Awards pay tribute to world-class standards of UAE's restaurants

As night fell, hundreds from the hospitality industry gathered for the first restaurant awards of its kind in the UAE.

The What's On Restaurant Awards were hosted on Monday at Dubai Internet City lawns, at a gala dinner. More than 32,000 diners participated in the awards, as the winners were based on selections by visitors to the various outlets.

Their votes were collected during a three-month period by independent arbitrators Jacobson Direct. Only those paying the bill were allowed to vote for the restaurant in which they were eating.

There were 10 main categories, including Favourite Arabian, Favourite Italian, Favourite Pub Grub, Favourite European, Favourite American, Favourite International, Favourite Far Eastern, Favourite Indian, Favourite Japanese and Favourite Seafood, along with a Chef's Choice and General Manager's Recommendation.

In case of Chef's Choice and General Manager's Recommendation, chefs and general managers nominated their favourite restaurants outside their hotel chains.

Ian Fairservice, managing partner, Motivate Publishing, which owns the magazine What's On, added that the awards pay tribute to the world-class culinary standards of the UAE's restaurant industry. He said: "We pay tribute to the hoteliers, restaurateurs and chefs, in other words the professionals who have made this possible.

"There are seven categories common to both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Given the greater number of restaurants for Dubai compared to Abu Dhabi there are also three categories, which are separate for Dubai but are included in the speciality groupings for Abu Dhabi.

"These are the 10 categories which we like to call the 'people's choice'. Rather than simply appointing committees or asking our readers to choose their favourite restaurants we decided that if people want to vote they should vote with their feet and more importantly, with their wallets.

"Which is why we stipulated that to vote for a particular restaurant in its category you had to be dining in that restaurant."

He said the whole process began with the What's On team selecting the 250 shortlisted restaurants from the annual What's On 'Eating Out in the Emirates' Guide.

Twenty-eight per cent of the total voters were British, representing the single largest block. Along with all other European nationals brings the total European participation to 44 per cent. While four per cent gave their nationality as UAE nationals, the figure climbs to 15 per cent when other GCC and Arab nationalities were included.

Roberto Rella, manager, BiCE restaurant, Hilton Jumeirah Dubai, and Marco Carstanjen, food and beverage manager, with the award for General Manager's Recommendation
Eight per cent of the votes were Indians and Americans represented six per cent. He said: "These awards were not for the best in category, but the favourite in the category. "We really do have a restaurant scene in the Emirates of which everyone can be justifiably proud."

The awards ceremony began at 10.00pm, with the first category of Arabian Favourite being announced by the guest of honour at the event Easa Saleh Al Gurg, UAE Ambassador to the UK. He said: "The awards are a pleasant change." He explained that Dubai has come a long way from his days when the population was 7,000 and people survived only on rice, dates, fish and well water.

"Things have completely changed... We had two trading launches then and now we have the Jebel Ali Free Zone," he said. On a lighter note, Al Gurg added: "We had a bit more rain because our sins were much less than today."

The various winners were equally happy if not ecstatic at being selected. Gerrit Graef, director, food and beverage, JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, which won the Favourite Arabian category for its restaurant Mayes El Reem, along with Cucina for the Chef's Choice division, said: "It's an award that came from the customers' side and that is the best award you can have - appreciation from guests.

"In the case of Mayes El Reem and Cucina, both were created based on demand from the Dubai market. "The awards are good, especially as it encourages competition, which is healthy. One always wants to be the best in the market which is continually growing. Last year 150 restaurants opened in Dubai, which translates into around 2.5 million additional restaurant seats in a year.

Easa Saleh Al Gurg, UAE Ambassador to the UK, speaks at the What's On Restaurant Awards function in Dubai Internet City
"Of the lot 50 were in four- and five-star properties. There is a strong eating out culture in Dubai." Heinz Krahenbuhl, executive assistant manager in charge of food and beverage, Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai, which won the Far Eastern Favourite category for its Thai restaurant Blue Elephant, felt the awards were a reconfirmation of quality.

He said: "We are very proud of the award. The voting by the diners is a reassurance that we have a restaurant of exceptional quality." John Hall, general manager, Hard Rock Cafe, which won the American Favourite segment, said the award will help reinforce people's choice when they go out to eat every time.

He said: "We are ecstatic, especially as we were voted for by the public." The same sentiment was echoed by Omar Kaddouri, general manager, Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu Dhabi, which received an award for its outlet Coma Prima. He said: "We are excited as we won in the Chef's Choice category. Chefs know what they're talking about and we are very happy."

Diners of the various winning outlets were equally enthusiastic about the awards. E. Mori, Italian guest at Cucina, told Gulf News: "It's a very cosy restaurant and has a nice atmosphere. The menu has many good choices and the fact it won is excellent."

Rod Watson, Australian business visitor eating at the outlet, said: "It's a lively restaurant and eating here is always a pleasure." Abdulrahman Ahmed, a UAE national patron of the same restaurant, said: "The food is excellent and that is the reason I keep coming back with my guests."

Nick Midwood, British expatriate dining at BiCE, said he was very happy