Life

With both Indochine and Miss Lily’s being the ultimate celebrity hangout spots in New York City, Dubai has been lucky enough to add the venues to its roster of fabulous eateries in the emirate.
Adding to Dubai’s burgeoning scene, VKD Hospitality Founders Khalil Dahmash and Varun Khemaney have managed to make both the restaurants popular places to dine in here in the city.

Emirates Woman sat down with the dynamic duo to find out what it was like to bring two famed NYC celebrity hotspots to Dubai, how they dealt with the pandemic and what they think of Dubai.
What made you want to bring two iconic New York hotspots to Dubai?
Both brands are very special in their own right. We fell in love with the décor, food and how unique their overall offering was. We don’t like to go after big franchises as we like to add our own creative touch while taking into account what the local market wants, when translating the brands from overseas – as this can be seen with both Indochine and Miss Lily’s. Another reason of what attracted us to bringing both brands here was that both Jamaican and Vietnamese cuisines were underrepresented in the Dubai culinary scene. They both filled a niche that was missing in the market.

How did you begin your careers in the food and beverage industry?
A large portion of Varun’s family business was in F&B – so he picked up the hospitality bug from a young age. He also partnered up with Iron Chef Morimoto and opened up a restaurant called Tribeca Canvas in NYC not too long ago. Khalil on the other hand came from a finance background – he worked a lot on mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East specifically in the F&B sector. He gained his operational experience by building and operating Miss Lily’s and Indochine, which allowed us to form the VKD hospitality group in 2016.
Miss Lily’s arrived in Dubai first – what was it like bringing this hotspot over to Dubai? Were you worried it may not mesh in with other establishments?
That’s exactly why we brought it over – we really didn’t want it to mesh with other establishments in the city. It was unique and that is the main reason why it did so well. Everyone in the city wants to go big, while we wanted to go small.
The process of bringing the brand over from NYC was difficult and it took a lot of time and effort to convince the partners that we were the right operators for the brand. Funny enough, there were several other big Dubai F&B operators going after the brand at the same time. However, after months of back and forth they chose us as they felt that we truly understood how to translate the brand over to Dubai without losing the true essence of what makes Miss Lily’s so special.

Varun Khemaney and Khalil Dahmash
Then last year you brought over the iconic Indochine. Has it been as popular as you’d hoped here in Dubai?
Yes, it certainly has, the reception has definitely been very positive. It is gratifying to see a space come to life and manifest from the original idea we had in the first place. Indochine received the best fine dining newcomer in the 2020 timeout awards – it was great to get such validity from our industry peers.
Can you talk us through the appeal of Dubai?
It’s the biggest cosmopolitan city in the Middle East. The population has a large number of expats and a very well-educated local class who are always looking for something new. High spending power. The city also attracts a large number of tourists every year – it is an entertainment hub. Plus, setting up businesses in the UAE is pretty easy and straight forward.
How long was the idea in the works to bring Indochine to Dubai?
It took roughly about two years to translate Indochine DXB from an idea to reality.
Of course, it only arrived in Dubai at the end of 2019 then we had lockdown in March – crazy times! How did the pandemic and lockdown affect Indochine?
Really crazy times! It’s unfortunate that the pandemic came just a couple months after Indochine opened. The restaurant was just getting into its stride and reaching its momentum. We opened our doors starting with Gucci’s annual party and from there we got continuous coverage from the best publications and key industry leaders in the city. Once the pandemic hit, we had to close down our doors and we, unfortunately, lost the momentum that we have built up. We had to basically start again from scratch once we opened back up – but we are thankful for the reception we have received; all of our regulars came back to support us. We are happy to be back on track now.
How did you adapt during this time? Other restaurants like LPM turned to delivery, which meant they could keep all of their staff employed. Is this something Indochine did?
At VKD we always preach family – that being said, our main goal was to retain all of our staff and to not lay anyone off. In order to do that, we had to be nibble and see how we can adjust our business model to keep afloat. With the restaurants being closed, we shifted our entire offering onto an online delivery platform (Deliveroo). In order to increase our reach, we also found a satellite kitchen located in the marina area. We launched both of our concepts from there – by doing that we managed to expand our delivery radius so that we can reach the majority of the densely populated residential areas in Dubai. This helped bring in a substantial amount of revenue during the lockdown – it also allowed our kitchen staff to continuously work during this time.

The food and beverage industry, especially when opening a restaurant, can be a difficult one to break into as it’s so competitive. What’s your advice to budding entrepreneurs in this industry?
It is definitely one of the most competitive industries out there. Stick to your core competencies, understand your clientele and making sure that you always deliver a consistent product and experience.
What are your thoughts on how the pandemic has affected the F&B Industry in Dubai and the UAE as a whole?
No one in our lifetime has really dealt with a pandemic – this is something that is really new to everyone. Everyone is trying to figure it out. The lockdown forced curfews, capacity limitations will definitely have a ripple effect in the F&B sector – a lot of restaurants and bars have already closed, and we expect to see more of that as the time passes. Only the strong will survive. Coming out of lockdown, we do feel that the UAE has dealt very well with the pandemic when comparing to other cities around the world, they have managed to keep numbers low which meant that operators like us were still allowed to open up and run their businesses – to survive really (even though it is limited). When you look at cities like London and NYC, they are in a much worse state than we are – it’s affecting the F&B industry there much more.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

Cartier, known for its unique collections of fine jewellery and watches explores everyday life, by bringing back old traditions with a refined edge. To mark the festive season, Cartier brings life to its covetable range of objects which is carefully curated for one and all.
From luxe keyrings to premium pocket watches, the Maison’s codes have been imbued in the finishing of each product it creates. Whether you wish to say thank you or simply mark a special occasion, these keepsake gifts are sure to make everyday extraordinary while featuring the house’s well-known motifs.

These pieces which become future family heirlooms are gifts to treasure for years to come as they are received in red boxes with joy as a gift, or when treating oneself. It’s an age-old tradition of taking an interest in everyday objects since 1880 continues till today even after having its own dedicated exhibition at Cartier New York.
The hero buys for the festive season
Trinket tray

From Entrelacés de Cartier
Snow Globe

From Diabolo de Cartier
Fragrance case

From Diabolo de Cartier
Solitaire game

From the Panthère de Cartier collection
To discover more visit cartier.com 
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature image supplied  More

December’s – ‘The Party Issue’ – Download Now
The Gift Guide – Download Now 
Fiona Leahy is a master at curating the perfect setting for dining in style. Having created incredible tablescapes for almost everyone in the luxury industry, Leahy has also conjured otherworldly designs for Middle-Eastern and rock royalty.
What do your first 30 mins of the day look like, your morning routine?
I get up and bring the dogs into the garden then I make a celery juice. I have a celery juice every morning on weekdays, it’s my insurance policy for a good day.
You started in an unusual way, tell us about the beginning of your career?

Well, I started as a fashion stylist, then went into jewellery and became Assistant Creative Director for Garrard the jeweller. I became involved with throwing the parties for the brand, hired Dita von Teese for her first European performance, went on to do produce Dita’s wedding and fifteen years later the rest, as they say, is history!
How did you know it was the right time to launch your own company and what were the stepping-stones to that point?
It was serendipity. I never really set it up deliberately, there was no business plan. I started working in reaction to demand and I pretty much still am. I will say that being an entrepreneur is something that is instinctive and that you either want your own business or you want the security of a job. I have always loved working for myself so that would be a decisive stepping stone.
You’ve created so many incredible tablescapes – do you have any which stand out for you?

I love the Christmas tablescape that I designed for Emilia Wickstead. It was the perfect mix of feminine chintz and festivity. It was matchimal but also classic and I would totally happily sit at that table again a few years later. The wedding I designed for Krissy O’Neill in Positano is also a favourite. It was the first time I did matching print on print for a wedding and it was from the linens to the hand-painted plates all in blue and white. The tablescapes I love the most are the ones that were the hardest to pull off where everything had to be made from scratch. They become labours of love.

What’s the key to curating the perfect dinner setting?
I think planning and symmetry are key alongside with lighting, to me the perfect dinner setting is dimly lit with candlelight and you are transported momentarily to another place in time.
Do you feel more drawn to the creative or the business side of the brand and how have you grown the team to support this?
I really love both. Art and commerce need to co-exist. I learned early on that no matter how amazing the idea it always needs to make sense as a line item in a budget (That took me longer to figure out than I let on! I am probably more adept at the creative side and I am always drawn to fellow creatives, so I have had in the past predominantly creative team. Moving forward post-pandemic, I realise I need more business support so that is what my focus is from now on. Business support is everything!
Do you have any mentors or guides and how does this help navigate the right path throughout life and your career?
Nikki Tibbles from Wild at Heart is an incredible friend and mentor, who is in the same industry. The late David Collins was my very first mentor. It is such an important thing to have guidance and advice from someone you admire and respect.
How has this year impacted the industry both positively and negatively?
I haven’t had any real life events and I sadly needed to make a number of my team redundant as we had no real event work. Positively it has made me reassess how I work and allowed me to experiment differently with more intimate settings leading to other work in curation, tabletop influencing (yes that’s a thing) and design. I have also been busy on a new venture, during the last lockdown I was made Creative Director of Aquazzura Home so that is a huge positive.
How has social media affected the luxury industry and which platform has been most useful?
Instagram is hugely inspirational for the industry and has been a huge factor in my work. I think for most of us it is the immediate reference for so many things. We look, bookmark, shop. I think honestly Instagram has changed everything.
What should you gift the host when attending a dinner?
A beautiful candle, or I sometimes love to bring a monogram sourdough loaf with the host’s initials from Harrods.
Which Instagram accounts do you follow for inspiration?
@iamlaurajackson @skyemcalpine @fayedreamsalot @retrouviousAs well as a mix of interiors, food and window design accounts to keep me inspired.
Do you have any pre-bedtime rituals?
I usually have a magnesium salt candlelit bath, I light Palo Santo which I bought in bulk in Peru and I go to sleep listening to the Calm app. Matthew McConaughey’s bedtime story always sends me into a deep sleep, that or the sound of rain.
If you were not on your current career path, which other role would you have chosen career-wise?
I always wanted to be a buyer so I would say I would be a homeware buyer or an interior designer.
This is The Party issue, where / how will you be celebrating this season?
I hope to be going to Claridge’s for a sleepover with my girlfriends for my birthday in December. This symbolises, to me, the start of the festive session. For Christmas and NY I hope to be in Mexico, I love spending the festive season barefoot on the sand.
What’s your secret to surviving party season and still looking flawless?
Drinking celery juice and having sessions at The Light Salon and Facegym. I am also a huge infrared sauna fan and go to Glowbar at least twice a week. I feel like all these things fight inflammation which is the enemy of flawless. I do as much of the feel-good as I can.

What is your go-to party outfit?
I love a long vintage dress, accessorised with Alessandra Rich sparkly earrings. Aquazzura platform shoes (Sundance are my go-to for parties) and a fun clutch from Edie parker or Olympia le tan. I love capes and have a selection of vintage ones from one vintage … they help make a great entrance and exit!
What is on your wishlist this festive season?
I have redesigned my kitchen and on my wishlist is a wall of bespoke delft tiles. Honestly, every penny is going into my kitchen -no new clothes, a beautiful La Cornue pale blue range is even better!
December’s – ‘The Party Issue’ – Download Now
The Gift Guide – Download Now 
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

Your ultimate guide to this weekend in Dubai – December 17 to December 19.
Christmas workout

Enjoy a Christmas party themed workout at Bare DXB in Business Bay this Thursday at 5.30pm. Gather round the Fitmas tree and raise those jingle bar bells to a playlist of festive favourites.
Happy hour with a view

Enjoy happy hour at the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club at QD’s bar from 6pm to 8pm, which runs Sunday through Thursday. With iconic views of the Dubai skyline chill out and watch the sun go down, whilst enjoying the company of your friends.
Bejewelled Christmas tree 
Head down to the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira to get in the Christmas spirit and basque in the glory of the hotel’s Christmas tree. The Mandarin has collaborated with esteemed Swiss jeweller, Piaget, to design a one-of-a-kind centrepiece Christmas tree for this year’s festive celebrations.
Star-studded performance
Kicking off the Dubai Shopping Festival, Anne-Marie, duo Clean Bandit and Yasmin Green will all be performing this Friday, December 8 in Downtown Dubai’s Burj Park from 5.30pm onwards on Friday with tickets starting from Dhs50.
Shopping extravaganza
Get all your Christmas shopping done this weekend as the Dubai Shopping Festival is back this weekend from December 17 up until January 30, 2021.
From major deals, art installations, concerts and an opportunity to win some tempting prizes, there’s enough in the pipeline for you to enjoy for the next six weeks.
Get your glow on

Treat yourself with a facial and get party-ready. Nova Clinics has a series of amazing festive offers that you need to take advantage of.
The After Party Cure Dhs1,100 – Also known as the hydrafacial. This will not only hydrate and refresh your skin but also tighten and tone, making it the perfect after-party cure, leaving your skin feeling restored and youthful.
Red Carpet Moment Dhs500 – The perfect facial for removing excess oil, blackheads and whiteheads, whilst exfoliating and refreshing your skin to make sure it feels softer, smoother and firmer.
Pre-Party Pick-Me-Up Dhs750 – A combined facial using Skinceuticals products, with a deep cleaning to kick off the treatment followed by microdermabrasion, which will help to renew your overall skin tone and texture, whilst improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage.
A pre-Christmas brunch
Celebrate Christmas early this Friday with a festive brunch at the Meydan Hotel. Enjoy all the trimmings at Farriers from 1pm to 4pm with packages starting at Dhs249 for soft drinks; Dhs399 for house beverages and Dhs499 for free-flowing sparkling wine.
A perfume pop-up

Get your hands on the new LOEWE Home Scents which are now available in LOEWE Perfumes – Mall of the Emirates, the full ranges include candles, wax candle holders, home fragrances and rattan diffusers. Based on designer Johnathan Anderson’s inspiration, LOEWE’s in-house perfumier Nuria Cruelles interprets 10 plants essences: honeysuckle, beetroot, juniper berry, tomato leaves, coriander, liquorice, luscious pea, oregano, cypress balls and ivy in the new range.
Support small local businesses

With the pandemic having a huge impact on small businesses, now is the time to support local more than ever. Based in Dubai, Measurement 33 produces high-quality shoes for women which are both stylish and comfortable.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Images: Supplied More

Known for its culturally dynamic environment, as we celebrate the Bahrain National Day today, we take a look at some inspiring women based in Bahrain to definitely follow.
With a mix of entrepreneurs and brands owned by Bahraini women, EW has curated a list of distinguished women that have achieved a lot in their respective industries.
Abeer AlMatooq

The inspiring life coach and consultant is also the founder of Thrive which is a coaching consultancy. Abeer works with individuals, groups and corporates on unlocking and putting into action their talents and powerful qualities, through habits redesign, in order to enhance their performance and maximise their productivity and overall success.
Dana Zubari

Dana Zubari is the co-founder of Trü Active, which is Bahrain’s leading sportswear company. It’s the first of its kind brand offering all the workout wardrobe essentials you need, offering a seamless shopping experience. She founded the brand with her sister Hala Zubari.
Sofia Al-Asfoor

Bahraini handbag designer, Sofia Al Asfoor empowers women through her powerful collections which make a statement. Known for her fearless journey, she’s yet another inspiring woman to follow.
Martyna Al-Qassab

While being the driving force behind Yalla Banat, it’s an initiative built as a platform to celebrate women from across the region and inspire the next generation of innovators and achievers to transform their dreams into reality.
Myrna Saliba

The female endurance athlete has gained various accolades over the years and has performed a wide range of sporting activities including triathlons.
Hala Kaiksow

Reviving an ancient Bahraini tradition, designer Hala Kaiksow taught herself to weave by watching YouTube videos and was immediately hooked with the craft. With her collection being entirely handcrafted, she’s truly an inspiring woman to follow.
Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa

Known for paving a brave way through her entrepreneurial journey, she is also the Chairperson for the Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa Foundation for Youth Empowerment and has had a great involvement in social and community endeavours.
Amina Al-Abbasi

This artist is the owner of Amina Gallery which is a curated art space with inspiring products and tasteful pieces. While currently being sold at Harrods, the gallery is located in Riyadat Mall and Seef Mall in Bahrain.
Sheikha Dana Al Khalifa

This Bahraini fashionista has gained worldwide attraction for her supreme clothing choices. While making a statement on every occasion, it’s inspiring to see how she’s grown over the years. She’s also a businesswoman, lawyer and entrepreneur.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature image Instagram @bahrain More