#best mexican restaurant abu dhabi

[yasbaywaterfront]

Fine Dining in Abu Dhabi: A Culinary Adventure Like No Other

 When it comes to indulging in a world-class dining experience, Abu Dhabi stands out as a culinary destination that never fails to impress. Fine dining in Abu Dhabi is an art form, a symphony of flavors that delights the senses and leaves a lasting impression. At Yas Bay, we invite you to embark on a culinary adventure like no other, where every bite is a celebration of taste, elegance, and sophistication.

Unparalleled Gastronomy:

 Abu Dhabi boasts an impressive array of fine dining establishments, each offering a unique culinary journey. From Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden gems, the city caters to every discerning palate. At Yas Bay, we have carefully selected a collection of restaurants that showcase the finest gastronomy in Abu Dhabi. With expert chefs crafting culinary masterpieces using the freshest ingredients, each dish is a work of art that will take you on a remarkable gastronomic voyage.

Exquisite Flavors and Diverse Cuisines:

 Fine dining in Abu Dhabi is a melting pot of flavors and influences from around the world. From authentic Arabic delicacies to contemporary European cuisine, the city's culinary landscape is as diverse as its residents. At Yas Bay, you can explore a plethora of cuisines, each offering a unique and unforgettable dining experience. Indulge in the delicate flavors of Japanese sushi, delight in the aromatic spices of Indian curries, or savor the rich and tender cuts of steak at our upscale steakhouse. Whatever your preference, fine dining in Abu Dhabi promises to satisfy even the most refined palate.

Impeccable Service and Luxurious Ambiance:

 At Yas Bay, we believe that a truly exceptional dining experience extends beyond the food itself. Impeccable service and luxurious ambiance are key elements that elevate fine dining in Abu Dhabi to new heights. Our dedicated staff is committed to providing personalized service, ensuring that every aspect of your dining experience is flawless. From the moment you step into our restaurants, you will be greeted with warmth and attentiveness, making you feel like a valued guest. The elegant and stylish interiors of our dining establishments add to the overall experience, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances your journey of gastronomic indulgence.

Waterfront Dining with Breathtaking Views:

 One of the highlights of fine dining in Abu Dhabi is the stunning waterfront locations that offer breathtaking views. At Yas Bay, our restaurants are strategically situated along the waterfront, allowing you to dine while enjoying panoramic vistas of the Arabian Gulf. Imagine sipping a glass of fine wine as you watch the sun set over the glistening waters, or savoring a gourmet meal with the backdrop of Abu Dhabi's iconic skyline. Our waterfront dining experiences provide the perfect setting for a romantic dinner, a memorable celebration, or a sophisticated gathering with friends and loved ones.

Fine dining in Abu Dhabi is an extraordinary journey that delights the senses and leaves a lasting impression. At Yas Bay, we have curated a collection of exceptional restaurants that showcase the pinnacle of culinary artistry. With a diverse range of cuisines, impeccable service, luxurious ambiance, and breathtaking waterfront views, our fine dining establishments offer an unforgettable experience. Join us at Yas Bay and immerse yourself in the world of fine dining in Abu Dhabi, where every meal becomes a celebration of taste, luxury, and unforgettable moments.

[bestmexicanrestaurantabudhabi]

Taco Tuesday at La Carnita in Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for taco lovers. La Carnita is known for its vibrant and lively atmosphere, and Taco Tuesday adds an extra level of excitement to the dining experience. Every Tuesday, La Carnita offers a special promotion where you can indulge in a variety of delicious and authentic tacos at discounted prices.

At La Carnita, their tacos are a true delight, showcasing the bold flavors and traditional ingredients of Mexican cuisine. From juicy and tender meat options like slow-cooked barbacoa and marinated grilled chicken to flavorful vegetarian choices like roasted cauliflower and spicy black bean, there is something to satisfy every taste preference.

The tacos are made with soft and freshly made corn tortillas, ensuring an authentic and enjoyable eating experience. Each taco is generously topped with a variety of mouthwatering fillings, such as tangy salsa, creamy guacamole, pickled onions, and fresh herbs, adding layers of flavor and texture.

In addition to the delicious tacos, La Carnita also offers a range of tantalizing sides and beverages to complement your meal. You can enjoy their famous street corn, crispy tortilla chips with homemade salsa, and refreshing drinks like Mexican-inspired cocktails or traditional aguas frescas.

[outfitandtrend]

[ad_1] Down at the other end of the complex (you can get there via gondola) is a region called The Beach, where a trio of lower-speed turns allowed for fans to get a slightly longer glimpse of their favorite cars and drivers. There are grandstands at The Beach. Several city blocks' worth of cabanas. As well as the Red Bull Energy Center, one of many exclusive complexes—among them the Ferrari Club, the Silver Arrows Miami Club, the Crypto.com Terrace, the McLaren Race House, and et cetera—filled with Friends of The Brand. The Energy Center provides FOTBs a nice hub from which to watch the action, drink any flavor of Red Bull under the sun (and even some only Willy Wonka has dreamed up), and cheer extra loudly when Red Bull's drivers, the 24-year-old Dutch defending F1 World Champion, Max Verstappen, and his Mexican teammate, Sergio "Checo" Pérez, streaked by. Word among those who've been everywhere is that this venue is a little difficult on viewers, given that the track (via Floridian geological history) is so flat and the stadium so prominent that sightlines are often limited to one small snatch of track. The hospitality centers, then, provide some useful shade, some useful altitude, and some readily adopted sporting allegiances. Everywhere one went, there was music—constant, constant music. In Abu Dhabi, I met a DJ who traveled with the F1 circus, as an in-house music provider of various needs. I thought of him as I stood transfixed for what felt like an hour Friday afternoon watching the DJ at the Energy Station sing over a reggaeton remix of a James Taylor song. For my delirium and his, I blame too much direct sun.Krista SchlueterAll weekend, when the sun went down, dozens if not hundreds of bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and pop-ups in Miami competed for the attention of fans. This is common on an F1 racing weekend, but as with most things, it felt juiced on South Beach. Perhaps the most coveted off-track experience was the $3000-a-head dinner at American Express Carbone Beach, the latest outpost for the Major Food Group experience. In late March, Major Food Group's Jeff Zalazick met with an agency to launch a last-minute event. Six weeks later, they'd built an entire restaurant on the beach at 18th Street, where the aim was nothing short of "the best dinner party you've ever seen,” an organizer told me. Not modern South Beach schlock but sixties rat-pack red-sauce glamor, in the mode of the original Carbone. On Saturday night, I came by for a look. Cocktail hour featured piano instrumentals over hip-hop beats—think the Succession theme song, which was indeed performed at one point. Caviar was kept cold by a two-and-a-half ton ice sculpture. There was a real waft of Baz Luhrmann's Gatsby all about. Taking in the decadence from the foot of the performance stage, I told chef Mario Carbone it looked like a wedding reception on steroids. "Yeah, we do birthday parties and bar mitzvahs now, too," he joked. "You can't just rent most of this stuff, so I own, like, 24 chandeliers now." Each night was different—Andrea Boccelli making people weep into their Caesar salad on Thursday; Wyclef Jean turning the energy all the way in the other direction Friday night. It was—at least when one accounts for the presence of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, David Beckham, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Spike Lee, Patrick Mahomes, Derek Jeter, Michael Bay, Kygo, The Wolf of Wall Street (now The Wolf of South Beach), and the Mayor of Miami—obviously the place to be. When I asked someone how, with dozens and dozens of establishments in Miami doing all they could to be The Place To Be for the weekend, the pop-up was able to assert itself as top dog, I received a shrug: "It's Carbone." [ad_2] Source link

[ericfruits]

What it’s like to go on holiday in Dubai during a pandemic

Viral vacations What it’s like to go on holiday in Dubai during a pandemic

A package deal includes airfare, hotel—and funeral insurance

THE LIFEGUARDS sweating in masks and latex gloves sometimes looked in need of rescue themselves. For much of the week it was 42°C in the midday sun, with the palpable humidity making it seem hotter. One afternoon’s sunbathing was interrupted by a sandstorm that turned the sky grey. “It’s like a dream,” grins a Dutch woman sipping a cocktail by the pool, her ice long since melted.

In normal times jetting off to Dubai in July is an act of masochism. Summer weather is hot enough to bake cookies on a parked car (as YouTube videos prove). Citizens and well-paid expats flee to cooler climes. Five-star hotel rooms that cost 1,000 dirhams ($272) a night in high season go for a third of that.

These are not normal times. Dubai allowed tourists back on July 7th, one of the first destinations to open its doors after covid-19 slammed them shut. Visitors are welcome from anywhere with only a coronavirus test; from August 1st arrivals from hard-hit countries will need two. Officials call it a calculated risk: their economy needs travellers. Last year Dubai took in 17m tourists, whose spending made up 12% of GDP.

Tourists are not exactly flooding in yet. A rental-car clerk at the airport signs up only one customer a day. Most hotel guests are residents on “staycations”. Still, a trickle of foreign visitors desperate for a trip—a diplomat posted in Bangladesh, a group of women from Ukraine—arrived in July to endure the heat.

Masks are mandatory in public, with a 3,000-dirham fine for scofflaws. Some hotels have done away with valet parking, making guests walk (quelle horreur!) to car parks. Diners may be shamed into skipping a fourth round of crab legs at lavish buffets that are no longer self-service. Bars may serve alcohol only with meals, ostensibly to stop people from lingering in high-risk settings (in practice a lonely bowl of edamame can suffice as a “meal”). At the door to a seaside Mexican restaurant, a British couple wondered if their lobster-pink sunburns would trip the infrared thermometers used to check diners’ temperatures.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which Dubai is a part, has logged about 60,000 cases of covid-19. At 6,000 per 1m people it ranks in the top quintile of all countries. But the death toll, at 35 per 1m, is well below most Arab and European countries’. Authorities say 90% of cases are asymptomatic. The number may reflect one of the world’s best testing regimes. As of July 29th the UAE had conducted 4.9m tests, equal to nearly half its population, the highest figure per person bar tiny Luxembourg.

Still, other emirates are less gung-ho about reopening. The airport in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, is shut to non-residents. But Dubai feels its hospitals can handle any imported cases. Emirates, the national airline, offers free health insurance for travellers who catch covid-19. For holidays that do not quite go to plan, the policy will stump up €1,500 ($1,750) towards funeral costs.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline "Viral vacations"

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[dalemeetsworld]

Chef Anthony Bourdain once said, "If you're young, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel- as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them wherever you go." Those words inspire me and impacted my whole being. I'm 25 and fortunate to have traveled the world and absorb what it has done to me. Through it, I realized that traveling is a better investment than more material things. Why? It's because there are so many life lessons you can learn from it. I can tell you some of my favorites.

1. IT IS OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

There is nothing more like diving out of your comfort zone to make you realize that you are a newbie in life no matter what your age is.

When I was younger, middle eastern countries used to be terrifying and scary to me. Maybe because the way these countries are portrayed by media can sometimes be negatively biased. But that has all changed when I visited Abu Dhabi and experience it first hand.

It's exhilarating to forget what's familiar for a bit and expand your horizons. Once you do, there is no better feeling than taking on unfamiliar territory and making it familiar. All it takes is pulling the trigger, and you'll come home with endless stories.

2. IT DE-STRESSES YOU

It helps us break our behavioural patterns when we feel like too many days look the same. It's also a great way to add a new dimension to your life, which makes the hustle bearable.

As cliche as it sounds, sometimes we don't know how to handle issues and what we want to do, until we step away from our family, friends, workmates and tune in to our inner voice. Travel gives you the space to just be you and think alone in a way you could never do back home. It's so much easier to deal with issues and solve problems when you look at them from the outside. It gives you a lot of time to think without destructions and make healthy decisions.

3. YOU GET TO TASTE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD

Life is too short to eat the same type of food every single day. Imagine there's a book with thousands of pages and you read over and over the same first page never turning it once, that's how most people live their lives. I never thought that pelmini, sushi and kimchi would become some of my favorite dishes in the world until i tried them country to country. Try a restaurant serving ethnic food and avoid the touristic ones with equivalent food from home.

As a cook, I cannot go to a restaurant in a foreign country without mentally reverse engineering the food that I am eating. Many times your waiter will tell you the recipe. Afterwards, I try them out in my kitchen. Not only it gives me the pleasure of eating the food, but also helps me become a better cook.

4. IT IS A MORE ADVANCED FORM OF EDUCATION

Traveling is like condensed education. So many scales and new forms of interconnected knowledge merged together in a travel experience. It gives you a detail of insights whether about Geography, History, International events or even Language which others only study in school books. It makes you realize how much you don't know, and it opens your mind and broads your perspective. These absorbed information will stick around a lot longer than what you learn from school. After all, experience is the best teacher of all.

5. YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE

The best part of traveling is the people you meet along the way. I've found out that it is extremely rare to come across another traveler who isn't eager to hear your stories, where you've been, or where did you come from. You listen to their stories, tell yours, share the same interests, hear various opinions and experience things together with people.

Some of my favorite friendships are the ones I found from traveling. To name a few: with a Mexican guy called Arnold and a Danish old man named Ben. During a carnival in Veracruz, a man named Arnold approached me and asked stuff about my camera, turns out he is a blogger from Tampico who came to celebrate the carnival. He gave me a liter of local beer and took me to his group of friends and partied all night. The other one is with Ben, who offered me a lift to Esbjerg downtown because he was worried that I'd be walking longer than i thought. And the list goes on. Who would have thought that simple situations like these help you build relationships that would last a lifetime.

It is a beautiful thing to say that you're friends with people around the planet.

6. YOU START TO UNDERSTAND OTHER CULTURES

Living somewhere completely different gives you a new perspective that's different from just hearing or reading about it. People fear what they don't know or don't understand. Just because someone lives in another geography than you do, their skin color is different, and they believe different religion than you, it doesn't mean they don't share the same emotions. When you travel, you'll find that most people are good and welcoming, and they'll share with you what they have in order to make you feel good.

The act of being somewhere new allows you to fully immerse yourself and appreciate that new place, from the people, the language, the clothing, and everything in between. Taking the time to interact with the local culture is the way to experience and appreciate it fully. Again, this can't be taught, only experienced.

7. YOU'RE EXPOSED TO NEW IDEAS

Whether you are staring at a menu realizing you have no idea what the items are, or jumping on a bus that you hope will get you somewhere familiar, traveling is exciting. It forces you to do new things, and it's gonna be easy after the first couple of times which eventually makes you learn the system. Being in new territory will probe new ideas and curiosities- what the local customs are, the local food, what language is spoken and religious practices. It gives you a better understanding, and therefore turning these curiosities into discoveries. This will then make you hungry to learn more, ask questions and completely immerse yourself into a new place.

8. IT MAKES YOU MORE INDEPENDENT

One goal in life is to be independent. Meaning, if it comes to it, you're own set of tools is enough to keep you going. Most parents are overprotective and do not allow their children to face the hardships in life until it's too late. You grow up in a bubble, and the reality hits you like a brick on the face. When you travel, you will learn one of life's most important skills, self reliance.

I remember the first time I visited Venice, I was alone by myself, only got 2 euros in my pocket (I had enough cash but in a different currency which isn't acceptable in the local area), without an internet connection and even got lost, since the city was pretty sketchy. It didn't bother me. Instead, you'll find it more valuable. Nothing like being lost in Venice where every corner has beautiful little bridges that serves you a very peaceful view. One's paddling the Gondola, while some walks slowly and taking their time, with their eyes mesmerized. You have to trust yourself and understand that life's circumstances aren't bad at all and sometimes it'll lead you to somewhere even more beautiful.

9. IT FORCES YOU TO BE MORE SOCIAL

People says we're always connected because of how technology develops. But a digital world is an invisible world. Sometimes, people lack of personality because they no longer go out to form one. Due to our indoor existence, we are forming our personalities based on almost the same type of pattern provided on the internet, until we become products of what companies wants us to be. When we travel, we get to have real life conversations, talking to people we don't know and learning from them. Our connection should be invested in real people, from our neighborhood to the world.

10. THERE WILL BE NO MORE WARS

It's only when you travel that you will realize how big and diverse our world really is, but also how similar we are as one people. What if world war III would happen. The people that will be harmed are the people you became friends with, the people you met in the cafe, or in carnival, people who gave you a lift, gave you recipes, people who smiled at you on the streets, or the receptionists who are very courteous, the children you saw on their way to school because they have dreams. You will realize it's never going to be okay to see them injured or get killed. I think, even world leaders would feel the same.

People are our most treasured gifts in this life. Go meet them. Let them see we are all one too. If we could do that, we can change the world. One traveling peace maker at a time.

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

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[savetopnow]

2018-03-09 13 TRAVEL now

TRAVEL

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[zayzaycom]

MEET THE 15 CONTESTANTS SELECTED ON TELEMUNDO’S “MASTERCHEF LATINO” READY TO COMPETE THIS SUNDAY, MAY 26 AT 7PM/6C

Host Gaby Espino and Renowned Chefs Claudia Sandoval, Ennio Carota and Benito Molina Welcome the 15 Contestants to the Kitchen in a Night Full of Drama, Emotion and Stress

Their Inspiring Stories and Dreams will be Discovered Week After Week, Until One of Them is Crowned with the Coveted Title of MasterChef Latino

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MIAMI – May 20, 2019 – Gaby Espino, host of the second season of Telemundo’s “MasterChef Latino,” together with celebrity chefs Claudia Sandoval, Ennio Carota and Benito Molina, kicked off the much-anticipated culinary competition that culminated with three teams made up of a total of 15 amateur cooks ready to compete for the $100,000 cash prize and the coveted title of MasterChef. This coming Sunday, May 26, at 7pm/6c, contestants will enter the state-of-the-art kitchen for the first time and face the first three challenges of the culinary competition. At the end of the night, one of them will be eliminated.

The team of renowned Chef Benito Molina includes:

JOHN PARDO, a 45-year-old Venezuelan resident of Miami, Florida with a shocking and inspiring story. When he was 21, he was shot in the back and left as a paraplegic. Instead of leaving him isolated and powerless, this incident made him strong and his wheelchair has never been an obstacle to reach his goals. John is the star of “El Camino de Santiago,” a documentary that inspires people with conditions like his. As a strong warrior in life, his next goal is to win the MasterChef title and dedicate it to his mother and grandmother, who cultivated his passion for cooking.

MIRIAM PALOMINO, a 75-year-old adorable Cuban, resident of Miami, Florida, the oldest and most experienced participant this season. A native of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, she moved to the United States in 1967 with her husband, with whom she still lives and enjoys children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Currently, Miriam is retired and dedicates herself fully to her home and loves to pamper her family with recipes inherited from her grandmother and mom. With a sparkling personality and an exceptional sense of humor, this determined grandma is ready to conquer the hearts of fans and the “MasterChef Latino” kitchen.

DUBRASKA WAWI, a 47-year-old Venezuelan who currently lives in Houston, Texas. For this multitalented lawyer, her true love has always been the kitchen. Because of her husband’s profession, Dubraska has had the opportunity to live in different places like Dubai, Mexico, India and Abu Dhabi. This has helped her to develop a refined and diverse palate within the culinary art. Although Dubraska is an active philanthropist and busy being the mother of four children, she wants to go after her old dream and become a professional chef.

DENNIS ESCALANTE, a 57-year-old Mexican from Los Angeles, California, who learned to cook with his grandmothers and aunts. When he moved to the United States, this native of Yucatan, Mexico worked as a waiter at important events like The Golden Globes and Emmys award galas, where he had the opportunity to serve Hollywood stars. His dream is to win “MasterChef Latino” and honor the memory of his mother, whom he recently lost.

NANCY ORENTES, a 30-year-old Salvadoran from Los Angeles, California. With an extroverted personality, Nancy opens her way into kitchens, conquering palates with her delicious desserts. She also loves to create colorful jewelry inspired by fruits, vegetables and other food products. Nancy’s life has not been easy, which has made her a fearlessand versatile woman who likes to lead; perfect qualities to confront this demanding culinary competition.

The team of the beloved Chef Claudia Sandoval includes:

MARIA LUISA BALBUENA, a 38-year-old Mexican, resident of Los Angeles, California who is a single mother and works as a security guard at an oil refinery. Mother of two children, aged 10 and 13, this charismatic participant decided to enter the competition to teach her children the importance of going after a dream. She confesses that she has always done everything for others and this is the first time she has thrown herself into pursuing her own adventure and personal goal.

NOELIÁN ORTIZ, a 35-year-old Puerto Rican from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, who proudly calls herself the “Plus Size” girl. Her job is to train beauty queens to develop confidence in themselves. She decided to enter the competition for her daughter and to inspire other women who have gone through difficulties in life. After her divorce, Noelián lived a period of depression that led her to lock herself up in her own world. Fortunately, her sister helped her get ahead and in that process, her love for cooking was born.

KING SAM CHANG, a 26-year-old young Venezuelan and resident of Miami, Florida who studies hospitality. His father, born in Hong Kong, China, taught him about cooking and is the reason why he wants to continue with that legacy. After the death of his father, his goal is to own a restaurant in which he wants to mix Asian and Venezuelan cuisine. Winning “MasterChef Latino” would bring him even closer to that dream.

JAVIER SEAÑEZ, a 36-year-old Mexican living in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He moved to the Caribbean island because he fell in love with the person who would become his husband. Although his marriage ended in divorce, he continues living on the island and is working on developing his business of handmade tortillas. His dream is to show the world that Mexican cuisine is not just about tacos, reason that inspired him to enter “MasterChef Latino.”

SARA ORDOÑEZ, a 33-year-old industrial engineer who lives in Miami, Florida, was a beauty queen in a pageant in her native Colombia. Recently, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, a situation that motivated her to change her eating habits and create healthy and nutritious recipes. Today, she has become a mentor to help transform other people’s lives through food. After her therapy, she calls the turban that she now wears with pride, the crown that God gave her after surviving the terrible disease. Her arrival to “MasterChef Latino” is part of her dream of becoming an inspiring voice for Latina women.

The team of veteran Chef Ennio Carota includes:

AURELIO ROJAS, 26-year-old Dominican resident of the Bronx, New York, who moved to the United States seven years ago. The young man, who currently works as a bartender, confesses that he had a very difficult childhood in his native Dominican Republic due to being overweight. His life was transformed when he decided to change his eating habits and establish an exercise routine that allowed him to achieve his ideal weight. Aurelio feels a great passion for cooking, something he acquired after traveling and discovering other cultures around the world.

SERGIO PEREZ, a 44-year-old, native of Mexico, Michoacán, is a waiter in a catering company in the Mexican neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Sergio, who comes from a humble family, is married and is the father of twins, one of them with cerebral palsy. This hard-working man from Michoacán is an example for the Mexican community of Chicago and saysthat despite the obstacles that sometimes life presents, he feels he is a blessed and fortunate man.

LAUREN ARBOLEDA, a 28-year-old Colombian resident of Miami, Florida. She grew up in a farm in her native Colombia where they cultivated organic and healthy foods. Her dream was always to be a chef, but her parents did not allow her to fulfill her goal. She moved to Miami, where she studied marketing and met her husband. Now they are parents of a beautiful 3-year-old boy. She is the author of “Pregnancy from the Heart” and has a blog called “Food from the Heart,” where she shares delicious healthy recipes and tips for a better life.

DAVID NOCHEBUENA, a 52-year-old Mexican resident of Miami, Florida, a technology engineer and entrepreneur. He has always dreamt of having his own restaurant, which is why he decided to audition for “MasterChef Latino.” Married for over 20 years, David is a tireless traveler and an enthusiastic researcher of international cuisine. This has allowed him to know and learn countless recipes from all over the world.

ANGEL CORA, a 27-year-old from Fajardo, Puerto Rico. While very young and studying engineering, he discovered that he was going to be a dad. For many years he only dedicated himself to work hard for his two little girls. However, love gave him another chance to meet his current girlfriend, Marina, who also has two children. Together they have a great family and share their love for cooking. That’s why they both competed for the last apron of the culinary competition. Now that he got it, Angel will do everything to become the next “MasterChef Latino.”

Fans of “MasterChef Latino” can join renowned Chef James Tahhan of Telemundo’s morning program “Un Nuevo Día,” who will bring the latest information, exclusive behind-the-scenes access and practical cooking tips, as well as delicious recipes at the “MasterChef Latino” School. Viewers can follow him on Telemundo.com and through the official social media accounts onInstagram, Facebook and Twitter: @MCLatinoTV using the hashtag #MCLatinoTV.

“MasterChef Latino” is produced by Endemol Shine Boomdog, creators of “MasterChef,” the number one reality cooking competition in the world. Telemundo’s version brings together a great diversity of cultures, food and flavors from all over Latin America, where the best amateur/non-professional cooks from around the United States will do everything possible to become a professional chef.

MEET THE 15 CONTESTANTS SELECTED ON TELEMUNDO’S “MASTERCHEF LATINO” MEET THE 15 CONTESTANTS SELECTED ON TELEMUNDO’S “MASTERCHEF LATINO” READY TO COMPETE THIS SUNDAY, MAY 26 AT 7PM/6C…

[bestmexicanrestaurantabudhabi]

The restaurant has a daily menu and also offers takeaway services. Enjoy the Mexican flavours of tacos, quesadillas, burritos and much more, along with fried plantains or nachos and esquites.

If you are in Abu Dhabi, look no further. Lacarnita is the best Mexican restaurant in Abu Dhabi. Situated on the Yasbay waterfront, it is family-friendly and has a great atmosphere.

[bestmexicanrestaurantabudhabi]

little Things About Mexican Food and Restaurant

It's no secret that I love Mexican food. In fact, when my husband and I were planning our trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we looked at the map and noticed that Mexican restaurant is quite close to Abu Dhabi. We were pretty excited about this because we thought it would be fun to have an authentic Mexican meal while we were there. We were sorely disappointed to find that the UAE has very few and Best Mexican restaurants Abu Dhabi.

The first night we arrived in Abu Dhabi, we decided to go out for dinner. We had a hard time finding a place that was open after 9pm, but eventually found one called Lacarnita mexican restaurant (the little fox). The food was pretty good, but it certainly wasn't what I was looking for. For starters, it had nothing on chips and salsa—our favorite part of a Mexican meal! The restaurant was decorated with rugs and pillows from all over the Middle East, which made sense because Abu Dhabi is on the Persian Gulf. When the waiter brought us our menus, he asked if we'd like Arabian coffee.

[bestmexicanrestaurantabudhabi]

Lacarnita Is the Best Mexican Restaurant Abu Dhabi

I have always had a love for Mexican food. So when I found out that there was the best Mexican restaurant in Abu Dhabi, I knew I needed to check it out.

I had never been to this restaurant before and didn't know what to expect. So right away, the first thing that comes to anyone's mind is the price of the food. Thankfully, even though they are a bit more expensive than other Mexican restaurants in Abu Dhabi, they are still not too bad as compared to other restaurants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The menu consists of different sections such as appetizers, salads, tacos, burritos, quesadillas and many more. Also, the portions are quite big and are usually enough for sharing with a friend or two or three.

The food itself is really good and tastes just like how it does back home in Mexico. The fish tacos were pretty amazing and so was the meat burrito with rice and beans. Although nothing was particularly out of this world for me personally, everything was good nonetheless.

The service at the restaurant was pretty good as well; our waiter kept checking on us from time to time and refilled our drinks when they ran low. He also answered any questions we had regarding their menu items. 

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/3910UoG via IFTTT

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/36YeqYm via IFTTT

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2Qb6zQp via IFTTT

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

from Blogger https://ift.tt/2ZgC1AN via IFTTT

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Million-Dollar Prize Winners Hope to Change the Face of Global Tourism

A team of Mexican entrepreneurs were the winners of the 2019 Hult Prize -- a $1 million award presented each year to aspiring young visionaries from around the world who are creating businesses with a positive social impact.

This year's contest focused on global youth unemployment and attracted more than 250,000 participants from around the world.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who’s been a major supporter of the Hult Prize since its inception in 2009, announced the winners.

"These young people are our best hope for the future,” Clinton said. “Look at them! They are from all over the world. They are happy to be together. They think what they have in common is more important then what divides them."

Rutopia

Rutopia, the winner, connects tourists with indigenous communities in rural areas of Mexico.

Mexican travel start-up Rutopia has teamed up with Airbnb to offer visitors unique travel experiences in rural areas of Mexico. (Courtesy - Rutopia)

"It feels great! We are very excited and we cannot wait to come back to Mexico and share these with all the other people in Rutopia,” said Emiliano Iturriaga, who accepted the award along with three of his team members.

He also said it was a win for all the people they work with in the local communities.

Iturriaga describes Rutopia as an engine that empowers indigenous youth to design and sell trips online, while making it easy for travelers to find authentic cultural experiences.

"We're turning unemployed youth into successful touristic entrepreneurs in their own villages,” he said.

The company is now collaborating with Airbnb to create eco-friendly, immersive travel experiences.

Business as a force for good

Ahmad Ashkar founded the Hult Prize Foundation in 2009, to inspire students on university campuses around the world to think differently about business, he said.

"I was an investment banker, the child of refugees, who felt unfulfilled with their own life and my contribution to society,” he said. “So I felt young people had to choose: be good or be cold-hearted investment bankers. So I created The Hult Prize as a platform to equip them, arm them, and then deploy capital to these young people and their ideas; capital that can help them change the world."

A social entrepreneur himself, Ashkar feels he's doing his part toward that goal. He's the founder of Falafel Inc., a Palestinian-inspired small-food business in Washington, D.C., with a cause.

Falafel Inc. in Washington, D.C. uses some of the proceeds from its Palestinian-inspired falafel sandwiches to help employ and feed refugees. (Julie Taboh/VOA)

“With every dollar you spend in our restaurant, we help feed, employ and empower refugees," Ashkar said. “I'm proud to say we fed more than a quarter-million refugees since launching Falafel Inc. around the world.”

Diego's story

Diego Sandoval first heard about the Hult Prize when he was a sophomore in high school. He then became involved with the program during his sophomore year of university at NYU Abu Dhabi, bringing the Hult Prize competition to his university campus.

Diego Sandoval with his mentor Ahmad Ashkar at Boston Regional, 2017. (Courtesy - Diego Sandoval)

"That led to a series of internships with the Hult Prize accelerator program, where the best 50 teams get together over six weeks to compete and build their businesses," he said.

"The accelerator program brings in 200 students from around the world from over 30 countries," Sandoval said. "And I had the privilege of sitting down with every participant, every competitor, to study the social networks behind their business growth. And so as part of the Social Research branch of network science, I was able to investigate that social capital that we have embedded in the Hult Prize ecosystem."

The experience gave him the opportunity to understand the message of what the Hult Prize stands for he said. "It really aims to inspire students to change the trajectory of their careers from a traditional, conventional path to a more entrepreneurial and more passion-driven, mission-driven career."

Winners circle

Previous Hult Prize winners have included people like Mohammed Ashour, co-founder and CEO of the Aspire Food Group, which harvests crickets as a source of protein to feed the world.

And a winning start-up team from India called NanoHealth, devoted to bringing health care to India's urban slums.

"We have companies in agriculture, in fishing, in youth unemployment, from Palestine to Zimbabwe," Ashkar, of the Hult Foundation, said. "We've got over 25,000 students who organize programs across a hundred countries and 2,500 staff and volunteers.

"It's just been a humbling experience to build this movement,” he said.

Hult Prize 2020

The theme for the 2020 Hult Prize is the issue of climate change.

For would-be contestants, Rutopia's Iturriaga offered advice: "The important thing is that you really care about the problem. You don't build a business and then make the impact, you first see what's your passion, what do you want to solve in the world, and then you build a business around it."

Tina Trinh contributed to this report from New York City.

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