UAE's Etihad Airways and one of the main sponsors of the Taste of London Festival, have crowned Dean Parker from The Manor restaurant in London as the winner of its Taste the World competition, which took place on June 15.

The Taste the World Award is presented to one chef who best epitomises Etihad Airways’ food philosophy, a highly-acclaimed culinary offering which constantly pushes the boundaries to provide a superior guest experience. Each chef was independently judged by a panel consisting of an Etihad Airways inflight chef, a culinary expert and a renowned food influencer. The winner earns a trip to the global final to represent London and The Manor at Taste of Abu Dhabi, in November. Parker will compete against 11 other world class chefs selected at local Taste Festivals held throughout 2017.

Parker said: “I’m extremely honoured and excited to have won this prestigious award. To be recognised alongside some of London’s finest chefs is a true honour, but representing The Manor and our team feels incredible. I’m absolutely speechless that this dish, which represents The Manor’s core ethos of seasonality and sustainability, has impressed the judges so much. Now to prepare for Abu Dhabi.”

The winning dish at Taste of London was a smoked Swaledale lamb shoulder, accompanied by courgettes, olives and basil.

Parker is head chef of The Manor, Clapham, an independent bistro crafting contemporary British dishes from seasonal, responsibly sourced produce. Since joining, Parker was able to take autonomy of the menu from day one and has been wowing diners with his culinary creations.

Patrick Pierce, vice president marketing partnerships at Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways draws inspiration from the world’s best restaurants and emerging chefs from global culinary capitals. We serve our cuisine both on the ground and in the air with style and sophistication that has become synonymous with the Etihad Airways brand.

“Thus we’re delighted to see Dean win our Taste the World Award – he demonstrated innovative cooking techniques and use of ingredients to create a truly remarkable dish, his signature smoked Swaledale lamb shoulder. We look forward to welcoming Dean to our home at Taste of Abu Dhabi in November to compete in the finale.”

Justin Clarke, director of Taste Festivals, said: “We are thrilled to be in partnership with Etihad Airways. Their commitment to being the world’s leading culinary airline is both exciting and a testament to the logical brand fit between the airline and Taste Festivals.”

Enrico Nanchioli, Etihad Airways inflight chef, said: “I am looking forward to watching Dean competing at the finals in our home, Abu Dhabi, later this year. Dean has shown incredible originality in his demonstration today and I commend him for his passion for cooking. So far, the level of originality showcased by all competing chefs for Taste the World is definitely something to be celebrated.”

The three-year partnership between Etihad Airways and Taste Festivals, which began in March 2016, is a core element of the airline’s sponsorship strategy as it establishes itself as an aspirational lifestyle brand. As part of the global partnership, Etihad Airways sponsors 15 Taste Festivals around the world at important Etihad Airways destinations such as Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Sydney, Moscow, Paris and Hong Kong.

Etihad Airways flies three times daily from Heathrow, twice daily from Manchester and five times a week from Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi, where passengers can connect to over 100 destinations worldwide. - TradeArabia News Service