Reif Othman on propelling Zuma into one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants and on launching his own, Reif Kushiyaki

The Lighthouse Conversations

Feb 26 2020 | 00:32:59

00:00 / 00:32:59

Show Notes

We’re continuing with our food theme this month with a chef who’s left a tremendous mark on the Middle East culinary scene since his debut at Zuma in 2009. Reif Othman is a new breed of owner-operator chefs who landed Zuma Dubai on the “World’s Best 50 restaurants” before kick-starting his own Japanese street food venture, Reif Kushiyaki. Reif shares stories about his humble beginnings, what got his blood flowing and pushed him to leave his native Singapore, snapshots from his time at Zuma and, finally, why giving back is so important to him.

Other Episodes

Episode 26

November 18, 2020 • 00:46:30

"You can't be noticed unless there is sincerity in your work." Fashion designer Yasmine Yeya on being inspired by Egypt’s beauty, landing Jennifer Lopez as a customer, and debunking the overnight success myth

How do you go from working in advertising, to waking up with a gazillion Instagram notifications of J.LO wearing your mustard yellow couture gown...

Episode 33

March 10, 2021 • 00:44:08

“I use my shows to make a statement,” gallerist Isabelle van den Eynde on her curatorial techniques, working with Emirati artist Hassan Sharif and the challenges of showing art through the pandemic.

This week we caught up with gallerist Isabelle van den Eynde, founder of the eponymous Gallery IVDE, one of Dubai’s most established and celebrated...

Episode 14

May 28, 2020 • 00:46:45

Louis Lebbos on why we haven’t yet seen a superagency in the region & supporting local entrepreneurs

From our LIVE FB conversation with Louis Lebbos, Founding Partner at UAE-based Astrolabs. Louis chats with Hashem about why his co-founder Muhammed Mekki and...