Over 900 chefs compete in 27th International Emirates Salon Culinaire 2024

Winning chefs at this year's Emirates Salon Culinaire. (Supplied)

The 27th edition of The International Emirates Salon Culinaire (ESC) 2024 saw over 900 chefs from the UAE and 11 countries competing at Expo Centre Sharjah.

This culinary gathering, held from May 20th to May 22nd, attracted over 5,200 visitors to the ExpoCulinaire event, making it one of the most successful editions to date.

The Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG) organised the event in collaboration with Purple Kitchen Events. The competition featured more than 39 classes across various culinary disciplines, including practical cookery, static displays, Emirati cuisine, cake decorating, and showpiece categories.

An international team of judges, led by long-time supporter Otto Wiebel, ensured that the highest standards were maintained throughout the competition. Notable judges included Uwe Micheel (past President of ECG), Dr. Rick Stephen (Chairman of Worldchefs Culinary Committee), Martin Kobald (Vice President of Worldchefs), and Alain Hostert (Continental Director Europe Central for Worldchefs).

“The standard just keeps getting better year on year,” said Uwe Micheel, praising the chefs’ efforts and the industry’s support. He highlighted the event’s growth and expressed excitement for the future.

Guild President Andy Cuthbert further echoed these sentiments, emphasising the significance of this year’s competition in showcasing the culinary arts’ growth in the UAE. The event also featured the inaugural Live Bakery Competition at the Sounbula Mills Artisan Bakery Arena, where eight teams competed, and the Alen Thong Golden Coffee Pot Challenge, which saw international teams vying for top honors.

The competition concluded with an awards ceremony. Among the winners, a chef from The Chinese Chefs Association received the prestigious Gold Medal with Distinction. Additionally, 149 gold medals, 200 silver medals, and 277 bronze medals were awarded, alongside 167 merit certificates.

The ESC remains the largest culinary competition in the region, endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs). Joanne Cook, Managing Director of Purple Kitchen Events, highlighted the importance of combining the exhibition and competitions to create a comprehensive food and beverage event.

The Emirates Culinary Guild, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing culinary art in the UAE, continues to inspire and encourage young chefs through such events, enhancing the UAE’s international culinary prestige.

Winners at the Alen Thong Golden Coffee Pot Challenge 2024:

• China – Gold
• Hong Kong – Gold
• Wales – Gold
• South Africa – Silver
• Azerbaijan – Silver
• UAE – Silver
• South Korea – Bronze
• Sri Lanka – Merit

Winners at the Sounbula Mills Artisan Bakery Class 2024:

• EKFC Team 1 – Merit
• EKFC Team 2 – Bronze
• Qatar Team – Silver
• Erth Abu Dhabi – Silver
• The Westin – Gold
• Jumeirah Al Naseem – Gold
• Address The View – Silver