MENA’S BEST FEMALE CHEF: Best Female Chef 2023 Salam Dakkak

The Middle East & North Africa’s Best Female Chef 2023 has been named Salam Dakkak, chef-owner of Dubai’s Bait Maryam restaurant. At the second instalment of MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, scheduled for Abu Dhabi on January 30, 2023, Chef Dakkak will receive the honour. The prestigious award is the first of three special award announcements that will precede the live event programme and is part of the 50 Best organization’s mission to recognise female role models in the culinary industry.

Dakkak, a renowned chef and former school owner and teacher, has worked diligently to make her dream project come true: bringing home-cooked Levantine cuisine to the UAE through her warm and welcoming restaurant, Bait Maryam. The well-liked restaurant in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lake Towers honours Dakkak’s mother, Maryam, after whom the restaurant is named, by serving food that is influenced by the genuine recipes that have been passed down from mother to daughter. Inviting guests from Dubai’s diverse community to sample her family-style culinary specialties in a laid-back and welcoming setting, Chef Dakkak exemplifies true Levantine hospitality.

To replicate the real flavours of the Levant that she experienced growing up in Jordan, Dakkak recreates them through her food by preserving traditional meals and genuine cooking techniques. Her dedication is such that she seeks out ingredients from all sections of the area in order to preserve the flavour of each dish, emphasising premium vegetables, unique spices, and most importantly, cooking with passion. Signature dishes include Mansaf, Musakhan and Maryam Fukhara, which is fried kebbe with pomegranate molasses and tamarind sauce, as well as Fatet Musakhan, which is shredded chicken cooked with onion and sumac and topped with garlic yoghurt and fried bread.

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 homecooked 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.”