Dubai Interview UAE

FACT Meets: One&Only Royal Mirage’s Chef Mauro

March 24, 20232976 views0

We meet the award-winning chef behind Dubai’s The Beach Bar & Grill and Celebrities.

Chef Mauro Colagreco is one of the world’s most celebrated chefs. He has restaurants across the world in Argentina, China and France. If you want to taste his food, however, you don’t have to travel that far, as he has two restaurants in Dubai’s One&Only Royal Mirage – The Beach Bar & Grill and Celebrities.

Chef Mauro was born in Argentina and raised in Italy. He fell in love with food after watching his grandmother cook. “I remember every smell and taste from her cuisine,” he gushes. Today, he has notched up multiple awards, from The World’s 50 Best Restaurants to MICHELIN Stars. Most notably, he was awarded three stars for Mirazur in France, and became the first chef not born in France to be awarded three stars in the French MICHELIN Guide.

So, after his Dubai restaurants got a revamp, we were excited to catch up with him. He chatted with us about MICHELIN, Mirazur and menus.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I’ve always been very curious. Travels and nature are the main part of my cuisine. Being open minded to others, culture, territories and stories are my source of inspiration. Nature is in perpetual motion, as I am. It gives me a perfect palette for ideas.

You are behind the three MICHELIN Starred restaurant, Mirazur. How did it feel to win the awards?

I was delighted to receive this prestigious recognition, which represents an achievement for me and the team. These three MICHELIN Stars and ranking in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants keep us motivated. Our team is constantly working with a creative approach to imagine something new every day. I want to continually innovate. Our team of researchers work on human and vegetables ancestral cultures in the region, which also inspire us to create new dishes and drinks.

Tell us about the revamped One&Only Royal Mirage’s The Beach Bar & Grill and Celebrities

Beach Bar & Grill by Mauro Colagreco has a new lease of life. Inspired by the relaxed alfresco lifestyle of Argentina, its refreshed, smart-casual setting is perfect for beachside lunches and starlit nights. The Beach Bar and Grill’s newly devised lunch and dinner menus showcase traditional South American flavours with the finest seafood, prime meats and in-season ingredients. Plus, it combines unique flavours, vibrant flourishes and authentic sauces.

Celebrities by Mauro Colagreco combines relaxed French elegance with a glimpse of glamour. We reimagine classics with a lighter, modern touch.

What dishes would you recommend at The Beach Bar & Grill?

At Beach Bar and Grill, I love to start with a selection to share. Empanadas takes me back to my youth in Argentina. Sardinas Parriladas combines the taste of grilled fish on the parilla with the freshness and spiciness of ceviche. For the main course, I would go for a meat grilled on the embers, like the Ojo de Bife rib eye with chimichurri sauce. Another favourite is the Seafood Linguine. I was raised in Italy, so I love pasta. This recipe includes shrimps, clams and mussels. Plus, the acidity of the lemon makes me feel like I’m on holidays. For desserts, try the Flan Dulce De Leche, which is a simple classic, and you can’t go wrong with Dulce de Leche.

What dishes would you recommend at Celebrities?

At Celebrities, the tasting menu offers the full culinary experience. The Beetroot starter with caviar and cream is one of our signature dishes. The Langoustine is served with yellow curry sauce. The Saint Pierre Fish (John Dory) has different squash textures, and the saffron is light and delicious. If you prefer meat, the Guinea Fowl with albufera sauce is a must.

Since the MICHELIN Guide came to Dubai, it has been recognised as a dining destination. What do you make of the city’s restaurant scene?

Dubai is an ever-growing world class tourism platform. A lot of celebrated chefs and restaurateurs are moving to Dubai. People here love to venture out. There is a large, diverse group of visitors, which span all origins and age groups. The thing that unites them is an interest in food. International guides such as Gault & Millau, MICHELIN, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Louis Vuitton City guide will only help establish the city as a world-class culinary destination.