There’s no denying that the food industry has been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. As restaurants are no longer able to host dine-in customers, survival depends on online deliveries – where profits are shared between food distribution apps. While big chains can sustain themselves for months, the same cannot be said for home-grown businesses, which are feeling the pinch as the weeks go on.
Lowe, an independent eatery offering a contemporary dining experience, located at Koa Canvas Dubai, appears to be among the first popular UAE restaurants to fall victim to the pandemic. On Wednesday, 8 April, Lowe's management put up a post on social media announcing that they were taking time to think about the future.
"It’s no secret that this pandemic has hit our industry very hard. We will collectively come out of this better and stronger, but for us, we know the only way to rebuild in the future is to make a hard decision now.
"So this week, we have had to make the very painful decision to end Lowe operations while we take some time to think about our future as a business when this crisis is over.
"We are incredibly proud of the food we served, the team we built and mostly of our community of foodies that we now call friends," the post read.
In less than 24 hours, the post accrued more than 152 comments, mostly from chefs, restaurateurs and the food blogging community, lamenting the loss of a Dubai establishment that has, in a short time, gained a huge following.
“You guys are amazing. Never goodbye … we’ll see you on the other side of Covid, better than ever,” read one such comment, while another described it as “hands down, the best restaurant in Dubai”.
Foodies also took to sharing their Lowe dining experiences in the comments section and offering help in any way they can.
However, the post shared by Lowe ended on an optimistic note.
"While we may go quiet for now, know that our goal is to be back soon and better than ever, but right now, we don't know when this will be or what format it will take.
"We are so deeply grateful for your love and support on this journey of ours and we can’t wait to serve you again when the time is right," it said.
The brainchild of culinary duo Jesse Blake and Kate Christou, Lowe opened in 2019, and quickly garnered a huge fan base due to its fuss-free food, its sharing-style menu, kombucha on tap and a pet-friendly terrace. In short, for many, it became a millennial paradise. The restaurant was constantly experimenting, launching monthly zero-waste dinners and cooking classes where food scraps were converted into gourmet dishes.
Its announcement has come as something of a shock to the local food community, even though several have been warning that this was an inevitable outcome unless home-grown brands get more support.
Last month, food blogger Samantha Wood created the hashtag #UAERestaurantsUnite to promote offers and direct deliveries from local establishments. She also wrote an open letter to food aggregators asking that their commission rates be cut during the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the blogger Food Sheikh in collaboration with ChatFood launched deliverdxb.com, a website to connect restaurants directly with customers, then cutting out third-party apps, and helping restaurants get 100 per cent of the profit.
"Supporting the local community is something I've always been passionate about and because of Covid-19, the industry is threatened. I'm not using that word lightly, it is going to be really tough time for small operators," he told The National.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
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The%20Afghan%20connection
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FULL%20RESULTS
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
