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Shortlist for leaders in F&B Awards 2023 revealed

It’s here: the Leaders in F&B Awards 2023 shortlist is out! Thank you for all your nominations, and congratulations to all those who made the list.

After receiving many nominations for the Leaders in F&B Awards 2023, we are delighted to unveil the following shortlist. Please be aware that this selection process relies on nomination submissions and, on occasion, the input of our editorial team. We extend our gratitude to everyone who participated, and we look forward to seeing you on the day.

LEADERS IN F&B AWARDS 2023 SHORTLIST

RESTAURANT CATEGORIES

LEADING SUSTAINABLE  RESTAURANT

WILD & THE MOON – PARIS JUICE CATERING LLC

VILLAGE BISTRO – THE FIRST GROUP

LOWE – NOA RESTAURANT

AL MINA – AL BALEED RESORT SALALAH BY ANANTARA

1484 BY PURO – RAK HOSPITALITY HOLDING LLC

FLOW – JUMEIRAH RESTAURANTS 

LEADING HEALTHY RESTAURANT

WILD & THE MOON – PARIS JUICE CATERING LLC

THE ROOST ROTISSERIE – OMAR EL BUSTAMI

BOUNTY BEETS – MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

VIBE – RHOTELS 

FIKA – JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

FLOW – JUMEIRAH RESTAURANTS 

BOUNTY BEST

LEADING HOMEGROWN RESTAURANT BRAND

MOHALLA – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

FOLLY – GATES HOSPITALITY

PICKL – YOLK BRANDS

KIZA DUBAI 

ALLO BEIRUT RESTAURANTS – BLACKSPOON MANAGEMENT 

AKIBA DORI – BIG MOUTH CONCEPTS

LDC KITCHEN + COFFEE 

TING IRIE 

TWIGGY BY LA CANTINE – RIKAS HOSPITALITY GROUP

ONE LIFE KITCHEN & CAFÉ – REVOLVE COMMUNICATIONS

DISRUPTOR OF THE YEAR

GIMI – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

JUN’S – THREE LAYER HOSPITALITY

DUO GASTROBAR – DUBAI HILLS BUSINESS PARK 

HOMER LOBSTER – DIFC – HOMER FOOD GROUP

BEST NEWCOMER

HAWKERBOI – EATX

ROBATA  – MODERN FOOD COMPANY

GIMI – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

LUNAROSSA

HIDEMASA – DOLCE HOSPITALITY

LIMONATA – 7 MANAGEMENT

SIGNOR SASSI DUBAI – SUNSET HOSPITALITY GROUP

SFUMATO

ZENON DUBAI

KRASOTA DUBAI – WHITE RABBIT FAMILY

ONDA BY PIERCHIC – JUMEIRAH GROUP

EUGÈNE EUGÈNE – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

CHEZ WAM – RIKAS HOSPITALITY 

DUO GASTROBAR DUBAI HILLS BUSINESS PARK

PLAYA

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

ENAS – THE FIRST GROUP

MIYA -BULLDOZER GROUP

BULL & BEAR – WALDORF ASTORIA DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

ZENON DUBAI

SUSHISAMBA – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

ELLAMIA, MONDRIAN DOHA – ENNISMORE

GOHAN – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

BUSHRA BY BUDDHA-BAR, (ABU DHABI) – CAPITAL MOTION

VANITAS – PALAZZO VERSACE

CARNIVAL BY TRÈSIND RESTAURANT & BAR

LEADING CASUAL DINING RESTAURANT

BASTA – THE ST. REGIS DOWNTOWN DUBAI

PARADISO – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

VIRGIN IZAKAYA – BULLDOZER GROUP

RIVA – BANANA ISLAND RESORT DOHA BY ANANTARA

OLÉA – THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI

CAFÉ BEIRUT – 7 MANAGEMENT

COUQLEY -COUQLEY DMCC

CUCINA, PALM JUMEIRAH -MARRIOTT RESORT PALM JUMEIRAH, DUBAI

BOMBAY BOROUGH – KAPCO RESTAURANTS LIMITED

PRATO – TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF CLUB, DUBAI

BOARDWALK – DUBAI GOLF

GOHAN – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

MALIBU SKY LOUNGE AND BAR AT PARAMOUNT HOTEL MIDTOWN

LAGUNA BEACH TAVERNA & LOUNGE – SOFITEL DUBAI THE PALM

LEADING FINE DINING RESTAURANT

COUCOU ROOFTOP – YEEELS GROUP

11 WOODFIRE – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

CLAP – ADDMIND HOSPITALITY

CÉ LA VI DUBAI – ICONIC LOCATIONS SKYVIEW RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE LLC

MAZI ABU DHABI -THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI

TAKAHISA 

ASHA’S RESTAURANT, WAFI CITY 

SAFFRON – BANYAN TREE ALULA

SUSHISAMBA – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

BABYLON –  ADDMIND HOSPITALITY

PIERCHIC – JUMEIRAH GROUP

RISTORANTE L’OLIVO AT AL MAHARA – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH 

BILLIONAIRE DUBAI – MAJETAS

LPM RESTAURANT & BAR DUBAI

MIMI KAKUSHI – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

TRÈSIND STUDIO

LEADING NIGHTLIFE VENUE

ONGAKU – ADDMIND HOSPITALITY 

DREAM – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

THE THEATER – 7 MANAGEMENT

KIZA DUBAI – KIZA RESTAURANT GROUP DUBAI

COUCOU ROOFTOP – YEEELS GROUP

BARASTI – MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

BABYLON – ADDMIND HOSPITALITY 

NONYA – TAJ JLT

PRIVILEGE – SLS DUBAI HOTEL & RESIDENCES

BAHRI BAR – JUMEIRAH GROUP

GILT  – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH

BILLIONAIRE DUBAI – MAJESTAS

FLASHBACK SPEAKEASY – PARAMOUNT HOTEL DUBAI

Q’S BAR AND LOUNGE – PALAZZO VERSACE

PLAYA

LEADING SPORTS BAR

IRISH HARP – SHERATON GRAND DOHA RESORT & CONVENTION HOTEL

THE UNDERGROUND PUB – HABTOOR GRAND RESORT, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

TJS – TAJ HOTELS / IHCL 

MCGETTIGAN’S – DUSIT THANI ABU DHABI

HUDSON TAVERN, MONDRIAN DOHA – ENNISMORE

NEZESSAUSI GRILL -ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA

DHOW & ANCHOR – JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

ROARING RABBIT  – TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA

THE DUCK HOOK – JUMEIRAH RESTAURANTS

LEADING BRUNCH CONCEPT

IKIGAI – THE FIRST GROUP

CÉ LA VI DUBAI – CÉ LA VI DUBAI ICONIC LOCATIONS SKYVIEW RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE LLC 

FIRELAKE GRILL HOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR – RADISSON BLU HOTEL, DUBAI WATERFRONT

BUBBALICIOUS – MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

COYA ABU DHABI – COYA RESTAURANT & PISCO BAR

VAGA – VAGA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE LLC

PAROS – TAJ HOTELS / IHCL 

AL QASR BRUNCH – JUMEIRAH GROUP

LPM RESTAURANT & BAR ABU DHABI – LPM RESTAURANT & BAR ABU DHABI

TRAITEUR BRUNCH – PARK HYATT DUBAI

SALERO TAPAS & BODEGA – KEMPINSKI HOTEL MALL OF THE EMIRATES

LA CANTINE DU FAUBOURG – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

DREAM CATCHERS EVENING BRUNCH

INTO THE JUNGLE BRUNCH AT GIARDINO – PALAZZO VERSACE

LEADING FUSION RESTAURANT

TABU – THE ST. REGIS DOWNTOWN DUBAI

AMELIA – AMELIA DUBAI

MAMA ZONIA – PIER 7 – MAMA ZONIA

BUDDHA-BAR BEACH ABU DHABI – THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI

OĀNJO -SHERATON MALL OF EMIRATES

VAGA – VAGA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE LLC

ABOVE ELEVEN DUBAI – MARRIOTT RESORT PALM JUMEIRAH, DUBAI

THE CITRONELLE CLUB –  – SO/ UPTOWN DUBAI

KAYTO –  JUMEIRAH GROUP

LEADING CAFE

FOUQUET’S DUBAI – LE CAFE – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

WILD & THE MOON – PARIS JUICE CATERING LLC

RISEN CAFÉ & ARTISANAL BAKERY – THE FIRST GROUP

BOUNTY BEETS -MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

TASHAS CAFÉ – TASHAS GROUP

BREAD AHEAD  – BUGSHAN GROUP

LOVE VIBE CAFE  – LOVE VIBE

ONE LIFE KITCHEN & CAFÉ

BLUE BOX CAFÉ – RIKAS HOSPITALITY GROUP

CRAFT TABLE – PARAMOUNT HOTEL DUBAI 

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT

EM SHERIF RESTAURANT

ASIL DUBAI 

AALIYA SHISHA LOUNGE 

ANTIKA

IBN ALBAHR SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

AL NAFOORAH

NINIVE

ENIGMA – PALAZZO VERSACE

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

MOHALLA

JAMAVAR DOHA

ARMANI/AMAL

BOMBAY BOROUGH

NAMAK

VARQ

THE CINNAMON CLUB

ZEERA BY BUDDHA-BAR (ABU DHABI)

TRESIND

BEST EAST ASIAN RESTAURANT

TABŪ 

ARMANI/HASHI

SONTAYA

TAKAHISA

HUTONG DUBAI

BENJARONG

ZHENG HE’S

BEST AFRICAN RESTAURANT

KIZA

ZAGOL

TRIBES

CATFISH

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT 

OPA

MYTHOS

 AVLI BY TASHAS

GAIA

NAMMOS

SHIMMERS

DESSERT BRAND OF THE YEAR 

HOUSE OF POPS

HOME BAKERY

SUGARGRAM

MELANGE CAKES

BRIX DESSERTS

YAMANOTE ATELIER

BEST THEMED RESTAURANT

RODEO DRIVE

BLACK FLAMINGO

KIZA DUBAI

BESH TURKISH KITCHEN

PACIFICO TIKI DINING & LOUNGE (ABU DHABI)

TING IRIE ABU DHABI

FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

MINA’S KITCHEN

YALUMBA

TAGOMAGO

REPUBLIC ADDA BAR AND LOUNGE, DOUBLETREE BY HILTON, BUSINESS BAY

HANAAYA

THE RESTAURANT

TWIGGY FAMILY

THE WORLD EATERY RESTAURANT

FOODSERVICE CATEGORIES

CATERING COMPANY OF THE YEAR

THE MEAT AVENUE

BLACKSPOON MANAGEMENT 

IFFCO

REVOLVE COMMUNICATIONS

FASTEST-GROWING FOODSERVICE SUPPLIER

UNOX 

FOOD EMPORIUM 

CHEF MIDDLE EAST

LEADER IN FOOD SERVICE INNOVATION

UNOX

TALABAT

DELIVEROO

LEADING CLOUD KITCHEN

KLC VIRTUAL RESTAURANTS

THE BROTH LAB 

KITOPI

PEOPLE CATEGORIES 

LEADING F&B DIRECTOR

PASCAL PINAZO – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

DAVID LESCARRET – CÉ LA VI DUBAI ICONIC LOCATIONS SKYVIEW RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE LLC

HARRY MASSOLIN – WALDORF ASTORIA DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

JILL OKKERS – TASHAS GROUP

NICOLE WEITSZ – RADISSON RED DUBAI SILICON OASIS

NAYEF HAMDAN  – ADDRESS DUBAI MALL- ADDRESS BOULEVARD 

ADAM BECK – JUMEIRAH GROUP

OMAR ELEZAB – SLS DUBAI HOTEL & RESIDENCES

SANDRO IULIANO  – JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL

CHEF OF THE YEAR

AKMAL ANUAR – 11 WOODFIRE ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

GRÉGOIRE BERGER – ATLANTIS DUBAI (ATLANTIS, THE PALM)

TAKASHI NAMEKATA & CHEF HISAO UEDA – TAKAHISA

HOWARD KO – CÉ LA VI

KELVIN CHEUNG – JUN’S, THREE LAYER HOSPITALITY

KYUNG SOO MOON – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

DINGXU REN – HUTONG DUBAI

CARLOS DE LOS MOZOS – BABYLON, ADDMIND

YUSUF SUJEE  – ST REGIS HOTEL, OPA RESTAURANT 

SAVERIO SBARAGLI  – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH 

ANDREA MIGLIACCIO – BURJ AL ARAB 

SEBASTIEN TORRES – JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL 

REINER LUPFER – JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS

ANDREA ZURRU – 7 MANAGEMENT

BALVEER BELKISSOON – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

KANCHANA RANASINGHE – YEEELS GROUP

PASTRY CHEF OF THE YEAR

CHEF AI TAKENAGA  – YAMANOTE ATELIER

CHRISTOPHE DEVOILLE – ATLANTIS DUBAI (ATLANTIS THE ROYAL)

BEATRIZ KARLA CANALITA PEREZ – JUN’S, THREE LAYER HOSPITALITY

YANNICK OPPERMANN – TASHAS GROUP

BETH LAUREN – WALDORF ASTORIA DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE

ELIZABETH MERA – AMAZÓNICO DUBAI

TOM COLL – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH 

CHEF ASANKA GOMES  – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

JULIEN JACOB – JUMEIRAH GROUP

MUHAMMED JEJEN – PALAZZO VERSACE

HUGO SIPP – GROUPE BARRIÉRE

YOUNG F&B LEADER

YASMINA HAYEK – EM SHERIF 

LUKE KENNET  – THE FIRST GROUP

SULTAN KAYED – GOAT 

MARINE PALAU – JUMEIRAH GROUP

ELAF PATEL – SUGARGRAM (IFFCO)

MARIJANA BULJANOVA – JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS

BARISTA OF THE YEAR

BON JOVIE – THE FIRST GROUP

MARK BRIONES – LA FARINE CAFE & BAKERY, JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS

PRAHALAD KUMAHAR PRAJAPATI  – ADDRESS BOULEVARD

DENIS CARANAY – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH 

JAY CHIJIOKE PETERS ONU – REVOLVE COMMUNICATIONS

GAYLEN PANGWI – RIKAS GROUP

BARTENDER OF THE YEAR

LEMANUAL – THE FIRST GROUP

ANGELO IMMORLANO – ATLANTIS DUBAI (ATLANTIS, THE PALM)

DEEPAK MAHAR – THE ST. REGIS SAADIYAT ISLAND RESORT, ABU DHABI

NIRANGA YAHAMPATH – CÉ LA VI DUBAI

GAUTAM DOGRA – CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI MARINA

KHUN MOE – ROSEWOOD ABU DHABI

SUBASH KHADKA  – ADDRESS DUBAI MALL

DIMITRIS MALADAKIS – AMAZÓNICO DUBAI

SARITA NAGARKOTI – JUMEIRAH GROUP

OSMARI CORREDOR – MIMI KAKUSHI – RIKAS GROUP

BEST RESTAURANT TEAM OF THE YEAR

GINGER MOON AT W DUBAI – MINA SEYAHI MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

11 WOODFIRE – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

KATA DUBAI TEAM 

COUQLEY RESTAURANT TEAM – JLT & DOWNTOWN  – COUQLEY DMCC

FIRELAKE GRILL HOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR – RADISSON BLU HOTEL, DUBAI WATERFRONT

ZETA SEVENTY SEVEN – ADDRESS BEACH RESORT 

LO+CALE – CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI MARINA

BABYLON – ADDMIND

NINIVE RESTAURANT TEAM – RIKAS HOSPITALITY GROUP

TWIGGY RESTAURANT TEAM – RIKAS HOSPITALITY GROUP

 BUNGALO34 – TASHAS GROUP 

RAIA – TAJ EXOTICA RESORT & SPA

FOUQUET’S DUBAI – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

F&B MARKETEER OF THE YEAR

MEGAN PAUL – THE FIRST GROUP

KEVIN JOSHI – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

AMELIE GAUBERT – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

HAZEL DELOS SANTOS – SHERATON GRAND DOHA RESORT & CONVENTION HOTEL

MARIGO GHARBAWY – COYA RESTAURANT & PISCO BAR

MANUEL WAZEN – BLACKSPOON MANAGEMENT 

SHEETAL RAGHUNATH  – YOLK BRANDS

ANNA NIKITINA – RADISSON RED DUBAI SILICON OASIS

CYRINE EL KLIFI – CAPITAL MOTION

AMELIE GAUBERT – GROUPE BARRIÈRE

RESTAURANT MANAGER/GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

ZINE BOUBAKEUR – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

MIKA UEDA – TAKAHISA

DAMIANO RUGGIERO – SUNSET HOSPITALITY GROUP

BENJAMIN CRACKNELL – TAGOMAGO, RIKAS GROUP

ROBIN HOLTHAUS – RAK HOSPITALITY HOLDING LLC

IDA GARPHAGEN – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

MAXIME LEGEARD – HUTONG DUBAI

MAXIME LEJUEZ – BABYLON

ANDY SALAS – COUQLEY FRENCH RESTAURANTS

ARTHUR PASCAL – JUMEIRAH GROUP

NEAL TESTONI – BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH 

HUSSEIN CHAMAS – TASHAS GROUP

VINCENT PIERRE –  ROBBERI, GROUPE BARRIÈRE

F&B PR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

HODA GHAVIDEL – CÉ LA VI 

NAZLI SONMEZ VALLEE – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

SANJA DIMITRIJEVIC – JUMEIRAH GROUP

OPERATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

ADHAM FARAGG – THE FIRST GROUP 

MOZAMIL HOSSAIN KHAN – JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS

RIKHSIBAY TURSUNOV – CROWNE PLAZA DUBAI MARINA

GARY TURNBULL – YOLK BRANDS

DEMIAN FUENTES – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

ABDELADIM HAKKADI – ADDRESS BOULEVARD

NURUL AMIN SUMON  –  ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA

STEFANO PIZZINI – COYA DUBAI

BAR MANAGER OF THE YEAR

GRÉGOIRE SCHNERB – COYA RESTAURANT & PISCO BAR

GURU NAIK – ZETA SEVENTY SEVEN 

IRIS ARELY RUANO – SUNSET HOSPITALITY

ANDREAS QEPALI – HUTONG DUBAI

NICOLA LAZZARI – BABYLON

JAMES AKINNOLA – RADISSON RED DUBAI SILICON OASIS 

GIANNIS APOSTOLOPOULOS – AMAZÓNICO DUBAI

KUMAR CHAULAGAI  – JUMEIRAH GROUP

DRAGANA RANKOVIC – RIKAS HOSPITALITY GROUP

F&B HEAVYWEIGHT

MARK PATTEN – THE FIRST GROUP

JARRETT BEAULIEU  – ROTANA 

STEVE FLAWITH – YOLK BRANDS

CEDRIC DARTHIAL – ATLANTIS THE ROYAL

CHARBEL MHANNA – BLACKSPOON MANAGEMENT

NATASHA SIDERIS – TASHAS GROUP

ELIE SABA – ADDMIND

WALID HAJJ – LAVOYA RESTAURANTS GROUP

SPENCER AYERS – JUMEIRAH GROUP

RIZWAN KASSIM  – RIKAS HOSPITALITY

RABIH FAKHREDDINE – 7 MANAGEMENT

OLEKSII KOLOMIIETS AND YURIY BLOTSKYY – OY HOSPITALITY GROUP

F&B ENTREPRENEUR(S) OF THE YEAR

PANCHALI MAHENDRA – ATELIER HOUSE HOSPITALITY

BRENDAN MCCORMACK – THE FIRST GROUP

RABIH FAKHREDDINE – 7 MANAGEMENT

JOE OSAWAYE – KIZA DUBAI

MOHAMED AL FAYED – GRUBTECH

FARAH GEORGE FARAH & JAD ABOUJAOUDE – ELEMENTS HOSPITALITY 

MARIO SAMAHA – CAPITAL MOTION

NOORA SAEED – LOVE VIBE

VARUN KHEMANEY & KHALIL DAHMASH – VKD HOSPITALITY GROUP

NECIP CAMCIGIL & KELVIN KELLY – ONE LIFE KITCHEN & CAFÉ

MICHELE JOHNSON – PITFIRE

LEADING F&B GROUP OF THE YEAR

7 MANAGEMENT

SUNSET HOSPITALITY

PASSION

ADDMIND

FUNDAMENTAL HOSPITALITY