Yeah yeah, we know that Dubai is full of celebrity chefs…but we truly believe that you can never have too many!

Just as well, because there’s a load more on their way for Dubai Food Festival. Think French supremos, MasterChef Australia chefs and homegrown talent too.

Visitors to the festival, which will run from 25 February to 12 March, can get up close to the stars at exclusive ‘Dining With the Stars’ events, the family-friendly Beach Canteen on Kite Beach or at the interactive chef masterclasses at cookery school, Scafa in JLT. For more details and bookings…click here.

Recommended

Get Ready To Sip, Play, And Score Over 1 Million AED At Barasti’s Exciting Life-Sized Board Game Experience!Pay Just AED 66 For A Taxi Between Dubai & Abu Dhabi!Dubai Police Celebrates Indian Hero For Returning AED 100,000

We hadn’t heard of some of the chefs if we’re honest. So here’s what the people at Dubai Food Festival told us…

George Calombaris

Host of Masterand and Chef’s Hat recipient, George Calombaris was born into a family of Greek immigrants, Hellenic food and culture was a large part of his upbringing. His flagship restaurant The Press Club introduced Australians to modern Greek cuisine. He has also extended his vision to open several other establishments across Melbourne including and Souvlakia chain. He’s won various awards including “Chef of the Year” (2008) and Restaurant of the Year (The Press Club, 2008).    

Shannon Bennett

What started as an opportunity to make friends at school turned to be the start of a lifelong passion for food and cooking. He began his formal training in Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt and extended to Europe working under some of the most renowned Chefs in the world. He returned to Melbourne at the age of 24 and opened his first restaurant Vue de Monde. His edgy and challenging approach to the art of fine dining granted him great notoriety and saw his restaurant empire and reputation grow with Cafe Vue and Bistro Vue. Bennett was also the first Australian granted membership of and and In 2014 Shannon opened his newest restaurant Jardin Tan in Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens.

Matt Moran

Sydney born Matt Moran has been a prominent figure in Australian cooking for the past twenty years. After opening his first restaurant The Paddington Inn Bistro in 1991, he has gone on to open seven other restaurants. In 1999 he opened his flagship ARIA restaurant located in Sydney’s Harbour . Since its opening it has been awarded two “Chef’s Hats” from the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide on ten occasions. Over the past decade he has expanded his restaurant empire with seven different establishments having opened across Australia. Matt is also a television favourite having appeared in numerous programmes including The Great Australian Bake Off. 

Gary Mehigan

Best known for his role as host and mentor on Masterchef Australia, British born and trained Chef Gary Mehigan moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1991. Since then having worked in some of Melbourne’s most elite restaurants Mehigan has established himself as a household name and prominent figure in Australian cooking. In 2005 he opened Boathouse with business partner Steve Bogdani. Gary has been a familiar face in living rooms across Australia for many years, teaching Australians to cook through television programs such as Good Chef Bad Chef.

Manu Feildel

Manu Feildel decided to follow his family’s tradition of great chefs, starting his career as an apprentice in his father’s restaurant. After training in some of London’s finest French Restaurants, Manu moved to Australia in 1999 and built his reputation working in the kitchens in high-end restaurants across Sydney where he eventually went on to open eateries of his own. Today Manu is one of the most popular and celebrated chefs in Australia and acts as host and judge on Seven’s My Kitchen Rules Australia

Chef Manal Al Alem

The “Queen of the Arabian Kitchen”, Chef Manal Al Alem is a well-known and highly celebrated figure in Middle Eastern cooking.  Over the years she has used her TV shows and cook books to educate and expand people’s relationship with food and cooking, emphasising its relevance to individual cultures and heritage. 

Now read: Foodies will love first ever Dubai Restaurant Week