Renaissance Dubai Hotel's Chefs Achala Werasinghe and Chef Mohammed Reza win top honors at the 2009 Salon Culinaire

Achala got the nod of approval from the expert eyes and palettes of 18 International World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) approved judges and competed against 25 other Pastry Chefs from hotels in Dubai, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

He was adjudged Best Pastry Chef for having the highest number of points for the following categories: 5 plates of dessert (Silver Medal), Practical cake decoration (Gold Medal) and Pastry showpiece (Silver Medal) which was based on the following criteria: artistry, design, degree of difficulty, variety, color, presentation and taste of the cake.

Chef Achala Weerasinghe, at a young age has already reaped numerous awards at the Emirates Salon Culinaire for the past 3 years for his desserts as well as wedding cakes. Chef Achala's creative cakes are one of the best sellers at the hotel's Aquarium Lounge due to its quality, unique design and taste. He also creates wedding cakes and other special occasion cakes, the most unforgettable one being the 6 foot, 50 kilo cake he created for royalty.

Arabic Chef Mohammed Reza won the Boecker Food Hygiene Award for 2009. He won Silver Medal for live cooking - Emirati-cuisine where he competed with 450 other chefs. The Boecker Food Hygiene Award is based on the achievement of high standards of hygiene and cleanliness as well as practicing food safety.

Executive Chef Andreas Kurfurst remarked, "This Award shows that Renaissance Chefs are on the right track with regards to food hygiene and quality in their daily routine on and off property."

In addition, Renaissance Dubai Hotel garnered 17 Medals and Certificates out of 18 entries at the Emirates International Salon Culinaire 2009. Chefs Prashan Perera, Gamani Ganawardana, Manoj Degiri, Jeeva Patel and Suresh Wickramarathna won Silver and Bronze Medals for Emirati Cuisine, Fish & Seafood, Beef, Five Course Gourmet Dinner Menu, Practical Cake Decoration, Bread Loaves and Showpiece, Pastry Showpiece and Five Plates of Dessert.