Thomas Klein International (TKI), a Dubai-based hospitality consultant, has prepared the final layout plans of Souk Al Housh, which will form a part of the El Seref Tourism and Hospitality project in Khartoum, Sudan.

Featuring a restaurant and 28 stalls selling fresh produce, Souk Al Housh will be the largest outlet located within the 35,000 sq ft destination, and is due to open in August, 2012.

“Souk Al Housh will offer traditional Sudanese cuisine, and will be a truly unique space recreating a Souk layout and experience where customers are brought back to a time and place when the ingredients were at the core of the food they ate,” explained Daniel During, principal and managing director of Thomas Klein International.

“Similarly, the interior design was inspired by the ancient street markets and souks, and we have created similar courtyards and alleys throughout the restaurant, to create an authentic dinging experience.”

The food and beverage concept was designed after scouring the country to learn about traditional cooking methods, recipes and ingredients.

“We had to learn a lot about Sudanese cooking, and after many excursions to back streets, rural and urban settings, we found a truly wonderful ‘undiscovered’ cuisine coupled with ingenious cooking methods that people had passed down for millennia,” said During.

“There is a lot of emphasis on rich smoky charcoal flavours and fresh herbs, and we really wanted to showcase Sudanese traditions in a way that would make the Sudanese proud of what their land has to offer.  Most of all, we were inspired to create a place that would appeal to Sudanese families and foreigners alike.”

TKI worked with several local and international companies to replicate the ancient Sudanese cooking methods while meeting modern standards of food quality, hygiene and safety.  El Seref will have its own on-site slaughterhouse and butchery, as well as a fishmonger. Local breads will be baked on site, and most vegetables and herbs will be sourced in Sudan. 

The main focus was to create a buzzing, dynamic food hall/market concept, rich in sights and sounds, that truly celebrates the native cooking of Sudan. The project will feature 28 different food stalls, including a spice market, fruit and vegetable market, a deli, bakery, pastry shop, as well as a butcher and fishmonger. 

Thomas Klein International worked closely with Iskan, a Khartoum-based design company, for the design of El Seref, which is owned by El Seref Tourism and Hospitality and will encompass three distinct food and beverage outlets, offering a range of different cuisines in one convenient location.

The additional outlets are Cilantro - an Egyptian coffee shop franchise - as well as The Third Space, which will serve both pasta and sushi. Both projects are still under design, and the opening dates are still to be confirmed.

TKI provides full consultancy support to the restaurant and hotel industry. The company has dedicated divisions for concept creation, financial studies, gastronomic development, management, technical kitchen planning, interior architectural designs and branding. – TradeArabia News Service