NOVEMBER 2021 AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION Meet the chefs serving the world at Expo 2020 Dubai Order upNOVEMBER 16-17, RIYADH SAVE THE DATE SPONSORED BY PRESENTIn this issue 3 November 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Specials 20 From LA-inspired burgers to street cart sandwiches, we explore dining at Expo 2020 Dubai 32 Examining the comeback of speakeasys hidden in Dubai's hottest restaurants Are secret dining rooms just a trend? The F&B at Expo 2020 is getting a lot of attention ON THE MENUIn this issue caterermiddleeast.com November 2021 4 Lily Hoa Nguyen La Cantine is under the spotlight The latest creations from bartenders Mains 06 Trending 10 Careers 18 In conversation 36 Spotlight 42 Mixmasters 48 Instant classic 50 Kitchen con dentialEditor's Letter 5 November 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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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 Deputy Editor Yousra Zaki Tel: +971 4 444 3255 email: yousra.zaki@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 Advertising Manager Richard Mobbs Tel: +971 4 444 3592 email: richard.mobbs@itp.com Sales Manager Shrief Ali Tel: +971 4 444 3989 email: shrief.ali@itp.com International Sales Manager Amanda Stewart Tel: +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 Cover image Adrift Burger Bar by David Myers Photography Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Fritz John Asuro, Ajith Narendra Production & Distribution Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Mahendra Pawar Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Circulation Distribution and Circulation Manager Evijin Pathrose Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Marketing Director of Awards and Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Yousra Zaki, deputy editor Hello, It’s me. A proud new member of the Caterer Middle East and Hotelier Middle East family. I spent the three weeks in my new role at ITP Media Group delving head-first into the wonderful cullinary world of Expo 2020 Dubai. Who would have thought that after the past 18 months, residents in their thousands would be heading to the Expo site would be exploring global cuisine along with thousands more tourists? Hats’off to the organisers and operators, it’s a smash hit. In this issue we introduce you to some of the incredible chefs doing their best to take F&B to the next level at one of the most high-profile events on the planet. Among them are the hometown hero grilling his way to people's hearts, the plant-based pioneer showing us how it can be done, and a nomadic chef specialising in the kind of burgers you'll find on this month’s cover. It’s so fitting that this event is heading in such a culinary direction in Dubai, a place we've all known as a melting pot of cuisines for years. I'm pleased to get my Caterer career up and running with such an important event to talk about. caterermiddleeast.com November 2021 6 WHAT’S HOT...7 November 2021 caterermiddleeast.com pizza or burger joint. We perfected the smash burger and introduced Detroit- style pizzas to Dubai. Twice gives everyone twice the avour and twice the fun, and that’s what we want to give to all our diners. “When the team began working on the logo and the branding of the restaurant, we wanted it to be hip and memorable, for it to be something everyone can relate to when they see it. We want everyone to feel like they can be part of the brand, and something we thought could do this was the peace sign. When doing a little research we realised that the peace sign is a universal sign that everyone everywhere uses. It’s relatable and part of every culture.”u When it came to choosing the type of pizza Twice offers, Juma said it was a no- brainer. “No one serves it in the UAE, and no one has ever been able to present it in a proper way,” he explained. “Everyone does deep dish pizzas and we wanted to bring something new. It’s hard to perfect a Detroit pizza, getting the crust right, the thickness, the amount of cheese and sauce as to not overpower one another, but we were able to do it.” Safa Complex may not be a location on the lips of many, but that is about to change, according to Juma. He added: “It’s a new spot in an up-and-coming area, in a centralised location in Dubai. Safa Park used to be a hot spot where Emiratis lived and it was the place to be, and Safa Complex brings the area back to life. What we love about Safa Complex is that it’s not an obvious place to go to, but it’s full of shops and restaurants that are loved, and we want to feel like a hidden gem, like a place people need to nd and love. “This is the rst branch but we are going to expand quite rapidly. We want Twice to be more than just food, we want it to be a culture, and a place to socialise. We want Twice to be a community, and we hope everyone can join us.” Twice Meet the man bringing Detroit-style pizza to Dubai With the opening of Twice in Dubai’s Safa Complex, the emirate is getting its rst outlet dedicated to Detroit-style pizza. This hip-hop-inspired venue has teamed up with Emirati foodie Abdalla Juma, to come up with the menu. Twice’s main draws are its smash burgers and Detroit pan pizzas, which the operators says aren’t offered anywhere else in the country. The square pizzas layer cheese and toppings before being nished off with sauce. Options include truf e burrata, Philly cheesesteak, the all-white White Bronco, Okonomiyaki, a Japanese twist on a pizza and Burger City, a burger- inspired pizza. Here, the outlet’s of cial menu curator Juma tells us more about the restaurant. He said: “We wanted to open a restaurant that is more than a regular Trending caterermiddleeast.com November 2021 8 Singer-songwriter Layla Kardan will launch new restaurant Papillon at the Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. The new venue aims to be an exploratory performance and dining experience, co-created by Kardan and choreographer Denise Faye (who will take the reins on creative direction and choreography). Also joining the Papillon project is Roham Shamkeh, an architect and interior designer, known for his work with brands such as Roberto Cavalli and Versace. Shamkeh will create the edgy décor for the venue. Chef Tiger Chen – ex-L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Dubai – will head up the ne-dining kitchen. The menu features French-Mediterranean avours and “plates of edible stories”. Kardan said: “I feel there is more of an appetite for a theatrical night out, and as an artist, this is healthy for the industry.” Lebanon’s famous ‘bunker club’ B018 has opened a location in Dubai. Residing at the Media One Hotel, the new nightlife venue can be found on the 42nd oor, though promises to capture the original’s same underground energy. The club in Beirut is one of the capital’s most popular, having operated since 1994. The venue is admired for its laid-back atmosphere and has seen a range of celebrities ocking to it over the years. The Dubai rendition is the latest venue to be launched by 7 Management – the same team behind The Theater dinner and show venue. Dubai café stocked with vintage Porsches opens Layla Kardan to launch Papillon at the Westin Dubai CONCEPT CAFÉ ‘Bunker club’ B018 comes to Dubai LEBANESE IMPORT NEWS NEW OPENING DRVN Dubai has opened its doors on Bluewaters Island. The two-storey café is a speciality coffee shop, pizzeria, restaurant and, most notably, a car museum. Currently, DRVN is home to three classic Porsches, including a 1948 Porsche 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster, a 1978 Porsche 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’, and a 1970 Porsche 911 S 2.2 Targa. Emirati ex-pilot Rashed Al Fahim founded the coffee-meets-cars concept, while RMAL Hospitality handles the consulting and development. Al Fahim wanted to combine his love for coffee, Napoletana pizza and rare cars. “The rst thing people do when they walk in is to pull out their phones to take pictures of the cars,” Elias Madbak, managing director of RMAL Hopsitality told Caterer. “We made sure every angle of this venue was instagrammable. “Whether it’s the colours, the interiors, the food and of course, the cars”. 9 November 2021 caterermiddleeast.com Maxi Fingers Phot o cr edits: A point Studio – Non-binding phot os www.bridor.com exportsales@groupeleduff.com NEW Apples and cinnamon Finger 90g Praline Finger 90g to cr edits: A point Studio – Non-binding phot o s PPPPrPPrPr lalaalaliininineeeeeeeeee e eee FiFiF nggngererere 9999900g00g0g Ultra indulgent pure butter viennese pastries in a practical format with generous toppings and visible fillings ! Chocolate Finger 90gNext >