Manager of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Middle East and North Africa, said: “Obviously, the Black Box Culinary Challenge has become an ideal platform for the hospitality industry in Dubai to challenge its gastronomic creativity and boost the already high standards in Dubai’s culinary sector, as one of the world’s most prestigious and sophisticated dining destinations. Contesting chefs showcased their talents in handling the best quality Australian beef and lamb products, which have become essential ingredients on menus in the UAE. On this occasion, we’d like to congratulate all winners of the Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 and particularly, overall winner, The Address Downtown Dubai, as well as the first runner up, the Emirates Academy and second runner up, The Address Marina.

The list of participating hotels featured the emirate’s hospitality heavy-weights Madinat Jumeirah, Atlantis – The Palm, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Coral Deira Hotel, Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, Al Hamra Fort Hotel and Beach Resort (RAK), Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek, The Address Dubai Marina, Media Rotana Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Raffles Dubai The Address Downtown Dubai and Park Hyatt Dubai Hotel. The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management has also participated in the competition.

According to the Black Box Challenge’s procedures, Chefs have to gather one day before in the Black Box unveiling ceremony. Every team is assigned an identical black box that contains a wide variety of ingredients including Australian beef and lamb, from which chefs are able to unleash their creativity and creativity. Once teams’ ingredients are registered by the Challenge Coordinator, they have one hour to extricate their innovative nerve and produce four courses: appetizer, soup, main course and dessert. The judges mark every entry and the team obtaining the highest total mark is announced the Overall Winner.

After detailed deliberations between the Challenge’s judges, The Address Downtown Hotel was announced overall Winner of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010, followed by The Address Marina and Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, consecutively. For the Best Table Display Award, however, Grand Habtoor & Spa distinguished its table with a fine blend of creative design and simplicity to snatch the Award. Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s table came second and Atlantis – Palm Jumeirah’s third.

The Best Main Course Award went to Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management whereas The Address Downtown received the Best Appetizer Award and the Best Dessert Award. Atlantis – Palm Jumeirah was also honoured with the Best Soup Award.

Rejoicing in winning the 2010 edition of the Black Box Culinary Challenge, the Address Downtown Chef, Daniel……., said: “We’re extremely happy with the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 title, and I’d like to thank my team for their creative edge and also to thank Meat & Livestock Australia for providing the Dubai culinary industry with this unique opportunity that contributes to culinary best practice and encourage gastronomic innovation and excellence among prestigious caterers in Dubai.”