Joey Ghazal

For those few readers who have yet to visit the Maine Oyster Bar & Grill, or Barbary, what are you playing at?

Both have become mainstays in Dubai’s busy dining scene. Their founder Joey Ghazal is a previous Esquire Best Dressed alumni, but we wanted to know if his food skills were as impressive as his style credentials?

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Can’t cook…
“My late grandmother’s molokhia… It’s the ultimate Lebanese comfort dish that I can’t seem to make taste as good as hers.”

Won’t cook…
“Vegan cooking… yet. I am fascinated by plant-based food, creating “butters” and “cheese” from nuts. I need to read a lot more about it.”

Always cook…
“Nothing makes me happier than cooking a good piece of meat. Choosing the right cut at just the right thickness, cooking it to perfect medium rare with a caramelised crust and seasoning it with my favourite Montreal steak spice. And making the perfect selection of sides like truffle wild mushrooms, beef-cut tomatoes with blue cheese and triple-cooked fries.”