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BEIRUT: “For a restaurant to last 28 years in Lebanon — it’s heroic,” chef Mario Haddad told Arab News recently as he reflected on the industry in a city and country facing several challenges.

Haddad believes he is among those redefining the fine dining scene, as Beirut undergoes a nascent revival.

His restaurant, Le Sushi Bar, stands like a sleek, elegant trophy in the heart of downtown.

With the arrival of decorated Japanese chef-in-residence Sayaka Sawaguchi this summer, he believes the restaurant is helping to place Lebanon’s fine dining back on the global stage.

“We decided to have a chef-in-residence because we wanted to celebrate Lebanon coming back to life,” Haddad declared.

For Sawaguchi, integrating into Lebanon — a country shaped by resilience and a distinct warmth — came naturally.

She spent weeks before the residence — between July 9 and 27 — traveling across the country, immersing herself in the intricacies of the country.

“Lebanon taught me the beautiful balance of spices, herbs, and olive oil — just like how Lebanese people live their life every day,” Sawaguchi said.

Despite coming from vastly different worlds, Haddad and Sawaguchi found common ground in their passion for food.

“She fits in like a glove ... It’s not easy not having your tools, your kitchen, your ingredients — but her attitude was spot on,” Haddad said.

“The art of feeding each other is definitely our shared passion,” Sawaguchi added.

Haddad has an eye for detail, which appears to be a key element of his restaurant’s success.

Watching him in his element — surveying each dish as it reaches the table, greeting every guest like family, and taking joy  in their delight — it becomes clear why Le Sushi Bar has endured through the storm.

DUBAI: Biochemist and content creator Toufic Braidi is on a mission to bridge tradition and science with Antati, which he says is a “clean” beauty brand formulated specifically for Arab skin and the region’s climate.

With many of his videos racking up 100 million views and counting, Braidi has parlayed his background in biomedical engineering and biochemistry into a line developed and manufactured in Lebanon.

“I realized there was a huge gap in the Arab world when it comes to good skincare, especially products that respect our climate, our genes and our culture,” Braidi told Arab News.

Antati’s formulations are fragrance-free, vegan, halal-certified and non-comedogenic.

“We are committed to creating risk-free formulations that are clean, safe and effective,” he said, noting that the brand avoids ethanol, pork derivatives, animal-based ingredients and synthetic fragrances.

“There’s a lack of cultural respect in the global beauty industry. I wanted to create a brand that truly reflects us.

“Why am I going to go and spend on skincare that doesn’t care about what Mahmoud from Riyadh thinks — when Mahmoud from Riyadh is a conservative halal consumer who deserves to be seen?”

The brand name Antati is derived from the Arabic words “anta” and “anti,” the masculine and feminine forms of “you,” reflecting the brand’s inclusive mission.

Its product range includes Arabian Pearl Face Cream, Shams Glow Serum, Sahara Shine Serum, and Desert Breeze Toner, all with names inspired by Arab geography and heritage.

Designed to work with common traits of Arab skin, such as higher melanin levels, oiliness and sensitivity to heat, Braidi emphasizes that understanding skin function is key.

“Arab skin is robust, but we live in harsh climates. We need ingredients that hydrate without increasing sebum and that won’t irritate sensitive skin.”

Despite launching only seven months ago, Antati has seen strong organic growth. Endorsements include pop superstar Myriam Fares’ unexpected Snapchat post driving thousands of sales.

“At first, I thought our moisturizer would be the least popular,” Braidi said. “But the Arabian Pearl Face Cream is our bestseller.”

For Braidi, Antati is more than skincare: “It’s confidence, empowerment and self-care created by an Arab, for Arabs.”