A new record that the UAE adds to its growing balance of achievements, is the thriving culinary scene, with a number of its restaurants obtaining a Michelin star, and attracting a number of international chefs, which led to an increase in the number of gourmet guests to the country.
A report by the American network “CNBC” says that those responsible for the French restaurant guide “Michelin” now agree that the UAE is on par with major global gourmet destinations, such as Paris, New York, Singapore and London, and that this boom is partly driven by the growth of the tourism sector. In the region, the country’s economy will grow by more than 6% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The report touched on the increasing number of new fine dining restaurants, and the competitive spirit that was demonstrated among them at the inaugural Dubai Michelin Guide Awards a few months ago.
The report pointed out that three restaurants in Abu Dhabi were honored with one star, and 11 restaurants were presented with Michelin stars in Dubai, including the Armani restaurant at the base of Burj Khalifa.
Notable was the presence of Chef Pierre Gagnaire, who has three Michelin stars.
Gagnaire commented on the food scene in Dubai, telling CNBC: “The food scene here is developing rapidly. This visit made me feel an appreciation mixed with surprise at seeing the remarkable achievements that the country has made in developing the food industry in a wonderful way, and there is no more inspiring location to establish a restaurant than Dubai.
On that development, the international director of the Michelin Guide Voendal Pollenec told CNBC: “We can say that the restaurants in the Michelin Guide in the UAE are on par with major cities.”
local cuisine
Culinary experts pointed out that this year’s Michelin choices included kitchens from across the European and Asian continents.
Dubai has seen recognition for Middle Eastern cuisine among Michelin Award winners in the Bib Gourmand category, a classification of restaurants offering a three-course gourmet experience, with an average price of 250 dirhams. Among the winners are the home-style restaurant “Beit Maryam” and “Al Khaima”, which serves rustic Emirati cuisine.
