While taste and flavour remain subjective territory, Dubai-based cook Hassan Naja's emerged victorious at the World Food Championships in Indianapolis, beating dozens of other hopefuls in the burger category.
When he's not busy in his corporate job as a director at food and beverage company Arla Foods, Naja is in front of a grill, trying to come up with the perfect burger recipe.
“I’ve always been a food enthusiast, inspired by countless hours of watching the Food Network channel and cooking shows growing up,” he told The National.
“Grilling became my passion and I became known as an expert within my community, earning a reputation for crafting exceptional burgers and grills.”
Naja's winning burger, which he calls “one more burger”, has a beef patty, which he's concocted from a blend of premium cuts, predominantly Wagyu rib-eye for “exceptional flavour and tenderness”. Being extra protective of the recipe, he says the sauce is a mix of black truffle, mayonnaise, ketchup and a “secret ingredient that adds richness”.
“Cheese also holds a special place in my heart, so I incorporated three of my favourites in unique ways to introduce layers of texture and flavour,” he said. “To complement this, I added in fresh greens, house-pickled onions, and signature jams to achieve a balance that makes this burger truly unforgettable.
“It’s not just representative of food – it’s an experience, born out of my deep passion for culinary excellence.”
The burger eventually beat nine other finalists in the category, including those made by career chefs, grillers and restaurateurs from the UK and the US.
The World Food Championships hosts more than 1,500 chefs from nearly 20 countries, and teams battle it out in 12 culinary categories. The category winners advance to “the final table”, and vie for the title and $150,000 in prizes. Naja, with his chefs Kareem Kerry and Marc Hayes, was also the only category champion this year who is based outside of the US.
An invite-only event is soon taking place to bring the winning burger back to Dubai. Future pop-ups are also planned to enable the public to get a taste of Naja's creation. An announcement on the Instagram page of food-focused event organiser Cucina Del Sul, who organises the Mena qualifiers to the World Food Championships, is expected soon.
Other regional representatives to this year's event included Ammar Alhasan from Bahrain, who was part of the sandwich category. Eric Lee, founder of Ugly Burger and Ugly Noodles in Dubai, competed in the noodle category, while Suma Nair, also from Dubai, tried her luck at the vegetarian category. Dubai-based Natalia Bertolucci, who competed as part of team Brazil, showcased her skills in the dessert category.
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What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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