Chef Sara Aqel

28-year-old Palestinian Sara Aqel was born and raised in Jordan and comes from a family who expressed their feelings through food. She discovered from an early age that cooking was her passion and something she wanted to pursue professionally. After graduating from high school at the age of 18, she went on to study at the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Les Roches, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools, with a focus on Culinary Arts and Hotel Management. During her time at culinary school, she was the only student (out of 40 applicants) to be selected for an internship at the prestigious ‘The Hong Kong Jockey Club’ where she excelled. Following her time in Hong Kong, she successfully completed her
studies - holding degrees from Les Roches, as well as the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in Jordan.

Leading Dara Dining by Sara Aqel in Amman/Jordan currently as her first project back home. A Mediterranean restaurant focused on Italian where the community can share a table and be part of building the concept.

Sara aims to showcase Jordan’s best produce and talent by curating a seasonal and sustainable menu that includes her signature dishes and representing the concept regionally and globally by supporting local craftmanship and leading the way to sustainability.

Prior to joining Fi’lia, Sara has worked for a number of renowned establishments in the Middle East La Capitale/ Four Seasons, Al Muntaha/ Burj Al Arab and most notably with Michelin-star crowned Chef Massimo Bottura and his team at Torno Subito, where her passion for Italian cooking was fully ignited and nurtured. She was fortunate to perfect the intricacies of Italian cuisine, whilst adding the essence of her own style of cooking into the mix. Staying true to herself. These are some of the awards she has won in the last three years:

• Caterer magazine Head chef of the year 2021
• One of caterer magazine's best 30 under 30 chefs
• One of caterer magazine's 50 most influential people in F&B
• La Liste1000 1 of the 5 best new restaurants/Chefs globally 2022
• Cosmopolitan ME F&B Arab woman of the year 2022

Here are also some articles written about Chef Sara Aqel.  These are as follows;

• Hotelier: Fi'lia's Sara Aqel: How the SLS Dubai restaurant run by women changed her life
• Robb Report: Sara Aqel wants to lead a new Generation of women chefs across the Middle East
• Gault Millau: Sara Aqel Global executive chef, Fi'lia
• issuu: The renegade Restauranter - Chef Sara Aqel is heading to the first fully female-led restaurant in Dubai
• Michelin: Behind the bib: Fi'lia puts women and sustainability at the heart of what it does
• The National: Chef Sara Aqel of Fi'lia: 'We're doing a great job because we're women, not despite it
• hospitalitynet: Sara Aqel has been appointed Global Executive Chef at Ennismores Fi'lia Restaurant concept in Dubai
• YahooFinance: Sara Aqel wants to lead a new generation of women chefs across the Middle East
• PRNewswire: Ennismore announces Sara Aqel as executive chef of Fi'lia globally
• KhaleejTimes: For Dubai's Michelin chefs, home is where culinary dreams are born
• DUBAI: Dubai Food: Discover Italian Restaurant Fi'lia
• Caterer: Sara Aqel announces new chapter with Mediterranean restaurant in Amman