The 6-month quest to discover the UAE’s premier pasta destinations culminated at The Pasta Awards’ grand finale on the 24th of January 2024. The Italian Business Council, a distinguished private association operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber, organized this culinary celebration, marking a significant milestone in its inaugural edition.
Beginning in June 2023, The Pasta Awards went off with a fervent participation from pasta lovers, who submitted over 350 nominations for their favourite pasta-serving locations. 68 restaurants across the UAE, including renowned venues such as Eataly, Social, Pulcinella and Luigia, received nominations in the three distinct categories of the competition: Best Innovative Pasta, showcasing dishes that push the boundaries of traditional recipes; Best Traditional Pasta, featuring classic Italian culinary recipes and Best Vegetarian Pasta, highlighting pasta-based meals that exclude any meat or seafood components. The top 13 nominees advanced to the semi-finals, where the jury from the Emirates Culinary Guild visited each establishment to curate the final six finalists, two in each category.
The jury, comprised of Chef Andy Couberth, President of the Emirates Culinary Guild, Seymone Moodley, Editor-in-chief of Hotel and Catering News Middle East, and Thomas Paoletti, President of the Italian Business Council, gathered at the Italian Restaurant Amuní to choose the winners of the three categories.
The Winners of The Pasta Awards First Edition:
- Best Vegetarian Pasta: Café Bateel Dubai Hills
- Best Innovative Pasta: Torno Subito, W Hotel The Palm
- Best Traditional Pasta: Loren, West Beach Palm Jumeirah
Thomas Paoletti, President of the Italian Business Council, expressed his pride in the collaboration with the Emirates Culinary Guild and the UAE Restaurant Group, emphasizing the event’s success in celebrating the art of crafting exceptional pasta creations. “The winners tonight represent some of the top players of the culinary scene in the UAE,” he stated. Paoletti further highlighted the event’s resonance among the public, demonstrating the continued allure of pasta as a simple yet exquisite Italian ingredient.
Acknowledging the key role of the sponsors, Paoletti extended his gratitude to Casinetto, Safco, Italian Dairy Products and Italtouch for their valuable contributions, including Pasta Canuti, Caputo Flour and Pasta Delverde.
As this inaugural edition comes to a close, anticipation builds for second edition of The Pasta Awards, with the Italian Business Council’s continued commitment to championing and promoting Italian culinary excellence in the UAE.
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