Celebrity chefs believe the Middle East F&B industry will make a speedy recovery from the global downturn and maintain there is a great future for the regional market.
Speaking exclusively to Caterer Middle East at his Dubai restaurant Ronda Locatelli, located at Atlantis The Palm, Giorgio Locatelli said business was “going well — the bosses are happy”, although he admitted it was a difficult time to be a new restaurant.
“It’s been hard; we’re doing OK, but educating people about what we’re offering has been tough,” he said.
“But I don’t regret it at all; it’s an incredible project to be involved with.”
TV personality James Martin added that he had noticed a slow-down since his last visit to the region.
“I went to Nobu in Atlantis the other day and that was really busy. But then you go round the corner and another restaurant has about four people in it,” he revealed.
“I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t; with cities growing and expanding so fast, you need to be in the right place with the right idea, or you get stuck out on a limb. There may have been huge growth in Dubai, but it’s not immune to what the rest of the world is going through.”
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However Martin maintained the Dubai was “still one of the few places where it’s good to be” due to its “forward-thinking mentality”.
Gary Rhodes agreed that, although hampered by the global downturn, the Middle East’s F&B industry would not suffer any long-term affects.
“There are so many great restaurants in Dubai now, and that number’s growing. I really do believe that one day this will become one of the great culinary cities of the world,” he asserted.
“And that’s true of not only Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the whole region. I really think the Middle East is going to be something special.”
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