Chef's Michelin joy tinged with sadness at family's virus toll

As he wiped his eyes and told viewers at the virtual event that the award meant so much to him, few could have realised the secret heartache behind those tears.

Both of Ahmet Dede's parents had been struck down by Covid-19, and still suffer from its effects to this day, File picture.

When Ahmet Dede cried during his brief online Michelin Star acceptance speech on Monday, the tears could well have been mistaken for just an outpouring of joy.

The 34-year-old former waiter had, after all, earned the coveted award for his Baltimore restaurant Dede despite opening and running it as a restaurant and a takeaway during a pandemic.