THE APRONS AND HAMMERS DHOW DIARIES - Part 2
- Aprons & Hammers
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
Meet the Crew Who Helped Build Aprons and Hammers
In our last post, I shared how Aprons and Hammers began as a humble seafood restaurant on a wooden dhow, docked at the Dubai International Marine Club, in front of Le Méridien Mina Seyahi. But while The Dhow was the setting for what would become one of the most beloved seafood restaurants in Dubai, it’s the people who really brought the concept to life - and it’s their spirit that still shapes everything we do.
It wasn’t just a team - it was a crew. And today, many of the original crew are still with us, helping guide the Aprons and Hammers experience across our restaurants in Dubai, including our flagship restaurant in Palm Jumeirah and our vibrant spot at The Beach JBR. So, in this post, let me introduce you to some of the founding crew who were there from the very beginning.
Elie – The Calm Captain of The Dhow
If you dined with us in 2011, chances are you were greeted by Elie, our original dhow manager. He was the calm in the storm - whether the pressure came from a packed deck or an actual high tide.
“Honestly, when the partners first shared the idea with me, I thought - ‘Seafood buckets? Hammers? On a dhow? This is either going to be amazing or total chaos.’ But I was all in.”
“We faced many challenges on The Dhow, for example sometimes we had over 300 reservations - trying to fit everyone in was a struggle! Eventually we had to open a Jetty so people could have a drink while they waited, but it was always a great energy.”
We’re so glad that Elie was with us from the beginning, he helped us deliver seafood dining with a smile - on a moving boat, no less. Today, he’s our Group Operations Director, still steering the ship (just from a slightly bigger one!).
Lalith – The Chef Who Conquered the Hull
Our first chef, Lalith, deserves a medal for what he pulled off in the hull of that dhow. Tight, swaying, and blazing hot, the kitchen was no place for the faint-hearted, not to mention the challenge of cooking amazing dishes in a 10 sqm space. Yet Lalith cooked up some of our most iconic seafood restaurant dishes - many of which are still on the menu today.
“There were nights I’d be plating lobster while the whole kitchen shifted with the tide,” he laughed. “You’d hear the bell ring for service, and I’d be balancing seafood buckets in both hands!”
From garlic butter crab to the first-ever seafood bucket in Dubai, Lalith brought flavor, fire, and soul to every plate. You’ll still find him today, holding it down behind the scenes at our JBR seafood restaurant.
Toufic – The People Person
Toufic started as our dhow supervisor, and from day one, he understood the heart of the Aprons and Hammers experience - laid-back, friendly, and full of community spirit.
“We had so many regulars who came every week,” Toufic told me. “You’d see couples turn into families over time, kids growing up on crab claws and garlic butter. It really felt like a community.”
That family-first energy is still his superpower. Today, he’s bringing the good vibes to Surf Club Dubai - another venue we’re proud to call part of our family.
Godfrey – The Original Bartender (and Balancer!)
If you ever ordered a cocktail on the dhow, it was probably mixed by Godfrey - our first bartender and a legend in his own right.
Mixing drinks on The Dhow was a challenge - the bar was tiny – it was built in the original captain’s cabin.
“Try shaking a mojito when the boat is rocking,” he laughed. “Every time a boat went by The Dhow moved, but somehow I managed to get all the drinks out on time.”
Godfrey brought that perfect mix of chill and charm to the bar, serving drinks that were unfussy, fun, and always on point. He’s now shaking things up at VNYL HiFi, our vinyl-infused listening bar on Bluewaters Island.
What Hasn’t Changed? Our Soul.
These four are just a few of the people who built Aprons and Hammers from the ground (or should we say hull) up. What I love most is that even with new beachfront venues, evolving menus, and more guests than ever, the soul of our brand is still the same: generous seafood, laid back fun-dining, friendly faces, and that signature Aprons energy - everything you love about Aprons & Hammers Dubai.
Next Up in the Series…
Next week, I’ll take you back into the kitchen (figuratively of course - Lalith will kill me if I crowd his space!) and share how our original seafood menu came to life - inspired by New England crab shacks, a whole lot of garlic butter, and some very hungry friends. And If you haven't yet visited, come experience the newest wave of our story at Aprons & Hammers Beach House - where the spirit of The Dhow meets the breeze of the open sea.
Until then, thank you for being part of this story.
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