F&B industry leaders gathered from across the region last night to celebrate the best culinary achievements from across the Middle East, at the sixth edition of The Pro Chef Middle East awards.
For the last five years, the awards have recognised the biggest accomplishments and triumphs across the Middle East’s F&B sector, and this year was no different.
All nominees were drawn exclusively from the best independent eateries, bars and culinary schools, along with the best 4 and 5-star establishments across the region.
In its sixth outing, The Pro Chef Middle East Awards highlighted and celebrated the achievements of those working across a total of 19 categories.
The nominees were judged by industry experts, and announced at a special gala evening held last night (Monday 29th October) at Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai.
The most sought-after award of the evening, The Pro Chef of the Year, was won by Roberto Segura of Waka Restaurant & Bar – who scooped a second award earlier in the evening as Americas and Caribbean Speciality Chef of the Year.
Outstanding Achievement Award was won by Reif Othman from SUMOSAN at Billionaire Mansion, and Grégoire Berger from Ossiano clinched the award for Innovation Chef of the Year.
The winners of the inaugural Richemont Masterbaker Pastry and Baking Championship were also announced at last night’s prestigious event. 12 pastry chefs and 12 bakers took part in live heats back in early September, before four finalists from each category proceeded to the finals on October 7 and 8 at the Richemont Masterbaker facility in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
Ronnie Khajotia, director, Richemont Masterbaker Centre, revealed the winners on stage at the awards ceremony, crowning Vimal Nair from Anantara The Palm Dubai as the Pastry Champion, and Jacob Ebba from DUKES Dubai as the Baking Champion.
Nair will receive an all-expenses-paid course at Felchlin’s Condirama in Schwyz, Switzerland, in addition to an Advanced Pastry Course at Richemont Masterbaker Center for Excellence in Dubai and a custom-made and personalised Bragard Grand Chef’s Jacket.
Ebba will receive an all-expenses-paid course at Richemont Centre of Excellence School in Lucerne, Switzerland, and his own custom-made Bragard Grand Chef’s Jacket.
The full list of The Pro Chef Middle East award winners can be found below:
| Category | Winner | Company |
| African Speciality Chef of the Year | Prabakaran Manickam | Tribes |
| Americas & Caribbean Speciality Chef of the Year | Roberto Segura | Waka Restaurant & Bar |
| British Speciality Chef of the Year | Nick Alvis & Scott Price | folly by Nick & Scott |
| French Speciality Chef of the Year | Izu Ani | Carine |
| Indian Speciality Chef of the Year | Bobby Geetha | Asha’s |
| Italian Speciality Chef of the Year | Salvo Sardo | Ronda Locatelli |
| Mediterranean Speciality Chef of the Year | Aleix Font | Seville’s |
| Middle Eastern Speciality Chef of the Year | Mohanad Alshamali | Bhar |
| Japanese Speciality Chef of the Year | Herve Courtot | Nobu |
| Pan Asian Speciality Chef of the Year | Pele Khor | Shanghai Chic |
| Thai Speciality Chef of the Year | Nguyen Thanh | Thiptara |
| Seafood Speciality Chef of the Year | Gregoire Berger | Ossiano |
| Meat Speciality Chef of the Year | Tarek Ibrahim | MLA |
| Pastry Speciality Chef of the Year | Paul Hayward | Madinat Jumeirah |
| Innovation Chef of the Year | Grégoire Berger | Ossiano |
| Outstanding Achievement Award | Reif Othman | SUMOSAN @ Billionaire Mansion |
| Pro Chef of the Year | Roberto Segura | Waka Restaurant & Bar |
Congratulations to all of our winners! We’ll see you next year. Photos from the evening can be found here.
