Travel & Hospitality Awards - Restaurant 2022
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<strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
<strong>2022</strong>
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY<br />
AWARD WINNER<br />
<strong>2022</strong>
Sponsor and<br />
Partners
Team<br />
CEO<br />
Robert Bruce<br />
Editor-In-Chief<br />
Katherine Lozell<br />
Art Director<br />
Marcs Bacera<br />
<strong>Awards</strong> Director<br />
Brian Anson<br />
Editorial Liaison Manager<br />
David Hyde<br />
Director Of Marketing<br />
Azim Aftab<br />
Social Media Manager<br />
Apple Gatus<br />
Senior Writers<br />
Tasmai Dave & Zavier Zulfqar<br />
Contributing Writer<br />
Harry Duncton<br />
Senior Designers<br />
Maria Fernandes & Ashwin Ramesh<br />
<strong>Awards</strong> Managers<br />
Adam Cole, Alice Smith,<br />
& Stanley Lucas<br />
Research Managers<br />
Peter Clement & Mukul<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Joseph Malabanan,<br />
& Michael Popoola<br />
Contents<br />
Sponsor and Partners ...................................................................................6<br />
Team ................................................................................................................. 8<br />
Contents .......................................................................................................... 8<br />
Criteria .............................................................................................................10<br />
Canada12<br />
The Undiscovered Home of<br />
Beautiful Wine ...............................................................................................14<br />
Home Block at CedarCreek ........................................................................18<br />
Guatemala 20<br />
Hidden Gem Guatemala ............................................................................ 22<br />
<strong>Restaurant</strong>e Giratorio, S.A. ........................................................................ 26<br />
Mexico 28<br />
Culinary Elysium .......................................................................................... 30<br />
Mexko Cocina Regional de Autor ............................................................. 34<br />
United Kingdom 36<br />
National Dishes ............................................................................................38<br />
Welsh Bwyd ...................................................................................................40<br />
Leicester’s <strong>Restaurant</strong> ............................................................................... 42
Germany 44<br />
Eight Must Try German Foods ........................ 46<br />
Thiet’s <strong>Restaurant</strong> ............................................. 48<br />
Iconic German Desserts .................................. 50<br />
Pfortenhaus by dufner catering .....................52<br />
France 54<br />
When in France .................................................. 56<br />
Hotel de La Poste .............................................. 60<br />
UAE 62<br />
Dubai: A Foodie Capital .................................... 64<br />
Dubai: Three Unmissable <strong>Restaurant</strong>s ........ 66<br />
Bagatelle Dubai .................................................. 68<br />
Indian Traditions ..................................................70<br />
B-Town Restro Bar .............................................72<br />
Japan74<br />
Unique Dining ......................................................76<br />
Australia 80<br />
Modern Australian Cuisine .............................. 82
CUSTOMER SERVICE<br />
STYLE & DESIGN<br />
MENU & DISHES<br />
MARKETING & BRANDING<br />
Excellence in Service is an It is no question that style and While the ambience and services<br />
important category, as customer design is key factor in selecting of a restaurant are important, what<br />
service can often responsible our award winners. A guest will really defines it is its menu and the<br />
for repeat diners. We look for<br />
restaurants where staff go out of<br />
their way to please their guests,<br />
form an opinion about a restaurant<br />
as soon as they arrive, so it is<br />
important to us that all our winners<br />
dishes in it. We pay special attention<br />
to the courses that are available in<br />
the menu and even look into how<br />
those that provide a personal level make those first impressions it’s set up. Balance of the menu is<br />
of service and take the time to<br />
get to know each visitor so that<br />
they might anticipate their every<br />
need. This can be something as<br />
simple as a friendly conversation,<br />
a manager who offers a personal<br />
greeting or a chef who is happy<br />
to adjust based on dietary needs<br />
– but whatever it is, we are always<br />
pleased when we encounter staff<br />
that have been trained in the art of<br />
customer satisfaction.<br />
count. We’re certainly not partial<br />
to a specific period of architecture<br />
– but whether we’re judging a<br />
gothic castle or an environmentally<br />
friendly lodge, the criteria remains<br />
the same. We consider factors<br />
such as architectural features, use<br />
of materials, creation of spaces,<br />
décor and the overall feel. We love<br />
it when we find a restaurant that<br />
tells a story though its interior and<br />
exterior features or offers a design<br />
that is sympathetic to the natural<br />
especially important. A restaurant<br />
that serves multiple dishes that<br />
balance each other out to give<br />
the customers a perfect meal<br />
experience is seen as an authority.<br />
The cuisine options are taken into<br />
consideration too; be it a local<br />
cuisine or an international one. The<br />
sourcing of the ingredients is an<br />
important factor as well.<br />
Criteria<br />
surroundings of its location.<br />
In today’s modern age, a<br />
restaurant cannot rely on word of<br />
mouth to get their message out<br />
into the world. As social media has<br />
become a vital part of everyday<br />
life, we like to see companies that<br />
go the extra mile to engage with<br />
their customers, both past and<br />
future. Attractive and informative<br />
websites and engaging and<br />
honest content are what we look<br />
for when judging a company’s<br />
use of marketing; how well they<br />
display their services, how up-todate<br />
their content is, how well they<br />
get their brand message across,<br />
and, most importantly, how well<br />
their marketing can tempt us to go<br />
and see what they have to offer for<br />
ourselves.<br />
10
DIVERSITY<br />
LOCATION CUSTOMER REVIEWS VALUES & APPROACH<br />
Diversity is one important aspect<br />
that needs to be taken into<br />
consideration when in the travel<br />
and hospitality industry. It is<br />
essential to have staff that has<br />
varying diversity to ensure that the<br />
organization can properly connect<br />
with their guests. Diversity is taken<br />
into account in terms of gender,<br />
nationality as well as languages<br />
spoken among other factors. Not<br />
only do we take the diversity of the<br />
staff into account but even that of<br />
the facilities and services offered;<br />
a hotel or tour operator providing<br />
a better range of services is<br />
preferred over those that do not.<br />
Location is one of the most<br />
important factors, but also one of<br />
the most subjective, as the ‘ideal’<br />
is very much determined by the<br />
type of visitor and the type of<br />
restaurant itself. However, there<br />
are a few factors we take into<br />
consideration when determining<br />
the winners of location-based<br />
awards. The first is convenience;<br />
that is, restaurants that are easy<br />
to travel to. Many of our winners<br />
in this category are in convenient<br />
locations, such as adjacent to<br />
popular attractions, close to<br />
beaches or found in the heart<br />
of easy-to-navigate cities. We’re<br />
always excited to come across<br />
a restaurant that is, to use a<br />
familiar phrase, off-the-beatentrack.<br />
A restaurant that can offer<br />
something a little different, in<br />
terms of natural surroundings,<br />
can make the difference between<br />
a good dining experience and an<br />
incredible one.<br />
What better way is there to know<br />
about an organization than<br />
by getting first hand reviews?<br />
Customers are the best judges of<br />
any service as they are the ones<br />
who experience them and can<br />
assess whether they were up to the<br />
mark or not. Considering reviews<br />
from hundreds of customers over<br />
a set period gives us a fair idea<br />
about the general pros and cons of<br />
any organization while also giving<br />
us valuable inputs for the other<br />
criteria as well.<br />
The approach taken by the<br />
restaurant whether it be<br />
Innovative, traditional or anything<br />
else are considered when deciding<br />
winners. Values and approach<br />
illustrate the dedication of the<br />
restaurant to deliver a specific<br />
type of experience for their diners.<br />
This is evident in the food, source<br />
menu, presentation, the staff and<br />
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000 Canada<br />
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thawards.com<br />
Poutine<br />
000<br />
13
14<br />
THE<br />
UNDISCOVERED<br />
HOME OF<br />
BEAUTIFUL<br />
WINE
The rich and productive lands of the planet’s second-largest country lend it the nickname of The<br />
Breadbasket of the World, but it also produces an impressive range of wines.<br />
Canadian Wine<br />
Since before the turn of the 20th Century, Canadian winemakers<br />
have made good use of the country’s temperate southwest<br />
to grow a huge variety of grapes. Commercial winemaking<br />
operations can be found in four of Canada’s provinces: Nova<br />
Scotia, Ontario, Québec, and, of course, British Columbia.<br />
Ice Wine<br />
Something that Canada is famous for is ice wine. They’re<br />
the world’s premier producers of it – and it’s no surprise,<br />
really, seeing as it’s a country that’s no stranger to cold<br />
weather. The frigid temperatures don’t put off Canadian<br />
wine makers, as they take full advantage of reliably<br />
boreal cold weather to create a frozen speciality drink.<br />
The secret to creating a good ice wine is to leave the<br />
grape on the vine to freeze before harvesting and turning<br />
it into wine. Red and white varieties are available, but the<br />
most popular grape used for Canadian ice wine is the vidal.<br />
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The Okanagan Valley<br />
If you’re lucky enough to visit Canada, you’ll marvel at<br />
its abundant natural beauty, friendly inhabitants, and<br />
excellent food. A place that captures all three of these<br />
elements is the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.<br />
Home of Canadian wine, this area has an abundance of<br />
vineyards to visit.<br />
Heading to a vineyard isn’t just about tasting wine, though.<br />
There’s a lot more to try as the best vineyards often have<br />
restaurants attached to them. Understanding flavour and<br />
great local produce is what winemakers do best, after all.<br />
And because British Columbia is rich in great-quality,<br />
local ingredients, you can expect to be wowed by dishes<br />
like fresh local seafood, juicy beef steaks, and wild Pacific<br />
salmon. Chefs are spoiled by all this great local food, so<br />
expect menus to focus on what’s in season and what has<br />
the highest welfare standards.<br />
The Okanagan valley area is verdant and home to<br />
fertile soils that are as bountiful as they are beautiful.<br />
It’s renowned for being one of Canada’s premier wineproducing<br />
regions and the CedarCreek Estate Winery is a<br />
fine example. Tucked in the pretty countryside just south<br />
of the city of Kelowna, CedarCreek enjoys commanding<br />
views across the majestic lake Okanagan and produces<br />
an impressive range of red and white wines.<br />
With vintages coming from their vineyard like the organic<br />
Block 3 Riesling, winner of the National Wine <strong>Awards</strong> of<br />
Canada <strong>2022</strong>, CedarCreek are serious about making the<br />
best Canadian wines possible. But it’s not all about the<br />
art of making spectacular wines – CedarCreek’s on-site<br />
Home Block restaurant is also worth a visit, regardless of<br />
whether you’re a wine connoisseur.<br />
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The Okanagan Valley<br />
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Home Block at<br />
CedarCreek<br />
Canada | <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
If you want a genuine restaurant that explores colourful comfort food and<br />
excellent home-grown produce within the stunning setting of a prestigious<br />
winery, then Home Block is the place to be.<br />
Discover fine modern Canadian haute cuisine and pair it with some of the<br />
most delicious wines that CedarCreek Winery has to offer.<br />
Head chef Neil Taylor is committed to showcasing the best of local<br />
British Columbian produce. In a menu that shows off the natural<br />
abundance of brilliant ingredients found in the Okangan Valley;<br />
he and the team have created something exciting and truly<br />
authentic.<br />
The restaurant lies just off the shores of the majestic<br />
Okanangan Lake, just south of Kelowna in the<br />
Okangan Valley. It’s a land of unrivalled beauty<br />
within the interior of British Columbia, with skiing<br />
in the winter and water sports in the summer.<br />
The area’s probably best known for being<br />
home to more than forty wineries though.<br />
18
One of the most prestigious vineyards in the region is<br />
CedarCreek, winner of Winery of the Year <strong>2022</strong>. They<br />
produce a fabulous selection of cool climate wines<br />
such as Reisling and organic pinot noir, and the on site<br />
restaurant is a hidden gem for serious foodies.<br />
With a constantly changing line-up of delightful dishes<br />
to suit the season, the menu focuses on the plentiful<br />
farming, hunting, and fishing produce that the local<br />
area has to offer.<br />
Being so close to the northern Pacific Ocean means<br />
you could be treated to ruddy red sockeye salmon, or<br />
a sumptuous dry aged steak from local legends 63<br />
Acres Beef. Well known for their commitment to raising<br />
the best Canadian cattle, their farm to plate approach<br />
makes for the tastiest ribs, sirloins, and tenderloins.<br />
For a truly unforgettable Canadian gastronomical<br />
adventure, nothing comes close to the experience of<br />
pairing fine local foods with wines grown and made<br />
right outside in the CedarCreek vineyard.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
5445 Lakeshore Road<br />
Kelowna, British Columbia<br />
Canada, V1W 4S5<br />
Tel +(250) 980-4663<br />
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Guatemala<br />
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thawards.com<br />
Bulevar Villa Deportiva, Guatemala<br />
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22<br />
A CULINARY<br />
HIDDEN GEM
“The Land of Eternal Spring”, Guatemala, is known for its mysterious jungles, Mayan ruins, and<br />
fabulous jade jewellery. But what about the food? This central American country also boasts a<br />
culinary culture begging to be tried.<br />
The Best Kept Secret of Central America?<br />
You might want to visit Guatemala to discover the ancient<br />
Mayan civilisation, swim in the Caribbean or Pacific Oceans,<br />
or visit bustling Guatemala City. However, the vibrant food<br />
scene is one of the best reasons to visit the country.<br />
Guatemalans are passionate about their food and, thanks<br />
to the brilliant produce available, seriously-good eating is<br />
found everywhere. You’ll see thick stews that have their<br />
roots in Mayan cultures alongside dishes with European<br />
influence that came with the Spanish Conquest in the 16th<br />
Century.<br />
If you like your Guatemalteco food vibrant, spicy, and meaty,<br />
you’re in the right place. Don’t worry if you’re a vegetarian,<br />
though – there’s plenty to eat if meat’s not your thing.<br />
Pepián – the Guatemalan National Dish<br />
Central American food – or at least the versions that have<br />
been taken abroad by ex-pats – is eaten globally. Think of<br />
Mexican foods like chilli or tacos. But Pepián is something<br />
completely different. To a British palate, it’s probably closer<br />
to a curry than anything else.<br />
In Guatemala, it’s the sort of meal that you learn to make by<br />
watching your grandmother cook. Take local, dried guajillo<br />
and ancho peppers, onions, garlic, excellent tomatoes, and<br />
a handful each of roasted pumpkin and sesame seeds. It’s<br />
usually made with a whole boiled chicken but other recipes<br />
are vegetarian.<br />
This sumptuous, hearty meal is the sort of thing enjoyed by<br />
everyone, whether rich or poor.<br />
23
Street Food<br />
One of the great things about visiting<br />
Guatemala is the incredible street food<br />
found throughout the country. It’s<br />
colourful, tasty, and takes equally from its<br />
Mayan ancestors and colonial past.<br />
You might see brightly coloured tostadas,<br />
a type of taco shell stuffed with avocado,<br />
zingy salsa, and radishes, or get drawn in<br />
by pupusas, a traditional fried corn fritter<br />
with creamy refried beans and fresh cheese.<br />
And don’t forget to check out fermented<br />
vegetable curtido, a staple of Central<br />
American and Guatemalan food. It’s usually<br />
made from a mixture of cabbage, carrots,<br />
beetroot, beans, cauliflower, onion, and<br />
herbs. It goes on the side with absolutely<br />
everything and is incredibly good for you.<br />
24
Sweet Eats<br />
Not everything on the menu is spicy or savoury. If you’ve<br />
got a sweet tooth, Guatemala has got you covered. You<br />
can’t miss the crispy, crumbly, and delicious taste of<br />
polvorosas, a type of sweet biscuit made simply with<br />
flour, butter, sugar, and cinnamon powder.<br />
Something a little more complicated to make is pastel de<br />
tres leches, literally translated to “three milks”. This light<br />
and fluffy sponge cake is soaked in cream, condensed<br />
milk, and evaporated milk, then topped with more cream<br />
and either strawberries or cherries.<br />
25
Title <strong>Restaurant</strong>e<br />
Giratorio, S.A.<br />
Country | Award<br />
Guatemala Simagnis esto | <strong>Restaurant</strong> blab ius. Uptatium harioreium que consed utatibe rspedit<br />
empori blaut exerestrum et pos aut recti aut harcius es reperovidit<br />
eserunt.<br />
High in the sky above the hustle and bustle of downtown Guatemala<br />
Nequam,<br />
City,<br />
odi<br />
the<br />
dit<br />
<strong>Restaurant</strong>e<br />
hil iderit atibus<br />
Giratorio<br />
maximusam<br />
perches<br />
adicien<br />
on the top<br />
dignis<br />
of the<br />
sequis<br />
Vista<br />
Quince<br />
esequate<br />
Hotel.<br />
int deliquis<br />
It’s the<br />
earum<br />
perfect<br />
lab<br />
place<br />
ipictibusam<br />
to celebrate<br />
landand<br />
with<br />
enisti<br />
your loved<br />
dipis<br />
ones<br />
ea<br />
and<br />
esti<br />
take<br />
volut<br />
in<br />
pedis<br />
the best<br />
enet<br />
view<br />
quibusani<br />
in the whole<br />
officta<br />
city.<br />
temporerro omnis eatus<br />
estia con cus aut molupture volo debitat.<br />
This elegant and modern restaurant offers something unique<br />
in Guatemala; the opportunity to view the entire 360°<br />
skyline without leaving your comfortable seat. This slowly<br />
revolving restaurant means you can enjoy the delicious<br />
menu and not argue about who gets the best view!<br />
And what a view it is. Surrounded by four<br />
volcanoes, the Agua, Fuego, Acatenango,<br />
and Pacaya, you can take in the stunning<br />
surrounding landscape of Guatemala City<br />
while you relax with friends and family.<br />
26
The team in the kitchen have created an exciting<br />
international menu that showcases barbecue and<br />
seafood while catering for all tastes and diets.<br />
Guests can expect to be wowed by the incredible<br />
fish dishes on the menu. Delicately cooked salmon<br />
carpaccio or robust sea bass paired with crisp white<br />
wine are favourites, and the whole lobster served with<br />
garlic mayonnaise is an exquisite meal for a special<br />
occasion.<br />
Meat eaters are also spoiled for choice at the <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Giratorio as well. A fine selection of expertly grilled<br />
meat is on offer, from succulent beef tenderloins to<br />
showstoppers like the giant tomahawk steak.<br />
And because the restaurant is on top of one of<br />
Guatemala City’s best new hotels, the Vista Quince, you<br />
don’t need to go home once your feast has finished.<br />
Boasting a range of suites that are all decorated in a<br />
contemporary style but with all creature comforts, you<br />
can make the most of the busy Zone 15 area around the<br />
hotel. Calidá!<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
2 Calle 20-23 Zona 15 VH1<br />
Lorem<br />
Guatemala, 01015, Guatemala<br />
Tel +50222275151<br />
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Mexico<br />
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thawards.com<br />
Tacos<br />
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30<br />
CULINARY<br />
ELYSIUM
Mexican cuisine has made its way into kitchens around the world for one great reason: it’s delicious!<br />
The fiery flavours and vivid colours are a global phenomenon, but the food scene in Mexico itself is<br />
on a completely different level.<br />
The history of Mexico is as colourful as its famous foods. Sitting on the isthmus between two great<br />
continents, home to ancient civilisations including the Mayans and the Aztecs, and subject to<br />
conquest at the hands of the Spanish, it’s the melting pot of cultural melting pots.<br />
The Heart of the Home<br />
For Mexicans, eating with friends and family isn’t just<br />
important; it’s a way of life. Whether marking one of the<br />
many feast days in the calendar like Cinco de Mayo or<br />
celebrating a wedding, the action starts in the kitchen<br />
and always ends up around a big table groaning with food.<br />
It’s so important to the Mexican people (and the world in<br />
general) that it’s one of the four national cuisines protected<br />
by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The<br />
rich history and proud culinary traditions of Mexico are<br />
really that good.<br />
Traditional Mexican Dishes<br />
Traditional Mexican cuisine still contains traces of<br />
Mesoamerican ingredients that the Aztecs or Mayans<br />
would recognise. Use of honey, corn, avocados, tomatoes,<br />
and quinoa have their roots in these ancient societies.<br />
Taking inspiration from European colonists, the nowfamiliar<br />
sights of garlic, rice, and onions in turned<br />
Mesoamerican food into something closer to what we eat<br />
now. What we might recognise as typical Mexican food,<br />
though, is probably closer to “Tex-Mex”. Originating in the<br />
borderlands between Mexico and the United States, it’s<br />
not particularly ancient either.<br />
Famous dishes like chili con carne, nachos, and burritos<br />
are relatively recent additions to Mexico’s centuries-old<br />
culinary traditions. If you want the real stuff, you need<br />
to look for hearty dishes like pozole, a soup made with<br />
hominy corn, or chiles en nogada, a complex dish made<br />
from poblano peppers stuffed with meat and slathered in<br />
a creamy walnut sauce.<br />
31
Mexican Fine Dining<br />
The international reputation of Mexican food is excellent, but it’s usually<br />
considered a fill-your-boots kind of event. Where you might expect<br />
white tablecloths and the finest silverware for a French restaurant<br />
gastronomique, you might also expect to eat cochinita pibil prepared by<br />
mamá in a homely cantina.<br />
Luckily, this isn’t the case anymore. Even though the best chefs in the<br />
Americas are arguably the Latin ones, it’s only recently that Mexican fine<br />
dining is getting the attention it deserves. Rather than being resigned to<br />
casual meals and snacking, authentic and regional Mexican food is making<br />
its way into the best establishments.<br />
One of the best examples of the new-found excellence in<br />
authentic Mexican cuisine is in Tlaxcala, a region in East-<br />
Central Mexico. Known simply as Mexco, this restaurant<br />
has redefined what it means to eat regional Mexican<br />
food. Showcasing local ingredients, the fiercelyproud<br />
head chef Ivan del Razo has combined<br />
traditional ingredients with contemporary<br />
techniques in a beautiful setting.<br />
32
33
Mexko<br />
Cocina Regional de Autor<br />
Mexico | Fine Dining Experience<br />
East of Mexico City and at the foot of the majestic Centro Vacacional La<br />
Trinidad, the state of Tlaxcala in Santa Cruz Tlaxcala is home to one<br />
of the most exciting restaurants in the country. Mexko was Founded in<br />
2017, Noma-trained head chef is turning heads with its modern version<br />
of Mexican gastronomy.<br />
Mexko is located within El Centro Vacacional La Trinidad, a family<br />
cozy complex that has a hotel, a large swimming pool and<br />
Peaceful grounds to explore. The restaurant’s high woodpaneled<br />
ceilings rise above the diners below and make the<br />
the whole experience feels like a cathedral dedicated to<br />
the the best of Mexican food.<br />
The raw talent found in the team behind Mexko<br />
is amazing. Under the watchful eye of the chef<br />
Ivan Fernando Del Razo have become one<br />
of the best restaurants in the country.<br />
Influencing the entire gastronomic scene<br />
in Mexico, its artisanal approach to the<br />
kitchen asks to be experienced.<br />
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Fiercely proud of their Tlaxcalteca roots, the team<br />
at Mexko have created a menu that highlights the<br />
best of traditional regional food, but in a fine dining<br />
setting. The classic colours and flavours you might<br />
expect to find in a real Mexican restaurant are there,<br />
with a focus on hyper-local and traditional ingredients<br />
from the Tlaxcala and México region. Collaborating<br />
with local farmers and producers means the team<br />
can source the best possible ingredients for their<br />
guests. The menu is constantly evolving and led by<br />
what’s available fresh that day. You might expect to<br />
taste taco al pastor, a tuna dish spiced and coloured<br />
with achiote and served with traditional creamed<br />
corn. More adventurous diners might try the Mexican<br />
delicacy of Tuétano con escamoles, or bone marrow<br />
accompanied with “Mexican caviar,” the edible larvae<br />
of ants. Make sure to add Mexko to your bucket list<br />
of great restaurants to try out. It’s a hidden gem that<br />
won’t stay secret for long.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
Del Trabajo s/n, Centro Vacacional<br />
La Trinidad, Centro, 90640<br />
Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlax., Mexico<br />
Tel +52 2462161953<br />
35
United Kingdom<br />
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thawards.com<br />
England, UK Market<br />
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38<br />
NATIONAL<br />
DISHES
England<br />
You can’t beat good fish and chips.<br />
The fish, fried to a perfect golden<br />
hue, is crunchy and delicious.<br />
Married to the humble potato, cut<br />
into fat chips and elevated to crisp<br />
and pillowy greatness, makes for one<br />
of life’s great pleasures. Whether you opt<br />
for lashings of salt and vinegar or eat them<br />
as they come, they’re the perfect antidote to a<br />
miserable day.<br />
Scotland<br />
Wednesday 25th January celebrates the iconic Scottish<br />
poet Robbie Burns. Customarily marked with a night of<br />
poetry readings and traditional Scottish food, the bestknown<br />
dish is haggis. The original recipe makes the most<br />
of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, all stuffed inside the<br />
animal’s stomach. Modern, less adventurous versions are<br />
also available, though.<br />
Wales<br />
The national dish of Wales is slightly different to its<br />
neighbours. Rather than large or complicated dishes that<br />
take hours of preparation, the cheese on toast-like Welsh<br />
Rarebit is something you<br />
could probably knock up for<br />
lunch.<br />
It’s a delicious mixture of<br />
excellent Welsh ingredients<br />
that combines cheese,<br />
mustard, milk, spices, and beer<br />
to make an incredible topping for<br />
crumpets or toast.<br />
Northern Ireland<br />
Another hearty dish that’s ideal for recharging after a<br />
night out, the Ulster Fry is close to a full English breakfast<br />
but with the addition of some special<br />
Northern Irish ingredients. Plump<br />
sausages, a pair of fried eggs,<br />
back bacon, black and white<br />
puddings, and a fried tomato<br />
are familiar, but it’s not an<br />
Ulster fry without a slab<br />
each of soda bread and<br />
potato bread.<br />
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40<br />
WELSH<br />
BWYD
The ancient and bountiful country of Wales is packed full of delicious home-grown bwyd, or food to<br />
non-Welsh speakers. From laverbread to some of the best seafood that’s sought across the world,<br />
a trip to Wales is a journey into the senses.<br />
Picau ar y maen<br />
Why not start with a sweet treat? Known outside Wales<br />
simply as “Welsh cakes” or “bakestones”, they’re best<br />
eaten straight from the cast-iron griddle. Made simply<br />
with flour, fat, sugar, currants, and spices, you won’t be<br />
able to eat just one.<br />
Laverbread<br />
Bara lawr, as it’s known to the locals, is something of a<br />
Welsh delicacy. However, it’s nothing like the bread you<br />
buy<br />
from the bakers. It’s made from<br />
laver, an edible seaweed<br />
that’s like spinach when<br />
boiled. Roll it in oats and<br />
fry it up for a delicious<br />
and nutritious<br />
national dish.<br />
Welsh Rarebit<br />
It’s not just cheese on toast! Although the Welsh name<br />
caws pobi literally translates to that, the proper version<br />
takes a few more steps. To make an authentic rarebit, you<br />
need excellent Welsh cheese, a good glug of dark beer,<br />
and some strong mustard. Cook it all together and pour it<br />
on toast for an indulgent lunch.<br />
Conwy Mussels<br />
The Welsh coast is a haven for<br />
seafood and mussels are a<br />
real favourite. They grow to<br />
a huge size in the waters off<br />
the river Conwy in northern<br />
Wales and are renowned<br />
for their delicate flavour.<br />
Steamed to perfection and<br />
accompanied by a white<br />
wine sauce is the classic, but<br />
smoked bacon and cider is a<br />
worthy alternative.<br />
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Leicester’s <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
United Kingdom | Boutique <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Based inside the award winning Great House Hotel in Laleston, Bridgend,<br />
Leicester’s <strong>Restaurant</strong> is an exciting way to experience modern<br />
Welsh food.<br />
The luxury Great House Hotel is located just outside the southern<br />
Welsh town of Bridgend. Nestled in the beautiful green countryside<br />
between Swansea and Cardiff, the traditional stone walls are<br />
inviting for anyone who wants a little piece of Welsh paradise.<br />
Featuring 13 characterful bedrooms and suites that are<br />
tastefully furnished with comfortable furnishings and<br />
even four poster beds, the Grade II listed hotel is<br />
home to the exquisite double AA Rosette winning<br />
Leicester’s <strong>Restaurant</strong>.<br />
The focus is on local and sustainable produce<br />
that shows off what incredible food Wales<br />
has to offer. From crowd-pleasing Black<br />
Mountain lamb to locally caught<br />
monkfish, it’s easy to see why the<br />
restaurant is so popular.<br />
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The a la carte menu is changed seasonally, so you<br />
can expect to find exciting new takes on modern<br />
British and Welsh cuisine. Some menu highlights<br />
include a pork belly with watermelon, maple, and soy<br />
starter, crispy squid with tequila aioli. For vegans, the<br />
Vietnamese spring rolls with kimchi and mushroom<br />
yuzu is a delight.<br />
If you’re lucky enough to visit Leicester’s on a Sunday,<br />
be prepared for one of the best roast dinners on the<br />
planet. The classic flavour of Herefordshire Angus<br />
beef, served with garlic Yorkshire puddings and port<br />
gravy, are enough to elevate a Sunday staple into a<br />
culinary work of art. And for vegetarians and vegans,<br />
the restaurant has you covered. The house made nut<br />
roast is served with garlic and herb roast potatoes,<br />
with a homemade veggie gravy.<br />
So, if you’re looking for a way to experience the luxury<br />
side of South Wales, the best restaurant for everything<br />
from delicious cream teas to surprisingly affordable<br />
lunch menus is Leicester’s.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
High St, Laleston,<br />
Bridgend CF32 0HP<br />
Tel +01656657644<br />
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Germany<br />
44
thawards.com<br />
German Sausages<br />
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46<br />
EIGHT MUST<br />
TRY GERMAN<br />
FOODS
1. Currywurst is a Berlin classic. It marries two<br />
seemingly unrelated foods: a simple German pork<br />
sausage and mild curry sauce. Put them together and<br />
you have a food fit for kings.<br />
2. Döner kebab. Yes, really, the “elephant leg” type of<br />
kebab favoured by the post-pub crowd was invented<br />
by Turkish immigrants to Berlin in the 1960s.<br />
3. Sauerkraut has undergone a renaissance in recent<br />
years thanks to a renewed interest in fermented foods.<br />
Raw white cabbage is salted and mixed with caraway,<br />
then left to develop. It’s incredibly delicious and rather<br />
good for you, too.<br />
4. Lebkuchen are a festive sweet treat that can be<br />
enjoyed all year round. Like gingerbread but made with<br />
a special blend of spices called Lebkuchengewurz,<br />
they’re phenomenal.<br />
5. Wiener Schnitzel is another simple but delicious<br />
German food (that came via Austria). A slice of meat,<br />
usually pork or chicken, is pounded flat, dipped in egg<br />
and breadcrumbs, and then deep fried. Köstlich!<br />
6. Schweinshaxe, a traditional and extremely hearty<br />
dish, is a whole pork knuckle roasted until the skin is<br />
crispy and the meat literally falls off the bone. It’s a<br />
crime to serve it without a good German beer.<br />
7. Kartoffelpuffer, or potato pancake, is a golden and<br />
crispy slice of heaven. Made from shredded potato<br />
and onion, they’re usually served with sour cream or<br />
apple sauce.<br />
8. Brezeln. Known elsewhere as pretzels, they’re one<br />
of Germany’s most easily-recognised snacks. The<br />
characteristic nut-brown crust and fluffy white interior<br />
are delicious dipped in mustard.<br />
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Thiet’s <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Germany | Family <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Tucked away in the far north-west of Germany, on the edge of the spectacular<br />
Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer National Park, is a fabulous local eatery.<br />
Thiet’s <strong>Restaurant</strong> is a modern German bistro that gives a deserving<br />
platform to great food, drink, and hospitality in the Leer District.<br />
Founded by master chef Jonas Thiet back in 2018, this smartly<br />
decorated restaurant is a stone’s throw from the water and<br />
the handsome windmill that makes the small town of<br />
Ditzum famous. Now in the safe hands of restauranteur<br />
Karsten Stockhecker, Thiet’s policy of sourcing excellent<br />
ingredients and making everything from scratch is what<br />
makes the place tick.<br />
The team at Thiet’s are fiercely proud of the brilliant<br />
produce available locally. They don’t need to<br />
import ingredients from across the world,<br />
because some of the best German food is<br />
found right on the restaurant’s doorstep.<br />
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You can expect to find hyper-local and seasonal<br />
dishes including scallops in white wine sauce or even<br />
all-you-can-eat mussels caught close by in the Ems<br />
estuary. Classic German fare is on the menu as well,<br />
with firm favourites like crispy schnitzel served with<br />
shrimp and quail eggs.<br />
A visit to Thiet’s isn’t just about the great food though.<br />
It’s one of the best family restaurants in the area<br />
thanks to the warm welcome and regular live events<br />
they put on. Everything from live music to magic<br />
shows make this the ideal place to celebrate with your<br />
nearest and dearest.<br />
And even if you don’t have the time to sit down for<br />
a delicious three-course meal, the restaurant sells its<br />
homemade ice creams, cakes, and other sweet treats<br />
to anyone in the know.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
Sielstrasse 17, 26844 Ditzum<br />
Tel +04902 915 882 9<br />
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50<br />
ICONIC<br />
GERMAN<br />
DESSERTS
Black Forest Gateau<br />
One of Germany’s most<br />
famous dessert exports,<br />
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte,<br />
is a wonderfully indulgent<br />
and boozy way to finish up a<br />
traditional German meal. The<br />
cake takes its name and gets<br />
its signature taste from kirsch<br />
wasser, a black cherry brandy from<br />
the Schwarzwäld region of Southern<br />
Germany.<br />
Made from layers of decadent chocolate cake sandwiched<br />
with luscious, whipped cream, sweet cherries, and<br />
dark chocolate shavings, it’s a powerful dessert for any<br />
occasion.<br />
Doughnuts<br />
Deep fried balls of dough, often filled with jam or cream<br />
and highly decorated, have been supercharged by big<br />
chains in the USA. However, they originated hundreds of<br />
years ago in Germany. Collectively known as krapfen, the<br />
most famous is the Berliner, a hole-free doughnut usually<br />
filled with fruit jam. There’s a familiar version in the UK as<br />
well, known simply as a jam doughnut.<br />
Similar in appearance to a doughnut is the popular<br />
Spritzkuchen. With a more delicate texture than<br />
the Berliner and a ring shape that’s reminiscent<br />
of an American-style doughnut, what it lacks<br />
in jam it makes up for in toppings. Dusted with<br />
sugar or drizzled with a vanilla glaze are two of<br />
the most popular.<br />
Plum Cake<br />
The wonderfully-named zwetschgenkuchen makes<br />
use of one of Germany’s favourite fruits, the plum.<br />
Variations of the cake can be found throughout the<br />
different regions of the country. Some<br />
varieties have a yeasted dough base<br />
and others prefer a pastry bottom,<br />
but they’re all delicious!<br />
Some plum cakes showcase a<br />
particularly delicious topping<br />
found throughout German<br />
dessert cuisine called<br />
streusel. Remarkably similar<br />
to the top half of an apple<br />
crumble, it improves just about<br />
anything it touches.<br />
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Pfortenhaus by<br />
dufner catering<br />
Germany | The Award for Excellence in Vegan Cuisine<br />
Where the mighty river Rhine snakes its way across the land in<br />
the west of Germany, the oldest spa town of Wiesbaden can<br />
be found. This ancient city is home to the fabulous Baroque Schloss<br />
Biebrich, and in the former gatehouse is Pfortenhaus, catering<br />
business and brainchild of chef Enrico P. Dufner.<br />
Always searching for the best in local produce, the Dufner<br />
Catering group specialises in delicious vegan dishes<br />
that will change the way you look at plant-based<br />
food. With dairy-free patisserie delights that boast<br />
exquisite flavours to seasonal fare like delicate<br />
wild mushroom croquettes and sweet potato<br />
dumplings, there are dishes to satisfy every<br />
palate.<br />
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The flamboyant and dazzling personality of founder<br />
Enrico P. Dufner can be found throughout the venue.<br />
His eye for great design is evident as soon as the<br />
gatehouse’s heavy front doors are flung open, and the<br />
stunning interior is revealed.<br />
The 18 th Century gatehouse has been loving converted<br />
into a light and welcoming place, with antique furnishings<br />
and comfortable seating options for any size group.<br />
The multi-purpose space inside is perfect for private<br />
gatherings and luxurious gastronomical celebrations.<br />
Comfortably seating up to 33 guests indoors, or more<br />
than 100 with the use of the pretty outdoor terrace, it’s<br />
ideal for weddings or even corporate functions.<br />
What makes the Pfortenhaus so special is how the<br />
space can transform itself to cater for different groups,<br />
events, and seasons. Whether it’s for an Easter brunch,<br />
a spectacular wedding, a special client dinner, or a<br />
Abenbrot – a very unique interpretation of a german<br />
ritual, you can be guaranteed to find Enrico P. Dufner’s<br />
gastronomic excellence in everything that they do.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
Äppelallee 18, 65203 Wiesbaden,<br />
Germany<br />
Tel - 0611 205 47 73<br />
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France<br />
54
thawards.com<br />
Paris, France<br />
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56<br />
WHEN IN<br />
FRANCE
Le Savoir-Vivre, or “knowing how to live”, is an essential concept in French society. You can think of<br />
it not so much as a rulebook, but as an encouragement of good lifestyle choices that encompass<br />
everything from table manners to dress-sense. As food plays such an important part in French<br />
culture, there are customs and traditions you ought to know before sitting down to eat while on<br />
your next holiday there.<br />
Eating Etiquette<br />
There’s a good reason we use the French word etiquette, or<br />
“rules for polite behaviour”, when it comes to behaving well<br />
– and especially when it comes to the dinner table. French<br />
people can seem quite formal when eating compared with<br />
other cultures.<br />
It’s derived from bien se tenir, or simply “good behaviour”,<br />
which is something that French children are taught and<br />
means mutual respect and politeness for others at the<br />
table. Don’t be scared, though – you won’t be expected to<br />
know all the ins and outs of formal French eating straight<br />
away!<br />
Cheese<br />
Is it any surprise that there’s a right (and a wrong) way to<br />
cut, serve, and eat cheese in France? Imagine a trip across<br />
the Channel and you’ll think of all the incredible cheeses for<br />
which France is famous. But how can you enjoy a delicious<br />
brie or Roquefort without making a faux pas?<br />
There’s an art to cutting whole wheels<br />
of fine French cheese into suitable<br />
serving portions, but it’s probably<br />
not something you’ll be doing on<br />
your next trip. However, if you<br />
share a cheese with French<br />
friends, watch them closely to<br />
see how it’s done.<br />
Here are some cheese tips:<br />
- Don’t use a fork to steady the<br />
cheese when cutting – use a<br />
knife only and never touch the<br />
cheese with your hands<br />
- Cut a round cheese like you would a cake.<br />
Slice towards the centre from the edge and take a wedge<br />
- Cheese should be served with good bread. Tear off a small<br />
piece and place the cheese on top<br />
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At the <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
There’s no doubt that the French take eating<br />
very seriously. It’s still considered to be some<br />
of the best cuisine in the world and a trip to a<br />
real restaurant gastronomique should be an<br />
exciting affair. If you want to make sure to make<br />
the right impression, however, then there are a<br />
few things you should think carefully about.<br />
A waiter in a French restaurant is a far cry from<br />
the over-attentive types you might meet in<br />
chain restaurants in the UK, for example. They<br />
are complete professionals and won’t hesitate<br />
to tell you if you have made the right food or<br />
drink choice.<br />
When you’re in a restaurant, you should never<br />
ask to change a menu or ask for substitutions<br />
– unless, of course, you have allergies. It’s not<br />
the done thing and you could get in trouble<br />
with the waiter.<br />
Above all, relax and enjoy a meal in the company<br />
of good friends, family, or your lover. A good<br />
French meal is enjoyed with a glass or two of<br />
wine and is never rushed. Bon appétit!<br />
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Hotel de La Poste<br />
France | Family <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Found deep within France’s internationally renowned wine producing<br />
region of Burgundy is the pretty town of Beaune. Surrounded by<br />
stunning countryside and more than a few vineyards, it’s a picture<br />
perfect French town with cobbled streets and an historic market<br />
square.<br />
The 17 th Century Hotel de la Poste is found right on the edge<br />
of the old town centre, with high white walls and pretty<br />
green shutters across the windows. The stunning<br />
interior is decorated in rich dark reds and boasts<br />
spectacular wooden parquet floors.<br />
Inside the hotel is the family friendly and<br />
extremely comfortable restaurant. Complete<br />
with crisp white tablecloths and tall<br />
windows that look out over the terrace,<br />
you can even dine outside when the<br />
weather is fine.<br />
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The classic French menu changes with the seasons and<br />
stages the best possible ingredients from the Burgundy<br />
territory, a part of France with a rich foodie heritage.<br />
What could be more delightful than a dish of escargot de<br />
Bourgogne, or Burgundy snails in a rich garlic butter? Or<br />
succulent beef Bourguinon gently simmered in a rich red<br />
wine sauce and fresh tagliatelle?<br />
You can also make the most of the hotel’s position in the<br />
middle of fantastic wine country by pairing your meal with<br />
a selection of fantastic local Burgundy wine. The reds and<br />
whites of the region are world famous, and the Hotel de la<br />
Poste is proud of its very own well-stocked wine cellar.<br />
A fabulous meal calls for an equally special dessert. Start with<br />
a selection of regional cheeses that showcase the region’s<br />
excellent milk production, then move on to a delightful plate<br />
of baked apple and Breton shortbread with salted butter<br />
caramel.<br />
Visiting this part of la belle France is always a joy, but in the<br />
Burgundy region, a brilliant meal at the Hotel de la Poste<br />
really shows off why people visit again and again.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
3-5 Boulevard Clémenceau<br />
21200 Beaune<br />
Tel +33 03 80 22 08 11<br />
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UAE<br />
62
thawards.com<br />
Dubai <strong>Restaurant</strong>, UAE<br />
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64<br />
A CULINARY<br />
CAPITAL
One of Dubai’s achievements is having become an incredible melting pot for world cultures. People<br />
from across the Earth have moved there to seek their fortune – which means they brought with<br />
them an impressive range of cuisines.<br />
Heading to The Jewel of the Desert is to be wowed by<br />
the glittering hotels, the soaring skyscrapers, and the<br />
unbelievable gastronomic adventures you might head<br />
out on. Currently home to 11 Michelin Star restaurants,<br />
including the remarkable two-starred STAY by Yannick<br />
Alleno, there’s nowhere quite like Dubai for luxury and<br />
excellence.<br />
If you want a fine dining experience, Dubai is one of the<br />
world’s premier destinations. Top chefs from around the<br />
globe have made the city their home – and for good<br />
reason. Take Hakkasan, for example. With restaurants<br />
in foodie hotspots such as London, Shanghai, and<br />
Miami, their brand of luxury Chinese dining needs to be<br />
experienced to be believed.<br />
For something quite different and which quite literally<br />
feels like a desert oasis, you can’t get much better than<br />
The Farm. Based in Al Barari, which is just a half hour<br />
ride from the centre of Jumeirah City, it’s light years<br />
away from the hotel restaurants that are half-way up a<br />
50-floor skyscraper. Nestled beneath lush palms and soft,<br />
waving grasses, the restaurant promotes a wholesome<br />
atmosphere and menu.<br />
Whether you visit Dubai just once or plan to return time<br />
and again, you can’t miss the unbelievable food on offer.<br />
From family-run restaurants to exclusive seven-star<br />
exclusive resorts, you won’t forget it any time soon.<br />
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66<br />
3<br />
UNMISSABLE<br />
RESTAURANTS
Bagatelle Dubai<br />
If fine dining is your thing, the best French restaurant with<br />
a Mediterranean twist is the stunning Bagatelle. Based on<br />
the first floor of the towering five-star Fairmont Hotel, it<br />
brings a sense of French joie de vivre to the city and every<br />
meal it serves.<br />
Led by the innovative and experienced hand of head chef<br />
Rocco Seminara, carnivores can enjoy dishes including<br />
truffle-roasted chicken and foie<br />
gras or Wagyu striploin steak,<br />
while vegetarians can opt<br />
for delicious courgette<br />
flowers stuffed with<br />
goat’s cheese.<br />
B-Town <strong>Restaurant</strong> & Bar<br />
A restaurant as colourful as the spices used in its Indian<br />
fusion menu, B-Town is the place to be. Inspired by some<br />
of the world’s biggest Bollywood stars, you can eat with<br />
friends, have a drink, and then dance the night away.<br />
The extensive Bombay-style menu is full of authentic<br />
flavours of the Asian subcontinent. Choose from a range<br />
of dishes straight from the tandoori oven or your favourite<br />
vegetable or chicken delicacy in a delicate, fragrant sauce.<br />
Kohantei Japanese Wagyu <strong>Restaurant</strong><br />
Situated inside the stunning Dubai Opera House in<br />
downtown Dubai is Kohantei. The UAE’s first authentic<br />
Japanese kaiseki dining experience, it takes multi-course<br />
feasting to a whole new level. Their intimate and attentive<br />
meals can last for 2 – 3 hours but the experience will stay<br />
with you forever.<br />
There are five different kaiseki menus to choose from<br />
that all showcase a particular parts of Japanese cuisine,<br />
which might include A5-grade Japanese beef steak or<br />
fish nigiri sushi, amongst other delicacies.<br />
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Bagatelle Dubai<br />
UAE | The Award for Excellence in French Cuisine<br />
Bagatelle, the upscale French restaurant concept by brand essence,<br />
is located at The Fairmont Dubai. The towering 34-storey hotel is<br />
impressively luxurious, even in a city that’s used to the finer things in life.<br />
The restaurant features a signature style of classic French Mediterranean<br />
cuisine, chic décor, and upbeat music, adding that extra element of fun.<br />
Known worldwide for its famous “Champagne brunch” and<br />
reminiscent of the “Joie de Vivre” lifestyle of the south of France,<br />
Bagatelle is a favourite international celebrity hotspot and the<br />
perfect addition to the glamorous Dubai dining scene.<br />
If you desire a sensory trip into the heart of the gorgeous<br />
French riviera, then Group Executive Chef Timothy<br />
Newton is the master of your adventure. With more<br />
than a decade of experience in some of the world’s<br />
finest restaurants in Europe, his expert hands<br />
weave gastronomic delights for guests of Bistro<br />
Bagatelle.<br />
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With signature dishes that include smoked seabass with a<br />
cherry tomato and piquillo pepper fondue and sumptuous<br />
duck breast cooked with blood orange and whipped foie<br />
gras, you’re truly spoiled for choice. For a taste of classic<br />
luxury, you can order Kaviari caviar, and pair it with a fine<br />
Louis XIII Cognac for the ultimate indulgence.<br />
Bagatelle boasts a luxurious environment with superior<br />
service and unparalleled ambience. An early glass of<br />
Provencal rosé at the bar, a great dinner with fantastic<br />
fresh produce, superb background music to accompany<br />
your meal, and all followed up by popping bottles of<br />
bubbly Champagne to carry you into the night.<br />
For an unforgettable taste of fine French dining in the<br />
heart of Dubai, nothing quite beats a visit to the Bagatelle.<br />
Whether it’s for an intimate dinner for two or a special<br />
celebration, it’s quite simply magical. Sante!<br />
Timings: 8.00pm till late<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
To book:<br />
Call +971 04 354 5035<br />
The Fairmont Dubai, First floor, Sheikh<br />
Zayed Road, 97555, Dubai, UAE<br />
Reservations:<br />
Call +971 4 354 5035<br />
email: dubai@bagatelle.com<br />
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70<br />
INDIAN<br />
TRADITIONS<br />
AT HOME IN<br />
DUBAI
With an Indian population of more than three million, its easy to see why Dubai’s gastronomic heart<br />
has the flavour of the Asian subcontinent in its DNA.<br />
Indians have moved to the Emirates in large numbers<br />
thanks to its booming economy and work opportunities.<br />
These expats have brought with them a fabulous history,<br />
passion, and talent for making delicious food. It’s no<br />
surprise, then, that some of the best Indian restaurants in<br />
the Gulf States are found in Dubai.<br />
From family-orientated neighbourhood joints to luxurious<br />
fine dining experiences, you can find any type of Indian<br />
cuisine that your heart desires. Just looking at a list of<br />
the top places to eat in Dubai will lead you to fabulous<br />
Indian gastronomy. Whether it’s fish-focused Bengali fare<br />
such as Maach Kalia or fragrant dishes from Kerala like idi<br />
sambar,<br />
the influence of regional<br />
Indian cuisine is<br />
everywhere.<br />
It’s well worth<br />
checking out<br />
at least one of<br />
the many spectacular Indian<br />
restaurants in Dubai. Not<br />
only is the food good,<br />
but the legendary<br />
hospitality that<br />
Indian restaurants<br />
are famous for is<br />
there in spades.<br />
Most people don’t<br />
need an excuse to<br />
try the flavourful and<br />
often spicy food for<br />
which India is known. It’s<br />
not a coincidence that you can<br />
find Indian food in all its many guises in countries around<br />
the world, after all. So, when so many Indians have made<br />
Dubai their home, you know the food’s going to be top<br />
notch.<br />
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B-Town Restro Bar<br />
UAE | <strong>Restaurant</strong> & Bar<br />
The city on the edge of the desert, a tourist playground for lovers of luxury,<br />
Dubai is the jewel in the United Arab Emirates’ crown. Unbelievable hotels,<br />
fantastic shopping, and incredible hospitality is what the futuristic city is<br />
all about.<br />
Found on the ground floor of the luxurious Grand Excelsior Hotel,<br />
B-Town Restro Bar is a colourful Bollywood inspired restaurant<br />
with an exciting and extensive menu to match. Exotic<br />
Bombay style chicken, paneer, and fish dishes are cooked to<br />
perfection in the special tandoori oven, and the vegetable<br />
seekh kebab platter is a firm favourite with guests.<br />
For a taste of something other than authentic Indian<br />
food, guests can choose from a selection of<br />
Chinese inspired dishes including fiery Szechuan<br />
chicken and even teriyaki fish. Everyone is<br />
catered for, no matter what your appetite or<br />
palate feels like on the night!<br />
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The walls are decorated with posters of the world’s<br />
favourite Bollywood stars and the ambient lighting<br />
makes it the ideal place to start with a meal and end<br />
with a few drinks. You can even catch up on the latest<br />
cricket matches being played on big TVs, or shoot a<br />
game of pool with your friends.<br />
Don’t forget the extensive drinks menu on offer<br />
either. Guests can choose from a huge selection of<br />
beers, wines, spirits, and some sensational cocktails<br />
too. The lively atmosphere makes B-Town a favourite<br />
destination for anyone who wants to let their hair<br />
down in Dubai.<br />
One of the best ways to relax after a delicious meal<br />
is with a traditional sheesha, the famous water pipe<br />
beloved around the middle East and beyond. You can<br />
enjoy this typical after dinner treat either indoors or<br />
outdoors, close to the poolside.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
Ground Floor, Grand ExcelsiorHotel,<br />
Mankhool Dubai, PO.BOX: 1234<br />
Tel +(971) 43203332<br />
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Japan<br />
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thawards.com<br />
Taito, Japan<br />
75
76<br />
UNIQUE<br />
DINING
One of Japan’s biggest exports is not just their food but the way it’s cooked and served. From<br />
intricate sushi to theatrical teppanyaki cooking, these are five Japanese dining experiences you<br />
should try.<br />
Kaiseki Ryori<br />
Starting with Japan’s most intricate and elegant form<br />
of dining, kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal.<br />
Showcasing technical skill and presented in an elegant<br />
fashion, it’s the epitome of what you might think about<br />
formal Japanese dining culture.<br />
The multi-course nature of kaiseki resembles the sort<br />
of experience you could expect at a contemporary fine<br />
dining establishment. Small portions of food are brought<br />
in with a flourish, one after the other. Although modern<br />
kaiseki restaurants have changed around the number of<br />
courses and content, it almost<br />
always finishes with a<br />
traditional matcha tea<br />
ceremony.<br />
Teppanyaki<br />
A far cry from the quiet and<br />
reverent kaiseki feast, the<br />
relatively modern idea of<br />
teppanyaki only started<br />
after the end of the Second<br />
World War. The central<br />
piece of this flamboyant<br />
way of cooking is the flat<br />
iron cooking grill, while it is<br />
the skill of the chef to turn<br />
cooking into a performance<br />
art. Diners usually sit around<br />
the large hot plate and are<br />
treated to a range of Japanese<br />
foods prepared right in front of them.<br />
Incredibly popular in the USA, teppanyaki-style dining<br />
is usually prepared with special spatulas and involves<br />
tricks undertaken by the chef. The famous “flaming<br />
onion volcano” is the perfect example of this type of<br />
performance cooking – it’s fun as well as delicious.<br />
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Sushi<br />
Probably the most well-known<br />
Japanese food export, sushi has<br />
made its way into restaurants<br />
and supermarkets across the<br />
globe. You might think that<br />
it means raw fish, but that’s<br />
actually sashimi. Sushi refers<br />
to the special short grain rice<br />
that is prepared with vinegar.<br />
The most recognisable form is<br />
nigiri-sushi, the hand-prepared<br />
blob of rice with a topping of raw<br />
fish, seafood, or tofu. It’s another<br />
performative Japanese dining<br />
experience – especially if you opt<br />
for omakase sushi, where the chef<br />
is in complete control of what you<br />
eat!<br />
78
Ramen-ya<br />
Incredibly popular in Japan, these usually informal<br />
types of restaurants are ideal for a warming<br />
meal on a cold evening. Famous for their<br />
wheat noodle dishes, ramen-ya restaurants<br />
can cater to just about any taste and budget<br />
in their steaming kitchen.<br />
The basis of a good ramen is the broth.<br />
Traditionally made with pork bones, there are<br />
vegetarian ones available, too. What goes into the<br />
broth is another story, as anything from tofu to chicken<br />
or seafood make their home in the bowl.<br />
Izakaya<br />
The final type of dining experience on the list is also one of the most relaxed. The<br />
Japanese version of the gastropub, izakaya is the sort of place that will satisfy your<br />
thirst alongside your hunger. Specialising in sharing dishes and the sort of fried food<br />
that goes perfectly with a freshly-poured glass of beer or saké, they’re informal<br />
places to unwind.<br />
The small dishes of food are probably more like tapas than anything else. There’s a<br />
huge range of typical dishes, but you can expect to find yakitori chicken skewers,<br />
grilled fish, or steamed gyoza dumplings.<br />
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Australia<br />
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thawards.com<br />
Roast lamb<br />
81
82<br />
MODERN<br />
AUSTRALIAN<br />
CUISINE
Most people are familiar with some of the fantastic produce that comes from The Land Down<br />
Under. Their excellent and award-winning wines are an accustomed sight on shelves and wine<br />
cellars across the world. However, Australian cuisine isn’t quite as familiar – and it isn’t at all about<br />
barbecued shrimp and stodgy meat pies.<br />
Modern Australian cuisine, or Mod Oz as it’s known in some<br />
circles, is a far cry from the image a lot of people have of<br />
the continent-sized country. Although Mod Oz is less easy<br />
to define than other international foods like French or<br />
Spanish, it has its own place as a fusion of familiar styles.<br />
Like other countries with a recent history of mass<br />
immigration from other parts of the world, Australia is a<br />
melting pot of cultures, traditions, and foods. Its place in<br />
the world, close to the incredible gastronomic destinations<br />
across the Asia-Pacific region, make for seriously exciting<br />
eating.<br />
This fusion of arguably the most delicious foods in<br />
the world has worked so well in Australia thanks to its<br />
abundance of fantastic fresh produce. With thousands<br />
of miles of bountiful coastline, rich fishing waters, and a<br />
phenomenal amount of farmland, there’s not much that<br />
inventive Australian chefs can’t get hold of locally.<br />
Next time you find yourself down under, check out what<br />
the best Australian restaurants have to offer. Whether it’s<br />
sashimi made from local fish, Vietnamese-style stews,<br />
or pan-Asian tapas, the high standards of Australian<br />
ingredients and chefs really stand out.<br />
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