Ishara Rangana Athapaththu from Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek Crowned BurJuman Junior Chef 2012

Dubai, UAE September 24, 2012 – Chef Ishara Rangana Athapaththu from Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek was named the BurJuman Junior Chef 2012 at the closing ceremony of the intensive 5-day competition, bringing to an end the highly successful inaugural edition of ‘Treat’ – the BurJuman World Food Fest.

With a total of 14 competitive categories, the BurJuman Junior Chef competition saw young chefs cook up a storm as they vied for the gold, silver and bronze medals in each category as well as the coveted title of BurJuman Junior Chef 2012.

Ishara, 23, from Sri Lanka, rose to the top of the ranks of close to 350 of his fellow competitors from leading hotels across the UAE, with high scores in the three major competitive categories namely, Emirati Cuisine, Sustainable Fish Dishes and the creation of a Three-Course Set Menu.

Commenting on his win, Ishara said: “This is the third time I have participated in a competition for Junior Chefs. My previous experience really helped build my confidence and my competitive abilities so I was able to really put in my best this year. The BurJuman Junior Chef 2012 competition included a pool of very talented chefs so it’s really an honour to be chosen the winner.”

Jumeirah Group won the award for the ‘Best Effort by a Corporation’ while the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek clinched the ‘Best Effort by an Individual Establishment’.

The category of Sustainable Fish Dishes saw one chef – the very talented  Chef Supul Maneesh, also from the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek – taking home a highly coveted Gold with Distinction medal which indicates a perfect score of 100/100 points, an occurence that is quite rare in the sphere of competitive cooking.

With a series of free masterclasses, cooking demos, dining etiquette workshops, audience competitions, exciting rewards and delicious free sampling, Treat – The BurJuman World Food Fest 2012 has over the past 12 days offered a wonderful opportunity to dining enthusiasts, aspiring chefs, families and  foodies to learn about different aspects of fine dining from leading industry experts at no cost at all.

The success of the inaugural edition highlights the appetite of foodies in the city for interactive platforms that offer creative culinary experiences.

About BurJuman:
Located in the heart of Dubai, BurJuman is more than a retail destination – the distinctive landmark comprises over 2.8 million square feet of mixed-use space including the shopping mall, business tower, hotel suites and duplex residences. Known as the residence of high-fashion, BurJuman has one of the finest concentrations of high-fashion luxury brands in Dubai including Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Prada, Miu Miu, Hermes, Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Fendi, Emanuel Ungaro, Tod’s, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Just Cavalli, and many more. With leading high-end and high-street fashion brands mingling comfortably with one another under one roof, BurJuman caters to the elite customers’ discerning shopping needs, while a range of dining choices, atrium courtyards, beautiful seating and abundant foliage add to the relaxing shopping experience.