The SL Middle East Directory: Private Caterers

For at-home catering that’s different to anything else in Dubai, call on The Legendary Naga. Formerly employed at David Chang’s Momofuku and the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Aphisith Phongsavanh is a Canadian chef who has a devoted following thanks to the supper clubs he’s hosted at his house that fuse southeast Asian dishes with flavours from Persia, Pakistan and the Levant. Inspired by his parents who hail from Laos and Thailand, Aphisith mixes unexpected flavours while entertaining guests with stories about the history of food. 

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Kamil Sayah is the brains behind this interactive pizza catering company that can accommodate events for up 600 people right down to a cosy dinner for a handful of guests. Specialising only in Neapolitan style pizza, the Lebanese chef will arrives at your event space or house with his dough, toppings and wood fired pizza ovens. Guests can then choose about four or five types of pizza from the selection of approximately 15 on offer. For an interactive experience, Kamil runs pizza making workshops where partygoers can knead dough, stretch it and craft their own topping combinations. Lastly, Kamil also offers an Italian supper club at his Dubai home on one long table for up to 16 people. 

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Lovingly prepared Arabic food with a personal touch is the aim of this charming family-run business. Syrian chef Tarek Al Kurdi and Lebanese owner Salam El Baba talk to clients about every last detail before concocting a bespoke menu for an intimate dinner. Stuffed vine leaves are the superstar dish, says Salam, who also recommends stuffed lamb with vine leaves, mandi – a dish of smoked chicken and rice – and rosemary chicken with caramelised shallots.

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Customisation is what The Lighthouse does best. An extension of a successful collection of upmarket cafes and bistros in Dubai that has branches in Mall of the Emirates, D3 and Nakheel Mall, it also caters glamorous events for the likes of Gucci, Sotheby’s, Sephora, Loewe, Chopard and Jo Malone. Plus, The Lighthouse’s team of chefs and mixologists can also turn their hand to personalised smaller scale dinners and drinks parties at your home. 

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Led by Australian chef Richard Hannaby, who once worked at three Michelin star London restaurant Chez Nico under Nico Ladenis, Elements Catering is one of Dubai’s most respected boutique companies. Able to cater large events for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada, Elements can also create an intimate dinner for up to ten guests at a private client’s house, or even put on a dinner party in the desert. “I like to push boundaries, there are no limitations,” Richard says. 

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Straight off the back of catering a large event at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix, the highly experienced culinary team at Ben’s Farmhouse is now in the thick of the festive season. British chef Ben Tobitt – formerly of The Ivy and Soho House – and his crew specialise in versatile catering that ranges from canapés to fine dining and everything in between. Taking inspiration from all over the world, Ben uses produce from local UAE farms to create dishes that are healthy, nutritious and sustainable wherever possible.

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Able to handle events from 10-500 people, the experienced team at Pinch Gourmet tend to work mostly with Arabic, American BBQ, French and Italian cuisines but its chefs are knowledgeable and versatile enough to tackle Mexican, Greek and Mediterranean dishes, too. Special requests are no problem for the flexible Pinch team, who have created bespoke menus around colours or specific themes in the past. Elias Kandalaft is the Jordanian/Canadian culinary director of Pinch who explains the food is fun, casual but also luxurious. 

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If you want to serve a backyard BBQ, get in touch with the passionate pitmasters at Holy Smokes. What started as a company selling BBQ equipment in 2020 evolved a year later into a popular catering company that provides mouth-watering platters of top quality meats expertly cooked by a group of friends with smoke, theatre and a lot of love. 

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‘Feed your soul’ is the wholesome tagline of One Life, a beloved casual bistro in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle and D3 that also offers a wide range of catering options for large events. Kelvin and his team can tackle the A to Z of international cuisines in any format from canapés or a buffet to a multi-course tasting menu or a family style sharing spread. One Life can also bring tables, cutlery and crockery into homes to eliminate stress for clients. 

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For a slick and polished dinner party, Dish is the standout catering candidate in Dubai. Although adept at black tie gala dinners, the nimble team at Dish can adjust its menus for an expertly prepared dinner party at home for a gathering of any size or type, complete with waiters, furniture and table decoration if required. Menus include canapés, small bowls, barbecue, grazing tables, afternoon tea or a lavish fine dining experience. 

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