A FooDiva column: Where Restaurateurs Eat
Remember the ‘Where Chefs Eat’ doorstopper tome? Well I’ve always wanted to apply a similar news angle here in Dubai. So, inspired by this ingenious guidebook, I am launching a new monthly column today on my Substack. ‘Where Restaurateurs Eat’ is dedicated to interviews with Dubai-based, female leaders running their own independent restaurant enterprises or helming large organisations – whether as owners, founders or CEOs. These talented bosses are front-of-house operators or chef-proprietors. And we have plenty!
I asked each super woman for her five go-to, favourite restaurants encompassing:
- Three in the UAE
- One in her home country
- One located elsewhere internationally
They have free reign to nominate any restaurants, apart from their own, or those with a business interest. Obviously.
With these recommendations, I guarantee you’ll have heaps of local and global dining inspiration with top tips from real experts. Further down the line, I might expand to include talented females who are not necessarily owners-cum-leaders of their businesses, but powerhouses all the same. So expect this column to continue for a while!
I’ve also created a Google Maps link here with their UAE restaurant recommendations which will be updated monthly as each column is published.
To ensure fairness, I am scheduling these interviews in the order that the replies arrive.
Shaw Lash – chef/ co-founder, Lila Taqueria & Lila Molino + Café.
Click HERE to find out where Shaw eats.
Neha Anand – founder & MD, Three Layer Hospitality that owns Jun’s.
Click HERE to find out where Neha eats.
Natasha Sideris – CEO & founder of Tashas Group that owns Avli, Bungalo34 and Flamingo Room amongst many others.
Click HERE to find out where Natasha eats.
Lily Hoa Nguyen – co-founder & executive chef of Vietnamese Foodies Restaurants with seven branches across Dubai.
Click HERE to find out where Lily eats.
Michele Johnson – co-founder of Pitfire Pizza with branches in Dubai Hills, Arjan, JLT, Mirdif Hills and Time Out Market.
Click HERE to find out where Michele eats.
Stasha Toncev – the chief soulkitchen officer of 21grams.
Click HERE to find out where Stasha eats.
Please feel free to nominate aspirational female restaurateurs leading their businesses. You never know, they might not be on my radar. And could land themselves a feature here.
NOTE: This post is updated monthly as each Substack column is published.
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