The Best Chef Awards 2024 Concludes in Dubai, Honouring Excellence: Chef Pedro Pena Bastos Brings Prestigious Two-Knives Award to CURA at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Today on November 6, 2024, the culinary world witnessed an extraordinary gathering as The Best Chef Awards made its much-anticipated Middle East debut in Dubai. Hosted from November 4 to 6, 2024, and supported by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the landmark event celebrated culinary mastery and forward-thinking innovation on a global scale. Among the honourees was chef Pedro Pena Bastos, whose distinguished culinary approach at CURA, at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, earned the celebrated Two-Knives Award — a mark of excellence that places chef Pedro Pena Bastos and CURA at the forefront of international culinary distinction.

This year’s edition, the largest in the history of The Best Chef Awards, drew over 800 culinary professionals, including top chefs, hospitality leaders, journalists, and food enthusiasts from around the globe, making Dubai a focal point for the latest trends in gastronomy. A series of high-profile events brought together the most esteemed figures in global cuisine, with engaging programming under the theme “The Future of Food (R)evolution.”

The awards ceremony concluded the event, celebrating a select group of chefs whose work pushes boundaries and redefines the culinary landscape. Chef Pena Bastos' achievement with the Two-Knives Award highlights the excellence and innovative spirit that CURA embodies, cementing Lisbon's status as a gastronomic hub. This prestigious accolade acknowledges the distinctive flavours, techniques, and commitment to excellence that chef Pedro Pena Bastos and CURA bring to the city’s vibrant culinary scene.

Gala Evening of Culinary Excellence

The Awards Gala also treated guests to a culinary experience like no other. Attendees savoured dishes from a selection of Atlantis Dubai’s world-renowned restaurants, including Ariana’s Persian Kitchen, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Hakkasan Dubai, Jaleo by José Andrés, La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Nobu Dubai, Ossiano, and The Royal Tearoom with Christophe Devoille. 

Commenting at the awards, Chef Pedro Pena Bastos expressed his gratitude, stating, "I am immensely proud to receive this recognition, not only as a chef but on behalf of the entire team at CURA. Maintaining our level of culinary excellence over the years reflects our dedication to consistency and our relentless pursuit of perfection—qualities that align deeply with the esteemed standards of these awards."

Guilherme Costa, General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, added, "the remarkable commitment and exceptional talent of chef Pedro and CURA's team consistently elevate the dining experience to unforgettable heights. This award is a testament to chef Pedro Pena Bastos and the entire team’s relentless effort, hard work, and boundless creativity".

Chef Pedro Pena Bastos Recognition at CURA: A Milestone for Lisbon’s Culinary Scene

Chef Pedro Pena Bastos' Two-Knives Award is a testament to CURA’s dedication to innovative, high-caliber cuisine that embodies the spirit of Lisbon’s rich culinary heritage while embracing modern creativity. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, CURA's elevated approach to fine dining has attracted international acclaim, and this recognition at The Best Chef Awards further solidifies both the restaurant and the city’s status as culinary influencers. Chef Pedro Pena Bastos’s achievement highlights CURA’s role in setting new standards of excellence and reinforces Lisbon’s standing as a must-visit destination for culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

The Best Chef Awards 2024 in Dubai celebrated not only the achievements of chefs like Pedro Pena Bastos but also ignited global conversations on the future of food. By bringing together esteemed chefs, innovators, and industry leaders, the event fostered a spirit of creativity and collaboration that will continue to shape and elevate the world of gastronomy for years to come.

About The Best Chef

Founded with the vision of celebrating and inspiring culinary talent worldwide, The Best Chef serves as a pivotal platform for food enthusiasts to exchange knowledge, discuss current topics, and foster a community passionate about gastronomy.

For more information on The Best Chef please visit: thebestchefawards.com

Instagram: @thebestchefawards

About CURA

Skillful curatorship – curadoria in Portuguese – lies at the heart of CURA, the new restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. Like the timeless Portuguese modern artworks that frame the Hotel’s common areas, each seemingly simple dish reveals layers of complexity to evoke an emotional and sensorial response

On a regular night CURA offers two tasting menus: one of five courses and a more extensive one, of 10 courses, a journey into the flavours of contemporary Portuguese cuisine in the hands of Pena Bastos. 

CURA is open every day from 7:00 to 11:00 pm (last seating at 9:30 pm).  

For reservations contact: +351 21 381 14 01 or Restaurant.Reservations.Lisbon@fourseasons.com.

Follow us on Instagram: @curalisboa