The WACS 2008 (World Association of Chefs Societies) biennial congress sees a coming together of over 1000 of the world’s leading leisure-industry professionals.

The Congress will be held at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 12th to 15th 2008. (www.dicec.ae). The venue will be the centre’s magnificent Sheik Rashid Hall..

The main thrust of the congress will concern showcasing the prevailing exotic lifestyle of UAE residents. Arabian culture and the myriad cuisines and cultures of the diversity of nations that go to the making of our great city of Dubai will be prominently featured.

Delegates will be educated and informed in and entertained by the living traditions, customs and philosophy of societies other than their own. They will be regaled with practical illustrations of the culinary sophistication and refinement reached by nations they, in some cases, have never before encountered.

The Competitions

Three major international competitions will be held during the congress:

The Global Chef’s Challenge:

This practical cookery competition is a new WACS 2008 initiative. It will be inaugurated in Dubai during the 2008 congress. Seven senior finalists - each of whom will have triumphed as the best chef of their geographical region (through a world-wide series of competitions) – will be eligible to join culinary battle and compete for the title Global Chef 2008. This event will be a permanent fixture on the WACS 2008 competition calendar. The winner of this biennial battle can truthfully boast of holding a verifiable worldclass culinary title.

The Hans Bueschkens Memorial Trophy:

Here, twenty young chefs will each represent their respective countries, vying to be adjudged as the best young cook in the world. With only six-hours in which to complete the entire test - from the composition of the menu, to the service of the meals – this competition is designed to challenge each junior to prove to the jury the evidence of his/her culinary and organisational skills.(www.wacs 2000.org)

The Meat & Livestock Australia Black Box Culinary Challenge.

Twenty-five teams of juniors, each consisting of: a team manager, a team captain, two cooks and one pastry chef, will compete in the grand final of a global inter-hotel competition that has taken the teams to two years of close competition to secure a place in the final. On day one each team will be presented with a black box of mystery ingredients; once the ingredients are disclosed, teams have just one hour in which to draw up a menu and present it to the organisers. The teams then take the ingredients for preparation to their place of work. The following evening each team must serve the menu as compiled by them to twenty guests. All plating and decorating and the work on the pass is undertaken in full view of the diners! An interesting and entertaining spectacle culminating in a 500-seat gala dinner for invited guests. (www.mla.com.au)

The Kitchen Arena:

Throughout the life of the congress, there will be featured a permanent kitchen arena.

Eight fully-equipped kitchens will be constructed in an arena setting; complete with lighting, back-projection screens, cameras and sound system.

A culinary MC will provide a running commentary on the events unfolding every day throughout the day.

The kitchen arena will be open for viewing to everybody: delegates, the general public and invited VIP’s.

The arena will host the Global Chef Challenge competition; The Hans Bueschkins Memorial Trophy competition and the planned culinary seminars and workshops.

The whole arena will be decorated with national flags, bunting and the colours, branding and logos of our major sponsors.

Seminars and Workshops:

In addition to the competitions, there will be a programme of workshops and seminars set at the kitchen arena, hosted by industry leaders. These will include:

 Thai cuisine and food decoration as practiced at the royal Thai palaces.

 Barbados conch and crab preparation.

 Iranian grills and breads.

  Lebanese cuisine and culture.

 South Indian specialties.

 Cuisine from the maharaja’s palaces.

 Arabic khahwa customs.

 Camel meat and camel milk preparations.

 Fugu; the deadly and delicious fish.

The Dr. Bill Gallagher Junior Chefs’ Forum:

Inaugurated by our Honorary-President-for-Life, Dr. Bill Gallagher, the Junior Chefs Forum will be conducted at the same time as the main congress and will offer some elements of the main congress programme to juniors. The forum is a platform for the young chefs of the world to air their views. The encouragement and development of junior chefs is an important part of the WACS 2008 philosophy.

Although there is a separate programme planned for the junior forum it will be designed so as to converge with the main congress from time-to-time so that the juniors may associate with the senior delegates as much as possible.

In addition to the culinary competition; educational programme, networking and the exchange of ideas and information it will offer workshops and visits to key sites of interest during the period. It is open to all member countries of WACS 2008 each of whom will also be able to send one junior member to participate in the Hans Bauschkens culinary challenge at no cost. Also included will be junior representatives from the ECG. Junior chefs from around the world will be encouraged to attend so as to build international goodwill, and to develop future chefs.

A special dining facility will be part of the Hans Bauschkens culinary challenge so that juniors can sample the meals produced by their colleagues at the competition.

Welcome City Familiarization Tour. A bus tour of Dubai organised through Arabian Adventures.

Coffee Breaks at the Dubai International Showcase.

The Dubai International Showcase will take the form of an exhibition within the congress itself. It will be a select exhibition of companies connected with or interested in the hospitality industry and the culinary arts.

The showcase will operate at key timings throughout the life of the congress. Coffee will be served in the actual exhibition area. Exhibitors will be permitted to feature a coffee table (table & coffee provided by the organizers) at their booth. The Coffee break will be an informal event where the delegates and exhibitors can circulate and intermingle at will. Delegates and exhibitors will be able to network and interact in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The intention is to create a pleasant, social ambiance where goods can be displayed and business unhurriedly discussed at leisure between interested parties.

The Dubai International Showcase Suppliers Exhibition

Full options for booking exhibition space will be released soon. If you are interested in taking space then please contact us and we will register you and send you full details.

Luncheon:

At the Dubai International Showcase each day.

Luncheon will also be served in the actual exhibition area. Exhibitors will be permitted to feature a luncheon table (table, food and all requirements provided by the organizers) at their booth. Luncheon will also be an informal event so that the delegates and exhibitors can circulate and intermingle at will.

Afternoons:

Coffee breaks at the Dubai International Showcase.

Welcome City Familiarization Tour.

Welcome Cocktail Reception 11th May 2008

Venue: Al Mutaqa ballroom at Dubai International Convention Centre

This is a pre-opening event – the first gathering of the congress international delegates. It is designed as an informal event that can be used as an introduction and networking opportunity, or to rekindle old friendships and business contacts.

Small areas of low lounge seating will be available inside the main ballroom area so that older members of the congress can be comfortably seated.

In the main ballroom, the style will be a standing cocktail reception with pass around of drinks and food.

On the perimeters of the room small buffet stations will be set up with local Emirati dishes. Local ladies will cook traditional Emirati items in front of the guests, The chefs of the venue are extremely knowledgeable concerning the local cuisine and shall be on hand to discuss and talk about the food

There will be back ground music on oud and/or tabla.

The Majlis areas of this ball room can be used for official meeting points for the WACS 2008 Executive committee with the Association Presidents from around the world.

There will be a welcome speech by the Guild president welcoming all delegates to the congress, followed by a short speech from the continental director.

Start time 7.30 pm for 8pm, finish time around 10pm. pass around drinks on arrival, hot and cold canapés on buffets /live stations and pass around, with dessert pass around. Waiters and waitress’s in Arabic themed uniforms.

Guide map of the congress venue to be given to attendees as they leave.

WACS 2008 Executive Committee and Sponsors Dinner Tuesday 13th May 2008

This dinner will allow some of the most highly recognized individuals in the world of hospitality to meet and discuss culinary events and share information with the main sponsors of the congress.

The dinner shall be a semi formal affair with a menu dègustation created by the Chef de Cuisine of the Rib room restaurant at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. The Rib room restaurant is renowned for its high quality beef cuts from American and Australia served in an innovative and modern style.

The restaurant and bar for pre dinner drinks shall be exclusively reserved on this night with a capacity of hosting 80 guests on tables of 6 or 8 depending on sponsors’ wishes.

Timing of the dinner shall be 8pm till approximately 11pm, during the course of the evening sponsors shall be able to mingle with the WACS 2008 Executive committee and also top food and beverage professionals from the United Arab Emirates who make up the Executive committee of the Emirates Culinary Guild. There shall also be marshals and other officials from the Emirates Culinary Guild who are from the leading establishments from around the city.

This rare opportunity to forge new alliances and friendships should not be missed by sponsors, delegates and officials. Also in attendance will be a number of the presenters from the official educational program. They will share with diners their experiences and insights into the culinary world.

This dinner will be a culinary highlight of the congress.

It will reflect the multitude of cuisines available in Dubai from the rise of some of the most luxurious hotels in the World.

The landmark for the location of this event will be the iconic twin-towers of Dubai’s Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel. This luxury hotel has been voted best Business hotel in the Middle East and runner up as best business hotel in the world.

The culinary team of Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel has put together a superb selection of modern flavours served in innovative ways to delight the most discerning pallet. The pace at which Dubai has grown is extraordinary; what better way to show the diversity and modern approach of the city that this rapid growth has engendered than through the food and service at this event.

http://www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com/meetings_events

The evening will begin with pre-dinner drinks served in the foyer of the hotel’s impressive Godolphin ballroom. The event will then open into the ballroom proper to reveal an array of manned cooking stands and action stations where the exquisite cuisine will be prepared á la minute for all guests.

There will be occasional seating areas in the main hall and throughout the foyer areas so as to ensure that the more mature members of the delegation can relax in comfort.

Beverages will also be served in the main room with tray service from dedicated bars situated throughout the venue.

This event will be the first real gathering with all the delegates together. It will be a fantastic opportunity for guests to network, make new contacts and renew old friendships.

Music shall be either back ground music, or there is the possibility of having a small jazz band playing.

The Dubai Modern Flavours and Trends dinner will be a unique experience for all concerned. It will be a pleasant experience of excitement and culinary adventure.

 As the guests arrive they will be presented with a dish-dash for men and an abaya for the ladies to wear over their casual cloths to start the fun of the evening.

 At the entrance Ayala dancers will welcome the guests into the area. The guest shall walk through a fort entrance and walk beside a traditional vegetable and spice souk display area.

  On the other side of the alley there will be shops that sell curios and artifacts and perfume from the region for guests to purchase.

  In front of the fort area there will be camels ready to ride, fortune-tellers, weavers and henna artists practicing their traditional crafts.

 Servers will greet guests as they arrive with trays of fresh juices and soft drinks and assorted alcoholic beverages. Served from a large display bar area. Back ground music from Arabic band is playing on the stage.

There will be an opening speech by the President of WACS 2008 and a speech from each of the key sponsors.

Awards for the winners of the Junior Chef Competition will be made, followed by the awards for the winners of the Global Chef.

The buffet will open and the guests will be free to move about at will.

Traditional Shish’a majlis are open and ready to receive guest to sit and enjoy the entertainments from these raised vantage points. Enjoying a pasttime that is unique in all its aspects.

In the centre of each tent 2 belly dancers shall perform on raised platforms and encourage the guests to join in, accompanied by the Arabic band on the stage.

  After the belly dancers, a spectacular fireworks display will be followed by a female Arabic singer.

 Luxury Coaches will convey guests to and from the venue.

The Menu

The menu has been specially designed and will showcase Arabian cuisines and international cuisine to suit the most discerning palates

Spectacular live cooking stations will enhance the Illuminated buffets elaborately decorated with Arabic themes.

There will be special carts with traditional Arabic snacks.

Many food items will be cooked in front of the guests, this will be of great interest to the delegates who are professional chefs, or those interested in how everything is cooked.

Beverages

Full standard bar with beer, red wine, white wine, regular spirits, (excluding champagne and premium sprits), soft drinks, canned juices, mineral water.

Decoration at camp site to include the following:

Specially decorated Shisha Majlis areas Grand fort entrance with flame torches Table set up incl. linen, low Arabic chairs and chair covers Welcome reception display for juices Table centerpieces

Elevated live cooking stations for Bread ovens, tandoori ovens and boiling pots. Tables with low seating with cushions, decorated in Arabic style Guests sit in large tents with high roofs that allow clear site lines to the stage. A total of 3 large A frame tents shall be used for the event, these will accommodate easily 1000 guests.

Also:

Afternoon and evening trips are scheduled throughout the congress. Fish-farming; bio-saline agriculture; desert farming (yes!) and trips to view the ‘World’ and ‘Palm Island” landreclamation projects are planned; as are free periods wherein delegates can relax as they wish: take in the sights and sounds of Dubai; perhaps sample the cuisine and service of its finest restaurants, or chill by the pool, or rave at a nightspot until dawn.

What is WACS 2008 ?

The World Association of Chefs Societies, WACS 2008 , is a non-political, professional organization, dedicated to maintaining and improving the culinary standards of global cuisines. These goals are accomplished through education, training and professional development of its international membership. As an authority and opinion leader on foods, WACS 2008 represents a global voice on all issues related to the culinary profession. It operates in more than 73 member countries and represents over ten million professional chefs. It holds an International biennial Congress.

What is the Emirates Culinary Guild?

The Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG) is the UAE association of professional chefs. It is a nonprofit- making organisation, organised by volunteers dedicated to the advancement of the culinary arts in the UAE.

The guild is approved by and receives moral support from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. The guild is officially mandated to train and deploy the Dubai International Culinary Team.

The broad aims of the ECG are to encourage and inspire junior chefs through training and competition, and to enhance internationally the culinary and hospitality prestige of the UAE. Junior chefs that enter various guild competitions can qualify for inclusion into teams that travel to various countries to represent the ECG in international professional culinary competitions. The Guild also awards bursaries to some competitors to enable them to travel abroad to receive work experience.

In addition to the professional competitions and its relationship with Dubai Tourism, the Guild also liaises with Dubai Municipality and the Dubai Department of Economic Development in the organisation of culinary expositions and amateur cookery competitions held during promotions such as: The Dubai Shopping Festival; The Dubai Summer Surprises promotion and the UAE National Day celebrations.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is the mentor and supporter of the ECG in this endevour. The department will lend its considerable expertise in helping to market and promote the event through its international network of resident offices. (www.dubaitourism.ae)

Communiqué Global is the official publisher for the congress. It will promote the wacs Congress 2008 through the guild’s own magazine, Gulf Gourmet, which is a bimonthly publication. Global Communiqué will also service the 2008 congress website (www.WACS 2008.com) and undertake many aspects of the global marketing and promotional campaign set up through the guild and DTCM.

Dubai World Trade Centre is partner to the ECG in the arrangement of all delegate registration for congress and in-venue activities including the planned supplier exhibition, the culinary competitions and he educational seminars and workshops. (www.dwtc.com).

Congress Solutions Dubai will undertake all delegate accommodation registration; ground handling, meet & greet inward transport and allied procedures. (www.congresssolutions- dxb.com)

Arabian Adventures is the partner for all off-venue activity. It will also care for the spouse and accompanying persons programme, city tours, educational tours, etc. www.arabian-adventures.com

The ECG Steering Committee is a team of industry professionals. It is the main driving force behind the development and implementation of the congress. These committee members will focus on specific activities for the WACS 2008 Congress. Additional expertise will be added as and when required. (www.emiratesculinaryguild.com)