Ziyad Ayass | Innovation & Nostalgia in F&B Startups
Join us for the second live episode of Matbakh in collaboration with What The Food, featuring Ziyad Ayass, the founder and managing partner of Wonder Restaurants, with Dubai F&B outlets like Ka'ak Al Manara – a Lebanese bakery specialising in kaak), and an upscale dining experience in the works which will be called Manaret Beirut. Guided by guest host Vanessa Zabi who is an entrepreneur in the food and health space, this conversation explores Ziyad’s journey from financial consulting to food entrepreneurship. He tells us how he transformed a midnight craving into a thriving business, balancing tradition and innovation, creating emotional connections, and delivering nostalgic wonder. Discover how thoughtfulness and community fueled his brand’s growth, why every detail matters in crafting immersive spaces, and how a clear mission can guide success in even the most saturated markets.
Ziyad Ayass is the founder and managing partner of Wonder Restaurants, which owns and operates Ka’ak Al Manara and Manaret Beirut in Dubai. 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, he 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 a pop-up concept, Ka’ak Al Manara has come a long way. By the end of 2024, the group will operate three outlets and employ over 220 employees.
Connect with👉 Ziyad
Follow 👉 Ka'ak El Manara
What The Food by Alserkal is a two-day celebration of food, sparking critical conversations around some of the most pressing questions about food through talks, exhibitions, screenings, and immersive installations. Now in its third edition, the festival brings together a curated lineup of homegrown chefs, artisanal producers, entrepreneurs, and artists, showcasing cutting-edge culinary concepts and emerging food trends. Building on Dubai’s reputation as a trailblazer in the food scene, What The Food pushes the city’s culinary landscape forward, adding an artistic, community-driven spirit that makes you rethink what food can be.
Explore 👉 What The Food
Theme music: 🔊 Peninsular, Tarek Yamani
Hosted by 👉 Vanessa Zuabi
Vanessa Zuabi is a former founder and entrepreneur in the food and health space, and now works in the crypto industry. She has been a long-time friend and supporter of afikra since 2015.
Matbakh Podcast
A podcast series about eating, making, appreciating and learning about the food and drink of the Arab world. Chefs, restaurateurs, food historians, critics and writers share their takes on the best of what the Arab kitchen has to offer – past and present. We delve into well-loved and under-appreciated dishes, ingredients and flavors, as well as the history of the region’s food and what its future holds.
