With so many restaurants to try in Dubai, chefs are the reason behind running a successful restaurant as well as making the delicious dishes we enjoy.
Chef Nicholas Shadbolt, Complex Executive Chef at Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, has been in the culinary world since 1983.
Acquiring experience all over the world including Hong Kong, Beirut, Vietnam, Macao and more, Chef Nicholas has now set camp in the restaurants of Dubai.
With his new title of Complex Executive Chef at Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection, Chef Nicholas will lead all culinary operations from food quality to food presentation and will offer his exquisite culinary mastery at the restaurants.
How did you get started in the food industry?
Well, I love food and cooking and been my passion since I was a child. While my friends would play with action figures, I would play with my kitchen set. As I got older, I got more and more sure about what I wanted to do, so I followed my dream of learning professional cooking and enrolled at Harlow Technical College in Essex, United Kingdom while working and showing off my culinary skills at Dukes Hotel, which was one of the local boutique hotels.
What is your earliest cooking memory?
My earliest memory is with my mother back home when I was maybe 5 or 6 years old. Christmas was my favourite time of the year and Mum and I used to bake cookies, cakes, bread and so much more, you name it, we have probably baked it together. I learnt all my cooking skills from her, as she is a great cook. I remember us always covered in flour or chocolate and being messy. Those were the days!
What is your favourite dish from your country?
I actually have 2 favourite dishes, one being the famous shepherd’s pie and the second rhubarb crumble. Rhubarb crumble because I can make it according to my mood, if I feel like having something sweet or savoury and shepherd’s pie is just comfort food made from pastry cuts and roast meat combined. I like the mix of sweet and savoury together.
What is the one go-to and easy snack you love making for midnight cravings?
Even though I am a chef, midnight cravings should be easy and fast to make. Hence my go-to snack is a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. My kids love it too, especially when we are sneaking into the kitchen middle of the night and trying not make a lot of noise!
What is the one raw ingredient you cannot cook without from your country?
Potato is so versatile to use and what can you not make out of potato!
What is the best dish to try at your restaurant?
Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection offers multiple dining options which cover all tastes and international cuisines, from Mexican, Italian, Turkish, British pub fare, American bar food, Arabian cuisine, in addition to steak house and French brasserie. We recently introduced our Kosher kitchen at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, one of the first hotels to introduce Kosher food. But my personal favourite is Ribs and Brews! Why don’t you come to try and find your favourite?
.jpg)
Chef Nicholas Shadbolt
Complex Executive Chef
Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection
04-4373333