Where Restaurateurs Eat: Column 9
Morgane Duhamel, the co-founder of Odeon, shares her favourite restaurants.
If you’ve recently joined my Substack tribe, you might like to check out the first eight ‘Where Restaurateurs Eat’ columns to give you some context before reading the recommendations from this month’s super woman.
Nominations for aspirational female restaurateur-entrepreneurs are always much appreciated. They might not be on my radar - and could land themselves a feature here.
Google Maps link here with the UAE restaurant recommendations from our power ladies - populated monthly as each column is published. All interviews are linked HERE.
And now let’s hear from…
Morgane Duhamel, the co-founder of Odeon, shares her favourite restaurants.
Top three go-to, favourite restaurants in the UAE:
Stay by Yannick Alleno: For a special celebration, Stay, is for me, a dream restaurant where we feel truly taken care of and privileged. Yannick Alleno and his team share exceptional French dishes - precise, subtle and where the ingredients speak for themsleves. With impeccable service and a serene atmosphere, it is a place where time slows down, allowing me to share a truly magical dining experience in Dubai.
Itadaku: An authentic Japanese restaurant where chef Masura and his wife Chiaki welcome you, as if you are in their home. This restaurant nourishes not just my body, but also my soul, with a calm energy and minimalist decor. The chefs prepare delicious dishes ‘au comptoir’, using the finest ingredients from Japan that take you straight there. Pure and without unnecessary embellishments, it’s a true experience that feels good.
Tasca by José Avillez: This place becomes truly magical at a very specific moment of the day… aperitif time! I always take the ‘sunbed’ table, set over the pool, giving the sensation of floating on water with a breathtaking view of the sea and sunset. With a glass of Champagne, a Wagyu tartare cone, and some clams, I feel on top of the world… pure paradise.
One home country restaurant:
Arpège by Alain Passard: I was born in Paris, and, without hesitation, my choice is Arpège - an unforgettable experience that left me with a lifelong desire to return. The great chef Alain Passard welcomes you personally aboard his ‘boat’ and guides you through a journey of exquisite dishes. Every detail is well-considered; every bite is both delicious and beautiful, full of subtlety. With remarkable simplicity, him and his impeccable team share their passion for vegetables that come from his farm, and haute cuisine filled with poetry.
One restaurant located elsewhere internationally:
Fishmarket in Copenhagen: I was travelling to a city I had never been to before, yet the moment I sat down in this restaurant, I felt at home. The beautiful shades of blue and white; the name; the quality of the ingredients; the simplicity, yet true luxury on the plate. Fresh seafood and fish; everything I love. The service was fast and kind. We felt great; transported. It was the perfect market bistro spirit.
You may have missed…
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My 2025 Dubai restaurant guide to where I dine out. A record 47 homegrown concepts. Paid subscribers also receive a PDF of this guide and a private Google maps link with all restaurants mapped out.
My ten-page story celebrating Dubai’s homegrown restaurant scene, my favourite subject in the print issue of Conde Nast Traveler USA - and also repackaged for both the UK edition, and the Middle East.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book with new finds every month.
A private one-hour Zoom call with me to pick my brains. More info here for F&B industry enquiries - and here for foodie/ diner queries.
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FooDiva. x
I very much enjoy reading these.
Loving this series