Organising numerous tradeshows and venues, Horeca (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) has been a staple, leading culinary authority in Europe and the Middle East for years. Horeca’s venue for 2012 in Kuwait took place at the Arraya Ballroom in the Courtyard, Marriot Hotel.

Visitors, exhibitors, and journalists from around the world in general, and from the Middle East in particular made certain to partake in this gastronomic and hospitality festival and it was deemed a great success.

Founded by visionary Mohamad Zeitoun and brothers Oussama, and Amer, Maki group has been a leader in contemporary fusion cuisine since 2002. The doors to Maki’s first restaurant were opened in Kuwait’s Salmiya to cues of fusion cuisine lovers. With multiple locations in the Middle East, it was high time for Maki to take part in the Horeca competition and present to food lovers the unique cuisine that this culinary establishment had to offer.

Participating in several competitions with its talented chefs, Maki group wowed the audience and judges with the wonderful, tasteful, and attractive presentations of its finished food products in more than one category. Chef Louis Kenji Huang and his assistant chefs Jaya and Ranjan participated in the live sushi competition, while Chef Michael Rajapakse took part in the chocolate showpiece portion of the venue. With more than 100 participants, Maki group’s chefs names were mentioned not once, or twice, but five times!

Maki’s awards included one gold and two silver medals in the live sushi competition, a bronze medal in the chocolate showpiece competition, and last but not least, Maki was awarded the 'Boeker' food hygiene and safety award. Thus, Maki’s debut at Horeca not only proved how this leading culinary institution has grown by leaps and bounds, but has also done so by maintaining high standards in food safety and hygiene.