Manjula Kumara Rathnayaka Honored with Judge’s Choice for Pastry Chef of the Year at the Middle East Chef Excellence Awards 2024
Manjula Kumara Rathnayaka, Head Pastry Chef at Kaak Al Manara, was awarded the prestigious Judge's Choice award for Pastry Chef of the Year at the 7th Middle East Chef Excellence Awards 2024.
The ceremony, held on June 7 at JW Marriott Dubai Marina and organized by Hozpitality Group, celebrated the exceptional skills and dedication of culinary professionals across the industry. The award was presented to him by Ibrahim Yaqoot, Executive Director of the Corporate Support Division at Dubai Tourism and Economy, and Raj Bhatt, Founder and CEO of Hozpitality Group.
Manjula, originally from Sri Lanka, has been dedicated to the hospitality industry since 2007. He has gained extensive experience in hotels, restaurants, cafes, and catering. He creates all types of cakes, continental pastries, and desserts. His role encompasses menu planning, recipe creation, hiring and training staff, ordering supplies, and assisting with the production of pastry goods, main kitchen operations, and other aspects of the business. Additionally, he oversees the production of various bakery products.
Throughout his career, Manjula has developed hands-on experience in training and coaching pastry and baking teams. He possesses deep knowledge of cake decoration and pastry techniques and is adept at operating all relevant machines in the pastry kitchen. Manjula has a proven record of overseeing pastry baking efforts to maximize customer satisfaction, managing teams, purchasing orders, and ensuring smooth kitchen operations.
Manjula holds several esteemed positions and certifications within the culinary community. He serves as the Regional Vice President for Dubai and holds the position of Head of Administration at the Sri Lankan Hospitality Professionals Association UAE. Within the Emirates Culinary Guild - United Arab Emirates (ECG), Manjula is recognized as a Senior Member and holds the esteemed title of Marshal Chef. Additionally, he has been certified as a Pastry Regional Judge for 2023-2028 by the World Association of Chef Societies (WACS). This certification acknowledges his expertise in pastry and his role as a judge for regional pastry competitions, ensuring adherence to rigorous international standards in culinary arts.
Hozpitality Group, as the organizer of the awards, expressed gratitude to its industry partners whose support was instrumental in making the event a resounding success. The collaboration with JW Marriott Dubai Marina, ICCA, Restofair RAK, Rak Porcelain, US Beef, Taaza, MasterBaker, Absolute Frame, Fushia Events, African & Eastern, Watermelon, Convotherm, and Welbilt ensured a memorable celebration of culinary excellence.
Amit Singh
Mumbai, India
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