Sam Ioannidis at the helm of the biggest Four Seasons hotel in the region
A seasoned hospitality veteran, Sam Ioannidis has been with Four Seasons for three decades. Since his appointment as general manager of Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, he has overseen the resort’s transformation into the largest Four Seasons in the region and one of the biggest worldwide.
A talk with influential hotelier Thomas Peruzzo of Armani Hotel Dubai
With an impeccable 20-year track record at luxury beach resorts, golf resorts and ultra-luxury boutique hotels across Europe and the Middle East, Thomas Peruzzo, general manager of Armani Hotel Dubai, is a seasoned hotelier and inspirational leader. In this interview, we uncover the secret behind his success and what makes the Armani Hotel Dubai such a sought-after place to stay.
3Fils, an award-winning contemporary Asian restaurant
3Fils, a harbor-side community-style restaurant serving premium Asian dishes with a Japanese twist, has been piling up awards for quite some time, topping the list at the inaugural MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards (2022), Forbes Top 10 Coolest Places To Eat (2019) and TimeOut Dubai’s Best Asian Restaurant for three consecutive years (2018-2020). Ahmed Saleh, CEO of The Lab Holding, which operates 3Fils, explains how this homegrown concept has been able to go head-to-head with multinational restaurants.
Catering for 2022 with seven leading caterers
The catering sector has witnessed huge changes over the last few years, with consumers demanding healthier and more sustainable options. We discussed the latest trends and more with seven of the leading catering companies in the Middle East.
A culinary encounter with Tarek Alameddine, culinary director of Baky Hospitality
Visionary chef Tarek Alameddine, who is currently at the helm of Baky Hospitality’s kitchen, talks about his culinary journey, from the world-famous Noma in Copenhagen to new adventures in Egypt.
A passion for desserts by Antonio Bachour
There seems to be no end to the talent of pastry chef Antonio Bachour. Not only is he a published author, with no fewer than six books under his belt, he was also voted the Best Pastry Chef in the World (2018) by The Best Chef Award (Milan) and Pastry Chef of the Year (2019) by Esquire magazine. Here, the Puerto Rico native explains how he was hooked on pastry from a young age thanks to a childhood spent in his family’s bakery and what it takes to excel in the kitchen.
A “Gourmandise Raisonnée” with ART-chitects of taste Frédéric Bau and Pierre Hermé
Always taking things up a notch, Valrhona invited two titans of the culinary scene, Pierre Hermé and Frédéric Bau, to a week of fine pastry, innovation and expertise in Dubai. In the presence of international Cercle V chefs from Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, Frédéric Bau and Pierre Hermé showcased a new way to thinking pastry around Bau’s latest book, titled “Reasoned Gourmandise,” which explores the fundamentals of a healthy and harmonious pastry that respects the flavors and textures of the great classics. In a joint interview, Frédéric Bau and Pierre Hermé tell us about their exciting collaboration and Valrhona’s role in it all.
Hotel Albergo, a gem to behold with Tony W. Gergess
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in east Beirut, a stone’s throw from downtown, the Hotel Albergo is a sanctuary of luxury and the only Relais & Châteaux property in the country. Old-world charm meets high-end service at this Beirut landmark, as Tony W. Gergess, the newly appointed general manager, explains.
Sami Khoueiri: not an average restaurateur
Spiced and Sliced is a fast-casual chain of shawarma restaurants combining authentic shawarma recipes with unique flavors and modern interior design. Sami Khoueiri, the firm’s CEO, shares details of the concept with us and explains why it suits the franchise model.
HORECA CONNECTS aims to build new bridges
HORECA CONNECTS will also introduce innovative Lebanese products, solutions and services relating to the hospitality and foodservice sectors.
