Chefs, restaurateurs and food lovers from across MENA came together in Abu Dhabi from the 4th to 8th February to celebrate the inaugural Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. With tasty dishes, stimulating conversations and a completely new list, it was a week of unforgettable highlights. Browse the photos to relive some of our favourite moments
1. Guests begin to arrive in Abu Dhabi
From the 4th February, chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and guests began to pour into Abu Dhabi for the first edition of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants. The UAE capital, which offers a mix of unique, experiential and world-class dining, had much in store for its guests before the unveiling of the inaugural ranking on 7th February.
2. Will Goldfarb tickles taste buds…
The World’s Best Pastry Chef, Will Goldfarb, kicked off the event programme at Yas Marina Circuit with a taste of his spectacular dish, The Sugar Refinery, comprising Balinese meringue, palm sugar Chantilly cream, fresh palm caramel and mangosteen sorbet.
3. …and we delve inside the minds of world-renowned chefs
The 50 Best Masterclasses gave an insight into the culinary philosophies of two masterminds: The World’s Best Female Chef Pía León of Kjolle in Lima and world-renowned German chef Tim Raue of the eponymous Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin, ranked No.31 at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021. Worlds collided with their flavour combinations. While León explores the biodiversity and topography of Peru, Raue has spent two decades crafting high-impact modern European dishes with Asian accents.
4. Tim Raue dazzles at Dai Pai Dong
Host chef Nie Dong welcomed the bombastic Tim Raue into his kitchen at the Rosewood on Al Maryah Island. Taking charge of separate courses, the dynamic duo produced a mouth-watering four-hands selection of dim sum and twists on classic Chinese dishes, such as peking duck ‘leftover soup’ and honey-braised beef short ribs.
5. Pía León hosts lunch in paradise
After an exciting boat ride across the bay to Zaya Nurai Island, diners took their seats in anticipation of a slice of Peruvian Paradise. With the waving palms, azure water and live music, León’s exclusive five-course lunch of lobster, loche squash, clams and her trademark vibrant dish of multiple tubers transported guests to the exotic climes of her home country.
6. MENA unites at #50BestTalks
The event programme wouldn’t be complete without the signature thought-leadership conference, #50BestTalks, which this year celebrated the MENA region’s culinary cultures and the unifying power of food. The thought-provoking afternoon featured an interview with Kamal Mouzawak, winner of the Foodics Icon Award 2022, and a panel discussion with leading chefs in the region including MENA’s Best Female Chef 2022 Tala Bashmi, chef Izu Ani of Gaia, UAE (ranked at No.10 in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022) and Raz Rahav of OCD Restaurant in Israel (ranked No.3). Will Goldfarb took to the stage with a keynote presentation detailing the healing power of food.
7. Falafels are discussed, debated and dished up
Chef Moustafa El Rafaey of Zooba in Cairo, ranked at No.38 on the list, explained the monumental process of creating his signature award-winning falafels. Zooba’s Egyptian take on the snack involves fried fava beans, with the falafels made to order and stuffed into baladi bread, then drizzled with roumy cheese, fiery harissa or tangy pickled lemon. To highlight the variations of this age-old dish, local Abu Dhabi falafels were served in the event’s interval.
8. Sky-high dining and 360 views
On Saturday 5th February, 50 Best welcomed its new MENA Academy Chairs and partners to dine at the dizzying heights of Conrad Etihad Towers’s Observation Deck. Perched on the 74th floor of the hotel, guests enjoyed a glass of Beronia wine or a Lyre’s non-alcoholic cocktail while looking down on the lights of the UAE capital.
9. MENA’s leading food figures break bread at the Chefs’ Feast
Chefs across the region met for the first time at an al fresco Chefs’ Feast, set on the lawns of the luxurious Saadiyat Beach Club. Taking place the evening prior to the awards ceremony, speculation and anticipation added to the buzz of talk and laughter.
10. Abu Dhabi showcases the best of its street food
Four local chefs brought their creations to the Chefs’ Feast. Regional dishes featured on the menu, including a double-umami wagyu burger with homemade dill pickles and shallots, chef Sahar Al Awadhi’s Late Night Spoon of classic Valrhona chocolate mousse, and Emirati chef Khaled’s caramelised lamb bao buns with date jus and burnt lemon aioli. A taste of the traditional deep-fried lugaimat drizzled with camel milk and saffron gelato was the perfect way to end the feast. Nyetimber sparkling wine, Estrella Damm lager, Gin Mare and Flor de Caña rum supplied the evening’s tipples.
11. Julien Royer is at the helm of LPM Restaurant & Bar
Bringing his unparalleled take on Asian-inflected French cuisine to the table, chef Julien Royer of Odette, ranked No.8 at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 and The Best Restaurant in Asia 2021, served up an array of faultless dishes at this Abu Dhabi favourite. Hokkaido uni with brown butter was followed by tartelette crudités and crab served with apple, nasi and ginger, among other delights.
12. Female chefs and restaurateurs discuss the region’s food industry
50 Best invited female chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers and front of house leaders to a round-table breakfast at Fa’e Café. Over patisseries and pancakes, it was a chance for them to share their experiences and debate key issues facing women in the hospitality sector.
13. Natsuko Shoji transforms the Tori No Su kitchen
Bringing her unique take on Japanese cuisine, Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2020 hosted an exclusive dinner at one of the top restaurants in venue partner hotel, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. The menu featured king crab tart, a caviar mille-feuille and edamame shrimp consommé. A meal prepared by Shoji could not be complete without a standout dessert, which took the form of a mouth-watering floral mango tart.
14. Dave Pynt plays with fire
As an explosive end to the events programme, Dave Pynt took to the beach of Emirates Palace hotel. The unique dining experience involved beachfront cabanas, fire dancers and a feast of smoky dishes. Prominent among them were Jamaican chicken with lime crema, beef ssamjang and king crab with garlic brown butter.
15. Restaurant teams snap a selfie on the red carpet...
All smiles at the media wall as restaurant teams arrive at the awards ceremony on 7th February. The 3 Fils team, later revealed as The Best Restaurant in Middle East & North Africa 2022, grabbed a photo before heading into the pre-awards reception.
16. …stand arm in arm before the ceremony...
Large teams arrived in style and were draped with the symbolic red scarves – only available to those whose restaurants are on the fabled list – before joining the 600-plus throng in the hotel venue’s ballroom.
17. …and spread the love
MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants is best seen as a celebration more than a competition.
18. Cheese falls from the sky…
…or at least, descends atop a mobile bar suspended from the ceiling. Before the ceremony itself, guests were also treated to a delicious array of regional dishes, such as crispy falafel with minted yoghurt and cucumber gazpacho, crab fritters and charred octopus, and bourbon-smoked beef short ribs with black truffle chips.
19. Tala Bashmi picks up Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2022 award
The first of the pre-announced awards was given to Tala Bashmi of Fusions by Tala in Manama. Putting an original spin on traditional recipes, Bashmi is credited for her creativity and commitment to her Bahraini heritage.
20. Kamal Mouzawak is hailed with the Foodics Icon Award 2022
The charismatic Lebanese restaurateur praised the females in the room at the ceremony after receiving his award. After being at the forefront of gastronomic progress in his country for nearly 20 years, it was a fitting accolade for a man who continues to break barriers through his culinary projects.
21. The Chefs’ Choice Award is presented to a shocked Reif Othman
The chef-owner of Reif Kushiyaki in Dubai received the only peer-voted award for his endless creative vision, inspirational leadership and unconventional approach to Japanese dining. Othman receives the award from legendary Spanish chef Joan Roca of Best of the Best restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca.
22. Sahar Parham Al Awadhi is crowned MENA’s Best Pastry Chef, sponsored by Valrhona
As one of the only female Emirati pastry chefs in the region, Al Awadhi has been making waves across MENA with her sustainability-conscious creations at the Burj Al Arab and beyond. Expect to hear more from this rising culinary star.
23. The UAE’s Kinoya is named One To Watch 2022
Dubai’s leading authority in ramen and izakaya, Neha Mishra’s restaurant Kinoya is crowned the One To Watch 2022 winner just 10 months after its opening.
24. Trèsind Studio receives the Art of Hospitality Award 2022
Chef Himanshu Saini accepted the trophy on behalf of the restaurant and his team from leading chef Julien Royer, who are dedicated to serving Indian fine dining with panache and plenty of theatre.
25. The Sustainable Restaurant Award heads to Lowe
Kate Christou and Jesse Blake’s ground-breaking Dubai eatery came out on top thanks to its emphasis on reducing food waste, commitment to sustainable sourcing and strong community focus.
26. The Best Restaurant in Middle East & North Africa 2022, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, is crowned
3 Fils received the ultimate accolade at this year’s award ceremony. The humble home-grown harbourside restaurant took the top spot thanks to chef Freddy Kazadi’s premium Asian dishes – sushi, wagyu and the signature kampachi tataki – its attentive service, relaxed atmosphere and innate individuality.
27. See you next year!
After an incredible week of Abu Dhabi dining, thought-provoking discussion and a stellar new list, the inaugural event programme around Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants was one to remember. Stay tuned for the announcement of the next edition, set to take place in early 2023.
Now watch the highlights video and recap the events:
The list of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 was announced on Tuesday, 7th February at a live awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi. To stay up to date with all news and announcements, browse the website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
