Chefs & Culinary Concepts

The festival will feature ten leading chefs and makers in dedicated pop-ups, each showcasing their unique cultural and culinary heritage through curated menus.

Cream

Not Just Another Ice-Cream Brand

Cream is an innovative and exciting experiment in how they experience ice cream. Founded by hrmny in collaboration with Minus Eighteen (M18), Cream operates on a unique drop-based model, offering limited-edition ice-cream flavours that create excitement with each release.

Their mission is to explore new and untapped flavours, constantly innovating not just in taste but in the way they serve their ice cream. From their debut collection featuring sandwiches like 'The Big Abood' and 'Ashta La Vista,' to our custom 'Chop It Up' menu. Cream provides a one-of-a-kind experience that blends creativity, gastronomy, and culture. With each new drop, they aim to redefine ice cream for today's audience, making each bite as memorable as the moment it's served.

Hoe Lee Kow

Korean BBQ with an unconventional twist!

Hoe Lee Kow promises a memorable dining experience where Chef Reif showcases his passion for exploring diverse cultures, ingredients, and flavors, resulting in a non-traditional, yet deliciously exciting interpretation of Korean cuisine.

​From succulent BBQ classics to innovative Korean-inspired creations, our menu features premium ingredients along with Chef Reif's creative flair for unforgettable flavors.

Lila Molino

Lila Molino x Ugly Noodles.

This collaboration is featuring a Barbacoa Dan Dan Noodle dish, alongside Tacos from Lila, Dumplings & Baos from Ugly Noodles

Kooya

Kooya Filipino Eatery

Modern Filipino food by Chef JP Anglo. A hearty and soulful cuisine not familiar to all but is something that’s easily enjoyable by most.

Theyl’ll be serving up a whole new menu that you can’t always get at the restaurant, just to spice it up a little bit. Prepare your appetite for a lot of grilling and leave room for dessert!

One Life Kitchen and Cafe

Made fresh daily from quality produce

Chef Kelvin Kelly of One Life, presenting a diverse menu crafted from natural ingredients.

Indulge in their striploin Cubano, flame-grilled striploin, chicken and halloumi, or a grilled cajun chicken breast.

Tacos Los Hermanos

Authentic Mexican Taqueria In Dubai

Chefs Isaac and Josue of Tacos Los Hermanos, will bring an authentic Mexican taco experience from their hometown of Guadalajara.

MONNO

Simply Designed to Celebrate the Beauty of Italian cuisine.

Monno, is an Italian homegrown restaurant specialising in Neapolitan pizzas, and handmade pastas.

Their warm ambience along with their menu will take you straight to the lively street corners of Italy, where the aroma of freshly baked focaccias fills the air.

The menu is curated to offer something for everyone, whether you are a foodie in search of new flavours, a family looking for a satisfying meal, friends to gather around one table, or kids eager to try something deliciously different.

Sagra Italia

A Taste of Italy in Dubai

Sagra is an artisanal Pastificio, a small, family-run pasta laboratory, located on Jumeirah Road in the heart of Dubai. What makes Sagra unique is its commitment to producing fresh, handmade Italian pasta and sauces daily. Each dish is crafted with care, using high-quality ingredients to ensure a genuine Italian dining experience. At Sagra, we offer more than just pasta; we create moments that connect our guests to Italian culinary traditions.

Sagra is proud to be a homegrown business in Dubai, focusing on artisanal craftsmanship and creating a warm, intimate dining experience. They serve all-day pasta from Tuesday to Sunday in a cosy trattoria-style setting that seats up to 16 people. Every dish from their kitchen is prepared fresh, offering an unforgettable, authentic taste of Italy right in the city.

Chef Brandos Morros - YAMRA

Brand New Concept from 2 Accomplished Chefs that will premier at WTF

Chef Brandos brings his Colombian heritage to life with mouthwatering grilled specialties. This brand-new concept, created by two accomplished chefs, will make its exciting debut at What The Food.

OMA

Dubai based home-grown bakery

OMA is a Dubai based home-grown bakery, serving classic cookies and cakes with sustainability at the heart of their business. One of their trademark mouth-watering goodies is the irresistibly soft sponge cake infused with festive spices, finished with velvety sticky toffee and custard whipped cream.

Below Farm

Will showcase desert-grown mushrooms from Abu Dhabi.

At Below Farm, they grow mushrooms in the desert, bringing the wonders of the fungi kingdom to the Middle East. Because, until recently, the only mushroom you could find in the UAE supermarket was a white button mushroom. But reducing the vast fungi kingdom and all of the edible mushrooms within it to just that one, is equivalent to taking the animal kingdom and all the meat that comes from it, and just eating chicken. There is a huge range of diversity in flavour, texture, preparations and health benefits. We saw an opportunity to establish the region’s first localised mushroom farm: from seed to fruit.

Thegoodlife and Encounter

Pop-up Collaboration

Thegoodlife and Encounter Coffee will have a pop-up collaboration outside warehouse 64 with desserts and refreshing beverage offerings.

Carnistore

One-Stop-Shop For All Things Meat And Protein

They will do a pop out in front of Carnistore with Holy Smokes and Double Like Burgers & Lobster.

Health Nag

Collagen-based products

Health Nag's founder Natasha was facing a variety of chronic health diagnoses and ultimately decided to take control over her own health journey. Conventional medicine's limitations prompted her to advocate for holistic approaches, and over a decades research into natural medicine and holistic therapies she decided to create Health Nag.

Health Nag is here to show the world that health is the act of becoming your greatest version through the process of good choices and self healing.

KUTO Knives
The leading Japanese knife shop in the UAE

The leading Japanese knife shop in the UAE, will offer a curated selection of top-quality Japanese knives and kitchen tools.

Maknoon

Unique selection of Olive Oils

An extra virgin olive oil crafted to honour Levantine heritage and support local communities.

Pure Harvest

Organic, Locally-Grown Fruit and Veg
Experience farm-fresh, premium-quality produce, sustainably grown locally in the UAE.

The Goodness Company
Premium Chocolate Products

Makers of vegan plant-based indulgent snacks that are truly good for people & the planet - with no compromise on taste.

Soul Santé Café

The go-to vegan food joint offers a variety of fresh plant-based dishes

Soul Santé Café, uses recipes that are inculcated from the Ayurvedic principles in food, made daily from scratch and do not contain processed substances. Not to mention the ethical approach that Soul Santé having been founded by health coach Manisha embracing sustainability at its forefront.

The go-to vegan food joint offers a variety of fresh plant-based dishes that are also calorie counted, free from nasties and taste exceptional, making it the perfect option for health-conscious consumers in the region. Soul Santé Cafe started in July 2019, with the mission to fight the misconception around vegan food options being limited and unfulfilling – and today the joint is the place to be for vegans, health and fitness enthusiasts, as well as those who are seeking fresh and nutritious meals without any hidden ingredients.

A guilt free take on desserts, look out for a traditional carrot cake, pistachio slice, cinnamon donuts, double chocolate slice, snicker bites and so much more.

Whats In Z Box

Ready-to-bake cookie kits for kids

Whats In Z Box is an innovative concept for parents and kids to bake together while learning something new. It's a baking activity that helps your kids to develop their skills, increase their confidence, learn to follow instructions and be patient. Whats In Z Box offers simple colourful baking and decoration DIY kits for little hands to create tasty treats. Their DIY baking and decoration boxes include all the needed pre measured ingredients, kitchen tools and step-by-step instruction card

Yalabucha

Kombucha selection with interesting blends

YALA Kombucha is the only globally awarded kombucha made in UAE. It’s a natural fermented drink based only on natural ingredients – tea, herbs, berries and fruit. Its casual and refreshing, with something for everyone: from fruity, berries flavours, to floral and aromatic, to citrusy and spicy.

Bhalla Spices
Your Chilli Oil Dealer, The Bhallas

Introducing this homegrown chilli oil that's been a staple in the "Bhalla" household for over a decade!

It's not just a condiment; it's a flavour enhancer that complements any cuisine perfectly. Add it to noodles, dumplings, eggs, pizzas, sandwiches or just dip some bread in it. Plus, it's versatile enough to double as a marinade for seafood, meats, veggies, and more.

Their chilli oil is crafted with olive oil, offering a unique twist not commonly found in other chilli oils.

They can't wait for you to try it and see how you use it!