More than 900 chefs from the UAE, and 11 from across the world, took part in the Emirates Salon Culinaire (ESC) 2024 held recently at Expo Centre Sharjah, the home of Expoculinaire, alongside the Expoculiniare exhibition.

Organised by Purple Kitchen Events, the Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG) held the competition (May 20-22) in 39 classes across all disciplines of the culinary arts – from practical cookery, static displays, Emirati cuisine, cake decorating and Show Piece category.

The competition was judged by an international team of 23 judges led by Otto Wiebel, who has been with ECG for 25 of the 27 editions, along with UAE-based judges.

It was supported by past President of ECG, Uwe Micheel, and Chairman of Worldchefs Culinary committee Dr Rick Stephen, together with Martin Kobald Vice President Worldchefs and Alain Hostert Continental Director Europe Central for Worldchefs.

The ESC is one of the largest culinary competitions in the Africa and Middle East region that is also endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies.

“The standard just keeps getting better year-on-year,” said Micheel.

“We are proud to have once again been able to put on the event, and we are grateful to the supporters of the guild and to the courage of the chefs and Industry for their support and presence during the three days and awards ceremony of the Expo Culinaire 2024.”

Guild President Andy Cuthbert, General Manager of Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, and Madinat Jumeirah Conference & Incentives and Jumeirah Hospitality, said: “This year’s competition was another sign of the growth of the culinary arts in the UAE.”

This year saw the introduction of a new practical cookery competition, The Sounbula Artisan Bakery arena, where eight teams of bakers competed for the title of Sounbula Mills Bakery team of 2024.

They had to make a selection of bread and pastry items from scratch using only Sounbula flours, with no pre mixes of chemicals or yeast.

Owner of Sounbula Mills Karim Al Azhari, said: “I am proud of what the teams have done in this inaugural event and we at Sounbula believe in the strength of this competition to continue to highlight the culinary prowess of the UAE and we are proud to have been able to contribute this year and make such a difference.”

Joanne Cook, MD of Purple Kitchen Events, said: “We made the most of the strengths of all the individual parts of both competitions, exhibition and competitions to bring a truly complete food and beverage event to the Emirate of Sharjah.”

“To be able to maintain our commitment to chefs and to education was essential.  Our certified education sessions have become a pillar of the overall event, so to deliver them in 2024 thanks to ICCA Dubai, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and CIC was excellent added value for all our audience concluded Cook. - TradeArabia News Service