Baraka
The Menu Makeover
Baraka is one of the first functional food restaurants in the world, built on the vision that every dish should serve a specific purpose—whether for brain health, beauty, energy, or recovery. Over the course of four months, I was hired to bring this concept to life from the ground up. I developed the entire menu including functional cocktails, creating every recipe with superfoods and functional ingredients while working alongside a holistic nutritionist to ensure nutritional integrity.
Beyond recipe development, I trained the kitchen staff, provided systems for consistency, and helped the team understand how to present functional foods in an approachable, exciting way. The project resulted in a successful restaurant launch that has since grown into multiple locations in Kuwait and expanded into a retreat center in Spain, solidifying Baraka as a pioneer in health-driven dining worldwide.
Something about the Problem
Baraka’s founder—a doctor and hospital owner—had a clear vision: to create one of the first functional food restaurants in the world, where every dish served a purpose (brain boost, beauty, energy, recovery, etc.). But the challenge was that their team didn’t have a chef capable of creating recipes that combined superfoods, culinary excellence, and nutrition science. They also lacked the proper training systems for staff to execute such a specialized concept.
Something about the Solution
I was brought on board to develop the entire menu from scratch. Over four months, I created every recipe, weaving functional foods and superfoods into each dish while collaborating with a holistic nutritionist to ensure nutritional alignment with the owner’s five wellness pillars. Beyond recipe development, I trained the culinary team, guided staff on functional food education, and created systems (videos, photos, and training materials) so the restaurant could sustain its standards after launch.
The Results
Baraka opened as one of the very first functional food restaurants in the world—and remains a thriving success today. Known for its innovation, the restaurant has expanded into multiple locations in Kuwait and now runs a retreat center in Spain. The project not only proved the market demand for functional foods but also positioned Baraka as a global pioneer in health-driven dining.
