Press release and images on The debut of Afternoon Tea for the 21st Century from Dilmah

Another chapter was opened in the culinary history of the United Arab Emirates this week with the debut of the 'Afternoon Tea for the 21st Century' contest by family tea company Dilmah. Challenging Chefs and Hospitality professionals to reimagine tea and the most popular occasion for tea, the contest was judged at GulfHost with the support of ICCA, with spectacular culinary and mixology, novel presentation and great tea producing truly 21st Century Afternoon Tea.

Judges Peter Kuruvita (Culinary), Tomek Malek (Mixology) and Dilhan C. Fernando (Tea) were so impressed with the tea inspiration on display over the two days that four Gold Medals were awarded, One Silver, One Bronze and 3 Certificate Level Awards. The Overall Winners were Patrick Njenga Mihiu and Chaminda Roziro from Pullman Deira City Centre, with Gold Medals also Awarded to Ruslan Svezhenko and Ramesh Hashan of Aloft Dubai City Centre, Julian Mejia and Carlos Morales of Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi and Abhinav Desai and Ahmed Elgamal of Radisson Blu Deira Creek

Sarwar Alam and Clinton Vadual of Madinat Jumeirah Received Silver Medals and Vipin Nair and Nabeel Kenny of Amwaj Rotana were Awarded, Bronze Medal. Certificates were Awarded to Shaban Ahmad and Sumedha of Hilton Jumeirah, Also to Media Rotana’s Crystal Caranza and Ajay Pillai, Cynthia Dizon and Solongo

Category Awards for Best Table Layout, Best Iced Tea, Best Tea & Food Pairing, The Perfect Cup of Tea, Best Menu, Best Tea Cocktail and Best Tea Inspired Food were also presented. Details below;

Special prize

The Perfect cup of tea & The Best Pairing - Overall winner of the competition

Patrick Njenga Mihiu and Chaminda Roziro from Pullman Deira City Centre

The Best Table Layout

Ruslan Svezhenko and Ramesh Hashan from Aloft DCC

The Best Iced Tea

Julian Mejia and Carlos Morales from Park Hyatt AUH

The Best Menu

Abhinav Desai and Ahmed Elgamal from Radisson Blu Deira Creek

The Best Tea Inspired Food Item

Sarwar Alam and Clinton Vadual from Madinat Jumeirah Conference and Incentives / Jumeirah Hospitality