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Front row at Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026, from a night at Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.

There’s a certain kind of tension in the air before the list is revealed. The chefs arrive, the teams gather, the community tightens up, and for a few hours, the region’s hospitality story sits in one room.

In this special event episode, Chef JKP speaks to chefs, restaurateurs, writers, and key voices from across the MENA dining scene, capturing the moments that happen between the flashbulbs. What it means to make the list, why the number is “just a number,” how teams earn recognition, and how the region is evolving from imported concepts to truly homegrown destinations.

From quick-fire questions to honest reflections on craft, culture, pressure, and pride, this is a snapshot of a historic night for Middle East hospitality.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

• Arriving at MENA 50 Best 2026 and the suspense before the reveal
• Chefs on what it means to be included, and why teams matter most
• The MENA dining landscape and how it compares globally
• Writers on the role of awards in putting talent on a world stage
• Why the ranking is “just a number,” and what recognition really represents
• The shift from imported to homegrown concepts across the region
• Community, collaborations, and cooking beyond borders
• Standout dishes and moments from chefs across the list

Chapters

00:00 Welcome from MENA 50 Best 2026
01:00 Venue check-in at Emirates Palace and the pressure building
02:00 First reactions on the carpet and the feeling of being included
03:00 How the MENA dining scene compares globally, plus predictions
04:00 Being part of 50 Best and the quick-fire questions with chefs
05:00 Team pride and what the list means beyond the individual
11:00 Why awards matter and how they put chefs on a world stage
15:00 The region’s shift from imported concepts to homegrown excellence
17:00 Collaborations, pop-ups, and why community matters in hospitality
21:00 From humble beginnings to the global stage, the journey behind the ranking
31:00 How the list is evolving year by year and why movement keeps it exciting
39:00 Final wrap, gratitude, and closing from the night

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