Hospitality

THE ART OF CULINARY VERSATILITY

Published

2 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

Exclusive interview with Chef Tim Newton, Executive Chef of the Demind Group

You began your culinary journey in a small town and went on to work across some of the world’s leading gastronomic destinations. Looking back, what moments fundamentally changed the way you understood food and the craft of being a chef?

I don’t think there was one defining moment that changed how I understood food. As a young cook, you learn how to respect ingredients and bring out their best flavours. As you grow in the profession, you also learn how to create dishes that are commercially successful without compromising on taste. Now, in my forties, my focus is on respecting the product, creating something memorable for the guest, ensuring the business remains profitable and, most importantly, being original in my work.

From working alongside some of the industry’s most respected chefs to leading the culinary direction of multiple high-profile concepts, what experiences have most shaped your approach to cooking and leadership?

My approach to both cooking and leadership has been shaped by seeing where others have failed, as well as recognising my own failures. One of the greatest tests of a chef is the ability to make a mistake, recover from it and avoid repeating it. Do I still make mistakes as a leader? Absolutely. But I make a conscious effort to acknowledge and correct them immediately.

As Executive Chef of Demind Group, how do you see your role beyond creating dishes? What is your larger vision for the teams, concepts and dining experiences you are building?

My role at Demind has always extended beyond creating dishes. I have had the privilege of helping to shape and develop the brands themselves. My director has consistently given me the freedom to create, experiment and, importantly, make mistakes and grow from them. My vision for the team is to help each person mature and develop their skills. I never expect my employees to remain with me forever, so I believe it is our responsibility to prepare them for successful careers beyond Demind.

With Bagatelle, OPA, La Niña and Myrra each having their own culinary personality, what is your overarching vision for the kind of dining experiences Demind Group should be known for?

Demind Group is known for creating top-tier dining experiences, but each of its concepts has a distinct identity. At La Niña, guests experience refined Spanish and Latin American cuisine in a beautiful, romantic setting. OPA offers a complete night out, combining vibrant party energy with excellent food. Casa Myrra is positioned as an upscale-casual concept, offering the quality and attention to detail associated with La Niña and OPA, but within a more relaxed atmosphere.

Each of these concepts draws from a distinct culinary culture, from French and Greek to Iberian Latino and Greek-Spanish influences. How do you approach reinterpretation without losing the authenticity that makes a cuisine recognisable?

I approach every brand in the same way: I study, I develop the flavour profile and then I create. It may sound simple, but the process can take months. Take OPA Dubai, our flagship concept, for example. Even today, we never allow ourselves to become complacent when developing new dishes. Around 70 per cent of the menu remains consistent, while the remaining 30 per cent is continuously evolving. We study market trends, but we also aspire to set them. I travel across Greece, discovering regional dishes and ingredients that are often overlooked, while continually searching for the finest products available. At Demind, we are always moving forward.

Rapid Fire Questions:

What is the most unexpected food combination you genuinely love?

I’m a big fan of ranch dressing, so I would have to say Bolognese with a generous dollop of ranch on top. The height of gourmet dining!

What’s the one dish you would happily cook for friends at home, and what’s the one dish you absolutely refuse to make outside the professional kitchen?

Tacos, any day of the week.

What is the one kitchen rule you refuse to compromise on?

Respect one another.

A dish I would refuse to make outside the kitchen?

That’s a difficult one, because I don’t find anything too challenging. I would gladly take on any culinary challenge in my home kitchen.

Every chef has a dish they secretly think they make better than anyone else. What’s yours?

Paella—for sure!

Hospitality

99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Is Moving to Dubai Creek Harbour This Q4

Published

4 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant is set to enter a new chapter this Q4, with the award-winning Japanese dining destination relocating to Dubai Creek Harbour. Opening in Q4 2026, the new venue will bring a premium fine-dining offering to the growing waterfront community, with a larger bar and lounge, a lifestyle-led terrace and views that will form part of the experience. While the new destination will introduce a fresh energy and more elevated approach, it will remain rooted in the contemporary Japanese cuisine and signature dishes that have defined 99 Sushi.

Founded in Madrid in 2005, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant is renowned for its precision-led Japanese craftsmanship, ultra-premium ingredients and refined dining experience, with its Abu Dhabi flagship awarded a MICHELIN Star for three consecutive years. The brand has grown into an international dining name across Spain, the UAE, Monaco, Rabat and Budapest, with further global expansion underway. In Dubai, 99 Sushi was previously located in Downtown before embarking on this next chapter at Dubai Creek Harbour, alongside the launch of its highly anticipated London restaurant.

Hospitality

Turn Saudi National Day into a Private Island Escape with Sun Siyam

Published

4 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This year’s Saudi National Day offers more than a long weekend. With direct flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with the Maldives, Saudi travellers can exchange city life for spacious private villas, world-class dining and some of the Indian Ocean’s most memorable experiences in under a day. Across its Maldivian resorts, Sun Siyam brings together many of the things Saudi travellers look for in an island holiday – space, privacy, family-friendly experiences, premium all-inclusive halal dining and plenty to experience without leaving the island.

Across the Maldives, Sun Siyam’s three collections offer a different experience for every kind of National Day escape. The Luxury Collection, includes Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, focuses on elevated island living, privacy and spacious accommodation; the Lifestyle Collection, featuring Siyam World and Sun Siyam Olhuveli, brings together entertainment, experiences and family fun; while the Privé Collection’s Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef and Sun Siyam Pasikudah (in Sri Lanka) offers a more intimate barefoot island escape.

For Families Who Want Space, Privacy and More Choice

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi combines luxurious beach and overwater villas, including private-pool options, with plenty for every generation to enjoy. Families can spend their days between the beach, pools, water sports and kids’ activities, while parents can retreat to the award-winning Spa by Thalgo for a quieter side of island life.

Dining is also a major part of the experience, with 15 dining and drink venues offering plenty of choice throughout the stay. Premium all-inclusive options, halal food and in-villa dining and floating breakfasts make it easy to dine on your own schedule, while multilingual butler service, including Arabic-speaking assistance, adds another layer of convenience for Saudi guests. With kids staying free on selected offers, Iru Fushi is particularly suited to larger families looking to spend the their holiday together without compromising on privacy.

For Adventure from Morning to Night

Few resorts in the Maldives can promise horse riding in the morning, shipwreck diving in the afternoon and an evening of go-kart racing. Siyam World was designed for travellers who believe one holiday should contain many adventures, bringing an unexpected sense of energy to the traditional Maldives experience.

Families and groups can move from the island’s horse ranch and go-kart track to its floating water park, dive beneath the surface to discover its shipwreck, or simply spend the day enjoying the beach and their private pool. Spacious villas and multi-bedroom residences give larger families and groups room to stay together, while an extensive choice of restaurants and bars means there is always somwhere different to dine.

The resort’s 24-hour WOW! Premium All-Inclusive concept brings dining, drinks and a wide range of experiences together, making Siyam World particularly well suited to Saudi families and groups looking for a holiday where almost everything is taken care of from the moment they arrive.

For Couples Who Want the Island to Themselves

For couples looking to turn the National Day break into a romantic escape, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, offers a more intimate side of the Maldives. Spacious beach and overwater suites, private pools and a strong sense of seclusion give couples the space and privacy to enjoy the island at their own pace.

With its honeymoon appeal, romantic dining experiences and premium all-inclusive offering, Iru Veli is particularly suited to couples looking for a few uninterrupted days together, combining privacy and understated island luxury in an intimate Maldivian setting.

With the Maldives within easy reach of Saudi Arabia, National Day is a chance to make the long weekend feel considerably longer. So why wait? Pack your bags and turn this year’s celebration into an island escape with Sun Siyam. For the latest Sun Siyam packages, benefits and offers, visit sunsiyam.com/offers or book@sunsiyam.com

Hospitality

Sana Dubai Launches “Hashhhhhhhhh Brunch,” a Sunday Ritual Rooted in Uzbek Comfort Food

Published

4 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Sana Dubai, the Uzbek dining destination at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam, announced the launch of its new weekly Sunday Brunch, “Hashhhhhhhhh Brunch,” beginning September 13, 2026. Running every Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the brunch reimagines the day after Saturday night as a ritual of recovery, “the Uzbek way.”

Guests will gather around a table designed for sharing, opening with fresh Uzbek vegetables before moving into Sana’s signature Hash: a steaming bowl finished with baked bone marrow and garlic, a dish generations swear by the morning after. From there, diners choose their “cure” — slow-cooked wagyu beef cheek with silky potato purée, carved tableside by the chef, or a whole river-caught Sazan fish in garlic ajika sauce. The feast closes with a plate of traditional Uzbek sweets.

“Hash has always held a special place in Uzbek cuisine — a dish generations have gathered around, made slowly and with care. We wanted to give it the spotlight it deserves, so we built our Sunday Brunch around it: a truly authentic Uzbek feast, unhurried and generous, the way it’s meant to be shared.” — Leonid Litvin, General Manager, Sana Dubai

Hashhhhhhhhh Brunch is offered across three packages to suit every table:

Non-Alcoholic — AED 350 per person
House — AED 450 per person
Premium — AED 650 per person

The brunch is unhurried and indulgent by design, built for guests who want to slow down, gather with family and friends, and let a proper feast do the recovering.

Hashhhhhhhhh Brunch Every Sunday, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, starting September 13, 2026 Sana Restaurant, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam, Dubai Reservations:https://www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/sanarestaurant/sunday-brunch-5109127899627520?tracking=marketing