CHEF HUSSEIN HADID’S NEW CONCEPT, UMMI

UMMI, is a restaurant of a different order, belonging to a category of places that immediately feels warm and familiar, despite being unique. Describing the kitchen as a place that forever lives in the memory, Chef Hadid told HN: “The space is aptly named, since UMMI is Arabic for mother. It follows the same setup habitually found in the home kitchens of yesteryear. Paying homage to mothers, the restaurant invites guests to try out treats made by applying golden-year recipes using the freshest ingredients sourced from all over Lebanon.” Familiar cooking utensils are strategically scattered all over the kitchen, he continued, and as guests draw closer, their sense of smell automatically registers aromas and scents from times gone by. “These are further magnified due to the open kitchen design that feeds every curiosity and silently suggests an assortment of mouth-watering possibilities,” Hadid added. Similar to all Co. concepts, the cozy environment is also lively as a number of chefs busily prepare the meals with the greatest of care. Every finished item is then brought to rest on a dedicated display counter, rich with a vast selection of home-style cooked meals. To these, an assortment of international picks is added and presented, UMMI style. There are fixed menu items, consisting of the standard Lebanese ‘mezze’, with some grilled and side dishes and the option to order rotisserie chicken, complemented by oven baked toasties.