Hospitality

It’s Never Just About the Food

Published

1 year ago

May 29, 2025

Exclusive interview with Chef Daniela Sfara, Ciao Bella at Media One Hotel

I like to share that, the more intuitively we cook – that is to understand how to connect with our ingredients and polishing the know-how of sensory cooking without the rigidity of measurements – we learn to make better decisions in our lives as this method transcends the kitchen. Cook slowly, connect and truly enjoy the process – very much as we would building a business, and spending time with our loved ones.

How does it feel to return to Ciao Bella and Larte for another round of your soulful supper clubs?

I feel deeply moved truly. For me, it’s not just an invitation, it’s a recognition of the connection that was created the first time. It feels like returning to a place that understands the essence of what I bring. Being here again, surrounded by guests who value the depth, the history, the emotion behind every dish—it’s a quiet affirmation that what I’m doing matters. It’s never just about the food; it’s about the conviviality and carrying forward of legacies – shared moments, the stories, the beauty of culture passed from one heart (and kitchen) to another.

You bring a beautiful blend of heart and heritage to your cooking. Can you share a bit about your journey into the culinary world and how your Italian-Canadian background influences your style?

I’ve been cooking since I was a child. I wasn’t even three years old yet when I began learning from my mother, and I had the influence of my mother, my grandmother, aunts, uncles and the many young-at-heart men and women across Italy from whom I’ve been invited into their kitchens—to learn from, to be shared stories of tradition, culinary culture, and excellence with. And to me, quite literally, it’s just how I live. Now, representing the Italian diaspora, it’s become even more layered—because it’s not just about technique or taste in my cooking style, it’s about memory, legacy, and an instinctive knowing. It’s how I connect what I do today with past generations: the knowing of ingredients, the land they come from, the rhythm of cultivation, the reverence of harvest. That deep relationship with the earth and its offerings shows up in everything I create and share with those at my table. And at the heart of it all is authenticity—not in the performative sense, but in the honest simplicity of the dishes themselves. After all, it is the humblest dishes we carry in our hearts the longest.

Your supper clubs are described as intimate, nostalgic, and full of “amore.” What makes this dining experience so special for you — and for the guests?

Absolutely, amore. For me, it’s a natural connection to people—that’s how we live. Our door was always open and now in my adulthood, it’s still open at my own home. People knock once, say ‘permesso’ (may I come in?) and they’re in—espresso brewing, stories flowing, time slowing down. That spirit is the heartbeat of my supper clubs. It’s more than just dinner—it’s about creating a space where people feel like they’ve been taken to Italy for the evening – whether in their nonna’s or mamma’s kitchen, or to discover the beauty Italy offers. They feel the warmth, the ease, the unspoken understanding that food is just the beginning. It’s the catalyst for laughter, conversation, and real connection. When everyone’s gathered at one table, something shifts. I often step back and watch—not just the clinking of glasses, but the emotion, the sparkle in people’s eyes, the strangers who suddenly feel like long-lost friends. That’s the magic. That’s why it’s so special.

The menus take guests on a journey across Italy — from the seafood of Sicilia to comforting classics of Emilia-Romagna. What inspired the curation of this year’s menu?

Well, you know, it’s difficult for me to focus on just one region—every part of Italy has its own soul, its own ingredients, its own stories rooted in the people, the place, the land, the terroir. Each region speaks a different dialect through its food, and I love that. So, for me, curating this year’s menu was about taking people on that journey—north to south, coast to countryside. I get to share these places, share stories they may have never heard, and bring them into corners of Italy they might not even know exist. They’re tasting not just the flavors, but the feeling of being in a home in Sicilia, or at a family table in Emilia-Romagna. It’s intimate, it’s real, and it’s the closest thing to traveling with me through the country.

The wine pairings are a big part of the supper club evenings. How do you go about selecting the perfect pairings to match the emotional tone of each dish?

Very much like food, wine has its own identity tied to place. There’s a natural rhythm between what grows in the soil and what is shared on a plate or in a glass. When you pair a dish from a region with a wine from the same place, there’s an unspoken harmony—because they’ve grown up together, side by side, shaped by the same climate, the same land, the same hands. It’s not just about what’s in the glass—it’s about the nuance, the history, the balance, the way the wine lifts the dish and vice versa. The grapes, the ingredients, the cultivation—they’re all part of the same environment. So, pairing becomes intuitive. It’s a natural marriage between the flavors, the textures, even the emotional tone of the dish. And of course, we work with what’s available, but even then, we stay aligned with that deeper sense of connection between place and palate.

Hospitality

ANA Restaurant Brings the Contemporary Emirati Melting Pot to Abu Dhabi

Published

1 day ago

July 27, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

ANA, the contemporary Emirati dining destination celebrated for reimagining the flavours of the Emirates, opens its doors this July at Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi. The opening follows the success of ANA’s flagship at The Dubai Mall. There, the brand has become known for its hand-brushed “ANA” signature, sun-drenched food styling, and a dining room overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. ANA in Abu Dhabi brings that same spirit indoors, offering a warmer, more intimate setting suited to the capital.

ANA was born from a simple question: where does one cuisine end, and another begin? The answer lies in the Emirates itself, a nation shaped by trade, travel and generosity, where cultures have long met and mingled. At ANA, every dish is a small act of storytelling. Every ingredient carries a memory. Every sitting is a ritual. Rather than treating Emirati cuisine as something to preserve behind glass, ANA reimagines it in motion. Traditional recipes meet contemporary technique. Local ingredients meet global influence. The result feels rooted, yet entirely of today.

Guests are invited to discover ANA’s signature menu, where cross-cultural influences meet the flavours of the region. Standout dishes include the Mubahar Chicken, served with ANA’s signature sauce, saffron rice, toasted nuts, and crisp shallots, alongside the Machbous, featuring slow-cooked lamb layered over fragrant hessa rice. From leisurely mornings to relaxed lunches and memorable evenings, ANA offers an all-day dining experience, welcoming guests seven days a week from 10:00 am to midnight. Each dish tells a story of heritage and tradition, thoughtfully reimagined through a contemporary culinary lens.

ANA is a concept by Mohamed Hilal, Founder and CEO of Mohamed Hilal Group, the Emirati lifestyle company. Under Hilal’s vision, ANA was created to introduce the richness of Emirati culture to the world through contemporary dining experiences that celebrate heritage, creativity and genuine hospitality.

“ANA is a space for convening, where ideas of the past, present and future can be tapped into, explored and given shape,” said Founder and CEO Mohamed Hilal of ANA. “The opening of Ana Dalma Mall allows us to bring that same spirit of Emirati hospitality to Abu Dhabi, inviting a new community of guests to discover cross-cultural Emirati cuisine that is as rooted in heritage as it is contemporary in expression.”

True to ANA’s brand identity, which is built on the concept of infinite iterations of the ANA “supergraphic” – a distinctive, hand-brushed rendering of the word “ANA” in both Arabic and Latin script. More than a restaurant, ANA is a place where culture is experienced and every guest is welcomed like family. ANA. Emirati for everyone.

Hospitality

Bondz Launches Executive Work Hours in DIFC to Redefine Client Meetings

Published

4 days ago

July 24, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

If your client meetings usually involve hunting for a quiet corner in a crowded café, Bondz has a new alternative. The DIFC executive lounge has launched Executive Work Hours, a weekday concept that transforms its speakeasy-inspired venue into a stylish daytime destination for entrepreneurs, founders, executives and professionals.

Available Monday to Friday from 12pm to 4pm, the new offering is designed for everything from coffee catch-ups and brainstorming sessions to business lunches and back-to-back meetings.

The idea was inspired by founder & ex-banking professional, Ashish Agrawal’s own corporate experience. After years of hosting meetings in cafés, hotel lobbies and boardrooms, he recognised the need for a space that combines the comfort of hospitality with the privacy and sophistication professionals are looking for during the workday.

“Some of the most important business conversations happen outside the office,” says Agrawal. “But cafés can be crowded, hotel lobbies lack intimacy and most lounges only come alive after work. We wanted to create a space where professionals could meet, collaborate and build relationships in an environment that feels relaxed yet refined. While everyone celebrates Happy Hours, we thought it was time to celebrate Work Hours.”

Executive Work Hours includes three packages:

The Espresso Stop (AED 45): Buy one coffee, get one free.
The Desk (AED 95): Unlimited coffee for up to two guests, one starter and a complimentary house beverage.
The Ritual (AED 195): Unlimited coffee for up to three guests, one starter, one main course and a complimentary signature beverage.

Each package is valid for up to four hours, making it suitable for everything from a single client meeting to a full afternoon of back-to-back appointments.

Located in Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC, Bondz has earned a reputation as one of the district’s stylish executive lounges. With the introduction of Executive Work Hours, the venue is extending that experience beyond evenings, offering professionals a more elevated place to work, meet and connect during the day.

Bondz’s menu thoughtfully pairs world-class cocktails with globally inspired cuisine. Beyond the Executive Work Hours offers, guests can elevate their meetings with signature cocktails and international dishes designed for leisurely business lunches and post-meeting conversations. Some of the best cocktails to try at Bondz are CoCotton, Dragon Breath, Monkey Boulevard, Rum Resolution, Secret Orchard and more.

Hospitality

SIGNOR SASSI MARE IS NOW OPEN IN PORTO CERVO FOR AN EXCLUSIVE SUMMER RESIDENCY

Published

5 days ago

July 24, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

For more than four decades, Signor Sassi has been synonymous with exceptional Italian dining, warm hospitality and effortless glamour. Founded in London’s Knightsbridge in 1984 and acquired by the renowned Italian family-owned San Carlo Group, led by the Distefano family, the restaurant has grown from a beloved London institution into an internationally celebrated luxury hospitality brand with locations spanning Dubai, Riyadh, Doha and Miami. Signor Sassi is recognised worldwide for attracting royalty, celebrities, international tastemakers and discerning guests who return time and again for its authentic Italian hospitality and vibrant social atmosphere.

Now, for the first time in its history, Signor Sassi returns home to Italy with the launch of Signor Sassi Mare in Porto Cervo, bringing its iconic dining experience to the heart of Sardinia’s glamorous Costa Smeralda for an exclusive summer residency.

Located at You Marina Restaurant and Lounge Bar in Piazza Azzurra, overlooking Porto Cervo’s iconic marina, Signor Sassi Mare combines the timeless elegance and celebrated cuisine of Signor Sassi with one of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious summer destinations. Set against the backdrop of Porto Cervo’s luxury yachts, crystal-clear waters and vibrant social scene, the residency offers a sophisticated yet relaxed celebration of Italian summer living.

Designed to capture the essence of long Mediterranean days by the sea, Signor Sassi Mare presents an elegant alfresco dining experience centred around exceptional seafood, premium seasonal ingredients and refined Italian classics. The menu pays tribute to the region’s rich culinary heritage while embracing the glamour and energy that have made Porto Cervo a favourite destination for international travellers, yacht owners and luxury seekers from around the world.

At the heart of the experience is a dedicated Pescheria, From The Sea selection, allowing guests to choose from the finest whole market fish and shellfish, prepared to their preference. Whether grilled, baked in salt crust, served acqua pazza style or paired with freshly made pasta, the menu showcases the freshest catch of the day in true Italian coastal fashion.

Alongside the Pescheria offering, guests can enjoy an array of signature crudo dishes, oysters, seafood towers, caviar and raw bar specialities. Much-loved Signor Sassi favourites also feature prominently throughout the menu, including lobster linguine, black squid ink spaghetti, seafood risotto and Milanese-style veal, celebrating the timeless flavours and culinary traditions for which the brand is renowned.

Reflecting Porto Cervo’s international summer crowd, Signor Sassi Mare will also introduce Yacht Sushi, an exclusive sushi menu featuring sashimi, nigiri, uramaki and signature rolls, designed to complement leisurely lunches, sunset aperitivos and elegant evenings by the water.

To conclude the experience, guests can indulge in desserts inspired by Italy’s southern coastline, from pistachio cake and lemon delizia to homemade gelato and classic tiramisu.

Marcello Distefano, CEO of San Carlo Group, said: “We are delighted to bring Signor Sassi Mare to Porto Cervo, one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic coastal destinations. As an Italian family business, it is particularly meaningful for us to bring the Signor Sassi brand to Italy for the very first time. Following the success of our expansion to locations such as Dubai and Miami, this opening marks another exciting chapter in the brand’s evolution. We look forward to welcoming guests to a truly vibrant celebration of Italian summer living on the Sardinian coast.”

Lorenzo Marras, President of Dining, Sunset Hospitality Group, said: “My connection with Signor Sassi runs deep; we first brought the brand to Dubai, and watching it become part of the city’s dining fabric was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. This partnership with San Carlo Group feels like a story still very much in the making. Porto Cervo is a destination that demands the very best, and together, that is precisely what we intend to deliver. We look forward to welcoming guests to a summer they will not forget, and to many more ventures with San Carlo Group to come.”