Katarina Filipova, proprietor of Mondoux UAE and Mondieu Slovakia, goals to create standout F&B experiences. In an unique interview, she tells us extra concerning the distinctive options of her restaurant and what’s trending within the trade.
What are you able to inform us about your skilled journey?
Since childhood, I’ve adored meals, particularly at my grandma’s home. Furthermore, even pre-pandemic travels had been about attempting new cuisines and locations.
Once we launched the restaurant 11 years in the past, our preliminary menu featured my favourite residence dishes, emphasizing scrumptious desserts, like French brioche and do-it-yourself desserts. Moreover, these desserts proceed to be foundational in any respect our eating places. Given my energetic function within the kitchen, I’m alway discussing new concepts, experimenting with meals plating and capturing photos of our dishes. Meals should be interesting and style even higher.
In a heartwarming twist, Mondoux holds a particular place in my coronary heart because it includes our youngsters, finishing a full circle.
What distinguishes your venue from others?
In our culinary philosophy at Mondoux, we imagine that tasty meals may be wholesome when ready with healthful, premium elements. Furthermore, simplicity is vital, permitting the pure flavors of the meals in your plate to shine.
We’re deeply keen about sourcing elements, and once more, we honor them by making every one the star of the dish. In addition to utilizing chosen worldwide spices and marinades, we deliberately keep away from onion or garlic to forestall overpowering the pure flavors. Moreover, we prioritize preserving the freshness of our produce.
At each department, our total back-of-house staff ensures every dish embodies our important Mondoux values earlier than it reaches the desk.
Notably, prospects from various communities constantly return for the contemporary flavors, minimalism and health-driven focus that we embody and prioritize.
Apparently, we make investments love in our desserts. Furthermore, we use natural chocolate, providing patrons a decadent, genuine taste with out overt processing.
How do you anticipate and meet the wants of purchasers?
By participating in conscious conversations, we perceive the pursuits of our various mixture of vacationers and residents, securing beneficial repeat enterprise.
Furthermore, consistency is paramount. I guarantee our visitors obtain precisely what enticed them on the menu. It’s not simply concerning the meals, in fact. Our staff contributes considerably. Acknowledging their function, I prefer to seize genuine behind-the-scenes moments to share on our social media channels.
Moreover, Mondoux has a loyalty program, aiding our understanding of consumers’ preferences. This guides our requisition lists and promotions for upcoming months.
In your opinion, how essential is the placement of a venue for its success?
Functioning as a gastronomy capital, Dubai and the UAE function at an exceptionally excessive degree, surrounded by robust opponents, strengthening the distinctive Mondoux model.
Furthermore, a key ingredient for a profitable restaurant is its location. Our numerous branches cater to totally different prospects, with some concentrating on vacationers and others specializing in residential communities.
Moreover, an intriguing perception is that UAE residents have disposable revenue to put money into wholesome meals. In distinction, in vacationer venues, taste takes a again seat, emphasizing strategic, excellent views that appeal to footfall.
What notable variations exist in managing branches between Europe and the Center East?
We’ve noticed three key variations. Firstly, within the UAE, workers choose working as a staff, forming a bigger work household. In Europe, however, there’s an inclination to work extra independently or in smaller teams. We acknowledge the significance of giving people house to develop.
Secondly, in Europe, it’s common to review gastronomy at resort colleges, specializing in the theoretical half first, whereas in Dubai, it’s a mixture of sensible and concept. In any case, we offer all workers with an introductory coaching course.
As well as, in Europe, locals primarily talk of their native language. This pattern is altering, and we give house to expats. Within the UAE, we talk in English.
What are you able to inform us about your franchising alternatives?
At the moment, all Mondoux branches within the UAE and Mondieu branches in Prague are owned by us. We’re thrilled about increasing within the UAE later in 2024 and launching Mondieu in Rome and Prague within the subsequent two years.
We’re searching for franchisees in Germany and Saudi Arabia and provide three kinds of fashions: kiosks underneath 20 sq. meters, bistros between 60-100 sq. meters and full-fledged eating places over 200 sq. meters.
As soon as signed as franchise companions, we offer help from the early phases, together with discovering the suitable location, design handbook, architectural steerage and a pre-opening staff.
What’s subsequent?
In response to a want for genuine flavors, we’re opening a brand new department, that includes signature merchandise, top-quality elements and an upgraded design.
Past the MENA area, there’s demand globally, seen in Prague and Rome. We anticipate Mondoux and Mondieu increasing to extra places worldwide.
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