'Top Chef': Joe Barza to cook for guests in Abu Dhabi this Ramadan

The celebrity Lebanese chef will be in the UAE capital in May

Joe Barza will be cooking for Abu Dhabi guests in May. Courtesy Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri

Joe Barza, the celebrity TV chef known around the world for his progressive take on Lebanese cuisine, will be flying in to the UAE capital to cook for guests at Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri, from May 3 to 8.

The Lebanese chef and culinary consultant has designed a Ramadan menu specifically for the hotel’s Sofra BLD restaurant. It features popular hot dishes such as freekeh with smoked roast leg of lamb, shrimp knafe and shish barak.

Cold mezze options will include red lentil tabbouleh, beetroot moutable and tuna marinated in shawarma spices. A choice of desserts will include mahalabiya with caramelised apples and apricot coulis. There will also be a live kibbeh station.

While dishes are rooted in traditional Lebanese cuisine, Barza incorporates a Mediterranean touch, using alternative ingredients to create new recipes that also showcase local produce.

Chef Barza uses alternative ingredients and local produce in traditional Lebanese cuisine to create new recipes. Courtesy Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri

“We are honoured to have him cook for our guests and, especially, for being with us during a significant time in our calendar – the holy month of Ramadan,” said Ahmed Issa, general manager at Shangri-La Hotel and Traders Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi.

Barza has more than 30 years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience. He was trained by Pierre Pomel, Marc Veyrat and Jean-Pierre Jacob, Pierre Marin and Chicho Sultano.

He's best known for co-hosting the Middle Eastern version of the TV show Top Chef. He also appeared as a guest chef on MasterChef Greece.

In 2009, he launched Joe Barza Culinary Consultancy, offering services in food and beverage consultancy, kitchen design, recruiting services and training programmes.

Iftar at Sofra BLD will be served from sunset until 8pm, Dhs250 per adult and Dh125 per children aged six to 12. Guests dining during the first 10 days of Ramadan will get a 25 per cent discount.

This year, the hotel has partnered with the ShareTheMeal initiative, which means every iftar meal consumed raises a dollar for the charity. This, the hotel team states, translates to meals for two children.