A Culinary Journey: Dubai’s Talent in the Maldives
Chef Emanuele De Leo’s career shows significant culinary growth. He served as Sous Chef at L’Olivo at Al Mahara, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab. In 2023, he became Head Chef at Shimmers. There, he leads the kitchen. His menu honours his Sicilian heritage. It also embraces contemporary interpretations of classic Mediterranean cuisine. Under his direction, Shimmers earned recognition from Gault&Millau UAE in 2025. This acknowledges the restaurant’s elevated dining experience and Chef Emanuele’s distinct culinary vision. He focuses on seasonality. He draws inspiration from the freshest market produce. He transforms each ingredient into flavourful, elegant creations.
For his residency at Jumeirah Olhahali Island, Chef Emanuele created a bespoke menu. It fuses Greek influences with his Sicilian roots. He showcases refined coastal flavours and thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients. In true Shimmers style, the evening presents as a series of small, shareable plates. They aim to bring guests together. Highlights include fresh cauliflower salad, zingy tuna tartare, and grilled octopus with Santorini fava. Indulgent mains follow. These include slow-braised beef cheek paired with celery purée and red wine jus. Orzo with red prawns, lemon, and caviar also features. The experience concludes with two desserts: Greek yoghurt ice cream and orange crème brûlée. These offer a refreshing and indulgent finale.
The exclusive dinner experience with Chef Emanuele costs USD 195 plus taxes per person. This converts to approximately AED 716 plus taxes.
