What are the flavours and aromas of Autumn we ask? Well, we put our three experts to the test, to bring to you the taste of Autumn in three Autumn-inspired menu items.
Here is a bit about our experts and what they had to say;
Chef Georges Chihane | Culinary Development Manager at Chef Middle East
Born and raised into a family of Culinarians Chef Georges followed his family’s footsteps into the culinary world. After obtaining a Hotel & Catering Management Degree in Lebanon, Chef Georges went on to enhance his culinary techniques in Haute Gastronomy Cuisine at the Institute Paul Bocuse in Lyon – France, “an experience like no other”.
What’s your Autumn creation?
For this dish, I used fall-inspired ingredients such as roots veggies, seasonal fruits, nature faded pale colours, and with the hunting season in mind I used a goose in three parts, breast, leg and liver, with three different cooking techniques served with modern pumpkin Gnocchi, a red plum goose liver mousse and a roast infused stock.
What ingredients did you use?
Working at Chef Middle East, I have the luxury of having access to a large basket of best-in-class brands that fits this season, starting with Upignac whole goose and parts, goose liver; pumpkin and red plum purees from Les vergers Boiron; game fond and texturisers from Sosa Ingredients.
Why did you select these ingredients?
The goose is a fancy seasonal product for Autumn, approaching Christmas and New Year. Les vergers Boiron purees are the most authentic and flavourful, very versatile products that can be used anywhere when using fruits and vegetables, and Sosa Ingredients for the ease of use and texture it brings to any dish.
What technique did you use, and do you have tips on how to enhance your recipe?
The goose legs were ‘confit’ for 4 hours in infused clarified butter, the breast was cooked sous vide for 90min, and the liver was prepared in the traditional way. As for the pumpkin gnocchi, it is done with Sosa Promochi Kuzu, contain no eggs nor flour or potato; and the broth was realized by roasting the goose bones infused with gingerbread spices. The plum and liver mousse was prepared with Sosa Proespuma Hot as a texturizer.
What makes this such a great dish?
It is a very seasonal dish, using a full range of techniques and key ingredients and it simply tastes great! Ideal for a fine dining menu, full of rich flavours and textures.
Vincent Cockenpot | Pastry Chef & Trainer at Chef Middle East
Having grown up in a family butcher business, Chef Vincent learned from an early age artisan’s values which inspired him to begin a pastry apprenticeship in north of France before joining Frédéric Cassel’s team. Over the years, Vincent has cumulated experience in France, Morocco, UK, Australia and the Middle East with the greatest names in the industry.
What’s your Autumn dessert inspiration?
For my fall-inspired dessert I decided to make a cocoa crumble to represent the earth, topped with a speculos crumble coated with Opalys chocolate that represents the rock inspired from my time living in Fontainebleau, France. I then realized an egg-free ginger cream for the vegetal touch, Orelys namelaka for the super creamy feel with a touch of liquorice pear sorbet to refresh the mouth. To finish, I added some chocolate garnish with a mushroom render as if you are walking through a forest.
What ingredients did you use?
As Chef Georges mentioned, the beauty of working at Chef Middle East is that we have access to some of the world’s best ingredients. For my Autumn dessert basket, I went with Opalys and cocoa powder from Valrhona, pear puree from Les vergers Boiron, Pro for the sorbet 5G, glucose powder, gelcrem cold, vegetal gelling, fish gelatin and pectin NH from Sosa Ingredients.
Why did you select these ingredients?
The decision to use the products from Valrhona, Sosa Ingredients and Les vergers Boiron was simple as they are quite innovative and sourced by the best producers to ensure a top-quality result for any satisfying customer experience. These brands also provide great level of support to chefs who need it.
What makes this such a great dessert?
Living in Dubai, this dish brings me back to those Autumn days in the north of France. This dessert inherits popular qualities as it uses premium ingredients, it is free of artificial colour, the sugar is well balanced as are the textures – it is crunchy, creamy, and there is a pear sorbet quenelle to refresh the palate and reduce the sweetness of the dessert.
Tauland Hyka | Mixologist & Trainer at Chef Middle East
After kickstarting his hospitality career at a very early age, Tauland has worked in several culinary establishments, where he combined his passion for beverage with his profession. Highly praised and talented mixologist beverage capabilities and styles cover a very wide scale, from all categories, from juices to syrups and soft drinks, to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Where do you find your inspiration?
My family don’t have much of a culinary or mixology background, but, from the first time I tried to make a cocktail, it felt like I was destined to do this work as it gave me an unexplainable excitement. From that day I have been mixing drinks and teaching others how to do it!
What beverage did you decide to create?
When I think of Autumn, I think of golden leaves, hay piled up, the burning of the hay on the fields, the after-summer fruits and vegetables. I wanted to bring to life a drink that could have been a pumpkin or an apple pie, with hint of the autumn smoke and earthy notes.
What ingredients did you use?
Like my teammates have alluded to, there is no shortage of amazing food ingredients but beverage ingredients as well at Chef Middle East. I decided to use James White Organic Apple Juice, pumpkin and lemon purees from Les vergers Boiron, Apple & Caramel Syrup from 1705 Cherry Rocher, Lemon-Mint-Orange Blossom Iced Tea from Nai, and Smoke Powder and Potato Whip, Sosa Ingredients.
Why did select these ingredients?
All these ingredients remind me of Autumn. Combining these ingredients comes down to the taste of the final drink, which leads us to the quality and consistency you can get using organic ingredients where preservatives are fully natural with no chemicals involved.
What makes this such a great beverage?
When making a mixed beverage, it is important to bring through a message to guests, but also a fabulous and unique taste. With the ‘Autumn Reminder’ mocktail, you taste the freshness of the apple and the deliciousness of the pumpkin, aromas that bring you straight to those beautiful Autumn afternoons. For me, this would be one of the most popular drinks on the menu. It is creative and tastefully impactful and very Instagram friendly!
In Our Culinary Innovation Centre, we are a trio of technical experts, A Culinary Chef, a Pastry Chef and a Mixologist; all customising our services as per our customers needs, supporting and helping each other with new ideas and techniques to transfer this knowledge to our customers and consistently striving to deliver the best and inspiring culinary craftsmanship.
Always aiming at raising the “food” bar, Chef Middle East will present a one-of-a-kind event to its customers, old and new, around the theme of Autumn across 4 major cities, starting in Dubai on the 14th of October 2019, Abu Dhabi on the 16th October 2019, Muscat on the 21st October 2019, and Doha on the 23rd October 2019. So, if you are after discovering the latest kitchen solutions, getting inspired from and exciting line-up of industry professionals and celebrity chefs in action and finding out more about some of the best products and brands on the market, watch for the invitation and make sure to attend the upcoming ‘Taste of Autumn’ event in your city for some culinary festivities you don’t want to miss out!
Chef Middle East are a leading importer and distributor of the finest quality foods from all over the globe, supplying the hotel, dining and airline industries in the Middle East. Offering a one-stop-shop solution through a blend of premium quality and value-added ingredients, done through our state-of-the art logistics network. Our company services more than 1,000 customers in the UAE, Qatar and Oman. We also provide the same exceptional quality of service and products to customers in locations such as the Indian Ocean, Africa, CIS Countries and the Sub Continent.
