Photo: Instagram
Faisal Al Harmoodi prepared his first dish at the age of 11. Guided by his mother, who was unwell and used a wheelchair, the young boy began cooking the family's daily meals, from Machboos to Margoog to Biryani. Soon, the teenage boy developed a deep passion for cooking and informed his family of his intention to pursue a career in the culinary arts. "My family refused; it was considered against our traditions to become a chef," said Al Harmoodi, now 37 and the owner of the newly awarded Michelin star restaurant, Ryba. "I had to study a traditional major at the Higher College of Technology (HCT) to comply with my family's wishes." It took him over five years to complete his logistics management engineering degree before he could finally chase his culinary dreams. After graduation, he enrolled in a cooking school in Dubai, launched a home catering business, became a prominent food blogger, and eventually opened Lets and Oosh café, and the fusion seafood restaurant in the heart of Souq Al Mina – Ryba. "Ryba means fish in Russian – it's a unique word that reflects the unique theme of my cuisine," he explained. Al Harmoodi is renowned for blending local seafood, sourced from the nearby port, with international recipes. Seven of his friends, who traveled from across the emirates to celebrate his big day, couldn't wait to try Ryba's lobster Biryani. "The after-party is at Ryba," announced Mohammed Al Falasi, who drove from Dubai for the event. "We are all food bloggers and became friends through Instagram; we were eager to come today to show our Emirati support for Faisal," said the 32-year-old. "We were thrilled to see many other Emirati and Arabic restaurants being awarded today," he added. Al Harmoodi's favorite creation is his signature dish, jisheed bites, inspired by Italian arancini rice balls, which he mixes with local baby shark meat known as jisheed. "I became known for creating international dishes with an Emirati twist," he said. When he started his food business, he made it a point to buy ingredients from local home businesses to support them, according to Al Falasi. "Faisal first excelled in making brioche bread and pastries, so he opened Lets café in 2022." Ryba followed a year later when Abu Dhabi's new vibrant Souq Al Mina opened. "When he was informed that he had been selected as a nominee for Michelin and that the judges would be making an anonymous visit that month, he didn't sleep for 30 days!" his friend joked.
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