Hospitality
My knife is the secret sauce of my culinary magic
Integrator Media had an exclusive interview with Chef Kunal Kapur
What inspired the concept behind PINCODE, and how does it reflect the diversity of Indian cuisine?
We feel the best of Indian food is cooked & served in lanes & by lanes of streets in India. These streets or swad ki galiyan are best defined by their Pincodes. We simply picked some of these interesting Pincodes along with their dishes and brought them together to make the menu at Pincode. At Pincode we serve regional Indian food & celebrate the regional bounty our country has to offer.
Can you share a signature dish from PINCODE that every guest must try?
For the vegetarians I recommend Avocado Jhal Muri which is the classic Bengali or Odia Jhal Muri with a twist of Avocados, Aam Panna and Mustard oil. And for non vegetarians do try Kerala Fried Chicken it is simply irresistible. And of course finish off the meal with our home made Kulfi or Boondi Cheesecake.

How do you ensure the authenticity of flavors from different regions of India in your restaurant?
Over the years I have traveled my country and with every travel my endeavour has always been to unlearn a few things and learn a few things. One of the key things to keep the authenticity of any cuisine is in sourcing the right ingredients. Lucky for us that we are in Dubai where we get some of the best Indian produce.
What challenges did you face when bringing traditional Indian cuisine to a global city like Dubai?
Dubai is very open & very energetic market. People of UAE not just Dubai love Indian food so the concept of Indian cuisine is not alien. However the deeper we go with our regional dishes the more of explaining (while introducing new lesser known dishes) is required. So it takes time for people to understand and order dishes beyond the usual.
Who has been your biggest culinary influence, and how have they shaped your approach to cooking?
My travels and home cooks that I have eaten with on the way have really inspired me in the last couple of years in my style of cooking. For me cooking is now about using seasonal local produce, keeping it fresh & simple.
What was a pivotal moment in your career that helped define your path as a chef?
I think I was always someone who enjoyed creative arts. I was an average student academically and was more inclined to subjects that really open up your mind. My decision to go against the wishes of my family to become a banker was the pivotal moment that shaped my career so far.
Dubai is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. How does PINCODE stand out in this competitive environment?
We are a regional indian restaurant where years of research has given us the edge to stand out with our menu where we offer local Indian flavours that may be lesser known but are sure to delight. We cook everything in-house and change our menus with season. So there is always something new to try and something new to appreciate.
What role do you believe Indian cuisine plays in the global culinary scene, and how does PINCODE contribute to this narrative?
Indian cuisine holds a significant place in the global culinary scene and its impact is profound, offering a window into the country’s vast cultural heritage through its food. Indian cuisine is much more than just a gastronomical delight; it’s a sensory journey that encapsulates the essence of India’s history, geography and spirituality.
With Pincode we try to give an experience to our patrons of the history and techniques behind Indian cooking, further deepening the appreciation for the cuisine. This educational approach helps demystify Indian cooking and encourages culinary experimentation.
Hospitality
TWG Tea Unveils the TWG Tea Gallery, Its Largest Flagship and First-Ever TWG Tea Museum at Singapore Changi Airport
TWG Tea, the finest luxury tea brand in the world, unveils its largest global flagship, TWG Tea Gallery, at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s international growth. Welcoming travellers around the clock, the TWG Tea Gallery is strategically located within one of the world’s leading aviation hubs, underscoring TWG Tea’s continued investment in travel retail as a key pillar of its global expansion strategy. Spanning 2,700 square feet beneath a soaring 23-foot-high ceiling, the new flagship represents the brand’s most ambitious retail expression to date, setting a new benchmark for luxury tea in the global travel retail landscape.

Envisioned as an immersive expression of TWG Tea’s craftsmanship and savoir-faire, this destination invites discerning travellers into a luminous world where rare harvests, exquisite blends and timeless rituals converge. Its landmark TWG Tea Museum showcases more than 170 antique tea wares and over 50 antique Russian samovars from the 17th to 20th centuries, personally curated by the brand over the past 15 years from around the world. TWG Tea Gallery also introduces a selection of exclusive creations, including the Grand Voyage Tea from the Grand Mode Tea Collection, the Singapore Surprise Gift Set, and specially created tea-infused macarons, ice cream and sorbet.
Bringing together the Tea Boutique, curated tea accessories, bespoke gifting and a Takeaway experience, this flagship also introduces Singapore’s only Tea-Infused Ice Cream & Sorbet concept, designed for travellers on the go. An impressive tea wall displaying more than 1,200 tea tins anchors the space, transforming the space into a compelling new expression of TWG Tea for today’s global traveller.
“The TWG Tea Gallery represents the most definitive expression of TWG Tea to date. More than a Tea Boutique, the flagship brings the past, present and future of tea into one immersive experience, celebrating the stories, traditions and artistry that have shaped tea over the centuries, brought to life through its landmark TWG Tea Museum. Singapore has remained central to TWG Tea since its founding, and we are honoured to present our largest global flagship at Changi Airport, an icon of aviation excellence and an extraordinary platform to bring the world of TWG Tea to travellers from around the world.”
—Taha Bouqdib, President & CEO of V3 Gourmet and Co-Founder of TWG Tea
“Changi Airport is proud to be home to TWG Tea’s largest flagship store in the world and its first-ever TWG Tea Museum. As one of Singapore’s most recognised brands, TWG Tea offers travellers a uniquely Singapore experience. Together with TWG Tea, we are delighted to introduce a collection of exclusives created specially for Changi Airport, including Singapore’s only tea-infused ice cream and sorbet concept. This new flagship transforms a retail visit into an immersive journey through the heritage, artistry and culture of tea, reflecting the innovation and hospitality that define both TWG Tea and Changi.”
— Hung Jean, Managing Director of Airside Concessions at Changi Airport Group
A Voyage Through Design
This location within Changi Airport was chosen to house TWG Tea Museum to form a defining part of the flagship experience, showcasing more than 170 antique tea wares and decorative objects spanning cultures and eras. The collection offers a compelling window into the artistry and cultures that have shaped tea over the centuries, adding a rich traditional dimension to the contemporary travel retail experience.
Among its highlights are Yixing clay teapots, traditionally marked by their makers and prized for their craftsmanship and provenance, alongside Chinese and Western tea wares tracing evolving traditions of form and decoration from the 18th century to the present day. Blue-and-white ceramics shaped by Chinese-Islamic artistic exchange sit alongside porcelain once prized in Europe as “white gold,” revealing the movement of ideas and aesthetics across cultures through the rituals of tea.
The collection also includes more than 50 antique samovars from Russia, with notable 19th- and early-20th-century examples from the celebrated workshops of Tula and beyond. Works by makers such as the Batashev and Shemarin brothers bear distinctive hallmarks attesting to their provenance and craftsmanship, offering a further perspective on the decorative traditions surrounding tea.
This dialogue between cultures continues in the flagship’s design, crowned by a hand-painted ceiling depicting a luminous world tea map. As its defining architectural feature, the composition traces the global journey of tea through intricate motifs and rich colour, extending the museum’s narrative of cultural exchange into the contemporary setting of Changi Airport Terminal 3.
Hospitality
MI AMOR: ORILLA INTRODUCES A NEW WEEKLY LADIES’ NIGHT IN JVT
Orilla is turning Wednesday nights into an occasion with the launch of Mi Amor, a new weekly ladies’ night bringing together free-flowing drinks, live entertainment and an elevated late-night atmosphere at the restaurant’s rooftop setting in Jumeirah Village Triangle.
Launching on Wednesday, 7 October from 7:00pm onwards, Mi Amor invites ladies to dress up, gather their favorite people and settle into an evening designed around good energy, flowing drinks and memorable moments.
Set on the 27th floor of Hotel Local, Orilla provides the backdrop for the new weekly ritual, combining panoramic surroundings with the restaurant’s lively Latin-inspired atmosphere. For the launch evening, guests can expect free-flowing drinks for ladies, sensational entertainment throughout the night and a room dressed for the occasion.

More than simply a midweek drinks offer, Mi Amor is designed as an opportunity to make Wednesday feel like the start of the weekend. From the first cocktail to the final song, the evening brings together music, entertainment and an upbeat social atmosphere for groups of friends looking to make the most of their night.
The launch will set the tone for what guests can expect from Mi Amor as it becomes a regular fixture at Orilla — a night built around celebration, connection and a little indulgence.
Mi Amor Ladies’ Night launches on Wednesday, 7 October, from 7:00pm onwards, with free-flowing drinks available for ladies and entertainment throughout the evening.
Event Details
- What: Mi Amor Ladies’ Night | When: Every Wednesday, launching 7 October 2026 | Time: From 7:00pm onwards | Where: Orilla, 27th Floor, Hotel Local, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Dubai | Ladies’ Offer: Free-flowing drinks | Entertainment: Throughout the evening | Reservations: +971 4 575 2986 / +971 55 104 7521 | Email: reservation@orillarestaurant.com
- Limited tables are available. Guests are encouraged to reserve in advance and join Orilla for the first taste of Mi Amor.
Hospitality
From AMAYA to MYA: Dubai Mall Dining Destination Refines Its Global Identity
AMAYA is now MYA. As the brand expands its regional and international presence, a unified name gives every location one voice and every guest one clear promise. MYA supports consistency across its growing portfolio of destinations while preserving the energy, hospitality and attention to detail established in Dubai.


The Dubai-born dining and lifestyle brand has refined its name as part of its continued growth: one concise name that can be recognized, remembered and expressed with equal confidence in every market. MYA is shorter by design, creating greater clarity across destinations, partnerships, communications and digital platforms.
The refinement is precise. MYA carries forward the same founder and leadership, the same team, the same concept, the same culinary direction, the same standards and the same distinctive guest experience. Everything that earned the trust of AMAYA’s guests remains at the heart of MYA.

“Strong brands grow through clarity, consistency and trust. MYA gives the name we have built a sharper global expression. Our people, standards and guest experience remain exactly the same. One name. One vision. One uncompromising standard, built in Dubai and continuing forward as MYA.”
– Murat Tutuncu and Moe Ezzat | Founders & CEO, MYA
MYA’s purpose is clear – to give the established Dubai-born hospitality brand a shorter and more consistent name as it grows across destinations. The shorter name increases recognition, the unified name strengthens consistency, and the same standards give the brand the foundation to grow confidently across cultures and geographies.
-
Trending11 months agoOPPO A6 Pro 5G Review: Reliable Daily Driver
-
Tech News2 years agoDenodo Bolsters Executive Team by Hiring Christophe Culine as its Chief Revenue Officer
-
VAR1 year agoMicrosoft Launches New Surface Copilot+ PCs for Business
-
Automotive2 years agoAGMC Launches the RIDDARA RD6 High Performance Fully Electric 4×4 Pickup
-
Tech Interviews3 years ago
Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape in Hybrid Work Environments
-
Tech News1 year agoNothing Launches flagship Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1) in theme with the Iconic Museum of the Future in Dubai
-
VAR2 years agoSamsung Galaxy Z Fold6 vs Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Clash Of The Folding Phenoms
-
Hospitality2 years agoGulfood 2025 30th Edition Kicks Off Today, Setting New Benchmarks in F&B Growth and Innovation


