Malik believes in an interactive model of teaching. Malik believes in an interactive model of teaching.

With effort being put into improving the confidence and knowledge of Dubai’s bartenders through the MMI Bar Academy, the level of bartending in the UAE is improving, according to Malik, but he still cites serious concerns for bar service standards.

“It’s come a long way since a couple of years ago, but there’s still room for improvement, everybody can learn more,” he asserts.

“If you compare the level of bartending here to that in Europe, there is still a bit of a step up we need to take, but it’s getting there; it’s just a question of people putting in the time and the effort into delivering training.”

In terms of the size and scale of training facility available to hospitality staff in the region, however, Malik has a less optimistic outlook.

“There is the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and there’s us, but that’s about it,” he points out.

“Look at England where you have so many bar schools and hospitality courses; any university you go into in England will have a course on food and beverage, hospitality or retail management.

“If there were more facilities like the MMI academy or like the Emirates Academy, there would definitely be an improvement in the product knowledge of bartenders,” he concludes.

Story continues below
Advertisement

What the students say:

Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club restaurant captain German Fernandes

“The session is more about learning and getting the basic ideas — how the drink is prepared and how to sell it.
“Sometimes we don’t really know about the product, but after this session I know about a product like Jack Daniels.
“I will pass my knowledge onto the customer and I know how to present the product to the guest.
"If I was to go for a job interview they might ask me about my training, so it helps.”


Plan B, Wafi City, bartender Serdar Marumedov

“I now know about the history of Jack Daniel’s, how it’s made and other Jack Daniel’s products like Gentleman Jack and Single Barrel.
“It’s important as I work in this industry as a bartender and I want to know about the product that I’m selling.
“I will pass this information onto customers who ask about their drinks, so it’s all very helpful.”