EP #409
Today on our episode #409 of All in the Industry, Shari Bayer has a special “On the Road” show from MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, which took place in Abu Dhabi, UAE on January 28th, 2025. This was the fourth edition of the Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, and hosted in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT).
Launched in 2022, MENA's 50 Best Restaurants is a celebration of the best places to eat across 19 countries in the Middle East & North Africa region. Restaurants from across 11 cities were announced as the 50 best places to eat in the region at the event held at Erth Abu Dhabi, culminating with the region’s #1 restaurant, Orfali Bros Bistro, for the 3rd consecutive year.
In addition to attending the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards Gala, Shari took part in a Meet the Chefs press event & #50BestTalks on January 27th at The Abu Dhabi Edition. Shari's exclusive interviews include:
- Raj Dagstani, Chef/Owner, Marmellata Bakery, Abu Dhabi, UAE (#29 MENA)
- Mostafa Seif, Executive Chef, Khufu’s, Cairo, Egypt (#4 MENA)
- Guillaume Barray, Restaurant Manager, Ossiano, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, UAE (#5 MENA; Art of Hospitality Award 2025)
- Solemann Haddad, Founder/Chef, Moonrise, Dubai, UAE (#10 MENA)
- Neha Mishra, Founder/Chef, Kinoya, Dubai, UAE, (#3 MENA)
- Mohammed Orfali, Owner/Chef, Orfali Bros Bistro, Dubai, UAE (#1 MENA)
- William Drew, Director of Content, 50 Best
Many thanks to everyone who joined Shari in conversation & congratulations to all, including the top 3: #1 - Orfali Bros Bistro for the 3rd year; #2 - Chef Himanshu Saini’s Tresind Studio, Dubai; Shari’s #solodining on ep #403; Chefwise; and #3 - Neha Mishra’s Kinoya, Dubai; Chefwise. Thanks & congrats to the entire 50 Best team. Wonderful to be a part of the celebration! For more info & the full list, go to theworlds50best.com & @theworlds50best #MENAs50Best.
Today's show also includes Shari's PR tip to celebrate the positive; Speed Round with Solemann Haddad, Moonrise; & Shari's incredible Solo Dining experience at FZN by Bjorn Frantzen at Atlantis, The Palm, The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.
Support for this episode comes from the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). To learn more, visit ICE.edu today.
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Check out Shari's book, Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World (Phaidon), available wherever books are sold. #chefwisebook
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