World’s greatest chefs to gather in Capital
Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014 to begin on February 4
abu dhabi — Two Michelin star chefs, Marco Sacco and Ho Chee Boon, will be among the 13 international masterchefs already committed to Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014.
The annual culinary festival will bring here, just as in the previous four years, some of the world’s greatest chefs who will cook at participating five-star restaurants between February 4 and 19.
“I’ve been following Abu Dhabi’s progress since my last visit there five years ago and honestly I’m more than impressed by what I read and I feel it will hardly be recognisable to me now. I can’t wait to see if for myself,” said Italian masterchef Sacco, who will be heading the kitchen of Hyatt Capital Gate’s 18° restaurant.
“I’m particularly excited about conducting the promotion at the Hyatt Capital Gate because the story of Abu Dhabi’s leaning tower, which out-leans our own Tower of Pisa by four degrees, was everywhere in the Italian press when it opened. I want to bring photos back for all my friends, family and restaurant guests to see,” he added.
Forty-eight-year-old Sacco was born into a gastronomic family. He began cooking at an early age, yet his talent shone when he took over his family restaurant Piccolo Lago, in Italy’s Piedmonte region, which he runs with his sommelier brother Carlo. Piccolo Lago earned its first Michelin star in 2004 and its second in 2007.
Another surprise at Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2014 is chef Ho Chee Boon, the Michelin star chef of Hakkasan New York, who will be cooking at one of the Capital’s most popular fine dining venues, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi.
In a career spanning over 28 years, chef Ho has worked at several of the world’s most renowned Asian restaurants, including Turandot in Moscow, Breeeze in Bangkok and has been with Hakkasan since its inception. Moving to the US in 2012 to launch Hakkasan New York, chef Ho was awarded a Michelin star within eight months of opening and recently received a Michelin-star for the second consecutive year for the New York location.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) has also announced another possible contender for Gourmet Abu Dhabi, Indian celebrity masterchef Sanjeev Kapoor.
The much-talked-about chef and entrepreneur will bring his restaurant Signature to Abu Dhabi, after the Dubai branch proved quite popular, even with Abu Dhabi residents.
Signature will be located in Nations Tower, on the Corniche, right next door to the newly opened St Regis hotel.
“The restaurant will serve the authentic Indian and signature dishes now associated with Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor and we expect it to attract both tourists and residents,” he said.
“We have seen growing numbers of Abu Dhabi residents travelling to Dubai to dine at our restaurant there, so we decided the market in the UAE capital was promising,” he added.
Masterchef Kapoor, whose website clocks up 25 million hits a month, also revealed he is in discussions with the ADTCA for a starring role in Gourmet Abu Dhabi.
For this to happen, though, he will have to have Signature Abu Dhabi ready in time for the festival.