Dubai, UAE: Imagine dining while sitting inside a furniture design store, sharing a table with people you’ve, perhaps, never met before. A unique dining concept, exploring unique recipes, at unique venues – this encapsulates the essence of The Saffron Society, a culinary concept redefining Indian progressive dining in Dubai.
Founded by Indian expatriate Shraddha Barot Amariei, The Saffron Society collaborates with exceptional Indian chefs, offering bespoke supper clubs that are anything but traditional.
The Genesis of a Culinary Vision
For Shraddha, the journey into the culinary world was a return to roots.
She spent fifteen years as a “behind-the-scenes storyteller” for Dubai’s dining scene through her agency, White Label Media, launching everything from izakayas to Michelin-starred imports. Yet, a longing persisted.
“My heart kept circling back to the aroma of saffron in my grandmother’s pulao,” Shraddha told Hotels of UAE, in an interview.
“I realised Indian cuisine here was still filed under ‘butter chicken or biryani,’ and our chefs had few platforms to experiment publicly. The Saffron Society supper club was my answer: a passport for Indian chefs to push boundaries while giving guests an insider’s seat at the table. More than anything else, this supper club is my way of giving Indian chefs a space to tell their stories, while also redefining how our cuisine is perceived.”
Beyond the Plate: A Theatrical Dining Experience
The Saffron Society offers a departure from traditional restaurant settings. Think of each event as a pop-up, chef-led theatre.
Each edition seats only 20–30 people around one long communal table, features an unrepeated theme, and pairs food with stories, music, and even scent.
“A curated, intimate dining experience where every edition is different: the chef, the menu, the narrative, even the guests. Our format is intentionally fluid,” Shraddha explained.
“The Saffron Society celebrates the art of Indian cuisine, culture, and creativity, bringing together the finest Indian chefs to showcase modern Indian-infused culinary masterpieces. It brings together people who love exploring alternate dining options, foodies, media, and influencers.”
Supper clubs provide creative freedom for chefs, offer a unique dining experience, and encourage a sense of community and connection, often attracting a crowd interested in more than just eating out.
The Saffron Society’s storytelling on a plate is made richer by the energy in the room.
Dubai's Melting Pot on a Plate
Dubai, a vibrant city of crossroads, deeply influences The Saffron Society’s approach. “Dubai is a city of crossroads—of people, flavours, and stories. We honour that diversity by creating dishes that feel familiar yet surprising,” Shraddha notes.
For a previous event the Society collaborated with chefs trained in Paris who grew up in Dubai and share a love for Indian food.
In March, a vibrant Holi Supper Club at Un Dimanche á Paris, featuring Chef Kriti Shetty, celebrated flavours, textures, and traditions with a delightful French twist. Le Cordon Bleu–trained Chef Priyansh “Prunch” Parekh, Dubai’s “Tofu King,” hosted an intimate, five-course, plant-forward menu. Architect-turned-chef Kuvam “Kuv” Sharma also contributed to a supper at Juan Valdez Café, fusing Colombian and Indian flavours and ingredients.
“Along with the flavours, the experience celebrates the UAE’s astonishing mosaic of almost 200 nationalities, creating a table where Parsi comfort, French classics, and Asian accents sit side by side—just as they do in Dubai’s streets,” Shraddha elaborates. “By inviting guests to share stories as well as dishes, the supper club turns dinner into a conversation; that’s the magic of the UAE—and we lean into it, fully.”
Every menu planning session begins not with a recipe, but with a memory—a personal anecdote from the chef that guides ingredient choice, plating, and even the playlist. “Technique follows meaning: sous vide just becomes another sentence in the story,” Shraddha highlights, ensuring each dish conveys its unique narrative.
Collaborating with Hotels: New Narratives for Luxury Dining
For hotels seeking to enhance their world-class dining, The Saffron Society offers a compelling partnership. “Hotels already own world-class kitchens; what they’re looking for now is fresh narrative that will attract non-resident guests and digital buzz,” Shraddha states. “The Saffron Society layers experiential storytelling, culturally rich cuisine and built-in buzz onto the culinary excellence your hotel already offers—turning a great dinner into a signature event.” This provides a unique, curated experience that appeals to both new and regular guests.
Navigating the culinary scene presents challenges, primarily “awareness—helping both venues and diners understand what a supper club really is. It’s not just dinner; it’s a moment,” Shraddha notes. Yet, building strong hotel relationships has been key. The Society observes a growing trend towards meaningful dining: “Guests are moving toward more meaningful experiences—less about flash, more about substance. They want to know the chef, the story behind the dish, the provenance of the spice. Wellness is also key.” The Saffron Society directly responds by collaborating with chefs who share these values and by integrating dialogue into the dining journey.
Looking ahead, The Saffron Society plans to expand its list of chefs and venues, potentially even launching its first outpost edition outside Dubai. Shraddha defines luxury as “detail and intimacy” – from handmade welcome notes and incense to post-event calls from the chef. “We design our experiences to feel personalised, rare, and deeply human,” she explains. Their sustainability ethos involves local sourcing, low-waste menus, and partnering with like-minded venues. Hotels supporting such grassroots initiatives empower local talent, engage diners, and foster a dynamic F&B scene, creating a significant ripple effect in the community.
Experience The Saffron Society: Upcoming Event
