Salam Dakkak, chef-owner of Bait Maryam restaurant in Dubai, has been named the Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2023. Chef Dakkak will be presented with the award at the second edition of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, set to take place in Abu Dhabi on 30 January 2023. The esteemed award forms part of the 50 Best organisation’s mission to honour female role models within the culinary industry and represents the first of three special award announcements that will precede the live event programme.
Former school owner and teacher turned renowned chef, Dakkak has been diligent in transforming her dream project into a reality: bringing home-cooked Levantine cuisine to the UAE through her warm and inclusive restaurant, Bait Maryam. The beloved eatery in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers pays tribute to Dakkak’s mother, Maryam – after whom the restaurant is named – serving dishes inspired from the authentic recipes passed on from mother to daughter. Chef Dakkak embodies authentic Levantine hospitality, inviting visitors from Dubai’s diverse community to experience her family-style culinary specialties in a relaxed and inviting space.
Through her cuisine, Dakkak preserves traditional dishes and authentic cooking methods to recreate the true flavours of the Levant that she grew up with during her childhood in Jordan. Her commitment is such that she sources ingredients from different parts of the region to retain the essence of each dish, placing emphasis on high quality produce, distinctive spices and, most importantly, preparing food with love. Signature dishes include Fatet Musakhan – shredded chicken cooked with onion and sumac topped with garlic yogurt and fried bread – and Mansaf, Musakhan and Maryam Fukhara – fried kebbe with pomegranate molasses and tamarind sauce.
William Drew, Director of Content for 50 Best says, “A beloved figure within her community, Salam Dakkak’s earned recognition is a true testament to the impact she has made through her passion and dedication for delivering authentic culinary experiences – always with a warm and welcoming smile. This award recognises her contributions as a role model in the industry, and we look forward to celebrating her along with other leading chefs and restaurateurs from across the region at the awards event in Abu Dhabi in January.”
“I feel honoured to be selected as the recipient of the Best Female Chef Award this year. At Bait Maryam, we bring together people from all over the world to sit down and enjoy a hearty home cooked meal made with love,” says Dakkak. “One of my main goals as a chef is to create a ‘home away from home’ for those living away from their families. I’m proud of my team’s hard work and passion, as we are only able to do great work because we love what we do.”
The Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in the UAE capital on Monday, 30 January 2023 in partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT).
The Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants event programme, including the awards ceremony and unveiling of the list, provides a unique opportunity for chefs, gourmets, and food and travel media from all over the region to gather and celebrate cuisine and hospitality, whilst also promoting the culinary strength and diversity of the region to a global audience.
Other pre-announced awards in the lead up to the inaugural event and reveal of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 will include the Icon Award on 4 January and the One To Watch Award on 18 January.
The Voting Process
The list is compiled by the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of 250 key leaders in the restaurant industry across the region, each selected for their expert opinion of the Middle East and North Africa’s restaurant scenes. The Academy is divided into six regions: the Gulf; Saudi Arabia; Levant-plus; Israel, North Africa (East) and North Africa (West). Each region has its own panel of members including a chairperson, called the Academy Chair, to head it up. The panel is made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded gourmets. For the 2023 list, each MENA Academy member voted for seven restaurants, with at least two of these located outside the country where they are based. None of the event’s sponsors has any influence over the voting process.
