Dubai is a delicious melting pot of culinary talent, with some of the world’s most celebrated chefs staking their claim on the restaurant scene and putting their name and skillsets to five-star venues all over the city.

To celebrate this incredible roster of talent, More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy – the industry leading app for gourmands and savvy reward seekers – is hosting The Celebrity Chef series from October 2 - 18, an exclusive event bringing the culinary industry’s brightest stars to Dubai, with once-in-a-lifetime meet-and-greets, special menus, one-of-a-kind masterclasses and unique dining experiences.

Never one to do things by halves, and known for its exceptional dining experiences, this one-off event by More Cravings by Marriott Bonvoy is set to raise the bar for exclusive gastronomic interactions, where guests can indulge in the world’s best cuisine whilst rubbing shoulders with culinary legends.

So, what’s on the menu? Five world-renowned chefs will be jetting in for the event – Jason Atherton, Massimo Bottura, Richard Sandoval, Vineet Bhatia and Alex Stumpf – all making exclusive guest appearances at their restaurants, whilst creating one-off menus for food enthusiasts to try and hosting masterclasses and cooking demonstrations. Not only will you be able to try their bespoke dishes, you can also engage with the celeb chefs, grill them about their culinary secrets and witness their world-class artistic skills first-hand.

The fortnight-long showpiece is open to the public, allowing foodies, Marriott Bonvoy members and the local community to take part in the epic culinary celebration. All you have to do is download the More Cravings app for free from the App Store or Google Play to view the full range of participating venues and secure your seat at this truly exclusive Celebrity Chef Series event.

Here’s a taste of what’s to come…

CHEF: JASON ATHERTON
WHEN: October 2nd and 3rd
VENUE: City Social Dubai

Multi award-winning chef Jason Atherton will be in town from October 2nd - 3rd at his all-new restaurant City Social Dubai on the 43rd floor of The Grosvenor House hotel. Dishing up a modern mix of European cuisine influenced by Japanese flavours, his favourite dish on the menu is the “Smoked grilled beetroot salad with roasted sesame, mirin and fujikko”. As for the most complex dish, “It would have to be the grilled Maine lobster with mantou bun and chilli crab sauce. The dish looks immensely simple, but the sauce is so complex and if the balance is not correct, it destroys the entire flavour of the dish.”
City Social Dubai at The Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai

THE GRILLING:
What makes a good chef exceptional: I would say their understanding of luxury. People think luxury is designer handbags, fancy cars and five-star hotels, but if you find a really amazing bottle of grape and it costs GBP30 instead of GBP10,000 – that is luxury. It’s also having time to spend with your family to make precious moments while having an amazing meal. If a chef understands that uses that to their advantage, it will make them exceptional.

Best restaurant in the world: The Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare and Frantzén in Stockholm.

Favourite city for food: Japan – simply because of the diversity of the cuisine. You can easily enjoy yourself at a bowl shop that serves ramen, yaki soba or donburi all the way to a 3 Michelin-starred restaurant. It is simply mind-blowing how interesting and diverse the Japanese cuisine is. Also, Japanese produce is simply amazing and packs big flavour.

Next travel destination: Anywhere in Latin America! I’ve not set foot on the South American continent yet, but I hear it’s amazing and I’d love to go explore the food there too.

One thing you could eat forever: That’s easy… Sushi!

Motto: If you’re not willing to be better than the day before, you will never improve and you will never be the best.

Future vision: I believe that my work is never done, so my future vision as a chef is to continue to evolve. You have to constantly come up with new ideas, new creations, new ways of bringing the diner back. You have to have refinement of your work. In all other industries, people evolve – musicians, athletes etc – to become the best version of themselves and so do I, as a chef. You need to have your bases, but if you do not evolve, you will end up becoming irrelevant.

Favourite thing to do in the UAE: I met my wife here and we ended up getting married in Dubai back in 2014 – that is the best thing I’ve done in Dubai.

CHEF: RICHARD SANDOVAL
WHEN: October 9th - 15th
VENUE: Maya by Chef Sandoval, Zengo and Toro Toro

Mexican superstar chef Richard Sandoval is renowned for his innovative approach to cooking inspired by the rich flavours of Latin America. Now he’s bringing his expertise to Dubai for a three-night event with an unforgettable activation at each restaurant – Maya by Chef Richard Sandoval and Zengo at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa and Toro Toro at Grosvenor House Dubai – where he will take you on a gastronomy journey around the world.
October 9th - Toro Toro at Grosvenor House Dubai; October 10th - Maya by Chef Richard Sandoval and October 15th - Zengo, both at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa

THE GRILLING:
Fave dishes on your menus: Tacos al pastor at Maya – they are a dish my grandmother taught me to make and has such simple complexity in flavours I could always eat and enjoy. And at Toro Toro, the short rib tacos. For these, we take a modern approach with our cooking techniques (grilling the meat in a Josper versus boiling), which gives a rich smokey flavour updating a classic.

What makes a good chef exceptional: It’s not just about cooking skills, it’s a combination of various elements. Firstly, a chef needs to have a deep passion for food and an unwavering commitment to quality. Attention to detail is crucial, from selecting the finest ingredients to perfecting the presentation of each dish. Creativity is another factor – the ability to push culinary boundaries and create unique flavour profiles is what sets exceptional chefs apart. Teamwork and leadership in the kitchen is also very important, as well an ability to connect with your diners on an emotional level, to create dishes that resonate with people and leave a lasting impression.

Best restaurant in the world: Pujol in Mexico City. It’s done a fantastic job of further elevating the perception of Mexican food. Favourite city for food: Oaxaca in Mexico. It’s rich tapestry of flavours and culinary traditions is a testament to Mexico’s diverse gastronomic heritage: from the vibrant markets brimming with with colourful ingredients to the aromatic street stalls and elegant restaurants. It’s here you can savour the complex, smoky notes of mole, sample the freshest tlayudas and sip on Mezcal.

Next travel destination: South America. I’ve been many times before but I’m looking forward to connecting on a much deeper level on my upcoming trip, as the pace I’ll be travelling this time is a lot slower and more focused on stopping to “smell the roses”.

One thing you could eat forever: Tacos al Pastor.

Motto: Old ways, new hands. Cultural sustainability, lensed through food, is something very important to me and I believe that looking to the future means often looking back to the past.

Future vision: To continue pushing the boundaries of Latin cuisine and global fusion. I want to inspire and mentor the next generation of chefs, sharing my knowledge and passion with them. I believe in the power of food to bring people together, to tell stories and to celebrate diverse cultures. I also aim to further sustainability in the culinary world, focusing on responsible sourcing of ingredients and reducing food waste, to help create a future of gastronomy that is both delicious and environmentally conscious. And lastly, I want to keep creating memorable dining experiences for my guests at Maya, Zengo and Toro Toro in Dubai, and my other restaurants worldwide. My goal is to continue innovating, surprise and delighting diners with the flavours of Latin America and beyond, and to always keep that ‘Passion on the plate’.

Favourite thing to do in the UAE: I’ve enjoyed the Spice Markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Extremely multi-sensory, vibrant colours and scents and the variety of spices and ingredients on display were truly captivating. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the rich culinary DNA of the region.

CHEF: VINEET BHATIA
WHEN: October 13th and 14th
VENUE: Indego by Vineet and Indya by Vineet 

World-renowned and award-winning Indian culinary virtuoso, Vineet Bhatia, will host a series of exclusive cooking demonstrations in Dubai showcasing his ground-breaking approach to Indian cuisine. The events will take place at Indego by Vineet and Indya by Vineet on October 17th and 18th, affording you an extraordinary opportunity to witness Chef Bhatia’s culinary brilliance up close.
October 13: Cooking demo, Meet & Greet, and Thali lunch at Indya by Vineet at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa
October 14: Dinner and Meet & Greet at Indego by Vineet at The Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai

THE GRILLING:
Fave dishes on your menus: White butter chicken and Pista-crusted lamb chops.

What makes a good chef exceptional: Passion and only passion!

Best restaurant in the world: I can’t pin just one restaurant down, but it’s all about what one feels like having that day and actually getting to savour it. I particularly love going on roads less travelled and discovering eateries along the way.

Favourite country for food: So far, I have enjoyed Spain and Japan, but I still find London has the most offerings in a single destination and each time I go back, I discover something new.

Next travel destination: Machu-Pichu

One thing you could eat forever: Lentils and chocolate – not in that particular order!

Motto: Don’t be pre-occupied with the concept of perfection but enjoy the process and keep your mind open.

Future vision: To be able to set up a culinary program where interested minds can develop creatively and also understand spices and how to play with them.

Favourite thing to do in the UAE: A helicopter ride over Dubai to get an aerial view of the city.

Other exclusive chef-hosted events in The Celebrity Chef series include an innovative ‘Una Sera Con Massimo’ dinner with Italian chef Massimo Bottura at one-Michelin-starred Torno Subito, W Dubai – The Palm on October 10th and 11th; And an evening with Alex Stumpf alongside Chef Ritiyos at Tong Thai, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, on October 13th, for a five-course dinner celebrating both the traditions and contemporary artistry of Thai cuisine. 

www.morecravings.com