Emirati chef Maryam Al Mansouri made history in the culinary world by becoming the first UAE citizen to win the prestigious ‘Best of Gastronomy’ gold award from France. This achievement highlights her dedication and contributes to the growing accomplishments of Emirati women. Al Mansouri and her husband run the ‘Montauk Boutique Café & Restaurant’, where they serve dishes infused with Arabic spices, which she considers her secret recipe. She uses only the finest, often organic, and carefully chosen ingredients. The award-winning chef launched the restaurant in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and she now has four additional branches, with plans to expand further soon.
Al Mansouri told Khaleej Times, “Montauk, as our guests fondly call it, is a sanctuary for the soul, where the spirit thrives. It embodies family values through the artwork in the restaurant and our presence as a family. Healthy values are promoted through the high-quality dishes made from nutritious ingredients.” Her strong belief in the importance of family is evident in every aspect of her life and work. She has earned many cooking accolades, including being the first Emirati chef to win the ‘Best of Gastronomy’ award in 2024.
Al Mansouri also judges culinary competitions at the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) level, where she evaluates dishes sent to her. Not only does she evaluate the dishes, she also asks about various aspects such as cooking techniques, kitchen cleanliness, restaurant safety procedures, managing challenges, pricing strategies, and minimizing losses. In addition to her culinary achievements, the award-winning chef works in a supervisory role for the Abu Dhabi Government. She holds multiple certifications, including a Master’s Degree in Institutional Excellence, a Master’s Degree in Project Management, and a diploma in Government Accelerators.
From an active childhood to cooking her first dish, Al Mansouri’s journey into the culinary world began with strong support from her environment, which became the foundation of her career. As a mother of six, Maryam makes sure that she spends quality time with her children, from preparing breakfast together to spontaneous family gatherings in the evening, where they share details of their day. With encouragement from Maryam and her husband, their children help out at the restaurant, depending on their interests. Al Mansouri’s children help out only during their free time but they all play roles in the restaurant’s operations.
“When passion turns into a goal, the impossible becomes possible.” Al Mansouri lives by this mantra, and her love for her work is noticeable in everything she does. She perceives pressure as a normal part of life that doesn’t warrant concern. Al Mansouri lives by the saying, “I have a place among the stars above the clouds,” which motivates her every morning. She arranges her priorities in a diary that includes her daily and monthly goals. Al Mansouri aspires to gain global recognition. She is currently working on acquiring a franchise brand, which she has already received requests from many countries.
