The Dubai Restaurant That Closed Before It Even Opened

Tim (0:00)

This is the Morning Drive at Mira Business FM, and our next story comes from an Instagram post. I think it was September the 27th, the post. And this is a restaurant launch that was put on hold, but a dream, I hope I'm able to say, is far from over. It's a Dubai-based Filipino chef who'd been gaining traction online after he shared the reality behind a restaurant he was supposed to open, but couldn't as the current situation had forced all his plans to change. But instead of giving up, he says the setback is just kind of part of the journey. After 12 years in Dubai, he still focused on one goal, which is to put Filipino cuisine on the global culinary map. Chef Aljon Fernandez is creator of the contemporary Filipino charcoal grill concept, Cali Juan.

And it's a story about how the restaurant that never opened, what happened there, and why he still believes his biggest culinary chapter is ahead. And he's smiling and he's with me, and it's good to meet you.

Aljon Fernandez (1:06)

Nice to meet you, too, Tim.

Tim (1:08)

Good to have you here. I mean, this is a post that Michael, who produces this show, shared, and we were quite keen to talk to you because it was quite a raw, very honest post. Restaurant launch that didn't go according to plan, a business that wasn't able to go ahead yet, unfortunately. The post got quite a lot of traction, so it struck a chord. So let's start with the post. Well, what made you share that the way you did, Aljon?

Aljon Fernandez (1:37)

So basically, I decided to post that post because I was like a bit of feeling down, feeling demotivated, and I just feel like the fire is out.

So just to reignite that fire, I just want to go back to that disappointment. So I went through my gallery, saw the pictures, and then I decided to make a post about it.

Tim (2:00)

Yeah, because it's five or six, and you swipe left to see the different stages of what you were going to open. But the thing is, so you're supposed to open. The plan didn't happen because of, I mean, clearly, the geopolitical situation. It was a difficult time. It's happened. It's a familiar story, unfortunately, for lots of people.

But take us back to the moment that you realized it's not going to happen now. I mean, this is months of hard work on hold, isn't it?

Aljon Fernandez (2:33)

So basically, it happens, to be honest, it happened before the geopolitical issues started. So they've decided not to push through it, and then all these issues happen now. All my plans are just like going slowly, and everything was on hold.

So for now, I've decided to just work on it by myself, and then find a way to finance the whole concept with me and some of my friends who are willing to help me.

Tim (3:04)

Okay.

Aljon Fernandez (3:04)

So now just going slowly, slowly.

Tim (3:07)

So this is just like a new food hall with lots of different vendors, and it's not happened, right? So you've been into by what, 12?

Aljon Fernandez (3:15)

12 years.

Tim (3:16)

12 years kind of honing your craft, as it were. When you've poured over a decade of your life into an industry, and there's an unexpected roadblock, I mean, you thought you were going to push ahead with this, how do you keep positive? Because talking to you this morning, you're smiling, you're looking ahead, you've had some opportunities, I know, since.

But that's hard.

Aljon Fernandez (3:41)

Yes, because, you know, after all those experiences, a bit of disappointment won't for sure bring me down, you know? Because I believe, like, it's just a delayed dream, you know? It's not a denied dream for me.

So I'm sure it's going to happen one day. That's what's keeping me more positive. And yeah, with the help of a few people, I'm sure it's going to happen.

Tim (4:04)

And you believe in the concept, you believe in the idea. I like that it's just a denied dream.

Aljon Fernandez (4:11)

It's just a delayed dream. It's just a delayed one.

Tim (4:14)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So where do you go now after you've had to change plans? What's the next step?

Aljon Fernandez (4:23)

Well, for now, I'm just going to start a new work. I'll be joining a new company where I'll be more on the manager level. So I'll be more learning on the business side, which would help me on my future dream of being a restaurant owner.

So yeah, I'll see where it goes from there.