The UAE capital’s hospitality industry is readying to honour its top performers at a glittering ‘Oscar-style’ gala dinner in the newly-opened, five-star The St. Regis Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, February 19th , which will bring the curtain down on the sixth Gourmet Abu Dhabi culinary festival.

Over 350 people are expected at the much-anticipated Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards dinner in the majestic surroundings of the hotel’s Al Mudhaif Ballroom when the fiercely contested ‘Oscars’ of the UAE capital’s F&B industry will be given to individuals and restaurants judged to have most contributed to the UAE capital’s culinary evolution.

With popular local TV and radio personality Tom Urquhart as master of ceremonies, guests will be in for a feast with the cuisine of the UAE’s only female celebrity chef, Khulood Atiq being served up at a pre-dinner reception.

Entertainment for the evening will include ‘paintings’ by international speed artist Brad Blaze who has enthralled audiences across Australia, Asia and the USA.

“Brad has performed at some of the world’s most elite dinners and has speed painted portraits of government leaders and sporting stars including Tiger Wood, Sir Ian Botham and Hollywood actor Eric Bana,” explained Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“Brad will paint between courses, producing artworks of some of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic landmarks and finally using his artistry to unveil the winner of the Gourmet Stars Awards’ ‘Executive Chef Of The Year’.”

Two of the five courses being served at dinner will be produced by chefs from The St. Regis Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Abu Dhabi, led by Danny Kattar the 2013 winner of ‘Executive Chef Of The Year.’

“The third course will give guests the chance to sample the cuisine of Theo Randall, the British masterchef who has become a connoisseur of Italian food,” explained Al Dhaheri. “The fourth course will be produced by Chef Paul Lupto of Rhodes 44 at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi while the dinner will round off with a special dessert presented by French luxury chocolate brand and Gourmet Abu Dhabi’s official chocolate partner Valrhona and created by the Rhodes 44 team.”
Courses will also be interspersed with renditions by Popera Trio a threesome of leading musical performers from Australia and New Zealand.

“The trio’s act is in the spirit of Il Divo and they’ll be signing modern day classics from the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble,” explained Al Dhaheri. Rounding off the entertainment will be American stand-up comedian Mike Batayeh.

Almost 5,000 nominations for this year’s Abu Dhabi Gourmet Stars Awards were received– a 71% increase on last year – with the honours seeing a 21% jump in the final public voting round of the honours process. An expert panel of judges provides critique for the selection of the winners.

“Increased public participation in the awards is a reflection of the growth in Abu Dhabi’s culinary offering,” added Al Dhaheri.

Tickets for the Gourmet Stars Award Gala Dinner are AED800 per person or AED6,400 for a table of ten and are available at www.gourmetabudhabi.ae 

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