Dubai’s RIKAS Hospitality Group organised a fundraiser evening to support those affected by earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The dinner called upon 10 of the city’s most celebrated chefs for one night, with all costs being shouldered by RIKAS and all revenues sent directly to Turkey and Syria.

The Stronger Together for Syria & Turkey event took place on Sunday February 19, 2022, at 8pm in Emirates Towers, with dinners across three RIKAS Group restaurants. In collaboration with Emirates Red Crescent, La Cantine Du Faubourg, Gohan and Ninive hosted special multi-course dinners.

Three dinners across RIKAS restaurants
At La Cantine, diners had a meal from Ossiano’s chef Gregoire Berger, Marea’s chef Yunus Emre Aydin, chef Sara Aqel founder of Dara in Amman, alongside Rikas Group’s Gilles Bosquet. Those who chose to dine at Gohan experienced a special menu designed by chef Reif Othman of Reif Japanese Kushiyaki and chef Solemann Haddad of Moonrise alongside chef Hadrien Villedieu of Rikas Group. While neighbouring Middle Eastern restaurant Ninive hosted Beit Maryam’s chef Salam Dakkak, Orfali Bros Bistro’s Mohamad Orfali and Ninive’s chef Ahmed Ali.

The initiative was created RIKAS Group’s Nazli Sonmez, who is from Turkey. She told Caterer Middle East: “As a Turkish person myself, I was really passionate about this. I approached Rizwan [Kassim, RIKAS Group founder) and asked if there was something we could do to bring everyone together as so many of the chefs in Dubai are from there.

“It’s not easy to organise three menus simultaneously, but we’re doing it. All revenues are going towards aid in Turkey, not just profits. We’re going to take on all the costs on our end.”

Each restaurant offered a set menu for AED750 per person, with all revenue going to support the relief of those affected by the earthquake in both countries.