The Jumeirah Beach hotel to represent the UAE at the World Final of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge next year

Participating hotels competed for the title of the UAE representative at the next World Final to be held in Dubai in May 2008 during the World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS) World Congress. The Dubai leg of the Black Box Challenge concluded with a gala dinner on Sunday the 10th of June at host venue, JW Marriott, where the Jumeirah Beach hotel took home the Black Box Culinary Challenge Trophy and Gold Medals, the Silver Medal went to Al Qasr Madinat Jumeirah and the Bronze to The Emirates Academic of Hospitality Management. Other winners during the evening were Mina Al Salam for the Best Table Display, Emirates Academic of hospitality management for the Hygiene and Best Entree. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel took the award for Best Soup, Al Qasr Madinat for the Best Main Course and The Edge for Best Dessert.

Endorsed globally by the WACS, the prestigious event was open to competing teams from the country's leading hotels, restaurants and culinary schools that consisted of three members, less than 32 years of age with a rank of Chef de Partie or below.

The MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge- supported locally by the Emirates Culinary Guild- comes as further demonstration of Meat and Livestock Australia's recognition that the development of innovation in foodservice is important in ensuring the continued demand for Australian beef and lamb throughout the world. In every participating city, MLA celebrates the talented young chefs who drive the cuisine of the future in a festive closing gala. Similarly in Dubai, the Black Box Culinary Challenge's gala has become a key event on Dubai's social calendar.

On June 9, the teams were given a Black Box filled with mystery ingredients including Australian meat, spices, fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products and stocks. The culinary teams were then given one hour to devise a 4-course menu using all of the ingredients. The meal was prepared the following evening and judged by a panel of international chefs at a gala dinner. Points were awarded for taste, skill, creativity and artistic merit.
To complete the ultimate culinary experience, competing teams provided a service team who were judged on their artistic talents in producing an elegant table display.

Rodney Sims, Technical Manager at MLA, commented by saying: "After influencing more than 3,000 young chefs around the globe and aiding the development of innovation in foodservice in every country the Black Box visits, we are delighted to take the Challenge to the next level by making this round a qualifying one. In this year's Challenge, the UAE's winning hotel can take pride in representing this country in the World Final. Apart from paying tribute to the skill of the young chefs, the Black Box competition is an event for these industry leaders and food lovers to celebrate the appreciation of food through good will."

The competition was first held in Bali eleven years ago, to provide an international forum for promising young chefs to express their creativity and innovation using high quality ingredients. Since the first challenge in 1996, over 2,500 young chefs have demonstrated their talents at over 63 events held in 18 countries.

The MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge is fully endorsed by the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) with 22 countries scheduled to participate in 2007's round of qualifying Challenges, which includes teams from Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Egypt.