Gourmet Abu Dhabi this year has more gala dinners, gourmet sessions and master classes than before in the 15-day festival. Here’s our guide to some of the top starring culinary talents taking to the capital this February.

David Muñoz
Country: Spain
Restaurants: Diverxo
Michelin stars: 1
David Muñoz is not your typical Spanish chef – not least because he is famous for creating the most delectable dim sum. His truly exceptional cuisine somehow blends the best of Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Peruvian, Mexican, Moroccan and more. His restaurant Diverxo is named after the much loved Chinese XO sauce, incidentally.

Martin Fauster
Country: Germany
Restaurants: Königshof
Michelin stars: 1
As well as the Michelin star, Martin Fauster’s Königshof restaurant in Munich is always awarded 18 points by the influential Gault Millau Guide, testament to his passion for his craft, innovativeness and creativity. Fauster prides himself on sourcing the best-quality ingredients.

 

Regis Marcon
Country: France
Restaurants: Restaurant Régis et Jacques Marcon
Michelin stars: three
The winner of the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition in 1995, Regis Marcon is an avid believer that cooking is a means of expression – “a language linking man and nature and a continuous exploration for new ideas and techniques”. His menu is known to feature the best seasonal produce throughout the year.

 

Alain Passard
Country: France
Restaurants: l’Arpège
Michelin stars: three
Passard began his culinary career at the age of 14 in 1971 under Michel Kerever. In 1986 he purchased the three star restaurant l’Archestrate from his former mentor Alain Senderens and renamed it l’Arpège; within a year the restaurant had its first star. In 1996 l’Arpège earned its third and has retained them ever since. Alain Passard is probably best known for his brilliant ways with vegetables.

Masayasu Yonemura
Country: Japan
Restaurants: Roys | Yonemura
Michelin stars: one
Japanese-American celebrity chef and author Yonemura trained under Jean Bertanou at l’Escoffier and l’Ermitage in Los Angeles. Holder of a James Beard award, dubbed the ‘Oscars of the Food World,’ chef Yamaguchi opened his first Roy’s restaurant in Honolulu in 1998; there are now 33 around the world. Yonemura’s cooking is distinguished by the innovative Japanese touches he applies to his core French cuisine.

Claude Bosi
Country: France
Restaurants: Hibiscus
Michelin stars: two
Before venturing to England and opening his Shropshire restaurant in 2000, Claude Bosi trained under some of the French greats –Alain Passard, Alain Ducasse and Jean-Paul Lacombe among them. After seven successful years in Ludlow, he relocated to London in 2007 with his restaurant Hibiscus and still retains his Michelin rating.

Alfonso Iaccarino
Country: Italy
Restaurants: Don Alfonso 1890
Michelin stars: two
Alfonso Iaccarino is known for his firm belief in organic fare. A descendant of four generations of Italian hoteliers and a farmer-cum-hotelier himself, Iaccarino produces his own organic produce – including olives, eggplant, artichokes and herbs – before serving it in his renowned two-star restaurant Don Alfonso 1890 in the Sorretine Peninsula’s small capital of Sant’Agata Sui Due Golfi.

Andrea Berton
Country: Italy
Restaurants: Il Ristorante Trussardi Alla Scala
Michelin stars: two
Chef Berton has worked with some of the most important chefs in the world including Gualtiero Marchesi, Alain Ducasse and Carlo Cracco. He opened his restaurant only in 2006 but within three years he has won two Michelin stars as well as the Best New Restaurant accolade from the Italian Restaurants Guide by l’Espresso.

David Thompson
Country: UK
Restaurants: Nahm at The Halkin
Michelin stars: one
David Thompson is truly a culinary expert when it comes to Thai food – which is why he has Europe’s first Thai restaurant to get a Michelin star. After several years in London with the successful Nahm at The Halkin hotel, Thompson is opening a new restaurant, Nahm at Metropolitan Hotel, in Bangkok later this year.