A new breed of online gourmet grocers in Dubai

A silver lining to the COVID-19 crisis for us consumers is the new access to premium produce typically reserved for hotels and restaurants only. Many foodservice suppliers (industry-speak for trade) have pivoted to online retail deliveries to continue generating some revenue. This new breed of high-end yet affordable ‘retailer’, combined with existing gourmet grocers who all tend to provide next-day delivery, are proving immensely popular in light of mainstream supermarket order delays.

This guide showcases all these gourmet and artisan food suppliers specifically offering a website or app service – making the ordering process easy peasy. A shout-out to the popular Facebook group ‘Shop Well For Less UAE’ that was instrumental with some of these leads.

Here are 25 top picks in Dubai, with many covering other emirates too. I will update this guide as new suppliers come on board, so keep me posted if you know of any more.

Let’s kick off with those providing a wide range of premium produce – in alphabetical order:

• BidFood: a foodservice distributor that has pivoted to retail with a one-stop grocery inventory. Free delivery with a minimum order of AED200.

• Casinetto: an Italian foodservice supplier who has had to pivot to retail with consumer deliveries. In keeping with Italy’s slow food traditions, this supplier is a one-stop shop for artisanal produce covering the whole grocery spectrum. Next day delivery in Dubai with orders placed before 5pm. Other delivery options for across the UAE. Free delivery for orders above AED150.

• Chef@Home: a foodservice supplier selling traditional Spanish produce, beef cuts, bread, viennoiseries, Asian specialities and the pastry chef’s favourite chocolate – Valhrona. Order before 5pm for next day delivery. Free delivery for orders above AED250. Credit card payment only.

• Chef2Chef: another foodservice supplier. Here you’ll find every gourmet grocery requirement including pork, charcuterie and even home-cooked Italian dishes that simply need heating up. Up to 48 hours lead ordering time. Free delivery with a minimum AED250 spend.

• Classic Deli: the retail arm of Classic Fine Foods, a supplier of premium ingredients to the restaurant industry. In addition to exclusive pantry produce, you’ll find the likes of caviar, foie gras, smoked salmon, Wagyu beef, olive oils and chocolate. Order before 3pm for next day delivery (free). Credit card payment.

• El Grocer: this may have started as a mainstream grocery app, but the team has added gourmet produce from Eataly, Jones The Grocer, Marks & Spencer, 1004 Gourmet, Baladi Butchery and The Meat Avenue. New merchants join regularly so worth checking in. Super user-friendly interface. Prices the same as in-store. Same day delivery for AED7. Cash or card on arrival.

• Jones The Grocer: this gourmet retailer differentiates with its cheese boards, food hampers, as well as recipe and ingredient boxes. The chermoula rubbed Black Angus Australian steak box makes for a fuss-free dinner. Free 24-hour delivery for orders above AED140; otherwise AED50 charge.

• Les Gastronomes: as the name suggests, this one-stop shop is for serious gastronomy, premium meat, shellfish and cheese in particular. I have ordered a range of meats for BBQs and a cheese board, curated to my specification. I left the choice to the owners, but you can also pick your own. Aside from the crackers, fruit and cashews – Isigny butter and par-baked half-size baguettes were delivered – and you get to keep the slate board. Deliveries Saturday to Thursday across the UAE. Orders received before 1pm qualify for next day delivery. Minimum AED250 order, with a delivery charge of AED26. Cash or cheque on delivery – or credit card in advance.

• Maxzi The Good Food Shop: meat cuts, seafood, fried snacks and dim sum. Next day delivery. AED100 minimum order, otherwise AED26.25 charge. Cash or credit card payment.

• Maison Duffour: guest contributor Matt Broderick is a fan. Matt writes: “Maison Duffour is fast becoming my ‘go-to’ treat. The fact that I can order my wife’s favourite cheese – Neufchâtel – alongside amazingly coarse pâté and homely breads, makes a stay-at-home picnic one of our monthly treats. If having a dinner party, their French duck breast is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Although not everything is always in stock all of the time, payment and ordering is simple and easy online. A call to the team, or even an Instagram message, will result in notification of what you are waiting for.” Weekday deliveries with 48 hour lead time. Delivery charges start at AED35.

• Secrets Fine Food: this posh gourmet grocer is owned by a French lady, Stephanie. Expect high quality and mostly French produce, sourced straight from the producer. Think truffles, caviar, seasonal cheeses, oysters – and even pork with Spanish pata negra, Iberico jamon and French charcuterie. Free delivery for orders above AED300 across the UAE, otherwise an AED50 charge. 48 hour lead time. Cash, cheque or card on delivery – as well as Paypal or telegraphic transfer in advance.

Moving on to speciality producers:

• Baker’s Kitchen: a popular German artisan bakery for all your freshly baked breads. Next day delivery with orders placed before 2pm. Credit card payment.

• Brazil Origins: chilled Brazilian meats and frozen snacks like those moreish tapioca cheese puffs. AED150 minimum order.

• Carnistore: meat glorious meat from sustainable farms in Australia and the US. Both raw, with marination in advance should you wish – and cooked smoked delicacies. They even deliver dishes like shepherd’s pie and sides of decadent potato gratin for warming up. Smokehouse aside, same day delivery across the UAE for orders before 2pm. Online credit card payment, or cash/ card on delivery.

• Fishbox: the consumer arm of trade supplier Wet Fish for pretty much any high quality seafood, local Dibba Bay oysters included. Free next day delivery in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Cash on delivery.

• Gulf Seafood: the strapline ‘gourmet seafood – home delivered at wholesale prices’. Keep in mind that all produce is frozen. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. 24-hour lead time. Free delivery for orders above AED50, otherwise AED10 charge. Credit card or cash.

• Martin’s Meats: not just meat but seafood too from Irishman Martin. His produced is sourced from Dubai’s largest hotel supplier, but worth noting that only the beef and lamb arrive freshly chilled; the pork, poultry and seafood are frozen. He also offers a range of freshly cooked family-size and individual pies, as well as lasagna – perfect for impromptu entertaining. Minimum order of AED500 excluding his weekly promos. Orders placed before 3.30pm will be delivered in Dubai the following day. Cash on delivery.

• Mattar Farm: Dubai’s first, and likely, most well-known artisan smokehouse sees owner Hatem Mattar himself personal smoking the meats. I’ve tried his beef brisket twice, and both times it was polished off promptly. Smoked poultry (turkey, chicken, duck), beef ribs, lamb leg and sausages are also available. Gorgeous sides and salads too. Minimum order of AED400, 24 hours in advance, with an AED15 delivery charge. Cash or credit card on delivery.

• Montone Italian Food: Italian artisanal dry pantry ingredients. Delivery across the UAE within 48 hours – free with a minimum order of AED100. Cash payment. In Dubai, credit card is also accepted.

• Prime Gourmet: Dubai’s original artisan butcher, with a new flagship location on Umm Suqeim road, is known for its Australian and Japanese Wagyu beef – however other meats, seafood and pantry items are also sold. 24-hour lead time. AED300 minimum delivery for Dubai, AED500 for Sharjah and AED1,000 for the other emirates. Credit card or cash on delivery.

• Springbok Butchery: founded by a South African, the fresh hormone-free meats are mostly Australian, with some from South Africa. Orders before 9pm are delivered the following day. Delivery in Dubai six days a week (Abu Dhabi daily). Cash, card or cheque on delivery.

• The British Butcher Shop: purely British outdoor raised farm meats, pork included. Next day delivery with orders placed before 12noon. Free delivery for orders above AED500, otherwise an AED20 charge.

• The Butchery: foodservice supplier Simply Gourmet’s new consumer website for premium Canadian, Australian, American, Greek and local meats. Next day delivery with orders placed before 4pm. Free delivery for orders above AED250, otherwise an AED50 charge. Credit card or cash payment.

• Truffle House: needless to say, all ingredients are infused with Italian truffles. Next day delivery for Dubai, and up to 48 hours for other emirates. Free delivery above AED200, otherwise an AED30 charge. Cash or credit card payment. 

• Yellow Block: this has to be one of the most gorgeous cheese and charcuterie boards I have ever seen. An Instagram side project by a designer: @yellowblock.co I ordered it for delivery as a starter. You can specify cheeses or leave it to them based partly on seasonality. I paid AED300 for this board which three of us pretty much demolished. Two larger sizes are available for AED450 (4-7 people) and AED750 (8-12 people). The slate board is included, and can be reused for your next order with the price deducted. AED50 delivery charge in Dubai or you can collect. Cash payment on delivery.

Bon appétit 🙂

A bientôt.

FooDiva. x

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