He’s won Michelin stars for his restaurants, has charmed us on MasterChef and has created meat dishes that are so divine he’s turned vegetarians into carnivores, as far as celebrity chefs go Marco Pierre White is pretty much up there.

So when the British star rocked up to Dubai to promote his new book Essentially Marco (why call it anything else?) we had the rare opportunity to enjoy his company not once but twice during his visit.

Read: Grilled Scallops Recipe From Marco Pierre White’s Wheeler’s

First Marco Pierre White was a guest speaker at the region’s prestigious Business Traveller Middle East Awards, then he hosted a VIP lunch at Bateaux Dubai.

marco pierre white, Essentially Marco

Marco Pierre White hosted a VIP luncheon on Bateaux Dubai

White was quick to praise Dubai during his journey through the emirate, especially the foodie scene. “I am fascinated by it,” he said in an interview with What’s On.

“Every time I come to Dubai, the city changes,” he added, admiring the fast pace in which the emirate is advancing. “I think Sheikh Mohammed is a genius – to have had this vision and to create this incredible place. The number of restaurants has increased exponentially, and that’s no bad thing. The more you do the more you attract. It’s a really clever place.”

marco pierre white, Essentially Marco

There were vast queues of fans at Marco’s book signing for Essentially Marco

While the chef has enjoyed success in the UAE – and judging from the queues at his book signing, at Motivate Books and Kinokuniya, that success looks set to continue – he regrets the region won’t play a part of his biopic.

Read: Emirates Woman Approved Recipes – You’re Welcome!

That’s right, Ridley Scott has bought the rights to make a movie based on White’s life and Michael Fassbender has been tipped to play the outspoken chef.

marco pierre white, Essentially Marco

Marco takes time to take a selfie with his fans

“I came to Dubai after I had won three stars and the movie ends in Italy with my mother. [So Dubai won’t be in the film],” he said.

Well, we guess we will just make do with his book Essentially Marco being in Dubai, and that’s good enough for us.

Essentially Marco is published by Motivate. It is available in all major bookstores in the UAE and on booksarabia.com