Embracing culinary diversity with Rahif Akkad, owner of Chef Akkad Company
With 15 years of experience in prestigious five-star hotels, Rahif Akkad, founder of Patisserie Akkad and Chef Akkad Company, shares his thoughts on the vital role diversity plays in sparking creativity and enriching dining experiences.
Cultural heritage in the spotlight with chef Tareq Taha
Tareq Taha, head chef, consultant and winner of Top Chef All-Stars 2023, is a renowned Palestinian chef based in Jerusalem. Known for expertly blending traditional Palestinian flavors with modern techniques, Taha creates innovative dishes that honor his cultural heritage. Here, he shares how Jerusalem’s rich history influences his menu development and dining experiences, seamlessly combining tradition with modern culinary innovation while preserving authenticity.
Getting inspired by Saudi’s first female chef Mona Mosly
Mona Mosly has paved her own way in the culinary world, from being a judge on Top Chef to hosting the podcast Aala Tawlet Mona. As the owner of Sweet Atelier, she blends her love for food with a deep commitment to inspiring others, especially women, to follow their culinary dreams. In this interview, we uncover the challenges she’s overcome and her journey to becoming an inspiration to others.
The pastry trends set to define 2025
We spoke to four talented chefs from across the Middle East to gain insights into the latest pastry trends defining the region. Here’s what they had to say.
7 tips for tapping into the healthy F&B market
Consumers today are prioritizing wellness and sustainability more than ever before, which is inevitably having a major impact on the food and beverages they choose to buy. Duncan Fraser-Smith, CEO of Craft Hospitality Group, offers a seven-point checklist to help F&B businesses dovetail their offerings with this major shift in consumer preferences.
The art of menu magic with chef Alessandro Salvatico, head chef at L’Amo Bistro Del Mare
Chef Alessandro Salvatico, head chef at L’Amo Bistro Del Mare, discusses the importance of menu design and how it contributes to the success of a restaurant.
What’s cooking in Kuwait with Rami Jaafar of Holiday Inn Hotel in Salmiya
Rami Jaafar, executive chef of Holiday Inn Hotel in Salmiya, Kuwait, manages seven diverse food venues. He is also a member of ChefXchange and provides culinary consultancy. Here, he shares his insights on Kuwait’s booming food scene and where it’s heading.
Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat’s executive pastry chef Pierre-Jean Quinonero brings flavor to Dubai
Acclaimed executive pastry chef Pierre-Jean Quinonero from Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat was recently hosted by chef Nicolas Lambert of Four Seasons Dubai for a bespoke afternoon tea and limited-edition vitrine creations. We caught up with Quinonero to learn more about his culinary style, the latest pastry trends and which ingredients he likes to experiment with.
110+ hot concepts to watch
In what is undoubtedly good news for the global F&B sector, eating out continues to rank among the most popular pastimes worldwide, with today’s diners keen to try new culinary creations and also return to their favorite venues. Against this dynamic backdrop, we’ve compiled a list of 110+ concepts to watch across the globe, beginning with the brands causing a buzz in the MENA region and followed by others definitely worth keeping an eye on in Europe, Asia and America.
