In a dazzling blend of flavours and fierce competition, the Gault&Millau Awards Gala swept through the UAE on January 31, leaving foodies buzzing with excitement as the hottest culinary gem, Al Muntaha, snagged the coveted titles of Restaurant of the Year and Homegrown Restaurant of the Year.
At the third edition of the gala event held at Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, awards under 12 different categories were presented to restaurants, kitchen staff and culinary leaders. A host of 137 restaurants were also recognised as part of the 2024 Gault&Millau UAE guide.
Three of Dubai’s top restaurants, Al Muntaha at the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Ossiano at the Atlantis, The Palm, Trèsind, Studio at St. Regis Gardens received the ‘four-toque’ status in the guide.
The ceremony was opened by ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi who spoke of his pride in seeing Gault&Millau UAE play a part in the country’s surge in creativity and innovation.
“We are delighted to have established this as a special moment when we can come together to recognise, honour and celebrate world-class achievements,” he said.
The restaurant that caused all the buzz
Al Muntaha is at the top of the list for foodies in the UAE currently, as it received not one but two of the top awards during the ceremony.
Led by Chef Saverio Sbaragli, Al Muntaha, which translates to ‘the top’ or ‘the ultimate’ was also rewarded an increased rating from 17 to 17.5 this year, as opposed to last year.
Hailing from the sunny landscapes of Tuscany, the Italian chef has cooked across Europe and mastered French cooking in highly rated restaurants in Paris and Switzerland.
At Al Muntaha, his team is said to serve “a concise menu of Italian and French cuisine. There are classics, there are combinations as old as time, but none are well-worn or predictable. They wow with their clean, crisp flavours and textures.”
Providing diners with the ultimate fine dining experience, their service and ambience matches the quality of their food.
Another name in the UAE’s culinary scene that has everyone talking after the gala, is renowned British chef, Jason Atherton’s Row on 45. Known for taking diners on a “gastronomic journey” that showcases the art of haute cuisine, the restaurant won Breakthrough Restaurant of the Year.
Rating system
Gault&Millau stringent methods to evaluate and rate restaurants around the world. The guide prides itself in providing diners with unbiased, independent restaurant reviews based on the experiences of anonymous investigators who always pay for their meals. Using a method called the French school grading system, restaurants are rated out of 20 points. Although the points awarded are based on the quality of the food, the guide also includes comments about service, price, and the atmosphere of the restaurant. If a restaurant receives a score between 13 to 20, it is also then eligible to get one and five toques (or chef’s hats). The full list of restaurant ratings and award winners is available on www.gaultmillauae.com. The Gault&Millau guides can also be ordered from the website.