NAME: ALI ALHASAN

CONCEPT: CAFFEINE KUWAIT

TITLE: CO-FOUNDER

Faves

Cookbook: The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee & The World Atlas of Coffee

What experience most defined your decision and desire to get into the food industry?

My brother and I are lovers of good coffee. However in Kuwait – coffee – there just aren’t many options for specialty coffee unless you do it yourself at home.  So we decided to do something we both love and to share that will our friends and family.

Where is your favorite place to shop for food and ingredients in Kuwait?

SaveCo. and Sultan Center.

What food most reminds you of your mother’s house, and why?

Tough question. My mother is an excellent cook – she is actually our chef for Caffeine.  But if I had to choose only one thing, I would say chocolate.

When you want to go somewhere else to eat, where do you go and why?

I love Asian food.  For Thai food: Pattaya Beach Restaurant.  It is a hole in the wall type restaurant. The place is not fancy but the food is amazing.  I also love Solo Taco for Mexican food, as it is another place that is not too commercialized and their food is simply amazing.

Who in the world would you most like to cook for?

My daughters.

If you were to leave Kuwait and could take only one kitchen gadget with you, what would it be?

My Vitamix Blender.  I can’t live without it.