Chef Hady Nabil ( Instagram A/c: hady_nabil ) is an Egyptian chef with over ten years of professional culinary expertise. He was born in the United Arab Emirates and lived there for part of his early years before relocating to Egypt, where he attended kindergarten through preparatory school. He later went back to the UAE to finish his secondary education before returning to Egypt to continue his studies in culinary arts and hotel management.
He has collaborated with top hospitality brands and luxury properties both domestically in the United Arab Emirates and internationally throughout his career. He has received recognition at events like La SIAL Abu Dhabi and Hospitality Salon Culinaire, as well as numerous culinary prizes, including the Best Arabic Chef Award in 2018 and several gold medals in esteemed culinary contests.
Participating in a Guinness World Record attempt while employed at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, when his crew helped create over 150 different desserts, was one of his career’s most memorable moments.
He currently holds the position as Head Chef at FALWA Restaurant with pride. He collaborates with Chef Faisal Al Harmoodi, the first Emirati chef to be recognized by Michelin. As part of this project, he can contribute to a concept that honors Emirati tradition while embracing modern culinary innovation.
Q.) What cooking philosophy do you follow?
Chef Hady: Respecting ingredients, upholding culinary traditions, and consistently innovating are the cornerstones of my cooking philosophy. Food should, in my opinion, convey a tale. Each dish should have a distinct character, a purpose, and an emotional bond with the guest. Great cooking is based on simplicity, balance, and quality. My objective is always to use food to create unforgettable experiences while adhering to the origins and traditions of each dish.
Q.) How does it make you feel to be the only well-known chef in your family?
Chef Hady: I’m honored and appreciative. My culinary career began at home, despite the fact that I am the only professional chef in my family. My passion for cooking was encouraged by my mother, grandmother, and other family members. They taught me a lot of traditional recipes and methods, which I then combined with my professional training and international experience. Their encouragement and faith in me provided me the courage to follow my dreams and build my career.
Q.) Could you please describe your experience during military service?
Chef Hady: I played a variety of roles during my military service in Egypt. Like many young Egyptians, I served my country through military and security duties that called for discipline, responsibility, commitment, and teamwork.
I learned important life lessons from my military experience that are applicable to many professions. It reinforced my character, improved my ability to concentrate under pressure, sharpened my attention to detail, and taught me how to use resources wisely and minimize waste.
These lessons still have an impact on my leadership style and work ethic in the kitchen.
Q.) Describe the moment you won the Best Arabic Chef award.
Chef Hady: One of my greatest career achievements was winning the 2018 Best Arabic Chef Award. The fact that the title was won after three days of competition with numerous challenges that tested various culinary abilities made it even more memorable.
In Arabic cooking competitions, it is regarded as one of the most challenging titles. It was my first culinary competition in the UAE, which added to the challenge. It was difficult and extremely stressful to compete against skilled chefs in such a competitive environment.
I felt that years of effort, sacrifice, and commitment had finally paid off as my name was revealed as the winner. I will always be grateful to my parents, siblings, and other family members who supported me along the way. They will always own that achievement just as much as I do.
I was inspired to compete and promote Arabic cuisine at the top level throughout my career after winning the title.
Q.) How do you stay up to date with the latest culinary trends?
Chef Hady: I am constantly learning through professional networking, culinary competitions, industry journals, international chefs, training programs, and social media platforms. I like researching international culinary trends and modifying them to suit local tastes. In my line of work, learning never ends, and I think every chef should continue to learn throughout their career.
Q.) What qualities do you think are necessary for becoming a successful chef ?
Chef Hady: Success requires a combination of passion, discipline, patience, consistency, humility, and ongoing learning. A chef needs to be prepared to put forth a lot of effort, take constructive criticism, manage a staff, and always strive for improvement. Technical proficiency is vital, but what really make a career successful are character, commitment, and perseverance.
Q.) What guidance would you provide a young student of culinary arts?
Chef Hady: Never stop learning, and don’t be scared to begin from the bottom. I started my career while working long hours, learning, and overcoming several obstacles. The amount of information I needed to study often overwhelmed me, but persistence made a difference.
Keep in mind that success is established one day at a time, be humble, respect every position in the kitchen, and learn from every chef you meet. Above all, have confidence in yourself despite what others may think.
Every great chef begins as a beginner, and every obstacle presents a chance to improve.
Interview By: Rida Khan (Aviation Author)
Instagram A/c: aviationauthor.ridakhan
