The Team of Emirates Culinary Guild Won 69 Medals from Culinary Olympics 2024
The Emirates Culinary Guild had sent a team of 27 chefs from all over the United Arab Emirates to Compete at the Culinary Olympics 2024 in Germany this February.
The team has returned home to the UAE carrying with them a total of 69 medals and 1 diploma for their efforts to win the various competitions, 3 Gold with distinction,39 Gold, 27 silver, and 1 Diploma in total which was the highest of any team that competed this year.
The team included 20 Artists and Pastry chefs to represent the United Arab Emirates and competed against more than 45 other international culinary teams from around the world including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, South Korea, Taiwan, and other top teams.
The team was led by Emirates Culinary Guild Past President Chef Uwe Micheel and was supported by Chef Karl Heinz Ney, Chef Harald Oberender, Chef Rabeh Amer, Chef Saeed Fawaz, Chef Chamil Sanjeewa, Chef Shyju Varghese, Chef Dinesh Kinson and President of the Syrian Chefs Guild Majed Al Sabagh. Also supported by Mrs. Annette Micheel, Mrs. Jospehine Cuthbert, and Mr. Othmar Schneider.
The team was made up of Pastry Chefs, Artists, and chefs from around the Emirates from various hotels and establishments:
The team has made us proud as a country and culinary association for showing the quality the Emirates can do” said Guild President Andy Cuthbert General Manager Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Madinat Conference Centre who also traveled with the team, when asked about how he felt the competition contributed to the emirates Hospitality landscape. “The chefs can be very proud of their achievement in Germany” he continued “As the high quality of the workout shone many on the competition days and the amount of gold medals brought home are testament to the quality and standard of the chefs we are lucky to have in the UAE”.
President Cuthbert also thanked Mr. Karim Al Azhari, from Sounbula Mills for their unbelievable sponsorship support to the Guild and the Chefs. Managing director Mr. Karim Al Azhari said ”It is with such pride that I can help these chefs show off their skills to the world and I am proud that as an Emirates-based company, we can help them to realize their dreams and perform at the highest level.
The team won three Gold medals with distinction which is the maximum of 100 points, the chefs who won these special medals were Chef Thilina Pradeep Kallamullage Fernando, Chef Pathma Madushanka Kuma Hennedige and Chef Kameel Rasyid Eril, with outstanding result.
| Al Bateen Palace | Mr. | Sandaruwan Bandara | Panamaldeniya Mudiyanselage | 1 Gold 2 Silver |
| Al Bateen Palace | Mr. | Dilan Asanka | Gajaman Arachchige | 3 Gold |
| Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Center | Mr. | Thilina Pradeep | Kallamullage Fernando | 2 Gold 1 gold distinction |
| Atlantis the Palm | Mr. | Pathma Madushanka | Kuma Hennedige | 3 Gold, 1 Gold Distinction |
| Bateel International | Mr. | Lewis Philippe Bernard | Charles | 5 silver |
| BKRY | Mr. | Kameel Rasyid | Eril | 2 Gold,1 gold distinction |
| Dubai World Trade Center | Miss | Dwiyanthi | Cintaningrum | 2 Silver, 1 Gold |
| Five JVC | Mr. | Iroshan Madusanka Silva | Maggona | 3 Silver |
| Hilton Dubai Jumeirah | Mr. | Eranda Sampath Kumara | Liyanage | 3 Gold, 1 silver |
| Jumeirah Beach Hotel | Mr. | Kavinda Isurumal | Amarasinghe Arachchilage | 3 Gold, 1 Silver |
| Keita Catering | Mr. | Tharishma Madushanka mendis | Mutuwahandi | 2 Gold,1 silver, 1 diploma |
| Misterbaker | Mr. | Sameera Madushanka | Dahanayakage | 4 Gold |
| Pullmann Hotel DCC | Mr. | Dammika | Herath Mudiyanselage | 1 Gold .2 silver |
| Radisson Blu Yas Island | Mr. | Dilip Kumara | Rajapaksha | 1 Gold, 2 Silver |
| Radisson Blu Yas Island | Mr. | Nishan Nayana Kantha | Kuruppu Mudiyanselage | 2 silver |
| Taj Exotica the Palm | Mr. | Shajahan | Mampally | 2 Gold, 1 Silver |
| The Palace Downtown Hotel | Mr. | Ruwan Kumara | Pihille Gerdara | 2 Gold, 1 Silver |
| W Hotel The Palm | Mr. | Saman Sagara | Welikende Gamage | 3 silver |
| Zaabeel Palace | Mr. | Pathum Priyankara | Walpola Liyanage | 5 Gold, 1 silver |
| Zaabeel Palace | Mr. | Thusitha Kumara Wijerathna | Siya Mudiyanselage | 4 Gold |
Uwe Micheel Guild Past President who led the team added “To lead such a great team of young men and women and be rewarded with so much recognition from the international culinary community, is very rewarding personally and professionally. It was with pride to fly the UAE flag high again for the 4th time in the Culinary Olympics.”
The full details of the team’s success will be available in the Guilds Monthly Magazine Gulf Gourmet April issue.
We would like to thank all the hotels that assisted with the competition and for allowing their chefs to be part of this great event. Special mention goes to the General Managers and Executive Chefs for allowing the teams to train in their hotels and for their unwavering support to the Emirates Culinary Guild and chefs of the Emirates.
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About the Emirates Culinary Guild
The Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG) (www.emiratesculinaryguild.net) is the association of professional chefs of the UAE. It is a non-profit-making organisation, organised by volunteers dedicated solely to the advancement of culinary art in the UAE.
The World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs) (www.worldchefs.org) is the 105-nation fellowship of the world's various professional chefs' organizations.
The ECG received its charter into Worldchefs at a ceremony in Stavanger, Norway on June 28, 1994, during the Worldchefs 26th World Congress. Worldchefs endorses the ECG as the authorized professional culinary association for the UAE. The ECG, thereby, has an international culinary focus and multi-national support for the staging of its various competitions, seminars and events.
The aims of the ECG, broadly, are:
- To encourage and inspire young chefs through training and competition.
- To enhance internationally the culinary prestige of the UAE.
- To encourage UAE Nationals to consider a career within the hospitality industry.
Vandana Bhatt
Toronto, Canada
Highly recommend the organization like ECG, a team of highly skilled, knowledgeable and professional chefs, who put their hearts and souls to the development of young chefs in the region.