The heat is on

Young chefs from across the GCC have been sharpening their knives and adding the final adjustments to their recipes for the 2008 Junior Chef Awards.

As part of Dubai Summer Surprises, the one-week event, which concludes on July 2, sees a new crop of culinary maestros showing off their talents each day at Times Square Centre.

Chef Uwe Micheel, president of the Emirates Culinary Guild and director of kitchens at the Radisson SAS Hotel, said the chefs vying to clinch the title of 2008 Middle East Junior Chef of the Year were warned to pay special attention to the creativity of their creations.

“Depending on the category, judges will look at the artistic points, accuracy and if they work clean and according the country's hygiene laws."

About 800 chefs from around the GCC have taken part in the event to show off their expertise.

“When [the competition] started 12 years ago we were very far behind in terms of standards and asked the judges to be lenient. Now they are judging the same way they would judge anywhere in the world," said Micheel.

Chefs with the rank chef de partie the head chef of one section in a kitchen or below were allowed to participate in the competition, which had a jury of master chefs from around the world last year.

The categories the chefs have competed in include pastry showpiece, chocolate carving, fruit and vegetable carving, five-course gourmet dinner menu, new Arabian cuisine, and ice carving.

The jury includes master chefs from around the world such as Alessandro Haab, Gavin Duthie, Heinz Kohler, Hubert Oberhollenzer, Raman Khanna and Bien Chavez, all of whom are renowned authorities in the culinary industry.

For more information on the competition visit www.emiratesculinaryguild.net.

Did you know?

The 2008 Junior Chef Awards will include categories that test the creativity and pure culinary talent of participants. Pastry showpieces, chocolate carving, fruit and vegetable carving, five-course gourmet dinner menus, new Arabian cuisine, and ice carving are part of the competition.

Go giddy up

Kids can look forward to riding and petting camels, horses and ponies at the Riding Zone in the West Hall at Modhesh Fun City, which is part of DSS 2008.

Designed as a ranch house with attendees wearing cowboy hats, boots and a rodeo smile, the Zone offers rides on animals as well as a chance to see them being fed and groomed.

Modhesh Fun City at Airport Expo is open from 10am to 10pm from Saturday to Wednesday. On Thursdays and Fridays the venue remains open until midnight. It opens at 3pm on Fridays. The entry fee is Dh20 per person. The Riding Zone is open until August 22.

Rare treasures on show

The Collectors, a unique exhibition of artefacts and collectibles will be one of the DSS 2008's main attractions at Wafi.

Organised since 2005, the Collectors aims to bring together collectors of various objects under one roof and will appeal to memorabilia lovers and shoppers. Last year's collections included coins, photographs, sports and classic cars, ancient Islamic manuscripts, watches, medals, cameras, paintings, stamps and many other collectibles. The event will be held from July 15 to July 22.