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Rikas to open six new restaurants in Saudi Arabia next year

RIYADH, December 7, 2021

Dubai-based Rikas Hospitality, the group behind some of UAE’s award-winning restaurants, has announced the signing of agreements to operate multiple restaurants in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
 
Owned by Parisian entrepreneur Rizwan Kassim, Rikas is the driving force behind some of the region's most exceptional culinary projects including La Cantine du Faubourg, Ninive, Mimi Kakushi, Twiggy by La Cantine, Lana Lusa, Madeleine et Marcel and Gohan, said the statement from Rikas.
 
Acclaimed London Interior Architecture studio Pirajean Lees, led by Clemence Pirajean and James Michael Lees, collaborated with branding agency AM Studioworks to design all the venues, it stated.
 
Since the opening of La Cantine du Faubourg in 2015, the group has been on an upwards journey and have commendably launched multiple bespoke concepts. 
 
As a result, the group is well-positioned as a leading player in the hospitality and dining scene in the UAE with ambitious development plans to take the portfolio beyond the region, it added. 
 
Unveiling its big Saudi plans, Kassim said: "This move is in line with our aggressive growth strategy, and we are very excited to have found permenant homes for our award-winning concepts in the kingdom."
 
"We have had a number of very successful popups in the past and the response has been overwhelming, so it is a natural progression, and we look forward to our much-awaited debut in the Saudi scene," he stated. 
 
La Cantine du Faubourg, the iconic flagship brand of the group, opened its doors more than a decade ago. Described as a Parisian rendezvous of art, music and food, and the embodiment of the chic French lifestyle, it is located at Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in downtown Dubai.
 
Ninive is one of the most picturesque Middle Eastern restaurants in Dubai. A melting pot of history, legends, and cultural fusions, set amidst a lush garden with distinctive Arabian elegance. Its menu is inspired by the flavours of Morocco, Iraq, and Turkey with Arabic and North African influences. 
 
Mimi Kakushi at the Four Season Hotel in Jumeriah, Dubai, transports guests to 1920s Japan when jazz was swinging into the 1920s Osaka, merging modern art and western fashion into Japan's nightlife and street life. 
 
With influences from all over the Far East / Southeast Asia, it reflects "Orient Nouveau," a term that simply means "the new age for the oriental region". Mimi Kakushi translates to 'covering ears' and describes a bob-style haircut from the 1920s, which "marked a turning point in what was considered chic.
 
Twiggy by La Cantine, nestled at the edge of the Park Hyatt Dubai Lagoon, is named after the '60s icon and model. It is a beach club and restaurant with spectacular views, flavoursome Mediterranean dishes, and a distinct chic vibe. The spirit of the menu swings between Ibiza and Saint-Tropez, Cassis and Formentera via Okinawa while remaining true to the French influence of La Cantine du Faubourg.
 
Lana Lusa is set within the Wasl 51 complex in Dubai, and it draws inspiration from traditional, homely food. Echoing the family-run restaurants of Lisbon's Bairro Alto, it serves hearty Portuguese cuisine and fresh-baked treats. 
 
Madeleine et Marcel pays homage to French writer Marcel Proust's love for madeleines. Madeleine et Marcel honours the essence of French pâtisserie. The artisan finesse by which each creation is brought to life reflects the French joie de vivre.
 
Upon opening, it is poised to become the city's most loved French pâtisserie and the go-to spot for luxury gifting, said Kassim.
 
"Gohan has a warm Japanese speakeasy feel, promising an intimate yet casual dining experience. The venue celebrates the harmony between authentic and conventional Japanese dining rooms with elegant street food and creative cocktails," he added. 
 
The Dubai hospitality group said the culinary brigade is being headed by Michelin-starred executive chef Gilles Bosquet. Bosquet, originally from Mauritius, trained under Gordon Ramsay and Lew Kathreptis.
 
With international acclaim and a string of successful bespoke concepts, the group is committed to elevating the hospitality experience across its portfolio, it added.-TradeArabia News Service



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