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This episode of the Chef JKP Podcast features Laura Lai Coughlin, one of Dubai’s most recognizable voices in food media, for a conversation about food, storytelling, journalism, and the path that took her from family kitchens to the centre of the city’s dining scene.

Chef James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Laura, food writer, presenter, content creator, and host of Best of Dubai, to unpack her journey from growing up with two parents who cooked professionally, to studying marketing, moving to Shanghai, and eventually building her editorial career in Dubai across titles like Explorer and What’s On.

Laura reflects on rising to Head of Content, why she chose to step away from full-time publishing, and how that opened the door to a more personal chapter of work. The episode also explores the thinking behind Best of Dubai, the changing nature of food media, and why championing chefs, restaurants, and the wider hospitality community matters so much to her.

At its core, this is a conversation about instinct, reinvention, and building a career around people, stories, and the culture of food.

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

• Laura’s childhood food memories and how growing up with two cook parents shaped her relationship with food
• Why she studied marketing, even though storytelling and journalism were always close by
• How moving to Shanghai changed her life and opened the door to freelance writing
• Why Dubai became home and how her early publishing years shaped her career
• What it was like rising through the ranks to become Head of Content at What’s On
• Why she stepped away from full-time media in 2022 to build something more personal
• How Best of Dubai started and why the format connected so quickly
• What she has learned from interviewing chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality people across the city
• Why Dubai’s food community stands out for its support, energy, and collaboration
• Her thoughts on the future of dining in Dubai and across the wider Middle East

CHAPTERS

00:00 Laura thought she had been cancelled after a Best of Dubai video blew up
04:00 Childhood food memories, congee, and growing up around food
09:40 Studying marketing, loving theatre, and finding her voice
16:40 Moving to Shanghai and the internship that changed everything
26:00 Freelance writing and the start of her journalism journey
27:30 Moving to Dubai and building her editorial career
34:20 Joining What’s On and rising to Head of Content
45:00 Why she left full-time media in 2022
49:00 The story behind Best of Dubai and how the series took off
01:25:00 Her views on the future of dining in Dubai and across the Middle East

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Laura Lai Coughlin
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bylauralai/?hl=en

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Website:
https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-india

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This episode of the Chef JKP Podcast brings together two standout names from Dubai’s dining scene for a conversation about friendship, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and building something meaningful in a competitive market.

Chef James Knight-Paccheco is joined by Chef Neha Mishra, founder of Kinoya, and Panchali Mahendra, CEO of Atelier House Hospitality, for a special dual-guest episode centered around their newest venture together, Tezekuri.

Neha shares how a dinner at home, built around hand rolls and conversation, sparked the idea behind the restaurant, while Panchali reflects on why the concept had been on her mind for years and why timing matters so much in hospitality.

Together, they speak about protecting friendship while building a business, collaborating without ego, and creating a restaurant with real intention. From the menu and design to the guest journey and hidden vinyl-led martini speakeasy, every detail was shaped with purpose.

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

• How a dinner party turned into the idea behind Tezekuri
• Why Neha Mishra and Panchali Mahendra decided to build together
• Protecting friendship while navigating the realities of business
• Why specialization matters more than ever in modern hospitality
• Designing a Japanese-inspired dining experience in Downtown Dubai
• The philosophy behind the hand roll concept and rice-focused menu
• Building a restaurant around intention, craft, and discipline
• Why they created a hidden vinyl-led martini speakeasy
• The role of music, atmosphere, and intimacy in hospitality
• The power of supper clubs as testing grounds for concepts
• Their thoughts on Dubai’s competitive restaurant landscape
• Reflections on recognition, 50 Best, and what success really means

CHAPTERS

00:00 Friendship, partnership, and what mattered most while building together
02:00 Introduction to Neha Mishra, Panchali Mahendra, and Tezekuri
04:45 How a dinner party sparked the idea for the restaurant
08:45 From first conversation to finding the location and building the concept
12:05 Protecting the friendship while building a business together
14:35 Designing the space and aligning on aesthetic vision
21:10 Building the menu around rice, craft, and Japanese discipline
25:45 Hiring the right head chef and creating the right team
32:30 The story behind the hidden speakeasy and martini listening room
36:20 Why vinyl, music, and intimacy matter to the guest experience
46:00 Soft launch feedback, refinement, and opening in a competitive market
57:10 50 Best, supper clubs, legacy, and the future of the brand

FOLLOW THE GUESTS

Neha Mishra
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/astoryoffood/

Panchali Mahendra
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/panchalimahendra/

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LinkedIn
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TikTok
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PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY VALRHONA

Valrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.

Website: https://www.valrhona.com/en/valrhona-middle-east-africa-and-india

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Stay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.
Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpN

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Season 12 of The Chef JKP Podcast kicks off with a solo episode, bringing you closer to the stories, people, and conversations you’ll hear across the season.

With 14 episodes ahead, this season features chefs, operators, and industry voices sharing their journeys, decisions, and defining moments inside hospitality.

In this opening episode, Chef JKP reflects on what’s been happening behind the scenes, shares updates from the industry, and answers questions from listeners around the world, from kitchen culture and leadership to building concepts, handling pressure, and navigating the realities of the business.

It’s an honest, unfiltered introduction to the perspectives you’ll hear throughout Season 12.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

• What to expect from Season 12 and why it’s the biggest yet
• Listener Q&A from across the world on real industry challenges
• Career decisions that feel risky but change everything
• What actually makes a restaurant concept work
• Why team culture is everything in a kitchen
• The balance between creativity, discipline, and leadership
• How chefs think about branding, growth, and standing out
• The reality behind awards, recognition, and success
• Handling pressure, failure, and tough services
• The mindset required to sustain a long-term career in hospitality

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Season 12 and what’s ahead
00:02 Why this season is extended to 14 episodes
00:04 Listener Q&A begins with global questions
00:08 Career risks and moving to new markets
00:14 Building strong restaurant concepts
00:18 Team culture, leadership, and emotional intelligence
00:23 Design, branding, and guest experience
00:28 Industry insights, awards, and recognition
00:35 Handling pressure, mistakes, and growth
00:42 The hardest lessons in hospitality and closing thoughts

Proudly Brought to You by Valrhona

Valrhona partners with chefs and artisans to elevate chocolate through craftsmanship, innovation, and a commitment to a more sustainable cocoa industry.

Website: https://www.valrhona.com

Support the Show

Stay hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos flask.
Get yours here: https://pay.ziina.com/chefjkp/RKwVHDfpN

Follow Chef JKP

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-knight-paccheco-447b1b17

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