APRIL 2021 VOL 17 ISSUE 04 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION Are cloud kitchens the future of delivery? Up in the air w w w .euor ganicjuic es .euIn this issue 3 April 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Specials 22 From aggregators to operators, we take a deep-dive into the cloud kitchen industry 32 Examining the culture of celebrity dining in Dubai, with Michelin- starred chefs and more Celeb chefs are big business Deliveroo operates cloud kitchens ON THE MENUIn this issue caterermiddleeast.com April 2021 4 Mains 06 Trending 12 Careers 18 Big talk 20 In conversation 44 Mix masters 46 Suppliers 48 Instant classic 50 Kitchen con dential Mantauk is now open Inez Tantyanna Summer mocktailsEditor's Letter 5 April 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Hello, Cloud kitchens have been a hot topic in the industry for several years now, but with the pandemic accelerating their use, we thought it was time to fully investigate where the industry is heading. With aggregators investing heavily in virtual kitchens and international brands using them as a way to dip a toe into the region without having to open physical restaurants, it’s clear they’re going to have a massive impact on the future of F&B. Should aggregators do more to regulate the virtual brands that are popping up on their platforms daily? Are cloud kitchens the future for all deliveries? These are just some of the questions tackled in this month’s cover feature. We spoke with a range of aggregators, cloud kitchen operators and independent restaurateurs to get their insight on the matter. What we found is that the topic is much bigger than we ever anticipated. So once you’ve finished reading this, now’s the time to subscribe to our website where you’ll be able to get your teeth into even more in- depth analysis on the most divisive subject on the table right now. Simon Ritchie, Editor The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC MEDIA PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Group Editor Paul Cliff ord Editorial Editor Simon Ritchie Tel: +971 4 444 3550 email: simon.ritchie@itp.com Deputy Editor Kohinoor Sahota Tel: +971 4 444 3384 email: kohinoor.sahota@itp.com Reporter Josh Corder Tel: +971 4 444 3358 email: josh.corder@itp.com Advertising Commercial Director Sally Whittam Tel: +971 4 444 3348 email: sally.whittam@itp.com Sales Executive James Sperring Tel: +971 4 444 3477 email: james.sperring@itp.com International Sales Manager Amanda Stewart GSM: +44 7908 117 333 email: amanda.stewart@itp.com ITP Live General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 444 3549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com Studio Art Editor Gerald Du Designer Junemar Tulipas Photography Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra, Fritz John Asuro Production & Distribution Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Circulation Distribution & Warehouse Manager Praveen Nair Marketing Director of Awards and Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Daviescaterermiddleeast.com April 2021 6 It’s inspired by the Hamptons TRENDING7 April 2021 caterermiddleeast.com While many people can’t travel abroad right now, Abu Dhabi residents can get the feeling of a trip away by heading to Montauk Boutique Café & Restaurant. Named after an af uent village in New York State’s The Hamptons in the US, the new restaurant hopes to recreate the sense of visiting A home away from home Montauk Boutique Café & Restaurant opens in Abu Dhabi the luxury getaway spot in the capital’s popular Al Bateen area. Born and raised in the UAE, Mariam Almansoori is an Emirati local who has always dreamt of running her own restaurant. When you enter, it feels like you’ve stepped into someone’s home, albeit one with stylish owners. Comfort is key and the interiors include wooden oorings, nautical upholsteries and personalised illustrations. Almansoori explained: “Our greatest goal is to make each and every guest feel welcome and relaxed, as if they were in their own living room. My dream is that this homely, community feeling will see our guests visit us again and again.” When you look at other countries around the world, the Middle East, and especially the UAE, stands out for a number of reasons right now. One being that this is one of the few places where new restaurants are still opening. Almansoori said: “It has most certainly been a turbulent year, but I felt that now was as good a time as ever to launch Montauk. We’re a place for people to come together, catch up and enjoy special moments, which is something people are yearning for now more than ever after being in periods of isolation, lockdowns and socialising less. “We have already witnessed great support from our local community, which is reassuring.” Open from breakfast to dinner, there’s also an in-house bakery. The restaurant is already working on a ladies’ night and afternoon tea and Almansoori is keen to take the brand to other GCC countries. She said: “We serve home-to-table cuisine. It’s wholesome, comfort food at its best, using only the nest ingredients available. We serve a range of classics which I have put my signature Emirati spin on to give all our dishes a touch of local heritage. I’m really proud of this.” “We’re a place for people to come together and enjoy moments“ Mariam Almansoori caterermiddleeast.com April 2021 8 caterermiddleeast.com April 2021 8 The Hotel Show Dubai will host a new event dedicated to the food and beverage industry. The F&B Stakeholders Summit 2021 will run within the Hotel Show from May 31 to June 2 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The two-day summit will be free to attend and have both online and in-person components. In its statement announcing the event, Hotel Show organisers said the F&B summit “is timed perfectly at a critical moment for this market, as it moves from a challenging period to the gradual return of ‘normal’ business Hotel Show Dubai announces F&B Stakeholders Summit NEWS EVENTS Time Out Market Dubai has been con rmed to be opening on April 7 at Souk Al Bahar. With 17 homegrown restaurants and three bars launching in the 43,000 sq ft space in Downtown Dubai, it’s set to be one of the biggest launches of 2021. Among the highly-rated brands opening in the venue are BB Social Dining, Masti, Reif Japanese Kushiyaki, Pickl, Pit re, Brix, Vietnamese Foodies, and Long Teng. Time Out Market Dubai is completely editorially curated, meaning each of the brands you’ll nd in it has been classed as one of the best in the city by Time Out’s experienced staff. A number of fresh concepts will also be launching in the market including Folly Workshop by Nick & Scott, Fulvio’s, Two Leaves by Project Chaiwala, Local Fire by The Mattar Farm, and Liban by Opening date con rmed for Time Out Market Dubai OPENINGS conditions with renewed vigour, ideas and invention,” and also provides the industry “a long-overdue opportunity to network and reunite.” The summit’s line-up of speakers include Andy Cuthbert, chairman of the Emirates Culinary Guild and general manager for Jumeirah Creekside Hotel and Jumeirah Hospitality, Madinat Jumeirah Conferences & Events, Samantha Wood, founder of Foodiva, Joey Ghazal, founder and managing partner at The Maine New England Brasserie Company, Naim Maadad founder and CEO of Gates Hospitality and Antonio Gonzales, CEO of Sunset Hospitality Group. Wood said: “On the back of the crisis where the world moved to conduct business online, in-person industry conferences like The F&B Stakeholders Summit at The Hotel Show are now more important than ever. The hospitality and F&B industries are people businesses, so we need this platform to communicate our ideas, to innovate and to network.” Allo Beirut, provding new twists on some of Dubai’s biggest hits. As well as the indoor space, there will be a 3,000 sq ft terrace with views of Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain. Not just focusing on the food, art and culture will play a big part in Time Out Market, with installations from locally- based artists including Tasila Schubert, the Brazilian-born street artist who rose to fame as the rst female artist to paint a wall in Amman, Jordan, in celebration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Once the current coronavirus restrictions are lifted in Dubai, the venue will also be home to everything from live music to open mic nights, poetry readings, comedy shows, and more.Trending 9 April 2021 caterermiddleeast.com 9 April 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Due to Covid-19, Dubai restaurants have had to be stricter with their customers who don’t show up. While many places mention a fee for late-cancellation or failing to turn up when booking, actually implementing those charges was not previously all that common. However, Nicolas Budzynski, global operations director at LPM Restaurant & Bar, supports the no-show fee. Restaurants continue to face tough trading restrictions, from fty percent capacity limits and no live entertainment to closing at 1am, and are feeling the pinch. Budzynski said: “We have a loss of revenue because we have fewer seats to sell due to the three-metre restriction and the capacity limit. “There are also fewer travellers coming to Dubai, due to the restrictions imposed on international travel, so we are depending on the domestic market. But guests are fearful, as there is a trend to spend less and be more cautious.” For restaurants that require bookings, no-shows mean a loss of revenue and during Covid-19, where restaurant capacity is reduced, every seat counts. Budzynski adds: “Some restaurants have a no-show cancellation charge, as it educates the guest and makes them responsible for the commitment they made to a restaurant. This is the right thing to do at the moment. “The no-show charge has always been in place since we opened, which was more than ten years ago. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions on capacity, restaurants cannot have an overbooking policy internally, like they used to have before the pandemic. So you need to secure your business. “If you don’t ask for credit card details and don’t charge penalties, it means guests have absolutely no commitment. They could make three of four bookings in different restaurants and change their mind on the day. Sometimes they don’t even bother to call.” Contemporary Japanese restaurant Roka is set to open in the upcoming Waldorf Astoria Kuwait. From famed restaurateur Rainer Becker’s Azumi Ltd — also behind the likes of Zuma — the concept focuses on modern Japanese cooking centred on the robata grill. Emma Banks, vice president, F&B strategy & development, EMEA at Hilton, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Azumi Ltd to bring this award- winning Japanese restaurant concept to Waldorf Astoria Kuwait. Roka’s delicious cuisine and welcoming yet energetic ambiance will no doubt make it a sought-after dining destination.” The rst of the brand’s hotels to open Popular Japanese restaurant Roka to open at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait Charging no-show customers is the “right thing to do” REGULATIONS OPENINGS Nicolas Budzynski in the country, Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is slated for an autumn 2021 launch, with Roka to launch in the hotel shortly after. It will be located at The Avenues, real estate developer Mabanee’s 360,000 square metres leasable area development and Kuwait’s largest retail, entertainment, and lifestyle destination. Chief executive of cer of Mabanee, Waleed Alsharian, said: “We are very pleased to be bringing the exceptional and renowned Roka restaurant to Kuwait. Mabanee strives to create unique experiences for its customers, a vision that is embedded in our values as well as all projects we develop. We believe this is an ideal partnership that will add value to the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, soon to be opening its doors this autumn.” The Roka brand, which originated in London, is in the middle of a large Middle East expansion, having launched in Dubai in 2020 and is set to open in Saudi Arabia capital Riyadh this summer. Waldorf Astoria KuwaitNext >