Season 9 - Episode 9 - Raj Dagstani - Marmellata !
What does it take to build a cult-favourite pizza bakery from scratch?
We’re already at the Episode 9 from Season 9 of the show, and this time James Knight-Paccheco welcomes the passionate and resilient Raj Dagstani, founder of multi winning Marmellata Pizzeria.
Raj shares his remarkable journey from early food memories to creating one of the United Arab Emirates most beloved pizza concepts. The conversation covers the challenges of starting a business, the importance of mental health and balance in the hospitality world, and how Marmellata evolved into a community-driven success story.
Tune in to learn:
👩🍳 How Raj built Marmellata Bakery into a must-visit destination
👩🍳 Why authenticity and resilience matter more than trends
👩🍳 Real stories of growth, setbacks, and building a brand with purpose
👨🍳 Advice for aspiring chefs and business owners
00:00 Podcast Announcement
00:47 Introduction to the Chef JKP Podcast
03:58 Meet Today’s Guest: Raj Dagstani of Marmellata Bakery
04:29 Raj's Early Food Memories
06:50 Journey into Professional Cooking and Entrepreneurship
30:18 Lessons in Mentorship and Learning the Hard Way
42:30 Opening Marmellata Bakery: The Big Leap
47:27 Returning to Dubai & Building a Brand
48:45 Finding a Culinary Identity
53:42 Facing Setbacks and Rising Stronger
54:38 The Art of Reinvention and Staying True to Yourself
01:00:07 Scaling Marmellata and Future Visions
01:17:55 Family, Food, and Managing Life with Passion
01:28:47 Quick Fire Questions with Raj
You can follow follow Marmellata on HERE
A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com
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Food is memories! Enjoy the episode! 🍴
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The Chef JKP Podcast
James Knight-Paccheco celebrates the inspirational stories of people within hospitality, their ups, their downs and everything in between.
What does it take to keep up in one of the most competitive, mentally and physically stressful industries in the world?
Giving incredible insights and advice to the listeners.
For more information go to http://www.chefjkp.com
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