Eleven talented bakers from renowned establishments competed to create outstanding entries that showcased their expertise and passion for baking. Participants were given two days to impress a group of esteemed judges with their pastry-making skills. On the first day, they prepared, sheeted and rested their pastry dough overnight to ensure the best possible texture. The following day was spent crafting the fillings and assembling the galette des rois, displaying true craftsmanship.
Furthermore, the jury consisted of Alex Cristobal, co-founder and executive chef at Flaky Pastry, and Leonardo Luzalillo, pastry instructor at ICCA. Additionally, chef Paul Hayward, a consultant and former executive chef at Jumeirah Group, lent his expertise as a judge.
Amar Shah, head baker at SLS Hotel Dubai, clinched first place, winning the grand prize of 8,000 AED for his creation. His galette des rois was the talk of the event, featuring hazelnut skin, powder, praline and snow sugar for a refined finish. Moreover, the galette remains available at SLS Hotel Dubai for guests to enjoy.
Lescure’s PDO Charentes-Poitou butter, renowned for its quality, is rooted in the Charentes-Poitou region of western France, celebrated for its agriculture. The region’s ideal balance of sunshine and rainfall fosters nutrient-rich soil, producing superior forage and cereals for exceptional dairy quality. Consequently, this high-quality milk provides Lescure butter with its unique hazelnut taste and technical benefits.
Lescure PDO Charentes-Poitou butter is distributed in the UAE by Greenhouse.
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About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
