Interview

Zomato UAE: Tracing the Phenomenal Online Success Story with Business Head, Viraj Sawant

When colleagues Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah founded Zomato way back in 2008, little did they know of how phenomenally successful their online restaurant search site would be. Featuring real restaurant reviews from everyday foodies like you and me, Zomato currently spans over 23 countries and is aiming to take over the globe.Viraj-Sawant

Zomato has taken the UAE foodie scene by storm. You are as likely to see the ‘Rate Me on Zomato’ sticker in fancy-shmancy restaurants  as the humble ‘hole in the wall’ cafeterias, and the site currently has over 2,000 highly enthusiastic, food-reviewing ‘Zomans’ across the globe. What is the story behind Zomato’s unprecedented success? I had a chitchat with Zomato UAE’s Business Head Viraj Sawant.

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Meet Chef Emiliano Bernasconi (JAS Hospitality’s newly appointed Group Director of Culinary)

The JAS Hospitality group, known for its ‘out of the norm’, edgy and innovative food concepts including Qbara Restaurant Lounge & Bar and Fümé (at Pier 7 and Manzil Downtown Dubai), has recently appointed Chef Emiliano Bernasconi as their Group Director of Culinary.Chef Emiliano Bernasconi interview

Italian born Chef Emiliano Bernasconi has an impressive track record in the world of fine dining, having worked with big names including Heston Blumenthal, Alain Ducasse, Armani Hotel as well as catering to the Arsenal and Chelsea football teams.

Warm, suave and ever so friendly, Chef Emiliano has a candid chat with The Tezzy Files on his food journey so far, and his aspirations with Jas Hospitality. 

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RadMagnet: The ‘Raddest’ App to hit the UAE

We are slowly but surely morphing into an app-happy generation, and with technology literally at the tips of our fingers we are spoilt for choice with the magnitude of apps out there waiting to be downloaded.

Enter RadMagnet, an app created by a young, rad group of friends with the primary aim of showcasing the ‘raddest‘ happenings around Dubai.

The RadMagnet team, L to R: Shweta, Nikhil, Govind, Divyansh, Rishabh and Aashraya.

RadMagnet is your on-the-go entertainment guide around Dubai. Taking advantage of smart technology, RadMagnet allows its users to customize content feeds according to their preferences, and promises to have something for everyone.

Tezzy had a chat with RadMagnet. Do have a read up on this rad concept!

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Max’s Chef Richard: An Engineer Turned Chef

Although he is a qualified engineer, Chef Richard followed his parents’ footsteps and entered the famous Filipino kitchens of Max’s Restaurant.

Richard or Chai, to his friends, has a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Civil Engineering. He is a graduate of the Technological Institute in the Philippines.chef richard max restaurant filipino

Combining a love for cooking with the practicality of science, Chai’s career has seen him win a number of accolades across his decade-long career with Max’s restaurant including a special award for food safety. However, his greatest moment of pride was when his dish won over the finickiest of critics; his 6 year-old daughter!

When Max’s was brought to the UAE, Chai was chosen to help the team in maintaining the high quality standards of the food. For him, bringing Max’s to UAE was like planting the Philippine flag in the UAE culinary map. Chai believes that Max’s UAE has brought Filipinos closer to home.

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Laurent Mazzone: meet the heart & soul behind LM Parfums!

LM Parfums, named after Laurent Mazzone, the heart and soul of the brand, was established in 2010. Based on the purest French perfumery traditions, the brand boasts of an immense portfolio of luxury scents that blend the best of notes creating uniquely exciting combinations that play on the imagination.

Today we talk to the man himself. Laurent Mazzone had a stint as a DJ, worked in the world of fashion, and has now immersed himself in the field he has been most passionate about since childhood. Here he gives us a glimpse into the creative world of perfumery, and tells us how he self-taught himself into becoming one of the world’s most sought-after newcomers in the game of scents.

laurent mazone interview

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Sharmin’s Assamese Recipes for Bhogali Bihu

My family originates from Assam, the North Eastern state of India. You might have heard of Assam if you’re a serious tea drinker. Or perhaps you’ve heard of our one-horned rhinos or the world’s hottest chili, the ‘Bhoot Jolokia’. Assam also boasts of having Asia’s oldest oil refinery. Like every state of India, Assam is seeped in its own unique set of cultures and traditions.

Bhogali Bihu festivities are in the air. This is the festival of feasting and marks the end of the harvest season. Assamese households get busy preparing traditional Bihu treats and socializing with friends and family.bihu recipes

I am a total novice when it comes to Assamese cooking. Meet Sharmin Pasha. Sharmin created the very popular Assamese Cuisine & Recipes page on Facebook and has over forty-thousand fans worldwide. Needless to say, she is an authority in Assamese cooking. She also happens to be my sister-in-law (my hubby’s only sibling)!

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Chef Date at the Japanese Food Exhibition

Japan’s premium culinary brands are on display at the Japanese Food Exhibition in Le Meridien Hotel, Airport Road, Dubai.

The exhibition features the best of Japanese ingredients sought after by the world’s most renowned Japanese chefs, and is open to the public till 14th February, 2015.

Bloggers were invited to an exclusive preview of the Japanese Food Exhibition, and were treated to live cooking and exquisite creations by Chef Toshio Date.

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Meet Olga, the phenomenal woman behind ELF

I’ve already raved about ELF in my previous post

In business school, we are taught that the customer is always right. To be successful, you need to have an excellent product on offer coupled with exceptional customer service. ELF is the perfect example of business success. Not only do they offer uniquely beautiful leather goods topped with one-on-one customer care, you also have the freedom to customize each piece to your liking.

Meet Olga, the phenomenal woman behind the brand.

Bali Elf

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Meet City 101.6 Star Malavika Varadan – Talent Overload!

Fondly known as Malu to her gazillion fans across the UAE and beyond, this chirpy young RJ on City 101.6’s breakfast show is far more than just a pretty face.

Meet Malavika Varadan. Arguably one of UAE’s bubbliest RJ’s, a talented singer, and fitness blogger all rolled into one. She is also an unintentional fashion icon and a healthy living guru.

Sorry boys, she’s happily married.

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