Some people post food photos. Hani AlMalki asks why it matters.
In this episode of Forward_Moves, host Raja Haddad sits down with Hani
AlMalki — the Dubai-based food writer, curator, and culinary entrepreneur
known as Bedouin Foodie. Born in Jeddah to a Syrian father and Palestinian
mother, exposed early to Michelin-starred dining through family ties with JeanPaul Guerlain, Hani developed a palate shaped by culture, migration, and
craftsmanship.
This episode covers the full arc — from the communal table we're losing to the
delivery culture killing the dining experience, from Michelin's evolving business
model to the rise of owner-operated restaurants where the real gold is found. And
it ends with how Hani channeled all of it into a signature French onion soup
burger.
This is not a conversation about food trends.
It’s about preserving meaning.
This episode explores:
● Documenting excellence over chasing clicks: The shokunin philosophy,
hole-in-the-wall gems, and why substance beats sensation
● Food as cultural identity: Tracing dishes across borders — from Hejazi
pilgrims to Indonesian murtabak to Japanese dumplings
● The death of the spectator: Why delivery culture is eroding the dining
experience, and what we lose when food becomes just consumption
● Michelin, marketing, and who pays for stars: The business model
behind culinary recognition in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
● Creating a signature dish: The story behind the French onion soup
burger — and why it can never be ordered online
Hani's story is proof that integrity builds something algorithms can't manufacture.
That the most trusted voices aren't the loudest ones. And that the best meal you'll
ever have might be in a six-stool pizzeria in Tokyo, made by one person who has
spent a lifetime perfecting the dough.
Tune in, subscribe, and join us as we chart the creative journeys shaping the
Middle East. Until then—keep moving forward.
Episode Timeline:
00:01:05 - Introduction and guest bio
00:05:17 - Developing a palate
00:08:12 - Turning OCD and ADD into a creative superpower
00:11:34 - Research methodology and the holistic dining experience
00:13:10 - The shokunin principle
00:15:31 - How food travels across cultures and borders
00:18:32 - Integrity, bad reviews, and UAE legal parameters
00:23:13 - Dubai as a culinary melting pot
00:26:17 - The Michelin star obsession
00:29:45 - Losing the communal table — and who's bringing it back
00:33:17 - The death of the spectator
00:38:20 - Dubai vs. Saudi: different diners, different scenes
00:40:18 - Michelin's business model and what it means for the region
00:50:56 - Creating the French onion soup burger
00:54:13 - Rapid fire round
Connect with Hani AlMalki | Bedouin Foodie | Food UnScripted Podcast
Substack: https://bedouinfoodie.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bedouinfoodie
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zoDC0zSHKpzWyDW9XZO5d
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/HaniAlMalki
Connect with Raja Haddad | Forward_Moves
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