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FOODICS LAUNCHES TABLE TALKS, A NEW HOSPITALITY FORUM SPOTLIGHTING THE REAL DATA BEHIND RESTAURANT GROWTH IN THE REGION
Foodics, the leading restaurant management and payments technology platform in MENA, has announced the launch of Table Talks by Foodics, a new community-led initiative designed to bring together restaurant founders, operators, creators, and hospitality professionals for candid, insight-driven conversations about building and scaling successful restaurant businesses.
Built as an intimate, invite-only dinner series, Table Talks moves beyond traditional panel formats to create space for honest dialogue inside the environments where hospitality brands are actively being built. Each edition will spotlight a founder’s journey alongside real operational insights, bridging storytelling with data-backed business reality.
The inaugural edition took place at Lila Molino in Alserkal Avenue on Thursday 18th June and featured chef and entrepreneur Shaw Lash, founder of Lila Taqueria and Lila Molino. Guests gathered inside the concept’s working production kitchen for an evening focused on entrepreneurship, craft, and the realities of scaling independent hospitality brands.
Shaw Lash’s journey has become one of Dubai’s most compelling modern hospitality stories. After leaving a corporate career, she launched Lila Taqueria in 2023, a wood-fired taqueria built around heirloom Mexican corn and traditional techniques. She went on to expand the concept with Lila Molino in 2024, an all-day dining space, coffee roastery, concept store, and in-house masa production unit, followed by Tacos Caminos in 2025. With Foodics supporting operations across every stage of growth, the brands have evolved into a thriving independent restaurant group built on consistency, craft, and operational discipline.

As part of the inaugural Table Talks session, Foodics shared exclusive insights into Shaw Lash’s growth journey, showcasing how technology has supported the evolution of the business from a single restaurant into a three-brand, five-location group in just three years. Since launching Lila Taqueria in 2023, followed by Lila Molino in 2024 and Tacos Caminos in 2025, the group has processed more than 85,000 orders through the Foodics platform.
During the event it was highlighted how access to real-time operational and customer data has enabled smarter decision-making and sustainable growth, with Lila Molino recording a 98% year-on-year increase in orders between 2024 and 2025 from a single location alone. This growth has been supported by Foodics’ integrated platform, which connects POS, sub-cashier stations and delivery app orders into a single system, providing a complete view of business performance.
Attendees also gained insight into customer purchasing behaviour through the brand’s top-performing menu items, with Chips, Salsas & Guacamole serving as a key entry-point dish, while signature favourites continue to drive repeat visits. Some menu items saw demand increase by more than 400% in a single month, highlighting the value of data-led menu optimisation. Today, Lila Molino accounts for over 54% of the group’s lifetime orders, demonstrating how operational discipline and technology can drive growth beyond physical expansion.
“Table Talks was created to bring our community together and uncover the stories behind successful hospitality brands and the decisions that drive their growth. Shaw’s journey highlights that scaling a restaurant business, while it all starts with a great concept, requires operational discipline, consistency, and the ability to make informed decisions at every stage. By sharing these experiences openly, we hope to create meaningful conversations and practical learning opportunities for the wider industry,” says Belal Zahran, Chief Revenue Officer of Foodics.
“Through this initiative, we want to highlight the real mechanics of growth in hospitality, the decisions, the systems, and the numbers that sit behind the guest experience.” He adds.
The launch of Table Talks reflects Foodics’ broader commitment to supporting the hospitality ecosystem beyond technology, by fostering knowledge-sharing and bringing together the people shaping the future of dining in the region.
Table Talks by Foodics will continue as a recurring series, convening hospitality founders and operators every few months for open, honest industry conversations.
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Welcome the New Year in Style at Orilla Dubai

As 2026 draws to a close, Orilla, the chef-led MediterrAsian restaurant by Saradhi Dakara and Stellar Society Group, invites guests to welcome 2027 with an elevated New Year’s Eve celebration on 31 December 2026.
Perched on the 27th floor of Hotel Local Dubai in Jumeirah Village Triangle, Orilla provides a spectacular setting for the final night of the year. Guests can enjoy sweeping views across Dubai, taking in the surrounding golf courses, Jumeirah Beach Residence and the glittering city skyline as the city comes alive in celebration of the New Year.
The evening centres around a specially curated three-course sharing dinner, designed to bring guests together over a relaxed yet elevated dining experience. Guests can choose between two beverage packages, each offering a different selection of drinks alongside the dinner.
The New Year’s Eve packages are priced as follows:
- House Package: AED 699 per person
- Premium Package: AED 899 per person
At AED 699 per person, the House Package offers excellent value for a New Year’s Eve celebration in Dubai, bringing together a three-course sharing dinner, house beverages and a champagne allocation, all enjoyed against panoramic views of the city. For guests looking to make the evening even more special, the Premium Package is available at AED 899 per person, with an upgraded beverage selection.
Both packages include the three-course sharing dinner, a selection of house or premium beverages, and a champagne bottle allocation according to table size, subject to confirmation.
Combining food, music and a vibrant festive atmosphere, the celebration offers an opportunity to gather with friends and family, raise a glass and welcome the year ahead against the backdrop of Dubai’s skyline.
Event Details
New Year’s Eve at Orilla
Date: 31 December 2026
Venue: Orilla Restaurant, 27th Floor, Hotel Local Dubai, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai
House Package: AED 699 per person
Premium Package: AED 899 per person
To Book: +971 04 575 2986
Instagram: @Orilladxb
Website: orillarestaurant.com
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Discover the StrEATS of Asia with P. F. Chang’s New Limited-Time Menu
From the bustling street food stalls of Thailan to the smoky grills of Indonesia, P. F. Chang’s invites guests to taste their way across Asia with StrEATS OF ASIA, a new limited-time offer featuring eight Asian street food-inspired dishes. Available for dine-in across all markets from 4 November to 14 December 2026, the menu brings together some of the region’s most exciting and iconic street food flavors in one inviting dining experience, combining authentic inspiration with the quality and craftsmanship guests expect from P. F. Chang’s signature pan-Asian dining experience. Guests can also enjoy exclusive savings with AURA membership.
The menu opens with Tokyo Korokke, Japanese-style potato croquettes filled with sweet corn and peas, coated in crispy panko and fried until golden, served with tangy katsu sauce. For a taste of Indonesia, Smoky Street Satay brings flame-grilled chicken paired with a creamy, nutty peanut sauce, balancing smoky, sweet and savory notes.
For something comforting, the Coconut Silk Laksa features silky noodles in a rich coconut curry broth, finished with fresh herbs, crunchy toppings, and a burst of citrus. Meanwhile, Thai Basil Kra Pao puts a Thai street food favorite in the spotlight, with savory minced chicken stir-fried with fiery chillies and fragrant Thai basil, topped with a crispy fried egg.
Noodle and rice lovers can also tuck into Korean Japchae, featuring glossy glass noodles wok-tossed with vibrant vegetables, aromatic sesame oil and delicate soy notes, alongside Wok-Smoked Nasi Goreng, a beloved Indonesian classic made with smoked wok-fired rice, rich kecap manis and vibrant chillies, finished with a crispy-edged fried egg.
Rounding out the experience is a selection of sweet and refreshing treats. The Watermelon Bloom (Carafe) combines fresh watermelon with zesty lemon and a hint of sweetness for a bright, refreshing drink. Inspired by the Philippines’ iconic Mais Con Yelo blends sweet corn, creamy ice cream, and crunchy toppings for a nostalgic take on a much-loved dessert. Completing the lineup, Golden Glazed Sweet Potatoes pairs golden caramelized sweet potato with warm cinnamon notes, coconut ice cream, and toasted coconut flakes for a comforting sweet finish.
Throughout the campaign, AURA members can enjoy an exclusive 10% off the StrEATS OF ASIA menu, making it the perfect opportunity to explore the flavors of Asia with an added saving.
With StrEATS OF ASIA, P. F. Chang’s celebrates the diversity of Asian street food, bringing together distinctive flavors, ingredients and culinary traditions in one inviting dining experience. From savory street food favorites to sweet treats, the menu showcases the variety of Asia’s food culture while staying true to the quality and craftsmanship at the heart of P. F. Chang’s pan-Asian dining experience.
StrEATS OF ASIA is available for dine-in from 4 November to 14 December 2026 at P. F. Chang’s restaurants across all markets. AURA members can enjoy an exclusive 10% savings during the campaign.
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Moonrise Welcomes Beihouse for a One-Night Only Collab
Dubai’s Moonrise and Beirut’s Beihouse are coming together for a one-night-only collaboration in Dubai. The dinner will take place on Tuesday, 17 November 2026, where Chef Solemann Haddad welcomes Chef Tarek Alameddine and the Beihouse team to Moonrise for an exclusive four-hands dinner.
The collaboration brings together two of the region’s highest-ranked dining destinations. Moonrise holds the No. 10 in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 and has retained its MICHELIN star since 2023. Beihouse ranks No. 5 on the same list, earning the titles of Best Restaurant in Lebanon and Highest New Entry. Both chefs have also received One Knife recognition at The Best Chef Awards, with Tarek becoming the first Lebanese chef to receive the distinction in 2025.
While their culinary backgrounds differ, both chefs share a deeply personal approach to cooking, shaped by their upbringing, regional food cultures and a constant curiosity for ingredients and techniques.
Born and raised in Dubai, Solemann has developed his own interpretation of “Dubai cuisine”, bringing together regional ingredients, personal experiences and contemporary techniques to reflect the evolving culinary identity of his hometown.
Tarek’s cooking is rooted in the traditions of Aitat, the mountain village outside Beirut where he grew up surrounded by foraging, seasonal produce and the preservation of ingredients. On the night, guests can expect signature dishes from Beihouse, like the “Transparent Batata Harra”, Kibbeh Nayeh Tartare, and Shawarma with flaky steak.
At Beihouse, Tarek draws on those experiences to explore Lebanese cuisine through its ingredients, flavours and culinary traditions. Fermentation and preservation play a central role, supported by the restaurant’s dedicated research and development kitchen, where familiar ingredients are studied and approached in new ways.
Chef Solemann Haddad, Founder and Chef of Moonrise, said: “What I love about Chef Tarek’s cooking is how much of it comes from the food he grew up with, but he’s taken those ideas in a completely different direction through his work with fermentation and preservation. At Moonrise, I’m always exploring new ways to express Dubai through food. We have different starting points, and I think that’s what makes cooking together exciting.”
Chef Tarek Alameddine, Chef and Co-owner of Beihouse, said: “I grew up watching my grandmother ferment kishk on the rooftop in Aitat. Preserving ingredients was simply part of life, and those memories still shape the way I cook today. Chef Solemann has his own relationship with the food of Dubai, and I’m interested in exploring where our approaches meet. ” The dinner will take place at Moonrise, where both chefs and their teams will work side by side to create an experience specifically for the occasion.
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