THE FIRST JOB I EVER HAD…

… was waitressing in a restaurant. I loved every minute of it. Thinking about it, I suppose this is where I really fell in love with hospitality. The relentless pace, the meticulous attention to detail, the unfailing passion of the seasoned professionals I worked alongside… I soaked up every element of it with wide-eyed awe. My happy place, between people watching on hostess duty and learning to make my first mojito during bar service, was at the pass. It was here, with a front row view into the kitchen, where I truly began to appreciate the sheer amount of work that goes into making a dining experience so much more than a meal.

While many roles make up the expertly choreographed show that is hospitality, the chefs, for me, are the protagonists. Though traditionally chefs have adopted behind-the-scenes roles, increasingly they’re coming into the leading light of the culinary experience. And the Dubai dining scene is much better for it.

It’s these chefs, and the exceptional teams that surround them, that we salute in this issue. From p16, come dine with us in some of the finest kitchens in the city. From under-the-radar supper clubs to tasting menus of Michelin pedigree, these culinary creators have the business of hospitality down to a fine art.

If you feel like life has been getting a little serious lately, this issue is also here to help. Head to p25, where you’ll find our essential guide to the belly-laugh-inducing Dubai Comedy Festival. From the brilliant My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast live, to stand-up sketches from Jimmy Carr and Dara Ó Briain, there’s plenty of top talent to enjoy. I’m a firm believer that life is better when you’re laughing.

Enjoy the issue,

EDITOR’S PICKS

Alexia Dress, Never Fully Dressed Dhs790, neverfullydressed.co.uk

Matcha

Upgrading my gym kit with… Maeya

Dubai-based luxury activewear brand, Maeya, is all about functional pieces perfect for working out in. Their newly launched collection features four styles in two pretty prints. While the pieces are designed for the gym, I’ve already got my set in rotation for days of lounging at home in my comfies.

@maeyaclothing

– Alice Holtham, Group Editor

Getting lost in 1960s London with… Utopia Avenue

I’ve just started reading Utopia

Avenue. It’s set in the psychedelic haze of the 1960s and follows the fortunes, aspirations and missteps of a band. It’s filled with that trademark poetic, evocative David Mitchell prose, guiding you along a densely woven, interconnected narrative web of truly original thoughts.

@therandomhouse

– Miles Buckeridge, Senior Online Reporter

Finding cute hidden cafés in… Al Barari

New Earth Café, which opened just a few months ago, is a cooler-than-cool Baliesque café. The all-day menu is casual, healthy, and full of crowd-pleasers. Snack on a matcha-infused açai bowl, slurp down a wholesome smoothie, or munch on vegan pizza. New Earth Café is officially on the cusp of being too cool.

@newearth.cafe

– Tamara Wright, Online Reporter