Live Matbakh Podcast with Ziyad Ayass at What The Food by Alserkal

Sunday, October 27
Time: 6:00 – 6:45 pm (Dubai Time)
Location: Alserkal Avenue

Join us for live recordings of the Matbakh Podcast at What The Food by Alserkal on October 26 & 27 hosted by long-time afikra Volunteer Vanessa Zuabi!

On Sunday, we’re sitting with Ziyad Ayass the Founder and Managing Partner of Wonder Restaurants Holding, which owns and operates Ka’ak Al Manara, a casual Lebanese restaurant & bakery brand in Dubai, along with Manaret Beirut, an upscale Lebanese restaurant brand launching soon.

He began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers Dubai, spending eight years consulting on major real estate and hospitality transactions in the Middle East. After earning his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certificate, Ziyad left the corporate world behind with a mission to deliver the nostalgic wonder of Beirut through the development of F&B concepts.

Since bursting onto the scene as one of Dubai’s hottest pop-up concepts, Ka’ak Al Manara has come a long way. By the end of 2024, the group will operate three outlets & employ over 220 employees.

What The Food by Alserkal returns for its third edition, bringing together the city’s most exciting homegrown chefs, artisanal makers and creative culinary minds. This year’s programme is about pushing boundaries, showcasing cutting-edge culinary experiments and sparking critical conversations about food and its role in shaping communities and culture. Taking place on October 26 & 27 at Alserkal Avenue, the weekend features thought-provoking talks, immersive installations, workshops, food walks, and film screenings, all aimed at educating, inspiring, and challenging everything we thought we knew about food.