Mirazur's Mauro Colagreco became the culinary whizz to get France its first number-one slot at the World's 50 Best Restaurants award ceremony at a chef-studded ceremony in Singapore earlier this year. And now, it seems that Dubai is going to get a taste of his culinary creations.
The UAE has long had a penchant for award-winning chefs who, in turn, are drawn to the Emirates based on the spending power and culinary appreciation of the multicultural population. It’s no surprise, then, that Colagreco, the chef patron of Mirazur, will take over operations at One&Only Royal Mirage from November.
The Argentinian chef, who has Italian grandparents and does a mean haute French cuisine, will oversee the Dubai resort’s three fine-dining restaurants –Celebrities, The Beach Bar & Grill and Esplanade – and create menus and dining experiences for discerning foodies.
At the June World's 50 Best Restaurants, Mirazur's Colgreco, was lauded for his tasting menu, which includes salt-crusted beetroot with caviar cream; a brioche of potatoes with melting egg (from the chicken coop) and white truffle; and bread infused with ginger and served with a Pablo Neruda poem.
The three Michelin-starred restaurant won top honours for its “unrivalled views of the French Riviera, three levels of cascading vegetable gardens churning out the sweetest produce and a team of outrageously talented cooks”.
Several other award-winning chefs helm eateries in the UAE, including Chefs Massimo Bottura, Alain Ducasse and Yannick Alleno, whose establishments were part of the World's 50 Best Restaurants in June.
In September, Chef Gregoire Berger won at Best Chef Awards for Dubai restaurant Ossiano.
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
