Season 9 - Episode 9 - Raj Dagstani - Marmellata !

What does it take to build a cult-favourite pizza bakery from scratch? We’re already at the Episode 9 from Season 9 of the show, and this time James Knight-Paccheco welcomes the passionate and resilient Raj Dagstani, founder of multi winning Marmellata Pizzeria. Raj shares his remarkable journey from early food memories to creating one of the United Arab Emirates most beloved pizza concepts. The conversation covers the challenges of starting a business, the importance of mental health and balance in the hospitality world, and how Marmellata evolved into a community-driven success story. Tune in to learn: 👩‍🍳 How Raj built Marmellata Bakery into a must-visit destination 👩‍🍳 Why authenticity and resilience matter more than trends 👩‍🍳 Real stories of growth, setbacks, and building a brand with purpose 👨‍🍳 Advice for aspiring chefs and business owners 00:00 Podcast Announcement 00:47 Introduction to the Chef JKP Podcast 03:58 Meet Today’s Guest: Raj Dagstani of Marmellata Bakery 04:29 Raj's Early Food Memories 06:50 Journey into Professional Cooking and Entrepreneurship 30:18 Lessons in Mentorship and Learning the Hard Way 42:30 Opening Marmellata Bakery: The Big Leap 47:27 Returning to Dubai & Building a Brand 48:45 Finding a Culinary Identity 53:42 Facing Setbacks and Rising Stronger 54:38 The Art of Reinvention and Staying True to Yourself 01:00:07 Scaling Marmellata and Future Visions 01:17:55 Family, Food, and Managing Life with Passion 01:28:47 Quick Fire Questions with Raj You can follow follow Marmellata on HERE A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/ Please leave us a review on all podcast platforms - it’s the best way to support the show! Food is memories! Enjoy the episode! 🍴 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices