Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

www.zumarestaurant.com For bookings, please call: 02 401 5900 Email: reservations.ad@zumarestaurant.ae Opening hours: Lunch: Sun-Thu 12 noon-3.00pm Fri & Sat 12:30pm-3.30pm Dinner: Sun-Thu 7pm-midnight Thu & Fri 7pm-1am Passion, Precision, Performance: Meet Nine Star International Success is in the details, especially in the high-end luxury food and beverage business. And we’re not just talking about what’s on the plate, but rather the indefinable atmosphere and design that can make one restaurant the ‘in’ place and leave another one empty. So when Zuma opened its Abu Dhabi location, they partnered with Nine Stars International (NSI), preferred supplier of custom furniture to globally recognised 5-star hotels, bars and clubs – to create an unforgettable dining destination. Impeccable attention to detail is a way of life for Founder and Managing Director Girish Mahtani and his thriving business. The boutique company was founded in Dubai in 2006 and has satellite offices in Vietnam and Italy. Their forte: manufacturing bespoke contract furniture for luxury hotels, restaurants and hospitality outlets. Their client list is an enviable international address book with projects in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Dubai, Las Vegas, Mauritius, Kiev, Kuwait City, Beirut, Aswan, Maldives and Colombo – for clients such as Fairmont Hotels, Shangri-La, St. Regis, W Hotels, Conrad, Sofitel, Wynn, Hilton, Emirates, One and Only, and Intercontinental, to name a few. And, of course, NSI now counts Zuma New York, Zuma Marmaris (Turkey), Zuma Dubai, and Zuma Abu Dhabi as clients. As there are nine of the iconic restaurants around the world, that’s almost fifty per cent of their global locations. The furniture for Zuma AbuDhabi was manufactured by NSI at their facility in Italy. Attention to detail was paramount, andMahtani was instrumental in the creation of the bespoke solutions. “Two things I believe in are process and quality,” says Mahtani. “Process, because it defines the production of every single piece of furniture at every different point, from the moment it goes into manufacturing until the very moment it is up for Quality Assessment and Quality Control. This in turn defines the quality.” To prove a point, the dining chairs at Zuma Abu Dhabi were manufactured in stainless steel, featuring a 45-degree joint achieved without welding, and upholstered with top grain leather dyed to exact design specifications, topped off with a long-lasting and aging paraffin treatment. The stitching is as Italian as it gets. As for the tables and service stations – they were manufactured in treated solid walnut wood, stained to the required finish to complement the interior space. Of the process, Mahtani states, “A key reason I love what I do is because we are able to materialise an idea that a designer comes up with. We give it life, structure, a purpose. This is so important to me. The appreciation of a product after this is amazing.” NSI’s production facilities in Italy and Vietnam are where they manufacture speciality items using mother of pearl, snake eggs, foils and dyed lacquer. It’s also where furniture and accessories inmetal and glass, different woods, upholstery and lacquer are made. “We have our own kiln, which allows us to dry and control the moisture level in specific woods,” says Mahtani. “We also have our own foundry, which allows us to do all metal work in house. We manufacture our own knobs and handles and specialise in the highest quality of carving and inlay work.” Sustainability is also front of mind and all factories are certified under the Forest Stewardship Council to produce a greener, more eco-friendly product. It’s clear that passion and precision are key to Mahtani’s professional success. Having studied in LA and worked in Hong Kong, India and Sri Lanka before moving to Dubai, Mahtani spotted a niche for bespoke furnishings in the hospitality industry and therefore set up his own company. He cites entrepreneurial spirit as one of his motivators. “My father is another, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps in setting something up. I wanted to provide the marketplace with a product that their client would be happy to use, happy to sit on, integrate into their lifestyle.” Appreciation for NSI’s high standard of excellence can be seen in their other projects. They have created bespoke furniture for the recently opened Coya andNusret at the Four Seasons Dubai, as well as the Fairmont Hotel on the Palm, and Emirates Airlines First and Business Class Lounges at Terminal 3. These are all high-traffic areas where comfort and luxury are synonymous with distinctive design. Mahtani is in the process of completing the creation of bespoke furnishing for one of the most luxurious resorts in Maldives, the Amilafushi, while projects such as La Residences – Raffles in Dubai and Asia De Cuba at DIFC are also some of his major projects that will be completed later this year. It’s no surprise to learn that while off duty, Mahtani enjoys travel and fine dining. And as a connoisseur of Zuma Abu Dhabi, his favourite dishes include the sashimi platter, Chilean sea bass, the lamb chops and chicken wings. Worth noting! For further information: www.ninestarsintl.com Girish Mahtani