Nestled in the busy kitchen and amongst the vibrant flavours of Mediterranean restaurant Oii, emerges a rising star - Rigers Cuka, the recipient of MICHELIN Guide Abu Dhabi 2024’s Young Chef Award. His journey to becoming a chef - shaped by dedication, resilience and a few surprise career pivots - has propelled him to new accolades thanks to his commitments to creativity and culinary excellence.
Upon receiving the Young Chef Award in December 2023, chef Rigers reflects on the significance of the moment stating, "Winning this award was an incredible moment for me. It was a culmination of dedication, hard work and perseverance that fills me with immense gratitude and pride.”
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Growing up in Albania, where a reverence for fresh, quality ingredients is ingrained, chef Rigers traces the roots of his culinary passion to his upbringing. Despite initially navigating Oii’s front of house, fate led him to the kitchen's helm when Oii’s ex-head chef left his position and Rigers needed to stand in. "That is where I found the passion that has been hiding back for many years," he reveals. “I had to cook, create recipes, adjust old ones, but most importantly maintain the quality and consistency,” he continues.
In the face of adversity, chef Rigers embraced the new challenge (balancing not just his new role, but his old one, too) and consequently discovered his true talent. The Young Chef Award is given to a young chef with exceptional skill and great potential, as well as their contribution to the world of gastronomy. Chef Rigers has been recognised not only for his great cooking, but for his proven managerial skills well beyond his years.
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So, what makes a superb chef according to the winner himself? Passion, consistency and leadership, he says. “A great chef is someone who has passion for what he does. Everyone knows how to chop, bake and make a plate look good, but the secret ingredient which every chef must add is their passion. It’s the ability to stay consistent no matter what challenges or disruptions he may face along his journey and a great chef should be a great leader in the kitchen - the person that creates and maintains harmony with his team.”
Stepping into such a high-pressure position has not been without its challenges for chef Rigers but he claims there’s something to learn from every obstacle that his team faces. “With all that is happening around the world at the moment, we have had shortages in ingredients,” he says, reflecting on the multiple recipe adaptations he’s made due to the recent global supply chain disruptions. But, undeterred, he states “hey, I am always up for a challenge.”
What keeps guests returning to Oii time and again? Beit service or ambience, according to chef Rigers, the answer lies in a single word: consistency. "The only thing that keeps customers coming back is consistency," he affirms, “no matter what, we pledge and pride ourselves on consistency.”
Having been with Oii since its inception in 2022, Chef Rigers envisions a future for Oii that grows along with his own. "I will not stop until I expand Oii locally and internationally,” he declares. “I believe the whole world needs to see what we do, to try our food, drinks and the whole experience.” A brand clearly very close to his heart, he’s devoted to sharing its unique blend of food, service and atmosphere with the world thanks to a recently refreshed motivation.
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“Winning this award has motivated me even further to continue pushing boundaries, striving for excellence and making meaningful contributions.”
