UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH “THE CHEF WHISPERER” FLAVEL MONTEIRO

Award-winning author and publisher Flavel Monteiro, explains how he is leaving his mark on the industry with his new book releases.

If you were to introduce yourself, what would you say?

Panna Munyal, lifestyle editor of The National, referred to me as “the chef whisperer,” while Mark Samson, director of content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants & Bars, said I'm “the loudest international champion of the Dubai restaurant scene – giving us a true taste of the restaurants as they are today.”

I entered the hospitality and F&B scene in 1991 and shifted to publishing in the late 90s, when I purchased a franchise to publish the Millionaire Magazine in Scandinavia, later publishing a Filipino magazine. It was in 2014 when I launched WG Magazine, which was designed to promote the top culinary experiences around the world.

Later, in 2018, I partnered with the Michelinstarred chef Alfredo Russo from Turin to launch Ex.it—extraordinary Italian. From early 2000, I worked with several of the finest chefs in the world at events and created WG Magazine in 2015; it was all about defining dining opportunities and culinary experiences with chefs from around the world. Besides teaming up with some of the best chefs around the globe, I collaborated and partnered on several extraordinary events.

At Expo 2020 Dubai, I curated the dining experience at Jubilee with 69 of the world’s finest Michelin-starred, 50 Best and the best of Dubai chefs, in addition a private Cartier cocktail and canapé event with a Michelinstarred chef for 700 guests. Ultimately, bringing chefs together is what I do best.

Have you published any books recently?

On January 25, 2022, I released “Back to our Roots: Recipes from the Holistic Kitchen” with Vikas Khanna at the Indian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. I then released “Rising Flavours: a Real Taste of Arabia” for Expo 2020 Dubai and “The Best of Dubai: Gastronomy” in February 2022.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a Japanese Korean and Filipino inspired street food concept, and I have four books in the pipeline. The first which is almost ready and will be released on World Food Day on 16 October 2022 is “The Great Indian Khichdi” the humble one-pot-dish; it’s the ultimate celebration of foods in India, India’s comfort food and the oldest vegetarian meal. It will feature 49+ finest Indian chefs from North America to Australia. The other projects is an NFT book, a Goan cookbook and a Mangalorean cookbook with a friend.