Launching with Chef Sahar Al Awadhi
Third-culture favourite piehaus is introducing a new series of collaborations designed to celebrate the UAE’s diverse culinary voices.
Called Counter Culture Series, the ongoing initiative will see the Alserkal Avenue bakery team up with homegrown chefs, creatives and brands to create limited-edition pies inspired by personal stories, cultural heritage and contemporary flavours.
View this post on Instagram
The series aims to expand piehaus’ signature third-culture approach, using its handcrafted phyllo pastries as a canvas for collaborative storytelling, using flavour and memories to build inventive new profiles.
Launched just in time for Eid Al Adha, the first edition sees piehaus partner with Sahar Al Awadhi, widely recognised as the UAE’s first Emirati pastry chef and one of the region’s leading pastry talents.
Together with piehaus culinary lead Milan Jurkovic, Al Awadhi has created the Chebab Pie, a warm, nostalgic pastry inspired by the traditional Emirati chebab pancake.
The limited-edition creation features saffron and freshly ground cardamom-infused dough filled with cream cheese and date syrup. Designed to evoke the flavours of a classic chebab while presenting them in piehaus’ distinctive phyllo format, the pie is intended to bridge ritual and modernity. The bakery recommends pairing it with a cup of karak tea for the full experience.
Why The Chebab
Chebab holds a special place in Emirati food culture, often associated with hospitality and family gatherings. The collaboration reinterprets those familiar flavours through piehaus’ bold, generous style while staying rooted in local tradition.
Speaking about the launch, founder Stasha Toncev said the Counter Culture Series is designed to bring chefs and creatives into the heart of piehaus, transforming stories, heritage and flavour into something that can be shared through food.
Al Awadhi added that the collaboration reflects Dubai’s multicultural identity, bringing different communities together through a shared appreciation of exceptional food.
The Chebab Pie will be available for dine-in and takeaway at piehaus from 26 May to 7 June. If this first collaboration is anything to go by, Counter Culture Series could become one of Dubai’s most exciting culinary projects to watch this year.
Image credit: Supplied
Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
Contact me: zainab@nommemag.com
