TWAUDiO installations in first-class restaurants in the middle east

The regions around the Arabian Gulf, especially the United Arabian Emirates and Qatar are known for a luxurious metropolitan living. Hence, it is not surprising that both regions are hotspots of culinary delights, some of them now equipped with TWAUDiO loudspeaker systems. Three restaurants are located in the gardens of the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel in Qatar, while the fourth holds its own in Dubai’s Financial Towers.

Located on The Pearl, a man-made island also known as the epitome of Riviera Arabia living, the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel boasts of premium European architecture melded with traditional Arabian elements. The restaurants in question, Toro Toro, Antica Pesa, and Nozomi, offer diners an unobstructed view of the Qanat Quartier and the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf. The amazing view and quality food are accompanied by music reinforced through TWAUDiO loudspeakers. Each restaurant is equipped with its own system of 16 x M8 and 8 x B15, powered by 8 x Powersoft K3DSP.

Toro Toro: ‘Toro’ means bull in Spanish and the motif is certainly used to full effect in the décor of the restaurant. Chef Richard Sandoval wanted to open up the traditionally masculine steakhouse and make it more female-friendly. He did so by conceptualising the small plates menu, which has a contemporary slant on the popular flavours of countries such as Brazil, Peru and Mexico, and is perfect for sharing with fellow diners. “The client was insisting on having a very decorative small speaker combined with a very compact subwoofer”, explains project manager Elie Salameh of Al Isteklal IAC Qatar. “The TWAUDiO M8 is a small, multifunctional speaker for smaller venues. Combined with the B15 subwoofer it is enough for a medium sized lounge restaurant like Toro Toro. This type of speaker helped us in terms of the design and coverage for the low ceiling in the restaurant.”

Antica Pesa is an Italian restaurant originated in the heart of Rome in 1922. Since then four generations of the same family have run the restaurant. The dishes have been created following two fundamental guidelines: reworking traditional recipes from Roman cuisine and working with local products that are usually organic; everything is seasonal, with a nod to modern trends. After Rome and New York, Antica Pesa is now in Doha to redefine the Italian culinary scene of the city.

Nozomi, is the award winning contemporary Japanese lifestyle restaurant and a celebrity hotspot on The Pearl. Its culinary style is best described as contemporary Japanese infused with European subtleties. Nozomi will offer a comprehensive selection of sushi, its famous Black Cod and tender Kobe beef, to its world class lobster tempura and vegetarian dishes. The esprit underlying Nozomi is one based on subtly fusing an entertainment and dining experience. It was a two month project for Al Isteklal - IAC Qatar to design, supply, install and test the loudspeaker systems in the restaurants. The main challenge came from the restaurant’s low ceilings, added to this was distributing the system into the various VIP rooms and blending it in with the individual interior designs.  “It was a big challenge for us and we are very happy with this success”, concludes Mr Salameh. “The best thing for the IAC team though was to win the trust of our clients.”

Al Grissino Restaurant and Lounge, located in the Financial Towers in Dubai, lives up to the name of its namesake in Milan. What started off as a small trattoria is now one of the most famous and intricate dining spots in Milano. It was described by a guest as “Italian fine dining at its best and without a doubt Milan’s ‘it’ restaurant in Dubai”. Famed for its exquisite range of starters made from fresh and refined ingredients, Al Grissino is able to hold a capacity of over 200 guests. Its premises are divided into three sections: main lounge, bar, and fine dining area. First to wow is the bar space, a cross between a conservatory and a spaceship with a huge arch of glass window and roof, with impressive views of the Burj Khalifa. Al Grissino is equipped with 12 x TWAUDiO M8 and 6 x B15, powered by 5 x Powersoft K3DSP. This installation was carried out by PULSE ME LLC. A system integrator who already equipped several prestigious clubs in Dubai. “It is a very positive sign for us being asked to do installations in restaurants, following the work we put into the clubs. It shows that we are definitely on the right track with TWAUDiO. The quality of the products does speak for itself and obviously people do notice this quality, resulting in a higher demand for these systems”, explains Joe Chidiac, Managing Director of PULSE ME.