The Emirates Culinary Guild has returned triumphant from the Culinary Olympics 2024, held in Germany this February.
Representing the UAE, the team comprised 20 artists and pastry chefs, who together showcased their culinary expertise on the global stage, competing against 45 culinary teams from countries including Singapore, Sweden, Norway, South Korea and Taiwan.
Emirates Culinary Guild’s Culinary Olympics achievements
The Emirates Culinary Guild’s exceptional performance saw them clinch an impressive total of 69 medals, including three gold with distinction, 39 gold, 27 silver and one diploma, making them the highest medal achievers at the event. The Emirates Culinary Guild UAE was led by previous president, chef Uwe Micheel. Furthermore, it was supported by a dedicated team of culinary experts, such as 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. They were also supported by Annette Micheel, Josephine Cuthbert and Othmar Schneider.
Andy Cuthbert, Emirates Culinary Guild’s president and general manager of Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, expressed pride in the team’s contribution to Emirates’ hospitality landscape. He said: “The team has made us proud as a country and Culinary association for showing the quality the Emirates can do.” He added: “The chefs can be very proud of their achievement in Germany. The high quality of the chefs’ work and the gold medals won attest to their exceptional standards and performance. Furthermore, we are lucky to have in the UAE.”
Cuthbert also thanked Karim Al Azhari from Sounbula Mills for supporting the guild and its team. Al Azhari said: “I’m proud to assist these chefs in showcasing their skills to the world. Furthermore, as an Emirates-based company, our ability to support these chefs in realizing their dreams and achieving excellence fills me with immense pride.”
Furthermore, chef Micheel stated: “Leading this exceptional team and earning recognition from the culinary community is immensely rewarding. It was with pride to fly the UAE flag high again for the fourth time in the Culinary Olympics.”
Andy Cuthbert, the president of Emirates Culinary Guild stated: “The hard work and dedication of these young men and women are seen in the results of their medal tally. We will also continue to be one of the strongest countries in the world for individual artistic displays. We thank our key sponsor, Sounbula Mills, for their continued support and the managing director, Mr. Karim Al Azhari.”
The Emirates Culinary Guild team
The team achieved three gold medals with distinction, each garnering a maximum 100 points. Chefs Thilina Pradeep Kallamullage Fernando, Pathma Madushanka Kuma Hennedige and Kameel Rasyid Eril were the recipients of these awards.
| Establishment | Full name | Award | |
| Al Bateen Palace | Sandaruwan Bandara Panamaldeniya mudiyanselage | 1 Gold 2 Silver | |
| Al Bateen Palace | Dilan Asanka Gajaman Arachchige | 3 Gold | |
| Al Jawaher R&C Center | Thilina Pradeep Kallamullage Fernando | 2 Gold 1 gold distinction | |
| Atlantis the Palm | Pathma Madushanka Kuma Hennedige | 3 Gold, 1 Gold distinction | |
| Bateel International | Lewis Philippe Bernard Charles | 5 Silver | |
| BKRY | Kameel Rasyid Eril | 2 Gold,1 gold distinction | |
| Dubai World Trade Center | Dwiyanthi Cintaningrum | 2 Silver, 1 Gold | |
| Five JVC | Iroshan Madusanka Silva Maggona | 3 Silver | |
| Hilton Dubai Jumeirah | Eranda Sampath Kumara Liyanage | 3 Gold, 1 silver | |
| Jumeirah Beach Hotel | Kavinda Isurumal Amarasinghe Arachchilage | 3 Gold , 1 Silver | |
| Keita Catering | Tharishma Madushanka mendis Mutuwahandi | 2 Gold,1 silver, 1 diploma | |
| Misterbaker | Sameera Madushanka Dahanayakage | 4 Gold | |
| Pullmann Hotel DCC | Dammika Herath Mudiyanselage | 1 Gold .2 silver | |
| Radisson Blu Yas Island | Dilip Kumara Rajapaksha | 1 Gold , 2 Silver | |
| Radisson Blu Yas Island | Nishan Nayana Kantha Kuruppu Mudiyanselage | 2 Silver | |
| Taj Exotica the Palm | Shajahan Mampally | 2 Gold ,1 Silver | |
| The Palace Downtown Hotel | Ruwan Kumara Pihille Gerdara | 2 Gold ,1 Silver | |
| W Hotel The Palm | Saman Sagara Welikende Gamage | 3 Silver | |
| Zaabeel Palace | Pathum Priyankara Walpola Liyanage | 5 Gold, 1 silver | |
| Zaabeel Palace | Thusitha Kumara Wijerathna Siya Mudiyanselage | 4 Gold | |
The full details of the team’s success will be available in the Guilds Monthly Magazine Gulf Gourmet April issue.
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